Aspectos estruturais, farmacológicos e biológicos de fucanas da alga marrom sargassum vulgare

The present study examines the chemical composition and their effects on free radicals, inflammation, angiogenesis, coagulation, VEGF effects and cellular proliferation of a polysaccharides from alga Sargassum vulgare. The sulfated polysaccharide was extracted from brown seaweed by proteolysis with enzymes maxataze. The presence of proteins and sugars were observed in crude polysaccharides. Fractionation of this crude extract was made with growing concentration of acetone (0.3-1.5 v) and produced four groups of polysaccharides. Anionic polysaccharides from brown seaweed Sargassum vulgare, SV1and PSV1 were fractionated (SV1) and purified (PSV1), and displayed with high total sugars and sulfate content and very low level of protein. This fucan SV1 contains low levels of protein and high carbohydrate and sulfate content. This polysaccharides prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) at 50 μg (>240 s). SV1 was found to have no effect on prothrombin time (PT), corresponding to the extrinsic pathway of coagulation. SV1 exhibits high antithrombotic action in vivo, with a concentration ten times higher than heparin. Polysaccharides from S. vulgare promoted direct inhibition enzymatic activity of thrombin and stimulated enzymatic activity of FXa. SV1 showed optimal inhibitory activity of thrombin (50.2±0.28%) at a concentration of 25 μg/mL. Its antioxidant action on scavenging radicals by DPPH was (22%), indicating the polymer has no cytotoxic action (hemolytic) on ABO and Rh blood types in different erythrocyte groups and displays strong anti-inflammatory action on all concentrations tested in the carrageenan-induced paw edema model, demonstrated by reduced edema and cellular infiltration. Angiogenesis is a dynamic process of proliferation and differentiation. It requires endothelial proliferation, migration, and tube formation. In this context, endothelial cells are a preferred target for several studies and therapies. The antiangiogenic efficacy of polysaccharides was examined in vivo in the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model by using fertilized eggs. Decreases in the density of the capillaries were assessed and scored. The results showed that SV1 and PSV1 have an inhibitory effect on angiogenesis. These results were also confirmed by inhibition tubulogenesis in rabbit aorta endothelial cell (RAEC) in matrigel. These compounds were assessed in Apoptosis assay (Annexin V - FITC / PI) and cell viability by MTT assay of RAEC. These polysaccharides do not affect the viability and do not have apoptotic or necrotic action. RAEC cell when incubated with SV1 and PSV1showed inhibition of VEGF secretion, observed when compounds were incubated at 25, 50 and 100 μg/μL. The VEGF secretion with the RAEC cell line for 24 h, was more effective for PSV1 at 50 μg/μL(71.4%) than SV1 100 μg/μL (75.9%). SV1 and PSV1 had an antiproliferative action (47%) against tumor cell line HeLa. Our results indicate that these sulfated polysaccharides have antiangiogenic and antitumoral actions

Ação Sacietogênica de um inibidor de tripsina da semente de tamarindo (Tamarindus indica L.)

The seeds are excellent sources of proteinase inhibitors and have been highlighted owing to various applications. Among these applications are those in effect on food intake and weight gain that stand out because of the increasing number of obese individuals. This study evaluated the effects of trypsin inhibitor present in the seed of tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) reduction in weight gain, biochemical and morphological alterations in Wistar rats. For this, we partially purified a trypsin inhibitor tamarind seed. This inhibitor, ITT2 at a concentration of 25 mg / kg body weight, over a period of 14 days was able to reduce food intake in rats (n = 6) by approximately 47%, causing a reduction in weight gain approximately 70% when compared with the control group. With the evaluation of the in vivo digestibility was demonstrated that the animals lost weight due to satiety, presented by the reduction of food intake, since there were significant differences between true digestibility for the control group (90.7%) and the group treated with inhibitor (89.88%). Additionally, we checked the deeds of ITT2 on biochemical parameters (glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, gamma glutamyl transferase albumin, globulin, total protein and C-reactive protein) and these, when assessed in the study groups showed no statistically significant variations. We also evaluate the histology of some organs, liver, stomach, intestine, and pancreas, and showed no changes. And to evaluate the effect of trypsin inhibitor on food intake due to the satiety is regulated by cholecystokinin (CCK) were measured plasma levels, and it was observed that the levels of CCK in animals receiving ITT2 were significantly higher ( 20 + 1.22) than in animals receiving only solution with casein (10.14 + 2.9) or water (5.92 + 1.15). Thus, the results indicate that the effect caused ITT2 satiety, reducing food intake, which in turn caused a reduction in weight gain in animals without causing morphological and biochemical changes, this effect caused by the elevation of plasma levels CCK

Propriedade fotoluminescente da ZrO2: Tb+3, Eu+3, Tm+3 obtida pelo método de polimerização de complexos

Recent studies are investigating a new class of inorganic materials which arise as a promising option for high performance applications in the field of photoluminescence. Highlight for rare earth (TR +3 ) doped, which have a high luminous efficiency, long decay time and being able to emit radiation in the visible range, specific to each element. In this study, we synthesized ZrO2: Tb +3 , Eu +3 , Tm +3 nanoparticles complex polymerization method (CPM). We investigated the influences caused by the heat treatment temperature and the content of dopants in zirconia photoluminescent behavior. The particles were calcined at temperature of 400, 500 and 600 ° C for two hours and ranged in concentration of dopants 1, 2, 4 and 8 mol% TR +3 . The samples were characterized by thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence of measurements and uv-visible of spectroscopies. The results of X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of the tetragonal and cubic phases in accordance with the content of dopants. The photoluminescence spectra show emission in the region corresponding simultaneous to blue (450 nm), green (550 nm) and red (615 nm). According to the results, ZrO2 particles co-doped with rare earth ions is a promising material white emission with a potential application in the field of photoluminescence

Agregação familiar e resultados maternos e perinatais da pré-eclâmpsia severa em população do Rio Grande do Norte

To determine whether there is familiar aggregation of severe preeclampsia in a Brazilian population from Rio Grande do Norte and to characterize the maternal and perinatal outcomes in the studied population. Methods: A case control study was performed with 412 participants who were admitted at Maternidade Escola Januário Cicco (MEJC) for medical care. Of these, 264 subjects presented normal blood pressure and 148 were cases. Cases were composed of eclampsia (n=47), HELLP Syndrome (n=85) and Eclampsia associated with HELLP syndrome (n=16). The diagnosis of these illness were based on the citeria developed by National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working (2000). An interview was performed with each subject and questions related to personal and familiar history of hypertension, preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome and eclampsia. Statistical analysis was performed and comparison of median and mean between cases and controls were performed, with the level of significance of 5%. The Odds-Ratio was determined to estimate the risk of preeclampsia within the families. Results: There were no difference in the demographic data between cases and controls. Previous history of chronic hypertension and preeclampsia was more frequent in the case group. Headaches were more frequent in eclampsia and epigastric pain in the HELLP syndrome cases. Bleeding and oliguria were more frequently found in the eclampsia associated with HELLP syndrome cases. Acute Renal insufficiency was a common complication in the case group, but these cases did not evolve to chronic renal insufficiency. The maternal mortality was 0.4% and the perinatal mortality was high, 223 per 1,000 live births. The 111 risk of a woman to develop preeclampsia whose mother has hypertension or had preeclampsia was respectively 2.5 and 3.5. This risk was increased 5 times, when a sibling has hypertension and 6 times when both sibling and mother had previous history of preeclampsia. Conclusions: This study confirms that there is familiar aggregation of preeclampsia in this Brazilian population. The potential for cardiovascular complications due to development of chronic hypertension indicates the need of closely follow up of women who develop preeclampsia

Perfil de imunoglobulinas e correlação de autoanticorpos com a ocorrência de diversas formas clínicas em pacientes chagásicos crônicos

Introdução: O dano miocárdico na doença de Chagas resulta tanto da ação parasitária quanto da resposta imune do hospedeiro humano. O mimetismo molecular entre proteínas do Trypanosoma cruzi e vários antígenos do hospedeiro tem sido amplamente descrito gerando células T CD8+ e anticorpos autorreativos. Entretanto, a geração dos autoanticorpos e seu papel na imunopatogenia da doença de Chagas ainda não têm sido elucidados, o que nos levou, neste trabalho, a avaliar a produção de imunoglobulina G total (IgGt) e seus isotipos anti-T. cruzi, proteínas cardíacas e sua possível associação com as diferentes formas clínicas da doença de Chagas. Métodos: A produção de IgGt e isotipos foi mensurada pelo método de ELISA no soro de pacientes com as formas clínicas indeterminada (IND, n=72), cardíaca (CARD, n=47) e digestiva/cardio-digestiva (DIG/CARD-DIG, n=12) da doença de Chagas, usando como antígenos as formas epimastigota e tripomastigota do T. cruzi e proteínas cardíacas humana (miosina e troponina T). As amostras de indivíduos não infectados saudáveis (CONT, n= 30) e pacientes com cardiomiopatia isquêmica (ISCH, n=15) foram usadas como controle. Os títulos de autoanticorpos foram correlacionados com parâmetros da função cardíaca obtidos por exames eletrocardiográficos, radiográficos e ecocardiográficos. Resultados: Neste estudo foram incluídos 131 indivíduos sem diferença significativa relativa à idade ou sexo. Destes, 55% foram classificados como IND, 35,9% CARD e 9,1% DIG/CARD-DIG. Os títulos de IgGt foram mais elevados em pacientes com as formas clínicas IND, CARD e DIG/CARD-DIG do que em indivíduos CONT e ISCH usando os antígenos as formas tripomastigotas e epimastigotas do T. cruzi e, proteínas cardíacas humanas. Os pacientes com formas clínicas CARD e DIG/CARD-DIG mostraram a produção mais elevada de IgG total dirigida contra antígenos de tripomastigota e epimastigota do que os IND. Os grupos de pacientes IND e CARD apresentaram uma similar produção de IgG total específica direcionada à miosina e troponina T, e mais elevada do que em indivíduos CONT e ISCH. Há uma correlação negativa entre a produção de anticorpos anti-proteínas cardíacas com a fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (FEVE) em pacientes chagásicos crônicos. Os pacientes foram agrupados em baixo e alto produtores de autoanticorpos e comparados com a fração de ejeção demonstrando que em pacientes alto produtores de anti-troponina T (p=0.042) e miosina (p=0.013) a FEVE foi mais baixa do que os baixo produtores. A maioria dos pacientes chagásicos produz simultaneamente autoanticorpos direcionados à ambas proteínas cardíacas (r=0.9508, p=0.0001). Conclusões: Estes resultados indicam que os autoanticorpos anti- troponina T e miosina cardíaca parecem induzir redução FEVE e deve ser associado com o desenvolvimento de cardiomiopatia chagásica

A concepção de professores do ensino fundamental (1ª e 4ª) sobre a saúde do escolar

Com a criação dos Parâmetros Curriculares Nacional (PCNs), a saúde passou a ser um tema transversal que deve ser trabalhado por todos os níveis de ensino em toda a escola, principalmente pelos professores do ensino fundamental, os quais têm uma grande responsabilidade no processo de formação dos valores e de condutas dos escolares. Com o objetivo de investigar a concepção dos professores de ensino fundamental (1ª a 4ª séries) sobre a saúde do escolar, este estudo teve como amostra 45 professoras lotadas em 04 escolas públicas e 04 escolas privadas no município de Natal/RN. Para a coleta dos dados foi utilizado um questionário semi-estruturado, sendo os mesmos analisados por meio da análise temática. A faixa etária com maior prevalência foi a superior a 40 anos, com 58% de professoras. Com relação ao grau de formação acadêmica das docentes investigadas, 47% delas tem o terceiro grau completo e, 40% possuem apenas formação no magistério. No que se refere ao tema transversal saúde, 27% das professoras não realizaram estudos sobre o mesmo e, 40% das docentes não se sentiam preparadas para desenvolver esse conteúdo, apontando como principal fator limitante à falta de conhecimento mais profundo sobre saúde e a falta de material didático adequado. Sobre a importância em se trabalhar a saúde, 29% das respostas referiram-se aos cuidados com a saúde, e 20% em prevenir e conhecer doenças. Pode-se concluir que é necessária uma capacitação específica referente à temática em questão, o que deve ser acompanhada de políticas públicas que incentivem o profissional da educação e ofereça estrutura ao ambiente escolar

Avaliação do desempenho reprodutivo do Cavalo-Marinho Hippocampus reidi (GINSBURG 1933) do estuário do Rio Potengi (Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil) com vistas ao seu cultivo em bases sustentáveis

Os cavalos-marinhos têm cativado a imaginação e a curiosidade dos seres humanos por centenas de anos. No entanto, nos dias de hoje, esses animais correm um sério risco de extinção por fatores como a pesca desordenada para suprir os mercados de peixes ornamentais e da medicina tradicional chinesa e principalmente, a destruição do seu habitat. Nesse contexto, é crescente o número de estudos sobre a ecologia, a biologia (reprodutiva, especialmente) e o cultivo de várias espécies do gênero Hippocampus, inclusive para fins conservacionistas e de recomposição de estoques. Duas espécies de cavalos-marinhos são encontradas no Brasil: Hippocampus reidi Ginsburg 1933 e Hippocampus erectus Perry. No entanto, as informações sobre essas espécies estão basicamente restritas ao seu grau de ocorrência ou a sua área de ocupação. No presente estudo, foi avaliado o desempenho reprodutivo de Hippocampus reidi do estuário do rio Potengi (05° 47' 42'' S; 35° 12' 34'' W), em Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. Para tanto, cavalos-marinhos grávidos (n = 38) foram coletados no referido estuário nos meses de setembro, outubro e novembro de 2008 e julho, agosto, setembro e outubro de 2009 e mantidos em laboratório até que liberassem os filhotes. O comprimento padrão (CPA), altura (ATA), volume da bolsa (VB) e peso úmido (PuA) dos adultos, bem como o comprimento padrão (CPF), altura (ATF), peso úmido (PuF) e peso seco (PsF) dos filhotes foram determinados. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que houve correlações significativas entre o CPA e a ATA (r²=0,171), CPA e PuA (r²=0,624), CPA e VB (r²=0,256), ATA e PuA (r²=0,788), PuA e VB (r²=0,211), CPF e ATF (r²=0,903) e CPF e PsF (r²=0,163). A análise de correspondência (AC) que associou as classes do comprimento padrão dos adultos (CPA) e o volume da bolsa de H. reidi ao número de filhotes mostrou que animais entre 19 cm e 21 cm e com volume de bolsa entre 3 mL e 4 mL foram os que liberaram o maior número de filhotes. Os resultados do presente estudo também indicam que o tamanho mínimo de captura recomendado pela CITES (10 cm de altura) para H. reidi deve ser revisto, uma vez que não foram encontrados animais menores que 13,5 cm que estivessem grávidos. Finalmente, o número médio de filhotes por desova obtido no presente estudo (n = 775 ± 398 filhotes) realçou o potencial reprodutivo de H. reidi e a necessidade de estudos adicionais com esta espécie

Acidentes de Trabalho : análise em profissionais de enfermagem que atuam nas unidades de terapia intensiva e urgência Natal/RN

It is a descriptive-exploratory research, with a quantitative approach, aiming to characterize typical occupational accident suffered by the professionals from nursery group, in the Intensive Care Units and Emergency in a hospital in Natal-RN, trying to identify the factors that contribute to those accidents; to identify some information taken by those professionals related to the accident risks; to know the procedures taken after each accident. This sample is composed by 176 professionals that are 44 nurses and 132 nursing technicians/auxiliaries, collected from March to April 2010. The results related to the personal characterization of the nursery group showed that 31 (18.61%) are between the 36-40 years of age; 148 (84.09%) females and 96 (55.68%) had finished High School. Related to the professional characterization, 53 (30.11%) are nurses, and 123 (69.88%) nursing technicians and auxiliaries; 44 (25.00%) are working as nurses, and 132 (75.00%) as nursing technicians and auxiliaries; 45 (25.56%) are working in the nursery area between 15 to 20 years and 11 months; 53 (30.11%) are in this institution between 10 to 14 years and 11 months; 79 (44.88%) work in the ICU; 55 (31.25%) are working in this area from 1 to 4 years and 11 months; 110 (62.50%) like to work in this area; 161 (91.47%) work 30 to 40 hours per week; 90 (51,13%) have another employment. Related to knowledge about typical occupational accident, 167 (94.88%) said they know about it; 96 (54.54%) know the accident rules; 103 (58.52%) think it is important to talk about this subject in the nursery courses; 92 (52.27%) said this subject is important to be discussed in the work and 372 (87.73%) think education is necessary to reduce accident. Related to the data about accidents, 104 (59.09%) have suffered typical occupational accident, among them 69 (39.20%) have suffered it once; 47 (36.19%) did not register any accident; 60 (57.69%) were caring some patient during the accident; 47 (45.19%) of them occurred in the ICU; 50 (48.07%) professionals were working during the night period; 69 (66.34%) have suffered perforation; 86 (82.69%) had upper limbs affected; 64 (61.53%) were affected by needle; about the reason of the accident, 89 (60.54%) said it occurred due to carelessness. Related to the accident evolution, 88 (85.57%) did not need to remain off work after accident; 13 (81.25%) remained off work during 15 days; 87 (83.65%) had no sequelae and for 101 (97.11%) it was not necessary rehabilitation. We conclude that typical occupational accident can occur with young workers who admit a knowledge about the subject, however they do almost nothing to prevent it. We believe this research has contributed to the characterization of this kind of accident suffered by the nursery group of a public hospital in Natal, and it can stimulate the creation and reformulation of personal protection against typical occupational accident suffered by nursery professionals

Violência contra a mulher : estudo de caso em uma instituição de ensino

The study research case with a quantitative approach and prospective data, carried out between December 2010 and February 2011 with the aim of identifying the profile of women in the study, to characterize the acts of violence in the type, frequency, location occurrence and aggressor, analyze the steps taken after the occurrence of acts of violence and the main consequences on the victims. The population consisted of 285 workers in a tertiary institution in Rio Grande do Norte. The results showed that 99 (34.74%) have between 51 to 60 years of age, 78 (27.37%) of 41 to 50 and 62 (21.75%) between 20 and 30 years, are considered color white, 162 (56.84%) have completed higher education, 171 (60.00%) and of these 97 (56.73%) reported having some post-graduate degrees, are married, 141 (49.47%) and have from zero to one child, 148 (51.93%) reside in the south of the city of Natal, 146 (51.23%) have a monthly income of three to five minimum wages, 171 (60.00%) and are mostly in the Technical Administrative Sciences 152 (53.33%), 77 (27.02%) reported having experienced violence, 60 (62.50%) episodes of verbal aggression, 26 (27.08%) of bullying , 05 (5.21%) of physical abuse and 05 (5.21%) sexual harassment; 05 (100.00%) assaults were made by the spouse or partner of the victims and co-workers is another profession were responsible for 18 (30.00%) verbal aggression, 15 (57.69%) bullying and 03 (60.00%) sexual harassment, 02 (40.00%) of victims of physical aggression and 18 (30.00 %) of verbal abused only once, 10 (38.46%) of bullying and 02 (40.00%) of sexual harassment experienced four or more times 05 (100.00%) assaults occurred at domestic and work stood out with 36 (60.00%), verbal abuse, 22 (84.62%), moral harassment and 04 (80.00%) sexual harassment, 35 (36.46%) told colleagues work and 31 (32.29%) for family and friends in 75 (78.13%) cases there was no intervention, 07 (7.29) were unable to respond if something had been done and 14 (14.58% ) have been reported intervention of these, 09 (64.29%) were taken by the heads of the victims, 26 (32.10%) did not notify the fact on the ground that no action would be taken, 62 (80.52%) felt stress , 5 (1.76%) of women turned away from work after the episode of violence, accounting for 198 days of absenteeism. It is concluded that there is a high rate of violence against women, even when they have a good socioeconomic status, and in this sense is important to establish bases of new proposals for improving control of cases of health professionals, especially nurses, to approach patients with a more investigative, and that by identifying a case of violence, be instructed about the paths to be followed for notification while providing psychological support to victims.

Estratégias de intervenção utilizadas por enfermeiros da ESF do município de Natal/RN no controle do câncer do colo de útero

Cancer of the cervix (cervical cancer) is the second most prevalent cancer among Brazilian women. The high rates of cervical cancer in Brazil justify the implementation of effective strategies to control this, which include actions to promote health, primary prevention, early detection, screening, treatment and palliative care. Despite the existence of the National Programme for Control of the CCU there was no reduction in the incidence and mortality of this disease in Brazil. The Family Health Strategy (FHS) has the potential to facilitate such control and, in this context, one should consider that nurses play a central role. The study aimed to know the general intervention strategies used by nurses FHS of Natal / RN in CCU control, and how specific: analyzing the knowledge of these nurses on the CCU, the actions developed in the ESF for the control of CCU and identify the difficulties faced by them to perform it. This is a descriptive exploratory quantitative developed through a structured interview guide with 106 nurses who have experience in controlling the CCU in FHS teams of Natal / RN. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistic s. The results pointed to actions taken in the FHS to control the CCU, collection of cervical cancer screening, health education activities, nursing consultation, referral of suspected cases for medical monitoring and active women with abnormal test result . The actions that were not mentioned by the nurses included: forming groups of prevention and health promotion; expand coverage of exams and office hours of consultations, establishment of alternatives to end the pent-up demand in the health units, participation in treatment or rehabilitation process users with the CCU; interventions for pain management, alliances and partnerships with schools, in dustry and the use of protocols. This study can be seen that the practice nurses partially shares to the CCU in Natal / RN. The participants of this study, when asked about the CCU, specifically for signs and symptoms of disease and risk factors in general showed important gaps. Difficulties such as lack of materials for collection of Pap smear; inadequate physical space in the Health Units; pent-up demand in the service, delay in arrival of the test results; obstacles in the actions of referral and counter-referral and cultural factors make the CCU control is compromised. It is believed in this research contributed to a reflection on the importance of the role of nurses in the development of the ESF control actions CCU, pointing out the factors that affect these. It is important to involve all nurses who comprise the ESF as knowledgeable of the risk factors, signs and symptoms, and existing tools for the early detection of cervical cancer in the pursuit of quality improvement actions to promote women`s health, contributing in planning future interventions that may reduce mortality from this disease in Natal / RN.

Aumento da jornada de trabalho :qual a repercussão na vida dos trabalhadores da enfermagem?

The worker of the public service is loosing your acquisitive power by means of the politics of fiscal settlement. The ways out that were found in the health sector, especially in nursing, is being the increasing workday for beyond 40 or 20 hours established in the link of the work with the state. This survey has the object to identify the possible repercussion of the increasing workday in daily life workers from nursing in the public service of Rio Grande do Norte. The theory reference used was the work of Marx (1982) and Antunes (2000,2001) and the daily living in Heller (1991,1992). The methodology used was a qualitative survey in the exploration kind. The informations were gathered through interviews with open questions almost structured with workers of nursing, managers and representatives of entity. The analysis of informations were made through general categories, work, and daily life, using elements from dialetics-hermeneutics according to Minayo (1992,2002). In the analysis, it was identified that the ways that were found for the overcoming of the loss of acquisitive power were the many-employment; the extra scale of shift; the subletting of work posts and the substitution of friends in scales of work, and all of them being changed in increase. Other aspect realized was the move of rights, like vacation and medical license for the workers that act in extra scale. The tiredness, stress, and bad humor are influents factors in the development of work.. The reduction of free time makes in the workers ahguish because of the familiarity decreasement just as time to dedicate themselves to the technical-scientific improvement and for the cultivation of other aspects of subjectivity, as leisure, care and culture. The low salary and the non reajustment are the reasons for the adoption of part workers for the increasing workday, and government has been responsible for this situation. The conclusion was that the increasing workday has strong repercussions in the professional and personal daily life workers that made part of the survey

Aspectos epidemiológicos, cognitivo-comportamentais e neurofisiológicos do sonho lúcido

Lucid dreaming (LD) is a mental state in which the subject is aware of being dreaming while dreaming. The prevalence of LD among Europeans, North Americans and Asians is quite variable (between 26 and 92%) (Stepansky et al., 1998; Schredl & Erlacher, 2011; Yu, 2008); in Latin Americans it is yet to be investigated. Furthermore, the neural bases of LD remain controversial. Different studies have observed that LD presents power increases in the alpha frequency band (Tyson et al., 1984), in beta oscillations recorded from the parietal cortex (Holzinger et al., 2006) and in gamma rhythm recorded from the frontal cortex (Voss et al., 2009), in comparison with non-lucid dreaming. In this thesis we report epidemiological and neurophysiological investigations of LD. To investigate the epidemiology of LD (Study 1), we developed an online questionnaire about dreams that was answered by 3,427 volunteers. In this sample, 56% were women, 24% were men and 20% did not inform their gender (the median age was 25 years). A total of 76.5% of the subjects reported recalling dreams at least once a week, and about two-thirds of them reported dreaming always in the first person, i.e. when the dreamer observes the dream from within itself, not as another dream character. Dream reports typically depicted actions (93.3%), known people (92.9%), sounds/voices (78.5%), and colored images (76.3%). The oneiric content was related to plans for upcoming days (37.8%), and memories of the previous day (13.8%). Nightmares were characterized by general anxiety/fear (65.5%), feeling of being chased (48.5%), and non-painful unpleasant sensations (47.6%). With regard to LD, 77.2% of the subjects reported having experienced LD at least once in their lifetime (44.9% reported up to 10 episodes ever). LD frequency was weakly correlated with dream recall frequency (r = 0.20, p <0.001) and was higher in men (χ2=10.2, p=0.001). The control of LD was rare (29.7%) and inversely correlated with LD duration (r=-0.38, p <0.001), which is usually short: to 48.5% of the subjects, LD takes less than 1 minute. LD occurrence is mainly associated with having sleep without a fixed time to wake up (38.3%), which increases the chance of having REM sleep (REMS). LD is also associated with stress (30.1%), which increases REMS transitions into wakefulness. Overall, the data suggest that dreams and nightmares can be evolutionarily understood as a simulation of the common situations that happen in life, and that are related to our social, psychological and biological integrity. The results also indicate that LD is a relatively common experience (but not recurrent), often elusive and difficult to control, suggesting that LD is an incomplete stationary stage (or phase transition) between REMS and wake state. Moreover, despite the variability of LD prevalence among North Americans, Europeans and Asians, our data from Latin Americans strengthens the notion that LD is a general phenomenon of the human species. To further investigate the neural bases of LD (Study 2), we performed sleep recordings of 32 non-frequent lucid dreamers (sample 1) and 6 frequent lucid dreamers (sample 2). In sample 1, we applied two cognitive-behavioral techniques to induce LD: presleep LD suggestion (n=8) and light pulses applied during REMS (n=8); in a control group we made no attempt to influence dreaming (n=16). The results indicate that it is quite difficult but still possible to induce LD, since we could induce LD in a single subject, using the suggestion technique. EEG signals from this one subject exhibited alpha (7-14 Hz) bursts prior to LD. These bursts were brief (about 3s), without significant change in muscle tone, and independent of the presence of rapid eye movements. No such bursts were observed in the remaining 31 subjects. In addition, LD exhibited significantly higher occipital alpha and right temporo-parietal gamma (30-50 Hz) power, in comparison with non-lucid REMS. In sample 2, LD presented increased frontal high-gamma (50-100 Hz) power on average, in comparison with non-lucid REMS; however, this was not consistent across all subjects, being a clear phenomenon in just one subject. We also observed that four of these volunteers showed an increase in alpha rhythm power over the occipital region, immediately before or during LD. Altogether, our preliminary results suggest that LD presents neurophysiological characteristics that make it different from both waking and the typical REMS. To the extent that the right temporo-parietal and frontal regions are related to the formation of selfconsciousness and body internal image, we suggest that an increased activity in these regions during sleep may be the neurobiological mechanism underlying LD. The alpha rhythm bursts, as well as the alpha power increase over the occipital region, may represent micro-arousals, which facilitate the contact of the brain during sleep with the external environment, favoring the occurrence of LD. This also strengthens the notion that LD is an intermediary state between sleep and wakefulness

Psicologia e pobreza no Brasil: limites e perspectivas da produção de conhecimento e atuação do psicólogo

Poverty is a main theme in Brazil: according to official data, poverty reachs 70 million Brazilian people, and, between them, 20 million are unable to provide their basic needs. Psychology, as a welfare profession, and given its historical concerns with social actions, could not be away from this theme. Based on this, we ask: Which answers Psychology can provide, toward both the production of knowledge and the practice about social reality? The purpose of this paper is to investigate the psychological scientific production on poverty and the propositions, limits and impacts of psychological actions. We carried out a three stages documental based study analyzing Brazilian psychological literature: (1) online databases survey (312 papers identified); (2) 109 scientific abstracts accessed and coded; (3) selected 47 scientific papers read and analyzed. Results are presented in three sections: general description of the selected scientific production; characterization of the role of poverty in psychological literature; and themes presented at the papers. The academic production about the main theme (poverty) is dispersed, heterogeneous, and related to other fields of knowledge. Poverty is presented at these studies in many ways, such as: a criterium for sample design and the assessment of its psychological impacts; reports on professional experience with poor population; descriptions of this population group; relationship between poverty and others social themes; developmental and learning problems of poor children. In general, it appears that Psychology has improved the scientific production and experiences with poor population. However, it is necessary to build up theories and technical innovations and also to understand structural boundaries for professional practice with this population group

Análise bromatológica de carnes antes e após o processamento para obtenção de charque

The process of salting and drying in the sun is used to preserve meat since the beginning of civilization. There is evidence that this preservation technique has arisen in Egypt, between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago. In our country, according to literature, was the first industrial product that gave the appearance of beef jerky, beef being produced, where about 70% to 75% of the muscle is composed of water, where it will be around 45% as a final product, according to the law in his article RIISPOA No. 432 provides that the jerky should contain no more than this amount of moisture in the muscular portion, or more than 15% of total ash with tolerance of up to 5% variation . Besides this parameter, proteins, lipids, ash, and minerals were analyzed in samples before and after the manufacturing process to know the content of these nutrients. Since these are considered important in product quality, thus the concentration in these samples, respectively, in the flesh Front (CD and CHD) before and after the manufacturing process for humidity were respectively 75.28% and 47.38% , the protein was 14.17 and 22.20 g / 100 g sample, 6.360 and 4.251 of lipids g/100g of the sample, and the ashes 0.974 9.144 g/100g sample, minerals like calcium and 4.074 30 , 06 ppm, sódio0, 055 and 5.401 g / L, sodium chloride, 0.139 and 13.74 g / L, potassium 237.5 and 166.8 ppm, 1.721 and 3.295 ppm iron, 0.143 and 0.135 ppm phosphorus, zinc and 4.690 6.905 ppm; magnésio14, 63 e13, 75 ppm manganese .017 e0, 007ppm, copper 0.057 and 0.039 ppm in the case of needle-type meat (CPA and CHPA), 68.04% and 44.17%, protein 13 , 72, and 24.42 g/100g of sample, 1.137 in the ash and 12.68 g / 100g of sample, and the minerals calcium 17.11 and 12.89 ppm; sódio0, 123 and 4.871 g / L, sodium chloride 0.312 and 12.39 g / L, potassium 305.3 and 182.1 ppm; ferro1, 817 and 1.513 ppm, 0.273 and 0.139 ppm phosphorus, zinc 6.305 and 4.783 ppm, 27.95 and 15.85 ppm magnesium, manganese and 0.025 0.011 ppm, 0.057 and 0.143 ppm copper and chromium 0.014 and 0.068 ppm

Uma estratégia dirigida a modelos e baseada em linguagem de descrição arquitetural para linhas de produtos de software

Model-oriented strategies have been used to facilitate products customization in the software products lines (SPL) context and to generate the source code of these derived products through variability management. Most of these strategies use an UML (Unified Modeling Language)-based model specification. Despite its wide application, the UML-based model specification has some limitations such as the fact that it is essentially graphic, presents deficiencies regarding the precise description of the system architecture semantic representation, and generates a large model, thus hampering the visualization and comprehension of the system elements. In contrast, architecture description languages (ADLs) provide graphic and textual support for the structural representation of architectural elements, their constraints and interactions. This thesis introduces ArchSPL-MDD, a model-driven strategy in which models are specified and configured by using the LightPL-ACME ADL. Such strategy is associated to a generic process with systematic activities that enable to automatically generate customized source code from the product model. ArchSPLMDD strategy integrates aspect-oriented software development (AOSD), modeldriven development (MDD) and SPL, thus enabling the explicit modeling as well as the modularization of variabilities and crosscutting concerns. The process is instantiated by the ArchSPL-MDD tool, which supports the specification of domain models (the focus of the development) in LightPL-ACME. The ArchSPL-MDD uses the Ginga Digital TV middleware as case study. In order to evaluate the efficiency, applicability, expressiveness, and complexity of the ArchSPL-MDD strategy, a controlled experiment was carried out in order to evaluate and compare the ArchSPL-MDD tool with the GingaForAll tool, which instantiates the process that is part of the GingaForAll UML-based strategy. Both tools were used for configuring the products of Ginga SPL and generating the product source code