Efeitos de fungicidas alternativos em folhas de Carthamus tinctorius L. (Asteraceae), potencial espécie para cultivo em agricultura familiar

The currently main development model on global society is driven by an economic rationality that endangers the environment and social justice. More and more, attention to this way of production and consumption is increasing, boosting research for sustainable development, with an environmental rationality that can harmonize nature preservation and welfare of all socioeconomic classes. One of the efforts on this sense is changing the sources supplying the energy demand, replacing fossil fuels for renewable and cleaner sources, such as biofuels. Carthamus tinctorius (safflower) is an oilseed crop with potential for biodiesel production, with good oil yield and chemical profile, allied to good adaptation to climates such like the northeastern semiarid lands of Brazil. With public policies fomentation, the use of this species may be an interesting alternative for family farming. In farming in general, the use of pesticides to prevent and combat diseases and plagues is common, which is not a sustainable practice. Thus, there are researched alternative, less dangerous substances. In this study, it was aimed to assess if neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extract (20% m/v) and Bordeaux mixture (copper sulfate) have effects on safflower. It was also aimed to verify acceptance of farmers on safflower crop in Apodi, a municipality in Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil, in view of it being localized in the aimed region for this crop cultivation. Besides that, understanding that the farmers’ knowledge and inclination to adopt the crop is fundamental for the introduction of this species and socioeconomic growth due to its exploration. In addition, a booklet with basic information on safflower was produced. In the field experiment, the fungicides were pulverized on plants cultivated in field experimental plots, with collection of leaf samples for analysis on anatomy, cuticle, and epicuticular wax morphology, the protective layer that interfaces with the surrounding ambient. In Apodi, forty-five farmers from Potiguar Cooperative of Apiculture and Sustainable Rural Development (COOPAPI) underwent semi-structured interviews, which also addressed their assessment on currently cultivated crops and perception of pesticide uses and sustainable alternatives. After comparing using analysis of variance, it was found that there was no difference between treatments in the experiment, as well as no anatomical or morphological modifications. Safflower acceptation among farmers was wide, with 84% of interviewees believing in a perspective of good incomes. The current scenario, comprised of low crop diversity, fragile in face of droughts and plagues, can partially explain this opinion. The booklet was effective in catching people attention for the species potential. There was wide acknowledgement on the importance of alternative pesticides, justified by health security. Based on the assessed parameter in the results of this research, the treatments here utilized may be recommended as fungicides for safflower. Given the crop susceptibility to fungi in heavy rainy period, it is advised that its potential introduction on the region shall be focused on semiarid areas.

Síntese e impregnação de peneiras moleculares Fe MCM-41 derivada de sílica da casca do arroz

The mesoporous molecular sieves of the MCM-41 and FeMCM-41 type are considered promissory as support for metals used as catalysts in oil-based materials refine processes and as adsorbents for environmental protection proposes. In this work MCM-41 and FeMCM41 were synthesized using rice husk ash - RHA as alternative to the conventional silica source. Hydrothermal synthesis was the method chosen to prepare the materials. Pre-defined synthesis parameters were 100°C for 168 hours, later the precursor was calcinated at 550°C for 2 hours under nitrogen and air flow. The sieves containing different proportions of iron were produced by two routes: introduction of iron salt direct synthesis; and a modification post synthesis consisting in iron salt 1 % and 5% impregnation in the material followed by thermal decomposition. The molecular sieves were characterized by X ray diffraction XRD, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy FT-IR, X ray fluorescence spectroscopy XFR, scanning electronic microscopy SEM, specific surface area using the BET method, Termogravimetry TG. The kinetic model of Flynn Wall was used with the aim of determining the apparent activation energy of the surfactant remove (CTMABr) in the MCM- 41 porous. The analysis made possible the morphology characterization, identifying the presence of hexagonal structure typical for mesoporous materials, as well as observation of the MCM41 and iron of characteristic bands.

Obtenção de filtro cerâmico a partir da diatomita e casca de arroz carbonizada visando tratamento de efluente têxtil

The effluents released by the textile industry have high concentrations of alkali, carbohydrates, proteins, in addition to colors containing heavy metals. Therefore, a filter was prepared aiming primarily to the removal of color. In order to prepare this filter, rice hulls and diatomite were used, which have in their structure, basically amorphous hydrated silica. The silica exists in three crystalline forms: quartz, tridymite and cristobalite. In accordance with the above considerations, this study was divided into two stages; the first corresponds to the preparation of the filter and the second to carry out the tests in the effluent/filter in order to verify the efficiency of the color removal. First, the raw material was subjected to a chemical analysis and XRD, and then the diatomite was mixed, via humid, with a planetarium windmill with 20 %, 40 %, 60 % and 80 % of rice husk ash. To the mixture, 5 % carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was added as a binder at room temperature. The samples were uniaxially compacted into metallic matrix of 0.3 x 0.1 cm² of area at a pressure of 167 MPa by means of hydraulic press and then sintered at temperatures of 1,000 °C, 1,200 °C and 1,400 °C for 1 h and submitted to granulometry test using laser, linear retraction, water absorption, apparent porosity and resistance to bending, DTA, TMA and XRD. To examine the pore structure of the samples scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used. Also tests were carried out in a mercury porosimeter to verify the average size of the pores and real density of the samples. In the second stage, samples of the effluent were collected from a local industry, whose name will be preserved, located in Igapó, in the State of Rio Grande do Norte - RN. The effluent was first pretreated before filtration and then subjected to a treatment of flotation. The effluent was then characterized before and after filtration, with parameters of color, turbidity, suspended solids, pH, chemical and biochemical oxygen demand (COD and BOD). Thus, through the XRD analysis the formation of cristobalite α in all samples was observed. The best average size of pore was found to be 1.75 μm with 61.04 % apparent porosity, thus obtaining an average 97.9 % color removal and 99.8 % removal of suspended solid

Análise do estado da arte dos aspectos diagnóticos, periciais e jurisprudenciais das LER/DORT no contexto previdenciário das doenças do trabalho no Brasil

Objetivo: analisar o estado da arte dos aspectos diagnósticos, periciais e jurisprudenciais das LER/DORT (Lesões por Esforços Repetitivos / Distúrbios Osteomusculares Relacionados ao Trabalho) no Brasil. Materiais e Método: trata-se de pesquisa descritiva, de natureza qualitativa, com formato documental, utilizando-se a técnica de análise de conteúdo. A avaliação evolutiva da legislação previdenciária relacionada as LER/DORT foi realizada através da pesquisa no banco de dados disponibilizado pelo Governo Federal e mediante a consulta ao DATAPREV/Sislex. A avaliação dos aspectos diagnósticos foi instrumentalizada através, principalmente, de artigos científicos publicados entre 2003 e 2008, nas línguas portuguesa, inglesa, espanhola e francesa, relacionados com os métodos de diagnósticos complementares das LER-DORT (ressonância magnética, tomografia computadorizada, ultrassonografia e eletroneuromiografia). As jurisprudências foram obtidas através da busca dos julgados sobre o tema, entre 2003 e 2008, pertencentes ao Supremo Tribunal Federal, Superior Tribunal de Justiça, Tribunais Regionais Federais, Tribunal Superior do Trabalho e Tribunais Regionais do Trabalho. Resultados: foram identificados 48 artigos abordando os aspectos diagnósticos das LER-DORT, observando-se que os exames por ressonância magnética, ultrassonografia e eletromiografia demonstraram ser mais efetivos, dentro das suas especificidades, para a complementação do exame clínico de patologias relacionadas às LER-DORT. A análise das 123 jurisprudências selecionadas demonstrou, de forma geral, que as LER-DORT equiparam-se ao acidente de trabalho, devendo apresentar nexo de causalidade (atestado através de laudo médico-pericial) e, ainda, ensejam a ação por danos morais, a qual, devido à EC nº 45 passou a ser competência da Justiça do Trabalho. O Estado da arte dos aspectos periciais encontra-se representado pela vigência da Instrução Normativa n. 98/2003, a qual traz como aspecto fundamental a determinação de novos parâmetros a serem considerados na definição de um quadro de LER-DORT, dispondo, ainda, sobre a conduta ética que deve ser adotada pelo médico perito, bem como chama a atenção para a necessidade dessas doenças do trabalho serem comunicadas às autoridadades competentes, através da emissão da Comunicação de Acidente de Trabalho (CAT). Conclusão: as LER-DORT representam, hoje, um problema de importante impacto, não apenas previdenciário, mas também econômico em diversos países, nos quais o Brasil encontra-se inserido. Estudos sobre o estado da arte relacionados às LER-DORT são fundamentais para auxiliar na construção de um modelo crítico e consciente que colabore com a garantia de sustentabilidade do sistema previdenciário no Brasil

Sistemas de informação geográfica e análise espacial de dados como ferramentas para determinação de agregação espacial de doenças: a hanseníase como modelo

This work demonstrates the importance of using tools used in geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial data analysis (SDA) for the study of infectious diseases. Analysis methods were used to describe more fully the spatial distribution of a particular disease by incorporating the geographical element in the analysis. In Chapter 1, we report the historical evolution of these techniques in the field of human health and use Hansen s disease (leprosy) in Rio Grande do Norte as an example. In Chapter 2, we introduced a few basic theoretical concepts on the methodology and classified the types of spatial data commonly treated. Chapters 3 and 4 defined and demonstrated the use of the two most important techniques for analysis of health data, which are data point processes and data area. We modelled the case distribution of Hansen s disease in the city of Mossoró - RN. In the analysis, we used R scripts and made available routines and analitical procedures developed by the author. This approach can be easily used by researchers in several areas. As practical results, major risk areas in Mossoró leprosy were detected, and its association with the socioeconomic profile of the population at risk was found. Moreover, it is clearly shown that his approach could be of great help to be used continuously in data analysis and processing, allowing the development of new strategies to work might increase the use of such techniques in data analysis in health care

Avaliação dos parâmetros hematológicos e imunofenotípicos de pacientes com doenças linfoproliferativas crônicas no Rio Grande do Norte

Chronic lymphoproliferative disorders (DLPC) are lymphoid system diseases characterized by the abnormal proliferation of mature lymphocytes that affect B cells, T lymphocytes and NK cells. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the relevance of immunophenotyping by flow cytometry in patients with prolonged lymphocytosis and / or cytomorphological changes compatible with lymphoproliferative diseases. In this study 460 patients (244 men and 216 women) with DLPC were evaluated. Were analyzed by flow cytometry with a panel of monoclonal antibodies consisting of CD3, CD4, CD5, CD8, CD10, CD19, CD22, CD23, CD25, CD38, CD45, CD16/CD56, and HLADR heavy and light chains of immunoglobulins. It also examines information regarding age, gender of patients and laboratory data as leucocytes, cytomorphological analysis, platelet count and hemoglobin determination. The results showed 398 cases of chronic lymphoproliferative disorders and 62 of DLPC B cell lymphoproliferative diseases T. B showed the following distribution : 253 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), 42 cases of multiple myeloma ( MM ), 37 cases of lymphoma non - Hodgkin lymphoma in leukemic phase (NHL) , 17 cases of pro- B lymphocytic leukemia ( B -PLL), 15 cases of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL ), 12 cases of plasma cell leukemia ( PCL), 9 cases of lymphoma Burkitt (Linf B), 8 cases of leukemia villous cells ( LCV), 3 cases of splenic lymphoma with villous cells (LECV), a case of follicular lymphoma (LF) and a Waldenströn macroglobulinemia ( MW). The diseases source NK / T were 23 cases of peripheral T cell lymphoma (LCTP), 14 cases of T prolymphocytic leukemia (T -PLL), 10 cases of leukemia T of large granular lymphocytes (LGL -T) 9 cases of leukemia cells of adult T (LCTA), 5 cases of Sezary syndrome (SS) and a case of large granular NK leukemia (LGL -NK) lymphocytes. In conclusion, the combined use of the monoclonal antibody panel careful cytomorphological analysis was shown to be essential in immune diagnosis and classification of chronic lymphoproliferative disorders. This study was approved by the IRB - HUOL under number 356 / 09

"Reforma urbana já"; "arroz, feijão, saúde e habitação" :A luta por moradia na grande João Pessoa

Our object of study in this work concerns to the movement of fight for the housing in the Great João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil, and looks for to investigate the conditions and context of the occupations of building, public or private, for devoid populations that do not have where to live. Front to the absence of politics effective directed to the habitation or the cities, in a picture of unemployment and impoverishment of the population, the result of the habitation point of view, is the absolute lack of popular housings, the degradation of the cities and the growth of the number of homeless and also of its occupations. The urban occupations today represent a reply of these devoid populations that from an involvement with parties or Not Governmental Organizations, and social movements leave for the class action known by the occupation of abandoning public or private buildings. These occupations, even so initially if assume as pressure instrument or of visibility for attainment of housings, for the delay in obtaining the attention of the public agencies and a solution for the problem, becomes definitive or is drawn out per many years. E this if gives although the deficiencies, of the accumulation or families neither in an adequate, always precarious space nor in sanitary installations, that the necessary privacy does not allow. The study it consisted of an empirical research, through the participant comment and open and half-open interviews, and counted on the audiovisual register of two occupations, one in the downtown of João Pessoa City (old building of the INSS, in the Ponto dos Cem Réis) and other (Community of the Cajueiro), next to the Beach "Praia do Jacaré", in the city of Cabedelo.The choice of the Visual Anthropology as research instrument is on to a concern in better translating other ways of life, therefore the accomplishment of the video in allows them to know with more precision the reality where the citizens of the research live. We also use as methodological resource in the research the deepened interview, in intention to better understand the description of the way of life of the studied families and the movements of fight for the housing, particularly the MDM - Movement of Right for the Housing, and the MNLM- Nacional Movement of Fight for the Housing

Associação entre consumo alimentar e atividade física com a síndrome metabólica em mulheres na pós-menopausa

Post-menopause is characterized as the period beginning one year after the permanent cessation of menstrual cycles, which is typically related to medical disorders that, in association with Metabolic Syndrome (MS), represent a set of cardiovascular risk factors. Objective: To assess dietary intake and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women, according to the level of physical activity. Methods: The sample consisted of 82 women, evaluated in the Northern Zone of the city of Natal / RN who were participants in the Natal Active Program. People completed a Food Frequency Consumption Questionnaire (FFCQ) and were interviewed about physical activity. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical tests were used to diagnose MS (Metabolic Syndrome). Result: The active women consumed more protective foods (flaxseed, nuts, whole wheat bread, brown rice and olive oil) than inactive women. Risky foods (sugar, crackers, white bread, white rice, margarine and beef) were consumed more by the group of inactive women. The prevalence of MS was higher in inactive women (53.30%) than in physically active women (46.70%). Conclusion: Active post-menopausal women had a higher daily intake of protective foods in relation to cardiovascular disease, while the inactive post-menopausal women had higher intake of risky foods for such diseases

Atuação do enfermeiro na estratégia de atenção integrada às doenças prevalentes na infância

This study aimed to describe nurses' actions in the strategy of Integrated Management of Childhood Illness in the city of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. This is a qualitative study with descriptive approach. The universe consisted of nurses from the Family Health Strategy, totaling 16 participants. For the research project was submitted for approval by the Ethics Committee of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, obtaining Opinion No. 187/2012. Data were obtained in two ways: a questionnaire survey to profile the training of nurses and an interview guided by a structured interview. Interviews were treated in the light of analysis of thematic category Bardin. The results showed the central thematic study "Integrated Management of Childhood Illness in the context of nursing activities" category and three analyzes: "Understanding the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness", "Difficulties invibializam use IMCI "and" Working conditions for nurses in the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness. " It is observed that nurses consider the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness useful, effective and important to keep sick children within the logic curative. However disregard the character of health promotion and disease prevention thereof. It was found that the participants still hold the attendance of crinaças within the biomedical model and that these same professionals are subjected to increasingly precarious working conditions and unhealthy due to lack of human and material resources. It was found that the interviewees do not follow the protocols of strategy because of barriers related to prescription medications by nurses, the medical, the lack of incentives, training and supervision by the municipal health and the Regional Nursing Council

Trajetos no labirinto: história de vida dos portadores de doenças oncológicas em uso de transfusões sanguíneas na cidade de Natal/RN

The studies paths in the maze: life story of individuals with oncological diseases into use of blood transfusion in Natal has the hemotherapy as a primordial procedure to review the relationship between users of oncological health and the due ramifications. The hemotherapy looks for supply the organic needs through blood transfusion, which acquires vital function to the ones that have cancer, because it might reestablish the functionality of the organism throughout the raising of blood components. The impact over the transfusion affects emotionally and physically the users life. Aiming to reflect on these impacts, this study tried, through narratives of lives, rescue their experience since their knowledge of the disease until the time of blood transfusion using. It s about an exploratory-descriptive study, where the qualitative approach uses the theoretical-methodological reference of the oral life history to analyze a colony consisting of five users of health diagnosed with cancer, with achievement of at least three blood transfusions, the clinic Núcleo de Hematologia e Hemoterapia - UFRN, in Natal-RN. The network, in turn, was composed by employees of both sexes, regardless of age, who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. The data collection, with approval of the Ethics Committee in Research, Liga Norte Riograndense Contra o Cancer, on the number 001/001/2012, occurred through semi-structured interviews, recorded individually in the home context that was previously chosen by employees. The methodological procedure occurred with the transcription of the interviews and their transcreations, and analysis of reports by thematic content analysis. At the reading orientation and interpretation of the employees stories, were discussed three categories of analysis: the impact on psychological REVIEW; impact on socialization and group membership, the environment and the impact of blood transfusion on treatment. Based on the narrative of the life histories of employees, we conclude that the experiences and feelings, hope and sorrow, pain and faith, even when facing a disease like cancer, bring lots of teaching and learning to health professional that deposits humanization health and reinstate hemotherapy forms of clinical critical

Doenças sem doentes: Ocorrência de Distúrbios Osteomusculares Relacionados ao Trabalho DORT nos operadores de caixa de um banco

The changes incurred in the financial system with the introduction of new technologies and new forms of administration of banks has caused impact on the health of workers. These changes, which passed in the process of work, generate a combined share of the risk factors that result in numerous injuries and illnesses among banks, notably between the operators of banks tellers. The Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disordes - WRMD represent a group of occupational diseases always present among these workers. Because of its high incidence and the amount of financial resour envolved to manage the problem has been the object of constant study. This paper aims to analyze the bank teller activity; search the occurrence of WRMD in the activity, identifying the factors determining the occurrence of WRMD in the activity and determine the real number of touchs on a keyboard made by the operator and propose solutions that influence the reduction of illness in the workplace of the bank teller. Methodological tools of ergonomics are used to provide a broad knowledge of aspects of work that have been studied and influential in the generation of occupational diseases studied. It was found that activity put workers to serious risk of occupational diseases. As the main contributory factors and determinants for this illness: the requirements and control the numbers daily endorsements; evaluation system based on performance targets for productivity; management system at time of service to customers; work with stressful factors (broken box); excess of time worked; furniture of workstations with ergonomic inadequacies and policy for the prevention of occupational diseases inefficient. They have also noted cases of illness for DORT workers without fulfilling the legal requirement of the issuance of the communication of labour accident and without the removal of the employee of the workplace

Obtenção de biodiesel através da transesterificação do óleo de farelo de arroz utilizando KI/Al2O3

This study proposes to find a biodiesel through transesterification of rice bran oil with KI/Al2O3 checking the influence of two types of alumina (Amorphous and Crystalline) for conversion into methyl esters. The catalyst was synthesized by the wet impregnation method. Adding 30 mL of 35% KI(aq.) in 10 g of alumina, under stirring at 80 °C for 3 hours. The reaction conditions used in this study were optimized, with a molar ratio methanol:oil of 15:1, 8 h of reaction time and reflux temperature. The catalyst amount was varied in the range of 1 to 5 % wt. The solid catalysts materials were analyzed by: x-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG), N2 adsorption/desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and basicity, for the identification of its structure and composition, verifying the presence of basic sites. The results showed that Al2O3(A) presents an amorphous structure, high surface area and a better catalytic activity, in relation to the catalyst synthesized with Al2O3(C) support that proved to have a more crystalline structure, having as well, a lesser surface area, enabling difficulties for the incorporation of active sites. The obtained biodiesel with 5% wt. KI/Al2O3(A) presented physicochemical properties within the standards specified by the Resolution No 7/2008 ANP and obtained the best reaction yield with 95.2%, according to quantitative measurement from the TG, which showed 96.2% conversion into methyl esters. It was furthermore found that with the increasing amount of the quantity of the catalyst in the reaction, there was also an increase in the ester content obtained. The specific mass and the kinematic viscosity were reduced with the increase of the amount of quantity of the catalyst, indicating an increase in the conversion of triglycerides

Condição peri-implantar e fatores associados às doenças peri-implantares em pacientes reabilitados no serviço odontológico da faculdade de odontologia da UFRN

A introdução dos implantes dentários osseointegrados como uma ferramenta na reabilitação oral de pacientes edêntulos e parcialmente edêntulos é uma realidade no cotidiano do cirurgião-dentista. Estudos reportam uma alta taxa de sucesso da utilização de implantes no tratamento reabilitador. Entretanto, outras investigações têm mostrado a perda desses implantes devido a infecções peri-implantares, como a mucosite e a peri-implantite. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a frequência das doenças peri-implantares e seus fatores associados em pacientes com implantes dentais em função reabilitados no serviço odontológico da Faculdade de Odontologia da UFRN. Foram examinados 155 indivíduos portadores de 523 implantes e 2718 dentes. Dentes e implantes foram avaliados por meio de sondagem periodontal, observando-se a profundidade de sondagem, retração gengival, bem como foram avaliados índices de placa visível (IPV) e sangramento gengival (ISG) e presença de supuração. Os dados foram armazenados em fichas clínicas e avaliados estatisticamente por meio da estatística descritiva e inferencial. A idade média dos pacientes foi de 54,05 (± 12,61) anos, sendo 79,4% do sexo feminino. As frequências da mucosite, peri-implantite e periodontite em indivíduos foram 54%, 28% e 50%, respectivamente. Dos 523 implantes avaliados, 43% tinham mucosite, 14% peri-implantite e 43% saúde. Os testes Qui-quadrado de Pearson e Exato de Fisher mostraram que as doenças peri-implantares estão associadas as doenças periodontais, uso de medicação, alterações sistêmicas número de implantes, IPV, ISG, ao tempo de função das próteses, região do implante, número de roscas expostas e faixa de mucosa queratinizada (p<0,05). A análise de regressão múltipla, através da regressão binária logística, constatou que indivíduos que faziam uso de medicação (OR = 1,784), com um ISG > 10% (OR = 1,742), com implantes instalados na maxila (OR = 2,654), onde a prótese sobre o implante tinham mais de 2 anos em função (OR = 3,144) e que radiograficamente apresentavam uma perda óssea atingindo a terceira rosca do implante (OR = 4,701) mostram uma associação positiva com as doenças peri-implantares de maneira que esses indivíduos têm mais chances de ter essas doenças. Os resultados sugerem que a frequência das doenças peri-implantares na população em estudo foi de 82% dos pacientes e que estas doenças estão associadas a fatores relacionados aos indivíduos como: a presença da doença periodontal, piores IPV e IS, alterações sistêmicas, uso de medicação e maior número de implantes; e a fatores locais relacionados aos implantes como: ausência ou faixa de mucosa menor que 2mm, implantes na maxila e na região anterior, perda óssea atingindo a terceira rosca do implante e a um tempo de reabilitação prótetica maior que 2 anos

Doenças respiratórias associadas à atividade de mineração no município de Parelhas, região do seridó norte-riograndense

This work aims to characterize the workers in mineral activities exposed to lung injuries in Parelhas Municipality, Rio Grande do Norte State, seeking to relate respiratory diseases to the mining activity. The studied area (Parelhas City), with about 19,700 inhabitants, is located in the Serido region, approximately 232 km far from Natal City. The number of people involved in informal mining activity (garimpo) in the Seridó region reaches about 5,000. These workers generally do not use any kind of individual protection equipments and develop, at early ages of greater productivity, severe forms of diseases, which end up disabling them to professional activities, family and social life. Deceases by respiratory problems (e.g. silicosis) have been reported in very young adults. A descriptive observational study was conducted based on information from the records found in Dr. José Augusto Dantas Hospital, between the years 1996- 2006. The occupational and socio-economic features of the population, which was selected by using the hospital records, were achieved through individually answered forms. The purpose was to link the occupational activities with the respiratory diseases. The next stage of the research was an observational case-control study, in the 1:1 proportion. The achieved data allowed confirming the central hypothesis of the research, which states that the pneumoconiosis cases are due to the mineral-based activities in the studied area. The final step of the investigation tried to assess the knowledge of relatives of students in public and private elementary and high schools from Parelhas City, regarding silicosis. About 15.4% of urban schools were analyzed through application of a structured questionnaire. The results show distinct socio-economic levels and a difference in the perception of the relatives of students in public and private schools, concerning silicosis. It was possible to identify the characteristics of the population economically involved with mineral-based activities and to define the group that deserves preferential attention in preventive actions. The work indicates some environmental problems caused by inadequate mining operations in the region

Culicídeos vetores em uma unidade de conservação da caatinga na região do seridó no Rio Grande do Norte aspectos da transmissão de doenças

The scarcity of occurrence records of culicid species, transmitting insects of etiologic agents for arboviruses, protozoan diseases and philarioses, and lack of information about their interactions with the forest environment make the Caatinga one of the most unknown biomes in Brazil. The aim of this study was to identify culicid species in a conservation unit located in a preserved area of the Caatinga and the possible associations with local abiotic factors, as well as characterize the natural and artificial ecotopes present in the Caatinga of Rio Grande do Norte state. The Ecological Station of Serido (ESEC-Seridó) is a Caatinga Conservation Unit located in a rural area of Rio Grande do Norte. The hot and dry climate of the Caatinga, along with a short rainy season, favor the adaptation and resistance of plants, resulting in completely distinct landscapes over the course of the year. The study took place over the course of one year, with monthly collections between 10h-12h, 14h-16h and 18h-20h. Adult mosquitoes were collected in a forest area using a manual suction trap with human bait as attractant at the three times and a Shannon trap for night collections. During the rainy season ovitraps were randomly distributed at different sites. The different capture sites were observed and photographed. Immature and adult insects captured were taken to the laboratory for identification. Of the 5081 insects collected in human-bait and Shannon traps, 75% were Mansonia wilsoni. In addition, Aedeomyia, Aedes, Anopheles, Coquillettidia, Culex, Haemagogus, Mansonia and Psorophora were identified. Of the 92 Haemagogus eggs found, 71 were collected on the banks of a reservoir. Mosquito larvae were found and photographed in an artificial breeding site of a neighboring rural area. Humidity had the greatest influence on culicid density in the Caatinga. Rain was important in the appearance of Haemagogus, Anopheles, Aedes and Psorophora. Temperature had a negative influence on Anopheles triannulatus. The occurence of important vector species of diseases in a little known preserved area of the Caatinga as well as environmental and sociocultural questions are factors that favor the emergence of transmitting insects, making these areas potential subject to the resurgence of diseases