Early termination of R&D projects

Early project termination is one of the most difficult decisions to be made by Research and Development managers. While there is the risk of terminating good projects, there is also the opposite risk of not terminating bad projects and overspend resources in unproductive research. Criteria used for identifying these projects are common subject of research in Business Administration. In addition, companies might take important lessons from its interrupted projects that could improve their overall portfolio technical and commercial success. Finally, the set and weight of criteria, as well as the procedures companies use for achieve learning from cancelled projects may vary depending on the project type. This research intends to contribute to the understanding of policies applied to projects that were once considered attractive, but by some reason is not appreciated anymore. The research addressed the question: How companies deal with projects that become unattractive? More specifically, this research tried to answer the following questions: (1) Are projects killed or (otherwise) they die naturally by lack of resources? (2) What criteria are used to terminate projects during development? (3) How companies learn from the terminated projects to improve the overall portfolio performance? (4) Are the criteria and learning procedures different for different types of projects? In order to answer these questions, we performed a multiple case study with four companies that are reference in business administration and innovation: (1) Oxiteno, considered the base case, (2) Natura, the literal replication, (3) Mahle and (4) AES, the theoretical replications. The case studies were performed using a semi-structured protocol for interviews, which were recorded and analyzed for comparison. We found that the criteria companies use for selecting projects for termination are very similar to those anticipated by the literature, except for a criteria related to compliance. We have evidences to confirm that the set of criteria is not altered when dealing with different project types, however the weight they are applied indeed varies. We also found that learning with cancelled projects is yet very incipient, with very few structured formal procedures being described for capturing learning with early-terminated projects. However, we could observe that these procedures are more common when dealing with projects labeled as innovative, risky, big and costly, while those smaller and cheaper derivative projects aren\'t subject of a complete investigation on the learning they brought to the company. For these, the most common learning route is the informal, where the project team learns and passes the knowledge though interpersonal information exchange. We explain that as a matter of cost versus benefit of spending time to deeply investigate projects with little potential to bring new knowledge to the project team and the organization

Análise biomecânica de resistência à fratura em dentes caninos artificiais de cães, com restauração metálica fundida e retentores intrarradiculares retos e curvos com núcleo - Estudo comparativo com análise por elementos finitos

Os cães, por fatores diversos, acabam por apresentar dentes fraturados com ou sem exposição de polpa. Estas fraturas basicamente são identificadas como fraturas recuperáveis não complicadas, recuperáveis complicadas ou irrecuperáveis. As fraturas recuperáveis (localizadas apenas no esmalte e dentina) são tratadas com dentística restauradora. As recuperáveis complicadas (com lesões em esmalte, dentina e exposição do canal radicular) passam por tratamento endodôntico, podendo ser seguidas de restaurações metálicas. Os dentes mais comumente acometidos são os dentes caninos, superiores ou inferiores. Este trabalho em dentes artificiais simulando considerável destruição de sua porção coronal objetivou testar, após a adaptação da restauração metálica fundida, a resistência às fraturas no dente canino. Os dentes artificiais foram padronizados com uma técnica de replicação de raízes artificiais em molde de resina acrílica quimicamente ativada. Oitenta réplicas iguais de resina composta fotopolimerizável, padronizadas em tamanho e forma, foram construídas a partir desta técnica. Antes da reconstrução protética, aplicou-se o tratamento endodôntico, desobturação, preparo do canal radicular e moldagem. Proteticamente, um pino intrarradicular reto e outro curvo, ambos com núcleo para sustentar a coroa metálica fundida foram cimentados na porção coronal de cada raiz-réplica. Os núcleos e coroa metálica foram ambos ferulados ou estojados. Avaliou-se os dois tipos de restauração com pino intrarradicular curvos ou retos cimentados com cimento de fosfato de zinco ou resinoso para identificar o melhor conjunto restaurador. Os testes de resistência biomecânica de 80 raízes-réplicas foram divididos em 4 grupos com 20 corpos de prova para cada um dos grupos. Grupo 1: das raízes-réplicas com pino intrarradicular curvo cimentados com cimento resinoso. Grupo 2: das raízes-réplicas com pino intrarradicular curvo cimentados com cimento de fosfato de zinco. Grupo 3: das raízes-réplicas com pino intrarradicular reto cimentados com cimento resinoso. Grupo 4: das raízes-réplicas com pino intrarradicular reto cimentados com cimento de fosfato de zinco. Estes grupos foram submetidos a teste de força com pré-carga de 1,5 N, com velocidade de avanço constante de 0,05 mm por minuto em ponto pré- determinado (mésio-lateral vestibularizada) até ocorrência de fratura do conjunto ou parte dele em uma Máquina Universal Kratos. Com a avaliação biomecânica e estudo estatístico de Kruskall-Wallis, identificou-se que os dados obtidos não seguiram distribuição normal. Esta diferença mostrou-se com o p<0,05 na interpretação do teste. No caso de dados não paramétricos o post-hoc do Kruskal-Wallis foi o teste de U de Mann-Withney. Paralelamente, um estudo com análise de elementos finitos comparou os resultados obtidos. Não houve diferença significativa sobre o tipo de cimento utilizado ou que favorecesse o uso do pino reto ou do pino curvo, recaindo a escolha para o operador decidir de acordo com a melhor indicação para cada caso clínico

Estreitar laços com solidariedade e saúde: um projeto no âmbito do envelhecimento ativo e da solidariedade entre gerações

Atualmente a nossa sociedade depara-se com diversos problemas sociais, como o envelhecimento populacional, a mudança de padrões económicos e de bem-estar seguros, a dissolvência das estruturas familiares e o isolamento social dos idosos. Com o objetivo de minimizar esta tendência, pretendemos promover a prática intergeracional visando unir as pessoas em atividades propositadas, mutuamente benéficas, que promovam uma maior compreensão e respeito entre gerações, contribuindo para a construção de comunidades mais coesas. Participantes. Um grupo de 17 jovens alunos da turma C do 7º ano de escolaridade da Escola Básica e Secundária de Ourém e um grupo de 15 utentes da Universidade Sénior de Ourém. Método. Os participantes realizaram, em conjunto, ações em diversas áreas como o voluntariado, solidariedade, promoção da saúde e qualidade de vida em cooperação entre gerações. Com o apoio das várias entidades locais, estes tornaram-se mentores e dinamizadores de diversas ações, incentivando os seus pares numa perspetiva aglutinadora a envolverem-se nas diferentes iniciativas inerentes ao Projeto ELSS - Estreitar Laços com Solidariedade e Saúde. Resultados. Com este projeto desenvolveu-se uma comunidade ativa, envolvida num conjunto de boas práticas, tendo em vista o envelhecimento ativo e a prática de atividades intergeracionais, incentivando o envelhecimento saudável e pró-ativo. Através do estudo efetuado evidenciamos que após a sua implementação, o aumento da perceção da felicidade por parte dos seniores aumentou. Desenvolvemos uma comunidade sustentável através de diversas ações comunitárias e sociais com impacto sobre a população. As atividades intergeracionais que se concretizaram, foram significativas e tiveram um contributo importante na vida dos jovens e seniores. Conclusões. Os resultados obtidos foram muito satisfatórios; o projeto teve uma projeção e adesão surpreendentes, que evidenciam a importância da sua continuidade no mesmo local, ou com possível replicação em comunidades com caraterísticas idênticas.

Imunosenescência

Dissertação para obtenção do grau de Mestre no Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz

Metagenoma de comunidades microbianas expostas à radiação natural e a metais

Many species have specialized to live in the most varied existing environments showing the remarkable adaptability of the microbial world the most diverse physicochemical conditions. Environments exposed to natural radiation and metals are scarce around the world, presenting a microbiota still unknown. With a total number estimated between 4 and 6 x 1030 microrganisms on earth, they constitute an enormous biological and genetic pool to be explored. Metagenomic approach independent of cultivation, provides a new form to access to the potential genomic environmental samples becoming a powerful tool for the elucidation of ecological functions, metabolic profiles, as well as to identify new biomolecules. In this context, the genetic material of environmental soil and water samples from Açude Boqueirao Parelhas-RN, under the influence of natural radiation and the presence of metals, was extracted, pirosequencing and the generated sequences were analyzed by bioinformatics programs (MG-RAST and STAMP). Taxonomic comparative profiles of both samples showed high abundance of Domain Bacteria, followed by a small portion attributable to Eucaryota Domains, Archaea and Viruses. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacterioidetes phyla showed the greater dominance in both samples. Important genera and species associated with resistance to various stressors found in region were observed. Sequences related to oxidative and heat stress, DNA replication and repair, and resistance to toxic compounds were observed, suggesting a significant relationship between the microbiota and their metabolic profile, influenced by regional environmental variables. The results of this study add valuable and unpublished data on the composition of microbial communities in these regions

O projeto arquitetônico e a antecipação do projeto de segurança contra incêndio: interferência mútua, interação necessária

The great demand for Federal Institutions of High Education (IFES) design, triggered by the favourable political moment, boosts the public works market and brings with it the stigma of seeking the lowest cost and meet the federal Law 8.666/93 (Bids). In this context, this research makes an analysis of compliance with Fire Safety’s normative requirements in IFES’s architectural designs, taking this point as an evaluation of quality of designs. For the study, were used, IFES’s designs, specifically from UFERSA – Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido and UFRN – Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, selected by the relationship use x public served and yet, in the replication of these buildings’ construction. The research was developed through the identification of the Fire Safety applicable legislation to the designs in question, with the determination of the demanded conditions that are architect’s autonomy or that affect the architectural design. Tabulated the requirements, through data collection and measures gathered in the blueprints, was made a comparison and verification of the compliance with these. The results of this evaluation reveal that the minimum requirements was not fulfilled and that IFES’s architectural designs, taken as object in this study, certainly will suffer restrictions in their regularization process with the Fire Department. It is concluded that is necessary an improvement in the IFES’s designs to meet the minimum fire safety regulations and improvement in quality. Moreover, the results direct to the understanding that level of knowledge about Fire Safety received in undergraduate by architects is insufficient for appropriate elaboration of architectural designs in this area.

Imitating art – estratégia inovadora de educação médica: identificando desafios e possibilidades

Este estudo de caráter qualitativo, com base em metodologia pesquisa – ação, procurou descrever características funcionais da estratégia de ensino „Imitating Art”, construída com base em métodos de dramatização, solução de problemas e tempestade cerebral e alicerçada no processo de ensino de arte do conhecer, apreciar e fazer arte. Participaram da pesquisa 96 alunos do ensino em saúde com idade média de 21 anos. Com o objetivo de desenhar as características funcionais da estratégia, a mesma foi planejada, descrita, modificada e avaliada em 4 etapas: experimentação, metodização, adequação e replicação. Cada etapa foi verificada a partir de avaliação observacional pelos docentes envolvidos e análise de conteúdo sobre as respostas dos alunos participantes, em instrumento de avaliação próprio. Da fase experimental participaram 14 alunos dos quais 100 % aprovaram a estratégia. A análise de conteúdo mostrou Identificação de ferramentas cognitivas e afetivas (30,6%), características da atividade (22,2%), e mediação de trabalho em grupo (16,7%). A observação identificou ativo trabalho atitudinal em uma dinâmica de grupo criativa. Na fase de metodização participaram 31 alunos, dos quais 96,9% aprovaram a estratégia. Na análise de conteúdo, as ideias mais presentes foram, dificuldades encontradas pelos participantes (28%), identificação de ferramentas cognitivas e afetivas (17,6%), Implicação da estratégia no cotidiano profissional (13,2%) e mediação do trabalho em grupo (13,2%). Na fase de Adequação, participaram 32 alunos, dos quais 90,7% demonstraram aprovação da estratégia. A avaliação dos participantes evidenciou como mais importante a mediação do trabalho em grupo (29,6%), identificação de ferramentas cognitivas e afetivas (21,3%) e características da atividade (19,7%). A fase de replicação teve 19 alunos, dos quais 100% aprovaram a estratégia e cuja avaliação demonstrou principalmente dificuldades encontradas pelo participante (27,8%), mediação do trabalho em grupo (25%) e Habilidade criativa da atividade (22,2%). A avaliação bidimensional mostrou que se constitui como uma estratégia de abordagem ativa e colaborativa, podendo ser usada como instrumento linear de diagnóstico e incremento de competências atitudinais tais como criatividade e trabalho em grupo.

Validação de espécies de Centropomus (Centropomidae, Perciformes) do litoral do Rio Grande do Norte através de caracterização citogenética e molecular

The Centropomidae family consists of three genera, Centropomus, Lates and Psammoperca. Centropomus is the most diverse group, with six Centropomus species occur in the Western Atlantic Ocean C. poeyi Chávez, 1961, C. parallelus Poey, 1860, C. mexicanus Bocourt, 1868, C. pectinatus Poey, 1860 and C. ensiferus Poey, 1860. Some of these species are considered cryptic, because of its morphological traits showed low resolution for identification purposes. Despite showing great interest as a natural resource and fish culture, aspects of their diversity and karyotypic patterns are poorly understood. In this work morphological identification and comparison of mitochondrial 16S gene sequence were used to identify the species of the genus Centropomus occurring in Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil. Two sepecies were identified, C. undecimalis and C. mexicanus, which had the chromosomal aspects analyzed, through Classical cytogenetic method analyzes (conventional staining, C-banding, Ag-NORs), fluorochrome staining AT- and GC-specific, replication bands by incorporating of the base analog 5-Bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (5-BrdU), in situ chromosomal mapping of (TTAGGG)n sequences and in situ chromosome mapping 18S and 5S rRNA genes. Both species show 2n=48 acrocentric chromosomes, with ribosomal sites (Ag-NOR/18S rDNA/ Mitramycin+) in second chromosomal pair, in telomeric position on the long arm in C. mexicanus and interstitial in C. undecimalis. The nuclear organization pair (pair 2) shown a resolutive cytotaxonomic marker for these two species. The generated data reveal a lower species diversity than previously believed, suggesting that greater attention should be paid in taxonomic identification of the species, in view of optimize commercial actions exploitation, biological conservation and cultivation.

Efeito imunomodulador e atividade antimicrobiana de heterofucanas de Sargassum filipendula

Fucans, sulphated polysaccharides that contain L-fucose in its constitution, obtained from species of Phaeophyceae of the Sargassum kind, display several biological activities. Heterofucans from Sargassum filipendula are bioactive molecules that contain strong antiproliferative and antioxidant activity. However, their immunomodulatory and antimicrobial activities have not yet been examined. In this context, the aim of this research was to evaluate the heterofucans as for their immunomodulatory capacity and antimicrobial action against Leishmania infantum, Trichomonas vaginalis, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Klebsiella pneumonia (KPC). The five heterofucans obtained from S. filipendula show activities that are distant as stimulants of the immune system and microbial agent. The SF0.5V, SF0.7V amd SF1.0V heterofucans were capable of acting in the activation of murine and human macrophages. In addition to that, SF0.5V has shown antibiofilm activity of S. epidermides and SF0.7V and 1.0V almost completely inhibited the survival of the protozoan T. vaginalis. Results such as this one, reflect the broad range of action of the sulphated polysaccharides obtained from seaweeds, especially from the species S.filipendula

Uma proposta de solução para funcionamento offline em aplicações android

Given the growing demand for the development of mobile applications, driven by use increasingly common in smartphones and tablets grew in society the need for remote data access in full in the use of mobile application without connectivity environments where there is no provision network access at all times. Given this reality, this work proposes a framework that present main functions are the provision of a persistence mechanism, replication and data synchronization, contemplating the creation, deletion, update and display persisted or requested data, even though the mobile device without connectivity with the network. From the point of view of the architecture and programming practices, it reflected in defining strategies for the main functions of the framework are met. Through a controlled study was to validate the solution proposal, being found as the gains in reducing the number of lines code and the amount of time required to perform the development of an application without there being significant increase for the operations.

Uma proposta de solução para funcionamento offline em aplicações android

Given the growing demand for the development of mobile applications, driven by use increasingly common in smartphones and tablets grew in society the need for remote data access in full in the use of mobile application without connectivity environments where there is no provision network access at all times. Given this reality, this work proposes a framework that present main functions are the provision of a persistence mechanism, replication and data synchronization, contemplating the creation, deletion, update and display persisted or requested data, even though the mobile device without connectivity with the network. From the point of view of the architecture and programming practices, it reflected in defining strategies for the main functions of the framework are met. Through a controlled study was to validate the solution proposal, being found as the gains in reducing the number of lines code and the amount of time required to perform the development of an application without there being significant increase for the operations.

Estratégia de capacitação pedagógica do residente: uma perspectiva para melhoria do ensino na Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Studies have shown that resident informally plays the role of teacher. It is estimated that up to 25% of the residents of the time is devoted to teaching, mainly contributing as a facilitator, however, almost the entire medical residency programs in Brazil did not offer teacher training during residency education. This paper aims to introduce educational content initiation to teaching as part of the training of resident physician inserted in residency program of the University Hospital Onofre Lopes (HUOL). It is an exploratory, descriptive and prospective study in HUOL the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. Three steps were developed: preparation and planning of a pedagogic course, associated with a motivating technical content (basic and advanced life support); second stage, testing of pedagogical model for medical students; and finally, replication to residents. The interventions were made two practice stations life support with performance evaluation in practical activity through OSPE (Objective Structured Practical Examination). The techniques presented teachings were one-minute preceptor and feedback. Data collection was conducted through a structured evaluation form during the life support stations and at the end of the course, and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that the feedback and one minute preceptor were considered important for teaching and learning for more than 85% of participants. The feedback from evaluators practices stations added information about the performance and were held appreciatively way, according to 100% of the participants. Positive aspects highlighted by the participants were related to educational content, especially the participants of the first intervention. The time of the lectures of motivating technical content was the most repeated negative. Based on the good acceptance of pedagogical contents, this pioneer teacher training strategy was included in the formal residency program in Cardiology of our institution. It is considered therefore that the educational training model with motivating technical content was feasible and had a good evaluation and acceptance by most participants in both interventions. Thus, we believe that the educational content can be inserted in the formal curriculum of medical residency of other programs at HUOL through the training model developed in this study.

Estratégia de capacitação pedagógica do residente: uma perspectiva para melhoria do ensino na Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Studies have shown that resident informally plays the role of teacher. It is estimated that up to 25% of the residents of the time is devoted to teaching, mainly contributing as a facilitator, however, almost the entire medical residency programs in Brazil did not offer teacher training during residency education. This paper aims to introduce educational content initiation to teaching as part of the training of resident physician inserted in residency program of the University Hospital Onofre Lopes (HUOL). It is an exploratory, descriptive and prospective study in HUOL the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. Three steps were developed: preparation and planning of a pedagogic course, associated with a motivating technical content (basic and advanced life support); second stage, testing of pedagogical model for medical students; and finally, replication to residents. The interventions were made two practice stations life support with performance evaluation in practical activity through OSPE (Objective Structured Practical Examination). The techniques presented teachings were one-minute preceptor and feedback. Data collection was conducted through a structured evaluation form during the life support stations and at the end of the course, and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that the feedback and one minute preceptor were considered important for teaching and learning for more than 85% of participants. The feedback from evaluators practices stations added information about the performance and were held appreciatively way, according to 100% of the participants. Positive aspects highlighted by the participants were related to educational content, especially the participants of the first intervention. The time of the lectures of motivating technical content was the most repeated negative. Based on the good acceptance of pedagogical contents, this pioneer teacher training strategy was included in the formal residency program in Cardiology of our institution. It is considered therefore that the educational training model with motivating technical content was feasible and had a good evaluation and acceptance by most participants in both interventions. Thus, we believe that the educational content can be inserted in the formal curriculum of medical residency of other programs at HUOL through the training model developed in this study.

Manipulação gênica do protozoário Neospora caninum como ferramenta para o estudo das interações parasito-hospedeiro

Neospora caninum is an obligate intracellular parasite classified in the phylum Apicomplexa, characterized by the presence of the apical complex composed by micronemes proteins, rhoptries and dense granules, used by parasite during the adhesion and invasion process of the host cell. This is the mean event in infection pathogenesis generated by N. caninum and other parasites from the phylum Apicomplexa, promoting influence in the parasite biology and the interface between the parasite and its host. Therefore, molecular tools have been developed in order to identify and characterize these possible virulence factors. Thus, the present study sought to establish a specific system of genetic manipulation of N. caninum, searching for the improvement of the genetics manipulation of this parasite. So, we developed genetically depleted N. caninum to Rop9 rhoptry using the pU6-Universal CRISPR-Cas9 plasmid of T. gondii modified by the insertion of Ku80. The Rop9 depleted parasite showed important during initial phase of invasion and replication of the parasite, however it was not characterized as a potential virulence fator for N. caninum. Furthermore, T. gondii proteins were expressed in N. caninum by the use of specific vectors for this parasite, showing an heterologous system for the study of Toxoplasma proteins, due to the fact that Gra15 or Gra24 of type II T. gondii and Rop16 of type I T. gondii were expressed in N. caninum tachyzoites in a stable way and keept its biological phenotype, as already presented the former parasite, that naturaly expresses these proteins. In addition, it was observed that N. caninum induced an inflammasome activation through NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1. IL-1R/MyD88 demonstrated an indirect pathway in the control of parasite replication. Furthermore, it was observed that this activation is dependent of the potassium efflux and that different strains of N. caninum keep this activation profile. However, T. gondii strains block this activation, making necessary a prior signal in order to active the inflamosome pathway. Type I T. gondii Rop16 was identified as responsible for blocking this activation, in a dependent way to the STAT3 activation. Therefore, the development of molecular tools and their application in N. caninum may prove to be useful to identify and characterize virulent factors involved in the pathogenesis by these two protozoans.

Identidade regional no cluster comercial da rua Oscar Freire

O objetivo desta pesquisa é verificar manifestações de identidade regional no aglomerado comercial da Rua Oscar Freire. Para os fins propostos, definem-se como componentes da identidade regional sua caracterização empírica, sua imagem e as percepções dos atores em relação à sua existência, bem como sua identificação com o cluster e a disposição para atuar em prol de seu desenvolvimento. A pesquisa é de caráter exploratório e os dados foram obtidos mediante análise de documentos, entrevistas com atores regionais e observação espontânea. As dimensões mais características da imagem da região são: cluster de negócios, rua de luxo, local atraente para empresas, local em que os clientes são bem tratados e modelo para replicação. Verifica-se a existência de identidade regional nesse aglomerado, embora esta seja mais evidente quando se consideram as dimensões cognitiva e afetiva, pois os atores reconhecem a existência do conglomerado comercial, têm consciência de seus limites e de suas funções, e manifestam solidariedade no desempenho das atividades comerciais. A dimensão conativa, que se refere ao desenvolvimento de ações efetivas em prol do desenvolvimento da região, mostra-se menos evidente. Conclui-se que o território, constituído pela Rua Oscar Freire e adjacências, também pode ser considerado uma região socialmente construída, pois além de apresentar abrangência territorial bem definida e uma imagem conceitual e simbólica, faz parte de um sistema de regiões e apresenta identidade regional.