Utmaningen från andra berättelser : En studie om moraliskt omdöme, utvidgat tänkande och kritiskt reflekterande berättelser i dialogbaserad feministisk etik

The present study has a threefold aim: First, the theoretical aim is to give a contribution to refinement of the theory of dialogue based feminist ethics, concerning the understanding of judgment and narration within such an ethics.  The study also has an empirical aim, defined as to clarify what kind of knowledge, relevant to the moral judgment of an engaged outsider actor, can be received from dialogical interpretation and analysis of a limited selection of critically reflecting life stories. Third, a methodological aim is defined as to develop an approach to interpretation and analysis of reflecting life stories, which renders the storyteller visible as a reflecting moral subject, and makes the story accessible as a source of knowledge for the moral judgment of an engaged outsider actor. The thesis combines philosophical reflection and argumentation, with a narrative-hermeneutic method for interpretation of life stories, relating the two to each other in a hermeneutic process.  The theoretical reflection draws on Seyla Benhabibs theory of communicative ethics. A dialogue based model for moral justification and a likewise dialogue based model for political legitimacy are at the heart of this universalistic theory, although in combination with a conception of a narratively and hermeneutically constituted context sensitive moral judgment, based on Hannah Arendt’s concept “enlarged thought”. In the reflection, this model is related to other feminist theorizing within the tradition of dialogue based feminist ethics, as found in the works of Iris M. Young, Georgia Warnke and Shari Stone-Mediatore. The empirical study draws on three critically reflecting life stories from Israeli-Palestinian women activists for a just peace. The methodology for interpretation and analysis that is worked out combines dialogical interpretation as presented in Arthur W. Frank’s socio-narratology with a method for structural analysis derived from Shari Stone-Mediatores theory of storytelling as an expression of political resistance struggle. The results show that some stories drawing on marginalized experiences have a potential­ to stimulate further public debate through their capacity to enable a stereoscopic seeing, elucidating a tension between ideologically structured discourse and non-linguistic experience; implying that narrative-hermeneutic competence should be considered crucial for public debate.  

Análise da indústria de televisão a cabo no Brasil : estrutura competitiva e evolução

A indústria de TVa cabo está num caminho convergente com o setor de telecomunicações por força dos avanços tecnológicos relacionados à informática. As redes das operadoras de cabo têm a possibilidade de se transformarem num elemento central na evolução da sociedade da informação. Essa dissertação investiga a estrutura competitiva atual da indústria de TV a cabo brasileira. Para isso, lança mão dos conceitos de Michael E. Porter (1980). Além disso, são descritos possíveis desdobramentos na evolução da estrutura do setor, na visão de especialistas da indústria.

A regulação no mercado de planos de saúde: a ação do consumidor e a estratégia da Agência Nacional de Saúde Suplementar - ANS

The scope of this dissertation is to assess the attitudes of subscribers to private health insurance schemes and the regulatory strategy of the Ancillary National Health Agency -- ANS in relation to their demands. The ancillary health market features various players, each with their own specific interests and priorities. Consequently, the ANS should strive to maintain the balance between the consumers, the economic intermediaries and the State, ensuring that the Agency's powers to establish norms, as well as to regulate and to supervise each be exercised independently. Many people contend that there are elements not currently incorporated into the current services of the ANS which could contribute to its regulatory strategy. This study was conducted from the standpoint of theories applied to State administration for structural analysis of the ANS and its strategies, in addition to a symbolic and rational approach for a better understanding of the consumers involved. A survey was conducted of existing records of the ANS, as well as data collected from direct observation. Analysis of the data obtained led to the conclusion that the consumer can become a close ally in the regulatory activity of the ANS, to the extent that the latter may acquire more in-depth knowledge of aspects contained in the demands of the former.

Ferramentas para análise dinâmica e estrutural de um reboque de linha leve

Neste trabalho é desenvolvida uma metodologia de projeto para identificar as regiões críticas da estrutura de um reboque de linha leve sendo tracionado em pavimentos do tipo rodovia de baixa qualidade e estrada secundária de muito baixa qualidade. Para tanto, são levantados alguns dados experimentais da estrutura, necessários para a aproximação e simulação dinâmica de um modelo simplificado. A excitação da base é realizada por atuadores que simulam as oscilações verticais de um perfil de estrada, a qual é definida de acordo com os estudos realizados por Dodds e Robson (1973). Isto permite a determinação de um histórico de carregamentos das regiões da estrutura do chassi sob a ação das molas da suspensão. Em seguida, é gerado um modelo estrutural simplificado do reboque em elementos finitos, chamado de global, no qual são determinadas as regiões sob ação das maiores tensões. Tendo identificada a região mais crítica da estrutura, é criado um modelo local desta parte, onde se pode observar a distribuição de tensões com mais detalhe, permitindo a identificação dos pontos de concentração de tensões. Desta forma, com a aplicação do método de análise global-local é possível a obtenção de resultados detalhados quanto aos esforços da estrutura com um menor custo computacional.

Hospitais universitários e fatores ambientais na implementação das politicas de saude e educação : o caso do Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria

Este trabalho monográfico trata de Hospitais Universitários e Fatores Ambientais Relevantes na Implementação das Políticas de Saúde e Educação de Recursos Humanos para a saúde. Primeiramente, busca identificar a evolução das políticas, no Brasil, a partir da VªConferência Nacional de Saúde (1975) até a constitucionalização do Sistema Único de Saúde (1988), deixando evidente as dificuldades de implementação destas políticas no seu nível de orçamento e ação. Levanta, também, as características da instituição Hospital Universitário, desde de sua origem, na década de 60, para atender às necessidades das escolas médicas, até os questionamentos quanto às suas funções sociais nos nossos dias, assim como a forma de sua gestão ao inserir-se no Sistema Único de Saúde. Ainda, caracterizando os Hospitais Universitários como uma organização complexa, busca na literatura da Ciência Administrativa, referências sobre organização, análise ambiental e estratégia no planejamento e gerência. Na análise ambiental, salienta o estudo dos Fatores Ambientais Relevantes, para o melhor desempenho organizacional na implementação adequada das po~íticas. Com este embasamento, faz um estudo de caso do Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria, usando modelo de análise que associa métodos qualitativo e quantitativo com a participação de um grupo interdisciplinar da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, e programa de processamento de dados - análise estrutural. Com este modelo, levanta os Fatores Ambientais de maior relevância no sistema da organização em estudo. Usa também a técnica da entrevista para atender o objetivo específico de identificar a percepção destes fatores, pelo grupo gerencial da organização hospitalar.

O futuro das ideias: análise estrutural & incertezas-críticas prospectivas para think tanks

O objetivo deste trabalho é identificar as incertezas-críticas prospectivas para fhínk fanks, importante subsídio na elaboração de cenários prospectivos para essas organizações. O enfoque é qualitativo: os dados, coletados por bibliografia e em entrevistas com executivos estratégicos da Fundação Getulio Vargas e especialistas internacionais, foram tratados pelo método da Análise Estrutural. Para tanto, utilizouse o Modelo URCA (MARQUES, 1988). Acredita-se tratar de abordagem inédita na área, pois registro de Análises Prospectivas para thínk tanks não foram localizados. A base teórica analisa diversas definições e classificações de fhínk fanks, identifica atributos comuns a tais conceitos e, a partir deste referencial, apresenta a definição de thínk tank, objeto deste estudo. Em seguida, a partir dos dados coletados, são descritas 21 variáveis prospectivas. Essa lista inicial de variáveis é submetida ao Modelo URCA de Análise Estrutural, gerando, como resultado, oito incertezascríticas prospectivas para thínk fanks: Internacionalização de thínk fanks; Globalização da agenda; Projeção internacional das nações; Concorrência entre thínk tanks; Concorrência de organizações não-governamentais, consultorias, web e similares; Quadro técnico; Corpo dirigente; e Diversificação e sustentação financeiras.

Relações interorganizacionais e eficiência coletiva: um estudo de caso no arranjo produtivo local de confecções do agreste pernambucano

This work is a study in the Local Productive Arrangement of confections from Agreste of Pernambuco, as a relevant sector in economic and social aspect. This research has as central aim to understand how the inter-organizational relations influence the collective efficiency of arrangement. The theoretical framework employed highlights the approaches that deal with the benefits of business agglomeration for the develop­ment of firms and regions. It has discussed the approach of small and medium enter­ prises and industrial districts (SCHMITZ, 1997), which introduce the concept of col­ lective efficiency, explaining that only those externalities explained by Marshall (1996) are not sufficient to explain the competitive advantage of enterprises, expand­ing the idea that organizations achieve competitive advantage not acting alone. To examine the influences of relations in the collective efficiency, it has been taken as analytical perspective theory of social networks (GRANOVETTER, 1973, 1985; BURT, 1992; UZZI, 1997) because it has believe that this approach provides subsi­ dies for a structural analysis of social relationships in face the behavior of human ac­tion. By examining the organizations in a social network, you should understand the reason of this establishment of the relationship, their benefits, and as the information flow takes place and density of links between the actors (Powell; SMITH-DOERR, 1994). As for the methods, this study is characterized as a case study, in according to the purposed objectives, in addition to qualitative method. Also, due to recovering of the historical milestones of the arrangement, it is used a sectional approach with longitudinal perspective (VIEIRA, 2004). The primary and secondary data were used in order to understand the evolutionary process of the sector and their inter-actors re­ lationships in the arrangement for the promotion of development, for both, was used the contend and documentary analysis technique, respectively (DELLAGNELO ; SIL­VA, 2005). The approach of social networks has permitted understand that social re­lationships may extend the collective efficiency of the arrangement, and therefore need to develop policies that encourage the legalization of informal companies in ar­rangement, by showing up themselves representative. Thus, the relations estab­ lished in LPA of confections from Agreste of Pernambuco need for more effective mechanisms to broaden the collective efficiency. Therefore, this way as take place has directly benefited only a group of companies that are linked in some way the sup­portive institutions. So we can conclude that the inter-actor relations have limited the collective efficiency of LPA, being stimulated by the institutions in support only to groups of entrepreneurs, even those that produce external relations for all clustered companies

Potencial terapêutico de um heparinóide isolado do invertebrado marinho Litopenaeus vannamei

The occurrence of bioactive compounds in marine organisms comes awaking the interest of the pharmaceutical industry. Heparin, a sulfated polysaccharide which presence was already identified in several marine invertebrates, is very attractive due its remarkable functional versatility. Besides to intervene in blood coagulation, this molecule has a great anti-inflammatory potential. However, its strong anticoagulant activity difficult the clinical exploitation of its anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, the aims of this work were to evaluate the effect of a heparin-like compound (heparinoid), isolated from the cephalotorax of the Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp, on the inflammatory response, hemostasia and synthesis of antithrombotic heparan sulfate by endothelial cells, besides studying some aspects concerning its structure. The purified heparinoid was structurally characterized following an analytical boarding, involving electrophoresis and chromatography. The structural analysis have shown that this compound possess a high content of glucuronic acid residues and disulfated disaccharide units. In contrast to mammalian heparin, the heparinoid was incapable to stimulate the synthesis of heparan sulfate by endothelial cells in the tested concentrations, beyond to show reduced anticoagulant activity and hemorrhagic effect. In a model of acute inflammation, the compound isolated from the shrimp reduced more than 50% of the cellular infiltration. Besides reduce the activity of MMP-9 and proMMP-2 of the peritoneal lavage of inflamed animals, the heparinoid also reduced the activity of MMP-9 secreted by activated human leukocytes. These results demonstrate the potential of heparinoid from L. vannamei to intervene in the inflammatory response. For possessing reduced anticoagulant activity and hemorrhagic effect, this compound can serve as a structural model to direct the development of more specific therapeutical agents to the treatment of inflammatory diseases

Desenvolvimento de argamassa para restauração utilizando resíduo do polimento do porcelanato

The coatings mortars are essential elements of building structures because they execute an important role in protecting walls and are particularly exposed to aggressive action responsible for its degradation over time. The importance of wall coverings has been the subject of discussion and analysis in the conservation and rehabilitation of old buildings. Are sometimes removed and replaced with inappropriate solutions of constructive point of view or architecture. The most commonly used coatings on walls of old buildings is based on traditional hydraulic lime mortars. The present study aims at the formulation of new lime- based mortars and aerial fine aggregate, in order to contribute to a better field of conservation and restoration mortar coating of old buildings. Residue was used for polishing porcelain as fine aggregate, replacing the aggregate (sand), in percentages 05-30% by mass. We conducted a thorough evaluation of the mortar properties in fresh and hardened state by comparing the performance of the same with a reference mortar. The residue used was characterized as the density, bulk density, and particle size laser, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence. Formulations were produced 7, 6 with residue and one commonly used formulation, which served as a reference. In the formulations of lime mortars air (hydrated lime powder CH-I) has been adopted a stroke volume (1:3) with constant binder, was varied and the water / binder and aggregate and waste. For evaluation of mortars fresh, proceeded to consistency analysis, specific gravity, water retention and air content embedded. In the hardened state assays were performed in specific gravity, water retention, modulus of elasticity, tensile strength in bending, compressive strength, water absorption by capillary action, adhesion, tensile strength, resistance to shrinkage and salts by of crystallization trials with resources chloride solution, nitrate and sulfate all sodium in prismatic at 90 days of age, in addition to the micro structural analysis of mortars. Based on the results we can see that the mortar formulated with 10% content of waste and the reference free retraction feature more stable closer to neutrality. The composition of 10% was obtained better performance against the action of the salt crystallization. The mortar with 15% residue obtained better density, lower air content embedded and high capacity for water retention developing good workability. The replacement of 20% of waste generates a satisfactory utilization of resistance to compression, flexion and traction grip the base. And, finally, it can be seen that the mortar with 10, 15 and 20% residual show, in principle, good suitability as coatings, thus enabling a final result consistent with durability, workability and aesthetics developing therefore a material with better performance to repair or replace existing mortars in old buildings

Harpalycin 2 inhibits the enzymatic and platelet aggregation activities of PrTX-III, a D49 phospholipase A(2) from Bothrops pirajai venom

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Otimização de forma aplicando B-splines sob critério integral de tensões

This work proposes a computational methodology to solve problems of optimization in structural design. The application develops, implements and integrates methods for structural analysis, geometric modeling, design sensitivity analysis and optimization. So, the optimum design problem is particularized for plane stress case, with the objective to minimize the structural mass subject to a stress criterion. Notice that, these constraints must be evaluated at a series of discrete points, whose distribution should be dense enough in order to minimize the chance of any significant constraint violation between specified points. Therefore, the local stress constraints are transformed into a global stress measure reducing the computational cost in deriving the optimal shape design. The problem is approximated by Finite Element Method using Lagrangian triangular elements with six nodes, and use a automatic mesh generation with a mesh quality criterion of geometric element. The geometric modeling, i.e., the contour is defined by parametric curves of type B-splines, these curves hold suitable characteristics to implement the Shape Optimization Method, that uses the key points like design variables to determine the solution of minimum problem. A reliable tool for design sensitivity analysis is a prerequisite for performing interactive structural design, synthesis and optimization. General expressions for design sensitivity analysis are derived with respect to key points of B-splines. The method of design sensitivity analysis used is the adjoin approach and the analytical method. The formulation of the optimization problem applies the Augmented Lagrangian Method, which convert an optimization problem constrained problem in an unconstrained. The solution of the Augmented Lagrangian function is achieved by determining the analysis of sensitivity. Therefore, the optimization problem reduces to the solution of a sequence of problems with lateral limits constraints, which is solved by the Memoryless Quasi-Newton Method It is demonstrated by several examples that this new approach of analytical design sensitivity analysis of integrated shape design optimization with a global stress criterion purpose is computationally efficient

Simulação computacional da interação fluido-estrutura em bombas de cavidades progressivas

The pumping through progressing cavities system has been more and more employed in the petroleum industry. This occurs because of its capacity of elevation of highly viscous oils or fluids with great concentration of sand or other solid particles. A Progressing Cavity Pump (PCP) consists, basically, of a rotor - a metallic device similar to an eccentric screw, and a stator - a steel tube internally covered by a double helix, which may be rigid or deformable/elastomeric. In general, it is submitted to a combination of well pressure with the pressure generated by the pumping process itself. In elastomeric PCPs, this combined effort compresses the stator and generates, or enlarges, the clearance existing between the rotor and the stator, thus reducing the closing effect between their cavities. Such opening of the sealing region produces what is known as fluid slip or slippage, reducing the efficiency of the PCP pumping system. Therefore, this research aims to develop a transient three-dimensional computational model that, based on single-lobe PCP kinematics, is able to simulate the fluid-structure interaction that occurs in the interior of metallic and elastomeric PCPs. The main goal is to evaluate the dynamic characteristics of PCP s efficiency based on detailed and instantaneous information of velocity, pressure and deformation fields in their interior. To reach these goals (development and use of the model), it was also necessary the development of a methodology for generation of dynamic, mobile and deformable, computational meshes representing fluid and structural regions of a PCP. This additional intermediary step has been characterized as the biggest challenge for the elaboration and running of the computational model due to the complex kinematic and critical geometry of this type of pump (different helix angles between rotor and stator as well as large length scale aspect ratios). The processes of dynamic generation of meshes and of simultaneous evaluation of the deformations suffered by the elastomer are fulfilled through subroutines written in Fortan 90 language that dynamically interact with the CFX/ANSYS fluid dynamic software. Since a structural elastic linear model is employed to evaluate elastomer deformations, it is not necessary to use any CAE package for structural analysis. However, an initial proposal for dynamic simulation using hyperelastic models through ANSYS software is also presented in this research. Validation of the results produced with the present methodology (mesh generation, flow simulation in metallic PCPs and simulation of fluid-structure interaction in elastomeric PCPs) is obtained through comparison with experimental results reported by the literature. It is expected that the development and application of such a computational model may provide better details of the dynamics of the flow within metallic and elastomeric PCPs, so that better control systems may be implemented in the artificial elevation area by PCP

Utilização de métodos estatísticos multivariados na caracterização do mosaico sucessional em floresta semidecídual

O presente trabalho objetivou verificar a possibilidade da utilização de métodos estatísticos multivariados na caracterização das fases do desenvolvimento do mosaico sucessional de um trecho de floresta estacional semidecidual, através de variáveis estruturais. Foram alocadas parcelas de 10 m x 10 m, em que se procedeu à análise estrutural, ou seja, levantamento fitossociológico acrescido das variáveis Porcentagem de Cobertura (PC), Altura do Dossel (AD) e Cobertura por Lianas (CL). Os métodos estatísticos empregados foram Análise de Componentes Principais e Análise de Agrupamento, mais especificamente Classificação Hierárquica Ascendente. O primeiro componente principal explicou 43,96% da variância total, enquanto o segundo, 25,66%. As variáveis Área Basal (AB), Diâmetro Médio (DM) e Dominância Média (DOM) apresentaram correlações positivas entre si superiores a 0,75, podendo ser DM e DOM consideradas como um grupo de variáveis. As variáveis Número de Indivíduos (NI) e Número de Espécies (NE) apresentaram correlação 0,60, enquanto AD, CL e PC baixas correlações com as demais, indicando a importância da inclusão destas na análise. A classificação hierárquica e a partição dos grupos em quatro foram feitas considerando os dois primeiros eixos fatoriais. Os resultados indicaram dois comportamentos diferenciados: 1) valores baixos para AD e AB: Grupo 1, com valores baixos também para NI, NE e PC (fase de clareira); e Grupo 2, com valores elevados para NI e CL e baixos para DOM e DM (fase de construção); e 2) valores altos para AD e AB: Grupo 3, com valores altos também para NI, NE e PC e valor baixo para CL (fase madura); e Grupo 4, com valores elevados para DOM e DM e mais baixos para CL (fase de degradação). Os métodos estatísticos multivariados permitiram caracterizar as fases do desenvolvimento do mosaico sucessional, através das variáveis estruturais. A forma como foram estimadas as variáveis AD, CL e PC, porém, deve ser aprimorada, assim como é preciso incluir variáveis que discriminem melhor cada fase.

Evidence for conformational changes in the yeast deoxyhypusine hydroxylase Lia1 upon iron displacement from its active site

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

About the Use of the HdHr Algorithm Group in Integrating the Movement Equation with Nonlinear Terms

This work summarizes the HdHr group of Hermitian integration algorithms for dynamic structural analysis applications. It proposes a procedure for their use when nonlinear terms are present in the equilibrium equation. The simple pendulum problem is solved as a first example and the numerical results are discussed. Directions to be pursued in future research are also mentioned. Copyright (C) 2009 H.M. Bottura and A. C. Rigitano.