Elementos de confian��a e cultura organizacional que dificultam a gest��o pro processos na ��rea de tecnologia da informa����o e telecomunica����es de uma empresa de energia

Este estudo �� dedicado �� compreens��o dos fatores culturais e de confian��a que dificultam o alinhamento por processos na ��rea de Tecnologia da Informa����o e Telecomunica����es de uma empresa de economia mista. Visa compreender e traduzir o modo como a cultura dessa organiza����o impacta nos resultados alcan��ados pelo modelo de gest��o por processos vigente. Fazendo uso de referencial te��rico das ��reas de estudo de cultura organizacional, cultura nacional e confian��a nas organiza����es, este estudo buscou alinhar estes conhecimentos por meio de um vi��s ainda pouco explorado no ambiente acad��mico. Aqui fizemos uso do conceito de cultura como um meio e n��o como um fim em si, associando classifica����o da cultura em dimens��es, os tra��os da cultura brasileira e os estudos de ���confian��a��� numa mescla ordenada de conceitos capaz de nos responder �� quest��o de pesquisa. Esta pesquisa representa o resultado de um esfor��o de imers��o nas rotinas da organiza����o e descri����o dos seus elementos culturais por meio de observa����o e entrevistas no ambiente estudado. Por fim, este trabalho se destina a contribuir ao aprimoramento dos processos para atingir melhores resultados na TIC.

Pro���ling allergic asthma volatile metabolic patterns using a headspace-solid phase microextraction/gas chromatography based methodology

Allergicasthmarepresentsanimportantpublichealthissuewithsigni���cantgrowthovertheyears,especially in the paediatric population. Exhaled breath is a non-invasive, easily performed and rapid method forobtainingsamplesfromthelowerrespiratorytract.Inthepresentmanuscript,themetabolicvolatile pro���les of allergic asthma and control children were evaluated by headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography���quadrupole mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC���qMS). The lack ofstudiesinbreathofallergicasthmaticchildrenbyHS-SPMEledtothedevelopmentofanexperimental design to optimize SPME parameters. To ful���l this objective, three important HS-SPME experimental parameters that in���uence the extraction ef���ciency, namely ���bre coating, temperature and time extractions were considered. The selected conditions that promoted higher extraction ef���ciency corresponding to the higher GC peak areas and number of compounds were: DVB/CAR/PDMS coating ���bre, 22���C and 60min as the extraction temperature and time, respectively. The suitability of two containers, 1L Tedlar�� bags and BIOVOC��, for breath collection and intra-individual variability were also investigated. The developed methodology was then applied to the analysis of children exhaled breath with allergicasthma(35),fromwhich13hadalsoallergicrhinitis,andhealthycontrolchildren(15),allowing to identify 44 volatiles distributed over the chemical families of alkanes (linear and rami���ed) ketones, aromatic hydrocarbons, aldehydes, acids, among others. Multivariate studies were performed by Partial LeastSquares���DiscriminantAnalysis(PLS���DA)usingasetof28selectedmetabolitesanddiscrimination between allergic asthma and control children was attained with a classi���cation rate of 88%. The allergic asthma paediatric population was characterized mainly by the compounds linked to oxidative stress, such as alkanes and aldehydes. Furthermore, more detailed information was achieved combining the volatile metabolic data, suggested by PLS���DA model, and clinical data.

Headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with mass spectrometry as a powerful analytical tool for pro���ling the terpenoid metabolomic pattern of hop-essential oil derived from Saaz variety

Hop(HumuluslupulusL.,Cannabaceaefamily)isprizedforitsessentialoilcontents,usedin beer production and, more recently, in biological and pharmacological applications. In this work,a methodinvolvingheadspace solid-phase microextractionand gas chromatography��� mass spectrometry was developed and optimized to establish the terpenoid (monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes) metabolomic pattern of hop-essential oil derived from Saaz variety as a mean to explore this matrix as a powerful biological source for newer, more selective, biodegradable and naturally produced antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds. Different parameters affecting terpenoid metabolites extraction by headspace solid-phase microextraction were considered and optimized: type of ���ber coatings, extraction temperature, extraction time, ionic strength, and sample agitation. In the optimized method, analytes were extracted for 30 min at 40 C in the sample headspace with a 50/30 m divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane coating ���ber. The methodology allowed the identi���cation of a total of 27 terpenoid metabolites, representing 92.5% of the total Saaz hop-essential oil volatile terpenoid composition. The headspace composition was dominated by monoterpenes (56.1%, 13 compounds), sesquiterpenes (34.9%, 10), oxygenated monoterpenes (1.41%, 3), and hemiterpenes (0.04%, 1) some of which can probably contribute to the hop of Saaz variety aroma. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the main metabolites are the monoterpene -myrcene (53.0��1.1% of the total volatile fraction), and the cyclic sesquiterpenes, -humulene (16.6 �� 0.8%), and -caryophyllene (14.7 �� 0.4%), which together represent about 80% of the total volatile fraction from the hop-essential oil. These���ndingssuggestthatthismatrixcanbeexploredasapowerfulbiosourceofterpenoid metabolites.

Electromyographic analysis of the masseter and buccinator muscles with the Pro-Fono Facial Exerciser use in bruxers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the Pro-Fono Facial Exerciser (Pro-Fono Productos Especializaclos para Fonoaudiologia Ltda.., Barueri/SP, Brazil) to decrease bruxism, as well as the correlation between the masseter and the buccinator muscles using electromyography (EMG). In this study, 39 individuals ranging from 23 to 48 years of age were selected from a dental school and then underwent surface EMG at three different periods of time: 0, 10, and 70 days. They were divided into a normal control group, a bruxer control group (without device), and an experimental bruxer group who used the device. The bruxer group showed a greater masseter EMG amplitude when compared to the normal group, while the experimental group had deceased activity with a reduction in symptoms. The buccinator EMG spectral analysis of the experimental bruxist group showed asynchronous contractions of the masseter muscle (during jaw opening) after using the Pr6-Fono Facial Exerciser. The normal group also showed asynchronous contractions. Upon correlation of the data between these muscles, the inference is that there is a reduction in bruxism when activating the buccinator muscle.

Oxidation of melatonin by AAPH-derived peroxyl radicals: Evidence of a pro-oxidant effect of melatonin

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Verifica����o formal automatizada para sistemas de racioc��nio procedural (PRS) utilizando redes de petri coloridas (RPC)

Este trabalho apresenta uma t��cnica de verifica����o formal de Sistemas de Racioc��nio Procedural, PRS (Procedural Reasoning System), uma linguagem de programa����o que utiliza a abordagem do racioc��nio procedural. Esta t��cnica baseia-se na utiliza����o de regras de convers��o entre programas PRS e Redes de Petri Coloridas (RPC). Para isso, s��o apresentadas regras de convers��o de um sub-conjunto bem expressivo da maioria da sintaxe utilizada na linguagem PRS para RPC. A fim de proceder fia verifica����o formal do programa PRS especificado, uma vez que se disponha da rede de Petri equivalente ao programa PRS, utilizamos o formalismo das RPCs (verifica����o das propriedades estruturais e comportamentais) para analisarmos formalmente o programa PRS equivalente. Utilizamos uma ferramenta computacional dispon��vel para desenhar, simular e analisar as redes de Petri coloridas geradas. Uma vez que disponhamos das regras de convers��o PRS-RPC, podemos ser levados a querer fazer esta convers��o de maneira estritamente manual. No entanto, a probabilidade de introdu����o de erros na convers��o �� grande, fazendo com que o esfor��o necess��rio para garantirmos a corretude da convers��o manual seja da mesma ordem de grandeza que a elimina����o de eventuais erros diretamente no programa PRS original. Assim, a convers��o automatizada �� de suma import��ncia para evitar que a convers��o manual nos leve a erros indesej��veis, podendo invalidar todo o processo de convers��o. A principal contribui����o deste trabalho de pesquisa diz respeito ao desenvolvimento de uma t��cnica de verifica����o formal automatizada que consiste basicamente em duas etapas distintas, embora inter-relacionadas. A primeira fase diz respeito fias regras de convers��o de PRS para RPC. A segunda fase �� concernente ao desenvolvimento de um conversor para fazer a transforma����o de maneira automatizada dos programas PRS para as RPCs. A convers��o autom��tica �� poss��vel, porque todas as regras de convers��o apresentadas seguem leis de forma����o gen��ricas, pass��veis de serem inclu��das em algoritmos

Silibinin modulates the NF-kappa b pathway and pro-inflammatory cytokine production by mononuclear cells from preeclamptic women

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Enhanced natural killer activity and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in mice selected for high acute inflammatory response (AIRmax)

Strains of mice with maximal and minimal acute inflammatory responsiveness (AIRmax and AIRmin, respectively) were developed through selective breeding based on their high- or low-acute inflammatory responsiveness. Previous reports have shown that AIRmax mice are more resistant to the development of a variety of tumours than AIRmin mice, including spontaneous metastasis of murine melanoma. Natural killer activity is involved in immunosurveillance against tumour development, so we analysed the number and activity of natural killer cells (CD49b(+)), T-lymphocyte subsets and in vitro cytokine production by spleen cells of normal AIRmax and AIRmin mice. Analysis of lymphocyte subsets by flow cytometry showed that AIRmax mice had a higher relative number of CD49b(+) cells than AIRmin mice, as well as cytolytic activity against Yac.1 target cells. The number of CD3(+) CD8(+) cells was also higher in AIRmax mice. These findings were associated with the ability of spleen cells from AIRmax mice in vitro to produce higher levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-12p40 and interferon-gamma but not the anti-inflammatory interleukin-10. Taken together, our data suggest that the selective breeding to achieve the AIRmax and AIRmin strains was able to polarize the genes associated with cytotoxic activity, which can be responsible for the antitumour resistance observed in AIRmax mice.

Pro-oxidant activity of apocynin radical

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines by monocytes from patients with paracoccidioidomycosis

Monocytes and macrophages can produce a large repertoire of cytokines and participate in the pathogenesis of granulomatous diseases. We investigated the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines by monocytes from patients with active paracoccidioidomycosis. Peripheral blood monocytes from 37 patients and 29 healthy controls were cultivated with or without 10 mug/ml of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 18 h at 37 degreesC, and the cytokine levels were determined in the culture supernatants by enzyme immunoassay. The results showed that the endogenous levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and transforming growth factor beta detected in the supernatant of patient monocytes cultivated without stimulus were significantly higher than those produced by healthy controls. These data demonstrated that monocytes from patients with active paracoccidioidomycosis produce high levels of cytokines with both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory activities. However, patient monocytes produced significantly lower TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in response to LPS when compared to normal subjects, suggesting an impairment in their capacity to produce these cytokines after LPS stimulation. Concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-8 and IL-10 in cultures stimulated with LPS were higher in patients than in controls. These results suggest that an imbalance in the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines might be associated with the pathogenesis of paracoccidioidomycosis. (C) 2003 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Propolis effects on pro-inflammatory cytokine production and Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 expression in stressed mice

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

In vitro and in vivo effects of clove on pro-inflammatory cytokines production by macrophages

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Propolis Immunomodulatory Action In Vivo on Toll-Like Receptors 2 and 4 Expression and on Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines Production in Mice

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

IL-1ra anti-inflammatory cytokine polymorphism is associated with risk of gastric cancer and chronic gastritis in a Brazilian population, but the TNF-beta pro-inflammatory cytokine is not

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)