Bioquímica quântica na diferenciação dos níveis de ativação de receptores AMPA por agonistas parciais Wilardina

In the central nervous system (CNS) of mammalian, fast synaptic transmission between nerve cells is performed primarily by α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4- isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors, an ionotropic glutamate receptor that is related with learning, memory and homeostasis of the nervous system. Impairments in their functions are correlated with development of many brain desorders, such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, autism, Parkinson and Alzheimer. The use of willardiine analogs has been shown a powerful tool to understanding of activation and desensitization mechanisms of this receptors, because the modification of a single ligand atom allows the observation of varying levels of efficacy. In this work, taking advantage of Fluorine Willardiine (1.35Å), Hydrogen Willardiine (1.65Å), Bromine Willardiine (1.8Å) and Iodine Willardiine (2.15Å) structures co-crystalized with GluA2 with codes 1MQI, 1MQJ, 1MQH and 1MQG, we attempted to energetically differentiate the four ligands efficacy. The complexes were submitted to energetic calculations based on density functional theory (DFT), under the optics of molecular fractionation with conjugate caps (MFCC) method. Obtained results show a relationship between the energetic values and willardiines efficacy order (FW> HW > BrW > IW), also show the importance of E705, R485, Y450, S654, T655, T480 e P478 as the amino acids that contribute most strongly with the interaction of four partial agonists. Furthermore, we outlined the M708 behaviour, attracted by FW and HW ligands, and repels by BrW and IW. With the datas reported on this work, it is possible for a better understanding of the AMPA receptor, which can serve as an aid in the development of new drugs for this system.

Um percurso sobre o patrimônio e a morfologia urbana do centro de Fortaleza-CE

The incursion into the historical area from Fortaleza´s downtown presents reminiscences of a heritage collection that can be recognized as city built heritage, in architectural and urban aspects. The neighborhood has in its urban tracing a synthesis of the various phases from the Brazilian architecture materialized in its tracing and built goods. This composition mainly covers the eclectic production, passing the time of art déco, including the period of modern production. This paper aims to identify the existing heritage collection. This study aims to identify the existing net assets, the temporality and spatiality that allow to recreate the neighborhood´s form urbain history. Based on the theoretical and methodological support of the urban morphology urban of authors such as Aldo Rossi (1966), Gordon Cullen (1971), José Lamas (1990), Kevin Lynch (1960), and Philippe Panerai (1999) was allowed on a predefined route, to build part of urban memory of Fortaleza. The historical and morphological study runs through a sequenced analysis developed on the articulated subsets, formed by the network neighborhood squares: Praça José de Alencar, Praça Capistrano de Abreu (Lagoinha), Praça Clóvis Beviláquia, Praça do Carmo, Praça Murilo Borges (BNB), Praça Coração de Jesus, Parque das Crianças, Praça do Riacho Pajeú, Praça dos Voluntários (Polícia), Praça do Ferreira, Praça Waldemar Falcão (Correios), Praça General Tibúrcio (Leões), Praça Figueira de Melo, Bosque Dom Delgado (Pajeú), Praça Cristo Redentor, Praça Caio Prado (Sé), Praça dos Mártires (Passeio Público), e Praça Castro Carreira (Estação). Separated the neighborhood based on this square system because it is perceived that there is in these public spaces a path which includes a portion of the urban history of Fortaleza. In addition to this there is a higher concentration of goods in its area in relation to others sectors of the neighborhood, where the loss of the characterization is an imperative of the urban set. In order to find this network of public spaces contained in the study area were proposed two routes based on the city limits of 1875 established by Adolfo Herbster (Fortaleza´s city plan).The path starts by known boulevards (Imperador, Duque de Caxias and Dom Manuel avenues) and the seafront. The study is grounded in the literature review, document and empirical theme, consisting of an overlay of maps, drawings and photographic collection that ratify this net assets as both architectural urban nowadays. Among the results, it was observed that before a current context of loss of locus of the concept of historical-cultural agglomerated, the squares express the strongholds of equity ambience that perhaps stand in urban morphology of the capital from Ceará.

Gestão do sistema de produção e práticas enxutas adotadas nas indústrias paraibanas: um estudo multicaso

The evolution of the practices and strategies of manufacturing management, over the years, has made many companies realign their production systems in order to raise their competitiveness and operational performance. However, in most cases these changes are made in a heterogeneous manner, which ends up leaving the production system without a defined goal, which may end up damaging the managerial strategies of the organization as a whole. Thus, some organizations seek to use techniques and/or successful production practices used by other companies, believing can be able to reproduce the same results. An efficient production system must be fully planned and appropriate to the strategic objectives of the organization. Thus, this paper aims to identify the manufacturing management strategies adopted in paraibanas industries, as well as identify the lean practices used by them. Thus, a qualitative study was conducted, using as methodological basis the multicase study. Were made: direct observations, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires applied to those responsible by the production sector of the participating companies. As a result, it was possible to identify the type of manufacturing management system adopted by companies. Where it was detected that Company A uses a system of Modern Mass Production with focus on productivity and low cost and the Company B is using Lean Manufacturing system focused on quality and diversity. In the two organizations was possible to realize the application of lean practices where the Company what does not use the LM, possessed lean practices in standard extremely mature of utilization.

Avaliação da biodegradação do dibenzotiofeno utilizando lodos ativados

During the oil refining process a huge discard volume of water occurs, which carries the contaminants from the process. A class of contaminant compounds resulting from the petrochemical industry are the Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH's). To evaluate the biodegradation of Dibenzothiophene in refinery water a synthetic wastewater was prepared to be treated using activated sludge. For this, a 2 3 Composite Design (plus 3 central points and six axial points) was carried out. The planning had as independent variables (factors) the initial concentration of DBT, pH and time of biodegradation. Biodegradation of DBT was assayed following the parameters COD, pH, temperature, SS, VSS, FVS, SVI. Concerned to the chromatographic conditions, a methodology was validated in order to verify the presence of DBT and its metabolite, 2-HBF, in the final wastewater treated by activated sludge system using a liquid - liquid extraction coupled to HPLC / UV analysis. The parameters used for validation were DL, QL, linearity, recovery and repeatability. As for optimization, the results indicated that the studied methodology can be used in monitoring the DBT degradation and 2- HBF by activated sludge, as they showed excellent linearity values, coefficients of variation, so as satisfactory recovery percentage. COD reduction efficiency tests showed an average percentage of 64.4%. The increasing trend for the results for the TSS and VSS tests showed that the activated sludge was well tailored. The best operating conditions for the reduction of COD were observed when operated with median concentrations of DBT, a higher time to biodegradation, and pH in both the acidic range as the basic one. The biodegradability of the DBT was confirmed by determining the presence of HBF-2. The highest concentrations of HBF-2 were obtained in extreme concentrations of DBT and pH, and higher biodegradation times.

Elaboração de material pré-composicional através de expansão de procedimentos do sistema Schillinger de composição musical

The work aims at investigating possibilities of extending compositional procedures, based on the Schillinger System of Musical Composition (SSMC). I start by elaborating a brief historical review on SSMC, which is followed by a critical review of the System. The work includes a state of the art on the research on this topic, performed upon analysis of the current work conducted by a research group from the UFRN Music School from which I also make part. The main line of the research is to elaborate on the suggestion of extending the SSMC concept of place of attack to the idea of place of instrumentation, through developing a binary instrumentation procedure. The experimentation on the thesis‟ hypothesis is presented in my composition titled “Suíte Grega” (Greek Suite), a compositional memoir for Oboe, Saxophone and 3 Cellos.

Uma linguagem para descrição de missões em sistema-de-sistemas

Sistema-de-sistemas (System-of-Systems - SoS) é um tipo emergente de sistema computacional formado por um grupo de sistemas constituintes, que são independentes e heterogêneos e se unem para compor um sistema de larga escala visando alcançar uma missão global. Cada sistema constituinte possui seus próprios objetivos, missões individuais, e colaboram para a realização da missão do SoS, chamada missão global. Existe uma complexidade inerente no conjunto de missões que estão envolvidas em um SoS, esse deve-se principalmente à natureza independente dos sistemas constituintes, que tendem a evoluir independentemente, potencialmente mantidos por organizações distintas, além dos conflitos de interesse que podem surgir com essa evolução. Com isso, torna-se essencial prover uma linguagem bem definida para descrição e avaliação dessas missões, relacionando-as entre si e provendo um documento comum que possa ser utilizado por todas as partes envolvidas. Essa linguagem deve ser capaz de expressar as missões individuais e globais, dando suporte a todos os relacionamentos existentes entre essas missões, além de expressar informações relacionadas a realização dessas missões. O objetivo desse trabalho é apresentar e avaliar uma linguagem para descrição de missões. Visando a definição dessa linguagem, esse trabalho apresenta um mapeamento sistemático acerca dos mecanismos existentes para descrição de missões em SoS, identificando os elementos-chave que compõem a descrição de uma missão nesse contexto. A partir desse mapeamento, propõe-se um modelo conceitual para missões e uma linguagem para descrição de missões. Essa linguagem independe de documentos de arquitetura e outros tipos de modelos de software, visando possibilitar a integração da linguagem de definição de missões em diferentes modelos de desenvolvimento.

Análise da atividade cognitiva do operador de sala de controle da produção de controle da produção de petróleo on-shore: uma abordagem da ergonomia para a gestão das restrições do sistema sociotécnico

This master's thesis aims to analyze the activity of the operators in a control room of the processes of production on-shore petroleum, with a focus on sociotechnical restrictions that interfere in the decision-making process and the actions of operators and therefore, the strategies (individual and collective) to regulate and maintain the operator action required and the safety of the system, together. The activity in focus involves the supervision and control of the production of thousands of barrels of oil/day in a complex and dispersed production’s structures built in an extension of 80 km. This operational framework highlights the importance of this activity for the fulfilment of the targets local and corporate efficiency, good management of the environment, health and safety of operators. This is an exploratory research and in the field, which uses the methodology of Ergonomic Analysis of the Work, composed of observational techniques and interactional, having as locus control room of the processes of production on-shore oil of an oil company. The population of this research is formed by operators in the control room of an Brazilian oil company. The results showed that the supervisory activity and control of the superheated steam injection is an complex context, demands greater attention, concentration, calculations, comparisons, trend analysis and decision making. The activity is collectively constructed between the control room operator, field operator and the supplier of steam. The research showed that the processes of communication and collaboration between the control room , fields and support staff are the key elements of this activity. The study shows that the operators have the autonomy and the elements necessary for work; and that there is continuous investments to improve the technology used and that the operators report sleep disturbances as a result of chronic exposure to night work. The study contributed with proposals for transformation of this activity: with regard to the installation of a area reserved for food in control room, the update the screens of the supervisory current operating condition, the periodic visits by room operators in the field, standardization of production reports, development assistance and standardization of nomenclature of controlling stations steam systems, to improve the conditions of realization of the activity, improve the quality of products produced by operators and contribute to reduce the possibility of slips or shifts in the activity.

Petrologia das fraturas associadas a feições típicas de dissolução hipogênica na Formação Salitre, Bacia de Irecê, Bahia, Brasil

The recognition of karst reservoirs in carbonate rocks has become increasingly common. However, most karst features are small to be recognized in seismic sections or larger than expected to be investigated with borehole data. One way forward has been the study of analogue outcrops and caves. The present study investigates lithofacies and karst processes, which lead to the generation of the largest system of caves in South America. The study area is located in the Neoproterozoic Una Group in central-eastern Brazil. This province comprises several systems of carbonate caves (Karmann and Sanchéz, 1979), which include the Toca da Boa Vista and Barriguda caves, considered the largest caves in South America (Auler and Smart, 2003). These caves were formed mainly in dolomites of the Salitre Formation, which was deposited in a shallow marine environment in an epicontinental sea (Medeiros and Pereira, 1994). The Salitre Formation in the cave area comprises laminated mud/wakestones, intraclastic grainstones, oncolitic grainstones, oolitic grainstones, microbial laminites, colunar stromatolites, trombolites and fine siliciclastic rocks (marls, shales, and siltites). A thin layer and chert nodules also occur at the top of the carbonate unit. Phosphate deposits are also found. Our preliminary data indicate that folds and associated joints control the main karstification event at the end of the Brasiliano orogeny (740-540 Ma). We recognized five lithofacies in the cave system: (1) Bottom layers of grainstone with cross bedding comprise the main unit affected by speleogenesis, (2) thin grainstone layers with thin siltite layers, (3) microbial laminites layers, (4) layers of columnar stromatolites, and a (5) top layer of siltite. Levels (1) to (3) are affected by intense fracturing, whereas levels (4) and (5) seal the caves and have little fracturing. Chert, calcite and gipsite veins cut across the carbonate units and play a major role in diagenesis. Our preliminary study indicate that hypogenic spelogenesis is the main process of karst development and contributed significantly to the generation of secondary porosity and permeability in the carbonate units.

Avaliação do acesso aos serviços de reabilitação física para vítimas de acidentes de trânsito: caminhos para melhoria da qualidade do sistema de saúde

The Physical Rehabilitation services (PR) are of fundamental importance in combating the global epidemic of Traffic Accidents (TA). Considering the numerous physical and social consequences of the survivors, quality problems in access to PR are a hazard to recovery of victims. It is necessary to improve the management of quality of services, assessing priority dimensions and intervening in their causes, to ensure rehabilitation available in time and suitable conditions. This study aimed to identify barriers to access to rehabilitation considering the perception of TA victims and professionals. The aim is also to estimate the access to rehabilitation and their associated factors. This is a qualitative and quantitative study of exploratory nature developed in Natal / RN with semi-structured interviews with 19 health professionals and telephone survey to 155 victims of traffic accidents. To explore barriers to access the speeches were transcribed and analyzed using the Alceste software (version 4.9). During the interviews used the following guiding question: “What barriers hinder or prevent access to physical rehabilitation for victims of traffic accidents?”. The names of classes and axes resulting from Alceste was performed by ad hoc query to three external researchers with subsequent consensus of the most representative name of analysis. We conducted multivariate analysis of the influence of the variables of the accident, sociodemographic, clinical and assistance on access to rehabilitation. Associations with p <0.20 in the bivariate analysis were submitted to logistic regression, step by step, with p <0.05 and confidence interval (CI) of 95%. The main barriers identified were: “Bureaucratic regulation”, “Long time to start rehabilitation”, “No post-surgery referral” and “inefficiency of public services”. These barriers were divided into a theoretical model built from the cause-effect diagram, in which we observed that insufficient access to rehabilitation is the product of causes related to organizational structure, work processes, professional and patients. Was constructed two logistic regression models: “General access to rehabilitation” and “Access to rehabilitation to public service”. 51.6% of patients had access to rehabilitation, and 32.9% in public and 17.9% in the private sector. The regression model “General access to rehabilitation” included the variables Income (OR:3.7), Informal Employment (OR:0.11), Unemployment (OR:0.15), Perceived Need for PR (OR:10) and Referral (OR: 27.5). The model “Access to rehabilitation in the public service” was represented by the “Referral to Public Service” (OR: 23.0) and “Private Health Plan” (OR: 0.07). Despite the known influence of social determinants on access to health services, a situation difficult to control by the public administration, this study found that the organizational and bureaucratic procedures established in health care greatly determine access to rehabilitation. Access difficulties show the seriousness of the problem and the factors suggest the need for improvements in comprehensive care for TA survivors and avoid unnecessary prolongation of the suffering of the victims of this epidemic.

Templo Central da Igreja Evangélica Assembleia de Deus do Natal/RN: um estudo sobre música e educação musical

This study aims to investigate the music and the existing music education in Central Temple of the Evangelical Assembly of God Church of Natal/RN. The research question asks how are the musical practices, teaching and learning music that happens in this place. I used the qualitative approach conducting a case study. The theoretical framework were Arroyo (1999, 2000a, 2000b, 2002), Kraemer (2000), Souza (1996), Souza (2000, 2008, 2009), Green (1997), Queiroz (2004a, 2004b, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013), Geertz (1989), Nettl (1992) and Merrian (1964). I conducted semi-structured interviews and participant observation with the direction of the music department, teaching coordination, students, teachers, musicians and conductors of the church. The study revealed that the relationship between music and education is beyond just a musical training, there are many relationships established as faith, belief in God and devotion. It was found that the views of musicians and conductors think the music teaching in the church to play in worship and praise God. In the musical training of students, he was working not only musical content; It was understood that music is a mediator of meanings that go beyond experiences and musical practices. The worship of God and the worship featuring musical practices and their effects are direct music classes. The research contributes to reflection and understanding of music and music education happens in the evangelical church and a greater understanding in the relationship between music education and the cultural context where it happens.

Caracterização citoarquitetônica e por imunoistoquímica para tirosina-hidroxilase da substância negra, área tegmentar ventral e zona retrorubral do Sagui (Callithrix jacchus)

It is known that the catecholamine group is constituted by dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline, in which the synthesis is regulated by an enzyme named tyrosine hydroxylase. Thus, 3-hydroxytyramine/dopamine (DA) is a precursor of the noradrenaline and adrenaline synthesis and acts as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. The three main nuclei, named the retrorubral field (A8 group), the substantia nigra pars compacta (A9 group) and the ventral tegmental area (A10 group), are arranged in the die-mesencephalic portion and are involved in three complexes circuitries - the mesostriatal, mesolimbic and mesocortical pathways. These pathways are related to behavioral manifestations, motricity, learning, reward and pathologies such as Parkinson’s Disease and Schizophrenia. Thus, the aim of this study was to perform de morphological analysis of the A8, A9 and A10 nuclei of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). The marmoset is a neotropical primate, whose morphological and functional characteristics supports the suitability of use of this animal in biomedical research. Coronal sections of the marmoset brain were submitted to cytoarchitectonic characterization and TH-immunohistochemistry. Based on the morphology of the neurons, it was possible to subdivide the A10 group in seven regions: interfascicular nucleus, raphe rostral linear nucleus and raphe caudal linear nucleus, in the middle line; paranigral and parainterfascicular nucleus, in the middle zone; rostral portion of the ventral tegmental area nucleus and parabrachial pigmented nucleus, located in the dorsolateral portion of the mesencephalic tegmentum. A9 group was divided into four regions: substantia nigra compacta dorsal and ventral tiers; substantia nigra compacta lateral and medial clusters. No subdivisions were founded into A8 group. These results revealed that A8, A9 and A10 are phylogenetically conserved between species, but it’s necessary to expand the studies about this compartmentalization, investigating its occurrence in other primate species or investigating its functional relevance.

Controle em modo dual adaptativo robusto aplicado a um sistema de geração de energia elétrica

Synchronous machines, widely used in energy generation systems, require constant voltage and frequency to obtain good quality of energy. However, for large load variati- ons, it is difficult to maintain outputs on nominal values due to parametric uncertainties, nonlinearities and coupling among variables. Then, we propose to apply the Dual Mode Adaptive Robust Controller (DMARC) in the field flux control loop, replacing the tradi- tional PI controller. The DMARC links a Model Reference Adaptive Controller (MRAC) and a Variable Structure Model Reference Adaptive Controller (VS-MRAC), incorpora- ting transient performance advantages from VS-MRAC and steady state properties from MRAC. Moreover, simulation results are included to corroborate the theoretical studies.

Efeito anticonvulsivante de frações isoladas da peçonha da formiga Dinoponera quadriceps (Formicidae: Ponerinae)

A epilepsia é uma patologia crônica do sistema nervoso central que afeta cerca de 65 milhões de indivíduos no mundo. Aproximadamente 30% desses indivíduos desenvolvem crises convulsivas que persistem apesar do tratamento monitorado com drogas antiepiléptica s. Assim, há uma evidente necessidade do desenvolvimento de novos fármacos antiepilépticos e as peçonhas podem ser uma excelente fonte de modelos. Nesse contexto, enquanto já vários estudos sobre peçonhas de serpentes, escorpiões e aranhas, pouco se sabe s obre as peçonhas de formigas. Estudos prévios do nosso laboratório demonstraram que a peçonha desnaturada da formiga Dinoponera quadríceps protegeu camundongos de crises convulsivas e morte induzidas por bicuculina (BIC). Nesse contexto, o objetivo desse t rabalho foi investigar o potencial anticonvulsivante de frações isoladas da peçonha de D. quadríceps em crises convulsivas induzidas pela BIC, bem como uma análise dos efeitos dessas frações no comportamento natural dos camundongos no campo aberto. Os anim ais foram divididos em grupos, os quais receberam injeções (1 mg/ml i.c.v.) de seis frações distintas e tiveram seu comportamento geral observado no campo aberto durante 3 0 min. No segundo experimento, o s animais receberam as mesmas frações 20 min antes da administração de bicuculina (10 mg/ml). Em seguida, foi analisado o comportamento motor convulsivo desses animais durante 30 minutos no campo aberto. No primeiro experimento, não foram observadas alterações comportamentais. Já no segundo experimento, a ad ministração prévia de DqTx1, DqTx3, DqTx4 e DqTx6 aumentou a latência para o desenvolvimento de crises tônico - clônicas. Além disso, todas as frações, exceto DqTx5, aumentaram a latência para a morte dos animais. Ainda, os melhores resultados foram obtidos com a fração DqTx6, que protegeu 62,5% dos animais testados contra o desenvolvimento de crises tônico - clônicas e 100% dos animais contra a morte.

Influência dos odores de gato e de cobra no comportamento defensivo e expressão de fos do sistema hipotalâmico de defesa de camundongo

Studies using neuronal tract-tracer in rat have shown that the anterior hypothalamic nucleus, dorsomedial division of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus and dorsal premammillary nucleus are highly connected. When the rat is exposed to predator or its odor these nuclei have shown a expression of Fos and their lesion reduces defensive behavior against predator. This set of nuclei was named the Hypothalamic Defense System. However, little is known about the response of this system to the odor of different predators or its role in mice. In this work, we exposed Swiss mice to two different predators odor (cat and snake) to verify the Fos expression in the Hypothalamic Defense System, as well as the defensive behaviors displayed. The analysis showed that the mice exposure to cat odor had an increased expression of Fos protein compared to control, while those exposed to snake odor showed no rise in Fos expression, which was corroborated by the behavioral data. Our results indicate that this distinct circuit in mice seems to act differentially to odorous stimuli of different predators, causing distinct behavioral responses of mice and that the odor of snake seems not to be perceived by Swiss mice as a threatening stimulus.

Organização nuclear do sistema serotonérgico no encéfalo de morcegos Artibeus planirostris

Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a substance found in many tissues of the body, including the nervous system acting as a neurotransmitter. Within the neuro-axis, the location of the majority of the 5-HT neurons is superimposed with raphe nuclei of the brain stem, in the median line or its vicinity, so that neuronal 5-HT can be considered a marker of the raphe nuclei. Serotonergic neurons are projected to almost all areas of the brain. Studies show the participation of serotonin in regulating the temperature, feeding behavior, sexual behavior, biological rhythms, sleep, locomotor function, learning, among others. The anatomy of these groups has been revised in many species, including mouse, rabbit, cat and primates, but never before in a bat species from South America. This study aimed to characterize the serotonergic clusters in the brain of the bat Artibeus planirostris through immunohistochemistry for serotonin. Seven adult bat males of Artibeus planirostris species (Microchiroptera, Mammalia) were used in this study. The animals were anesthetized, transcardially perfused and their brains were removed. Coronal sections of the frozen brain of bats were obtained in sliding microtome and subjected to immunohistochemistry for 5-HT. Delimit the caudal linear (CLi), dorsal (DR), median (MnR), paramedian (PMnR), pontine (PNR), magnus (MgR), pallidus (RPA) and obscurus (ROb) raphe nucleus, in addition to the groups B9 and rostral and caudal ventrolateral (RVL/CVL). The serotonergic groups of this kind of cheiroptera present morphology and cytoarchitecture relatively similar to that described in rodents and primates, confirming the phylogenetic stability of these cell clusters.