Professores de ciências naturais: necessidades formativas para ensinar a medir em trabalhos práticos e experimentais

This paper presents a research realized with Physics, Chemistry and Biology teachers, and it aimed to evaluate: 1) the development level of those teachers regarding the abilities that make possible to teach high school students about how to measure in practical and experimental work; 2) the formatives necessities regarding those abilities; and 3) the order of priority for teacher´s formation regarding those abilities. The study is based on the activity theory, from A. N. Leontiev (1983), since we considerer the teacher´s formation a kind of activity for which the category necessity is source of motivation and in which is a necessary condition for professionality and for the professional development. A questionnaire with open and closed questions was applied to 116 teachers during three pedagogic workshops realized to dynamize the science laboratory. The instrument allowed us to obtain the personal and professional profile of the participants, as well as their development level, their formative necessities and their order of priority about the teaching of the abilities related to the work of testing measuring hypothesis, regarding: a) to operationalize variables of a hypothesis in experimental work; b) to measure in practical and experimental work; c) to estimate possible measuring mistakes and use proper procedures to minimize them; d) to estimate the validity of a measuring; and e) to estimate the confiability of a measuring. The research results indicated some limitations of the teachers about their development level in all the analyzed abilities. More than 90% of the teachers considered those deficiencies as necessities of the continuing formation. Most of them (about 54%) expressed immediate priority for formation in each one of the abilities. From a correlation, using the statistic chi-square test, between the development level and the formative necessities for the five abilities, the obtained results allow us to assure that, for all those teaching abilities, there is a strong correlation between the development level and the formative necessity. This situation is symptomatic of the importance of approaching more the science teaching and the teacher´s formation on practical and experimental work in high school as key-component of scientific education in basic education. The obtained results can contribute, as subsidy, for continuing formation courses, having as base the necessities that constitute motivation elements of the teachers for professional development

O processo de cuidar do enfermeiro em unidade de terapia intensiva: uma análise dos conhecimentos utilizados

Care has always been present in the history of humanity and in contemporary nursing it is considered to be a fundamental characteristic. In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), care occurs within an environment that is known for its stressful factors, technological equipment, social isolation and discomfort. Whilst the reality of nursing practice in ICU demonstrates the lack of planned and systematized care, there is an indication that the professionals working in this setting utilize some type of knowledge. Based on that premise, in this study we aim to identify the knowledge that the nurses use in providing care in the ICU. We believe that the identification and characterization of this knowledge, and how it presents itself in practice, requires a reflective analysis process. Therefore, we utilized a qualitative perspective and Kim´s (1999) investigative methodology of reflective inquiry that is based on the precepts of Action Science proposed by Argyris et al. (1985). The study was conducted with 8 intensive care nurses of a public hospital. Data were collected by means of non-participative observation of the nursing care actions and a semi-structured interview conducted within the reflective mode that focused on the nurses practice in the ICU. The results enabled us no only to detect that the nurses utilized knowledge and patterns of knowledge acquired or constructed, but to identify them as: scientific, philosophic, religious, empirical, personal, ethical, and esthetic knowledge. The predominance of the scientific knowledge in the care process suggests that these nurses hold an acquired scientific substance that they utilize to provide specialized care directed toward critical treatment. The conception of this reality surpasses the theoretical limits, the techniques, and the known facts, and denotes the need for a reflective process in action to aide in the comprehension of the knowledge involved in the construction of excellent care

A produção do conhecimento científico: relação sujeito-objeto e desenvolvimento do pensamento

O presente estudo coloca em questão a produção do conhecimento científico como uma das expressões da relação sujeito-objeto, analisando-a à luz da teoria materialista histórico-dialética do conhecimento. Com o objetivo de demonstrar que a interação prática do sujeito com o objeto apenas fundamenta a produção do conhecimento científico pela mediação teórica, reiteramos a importância do ensino escolar e da apropriação dos saberes historicamente sistematizados, indicando a unilateralidade presente em concepções que enfatizam demasiadamente a prática em detrimento da teoria.

Theoretical Approximations Between Brazilian and Spanish Authors' Production in the Field of Knowledge Organization in the Production of Journals on Information Science in Brazil

This work identifies and analyzes literature about knowledge organization (KO), expressed in scientific journals communication of information science (IS). It performs an exploratory study on the Base de Dados Referencial de Artigos de Periodicos em Ciência da Informacio (BRAPCI, Reference Database of Journal Articles on Information Science) between the years 2000 and 2010. The descriptors relating to "knowledge organization" are used in order to recover and analyze the corresponding articles and to identify descriptors and concepts which integrate the semantic universe related to KO. Through the analysis of content, based on metrical studies, this article gathers and interprets data relating to documents and authors. Through this, it demonstrates the development of this field and its research fronts according to the observed characteristics, as well as noting the transformation indicative in the production of knowledge. The work describes the influences of the Spanish researchers on Brazilian literature in the fields of knowledge and information organization. As a result, it presents the most cited and productive authors, the theoretical currents which support them, and the most significant relationships of the Spanish-Brazilian authors network. Based on the constant key-words analysis in the cited articles, the co-existence of the French conception current and the incipient Spanish influence in Brazil is observed. Through this, it contributes to the comprehension of the thematic range relating to KO, stimulating both criticism and self-criticism, debate and knowledge creation, based on studies that have been developed and institutionalized in academic contexts in Spain and Brazil.

Modelo operacional do estudo de caso como estratégia de ensino na disciplina de enfermagem médico-cirúrgica: avaliação dos alunos

O estudo trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva, com o objetivo de avaliar as contribuições e dificuldades sentidas pelos alunos, na utilização do Modelo Operacional do Estudo de Caso, proposto pelas autoras como uma das estratégias de ensino utilizada pela disciplina de Enfermagem Médico-Cirúrgica. Para instrumentalizar e operacionalizar a análise de conteúdo das respostas concedidas pelos alunos, utilizamos da análise temática, segundo Bardin. Com a realização desta investigação concluímos que os alunos reconhecem o modelo como estratégia de ensino na formação dos mesmos, principalmente, quanto ao conhecimento teórico-prático da assistência (70%) que este oferece, estimulando-os à autonomia na tomada de decisões e solução de problemas na área, além de incentivá-los na utilização do acervo da biblioteca. A outra contribuição está relacionada ao conhecimento referente à metodologia científica (30%), onde o modelo emerge a eles como uma estratégia de iniciação a esta atividade. As dificuldades sentidas pelos alunos na elaboração do estudo de caso ocorreram nas seguintes etapas: - no levantamento bibliográfico (58%), principalmente, quanto a falta de bibliografia específica e recente na área de enfermagem e ao não acesso dos alunos da graduação aos índices informatizados: - na redação do trabalho(27%), porém ao mesmo tempo revelando que o estudo de caso propiciou conhecimentos básicos de como elaborar e escrever um trabalho científico; dentre outras (15%).

Compreendendo a lacuna entre a prática e a evolução técnico-científica do banho no leito

Trata-se de estudo qualitativo, realizado com pacientes acamados, visando compreender a experiência da pessoa dependente da enfermagem para o banho no leito e desenvolver um modelo teórico representativo dessa experiência. Utilizou-se como referencial teórico o Interacionismo Simbólico e, como referencial metodológico, a Grounded Theory. Dos resultados emergiu o fenômeno - aprendendo a avaliar a vida e a enfermagem, ao tornar-se dependente de seus cuidados para o banho no leito. Isso possibilitou identificar a categoria central - propondo um modelo assistencial de enfermagem para o banho no leito, na perspectiva do processo avaliativo do paciente, que contrapõe a evolução técnico-científica relativa ao procedimento.

Is urine interleukin-8 level a reliable laboratory test for diagnosing late onset sepsis in premature infants?

The present study is aimed to determine serum and urine interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels in premature infants with late onset sepsis (LOS) and to evaluate if urine IL-8 is a useful test for LOS diagnosis. Fifty-six premature infants admitted to the NICU over 1 year had serum and urine IL-8 determined by ELISA. They were divided into three groups: I definite sepsis, II probable sepsis and III non-infected. Results were expressed as mean or median. Differences between groups were assessed by ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA and Dunns Method. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were calculated and a receiver operator characteristic curve was constructed to determine serum and urine IL-8 accuracy. There were no differences between groups for birth weight, and gestational and post-natal age. Median serum and urine IL-8 levels were significantly higher in GI and GII: 929 x 906 x 625pg/ml; P=0.024, and 249 x 189 x 42pg/mgCr; P< 0.001. Optimal cut-off point was 625pg/ml for serum IL-8 with 69 sensitivity and 75pg/mgCr for urine IL-8 with 92 sensitivity. IL-8 can be determined in urine from premature infants with LOS and is an accurate and feasible diagnosis method.

Ética, preconceito e educação: características das publicações em periódicos nacionais de educação, filosofia e psicologia entre 1970 e 2003

Apresenta um estudo bibliográfico referente ao tema ética e preconceito no âmbito da educação escolar em periódicos nacionais das áreas de educação, psicologia e filosofia a partir da década de 1970 até o ano de 2003. No total, foram categorizados e analisados 570 textos. Constatamos que, especialmente, nas três últimas décadas, houve uma preocupação, por parte dos pesquisadores, com questões éticas e a problemática da diversidade e suas relações com a educação escolar. Percebemos, também, que algumas revistas científicas se destacaram por apresentar um maior número de produções científicas publicadas com o tema e no período que compreende este estudo. Além disso, a maioria dos trabalhos realizou estudos teóricos e pesquisas bibliográficas em detrimento às pesquisas empíricas. Foi elaborado um índice dos textos pesquisados que, juntamente com o material coletado, funcionará como banco de dados para pesquisadores, ligados a diversas áreas do conhecimento, que possuam interesse em estudar o tema ética e preconceito e seus diversos subtemas.

Wilhelm Reich e a produção acadêmica brasileira entre 1979 e 2008

O interesse por pesquisas relacionadas a Wilhelm Reich é notório nos últimos anos. Com o intuito de contribuir com a difusão das produções acadêmicas nesse campo, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi identificar as dissertações de mestrado e as teses de doutorado desenvolvidas em universidades brasileiras entre 1979 e 2008. Os resultados revelaram a existência de 81 produções acadêmicas, das quais 60 são dissertações de mestrado e 21, teses de doutorado. Isso nos leva a concluir que Reich tem sido objeto de interesse de pesquisadores em áreas diversas, o que evidencia que esse autor é um referencial teórico importante para a reflexão de temas contemporâneos.

Theoretical and experimental study of the infrared spectrum of isonicotinamide

The IR-spectrum of the isonicotinamide molecule (C(2)H(2)NC(3)H(2)CONH(2)) is studied by means of theoretical and experimental methods. For an appropriate representation of the molecular environment, Gaussian basis sets to the atoms of these molecule are built and then contracted (5s and 6s5p). For evaluation of the quality of contracted basis sets in molecular calculations, we have accomplished calculations of the total and the orbital (HOMO and HOMO-1) energies in the HF-Roothaan method for the molecule studied. The results obtained with the contracted basis sets [5s/6s5p] are compared to values obtained with our (21s/22s14p) basis sets and with those obtained with the D95, 6-31G, and 6-311G basis sets from literature. It was added one d polarization function in the [6s5p] contracted basis set for C ((3)P) atom, which was used in combination with the basis sets for H ((2)S), N ((4)S). and O((3)P) atoms to calculate the infrared spectrum of isonicotinamide. The calculations were performed at B3LYP level and were compared to corresponding experimental values also obtained in our laboratory. The theoretical results in comparison with the corresponding experimental values indicate a very good interpretation of the IR-spectrum and that the strategy of an appropriate representation of the molecular environment through the basis sets is an effective alternative to investigate vibrational theoretical properties of the nicotinamide molecule. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.

The implications of laboratory Rn-222 flux measurements to the radioactivity in groundwaters: the case of a karstic limestone aquifer

Laboratory time-scale experiments were conducted on Carboniferous Limestone gravels from the Mendip Hills area, England, with the purpose of evaluating the release of Rn-222 to the water phase. The specific surface areas of the samples were 4.14 and 1.69 cm g(-1), which provided, respectively, values of 50.6 and 12.7 pCi for the released Rn. These results allowed the calculation of the emanation coefficient of this rock matrix with respect to the release of Rn, where completely different values corresponding to 23% and 6% were found, suggesting that the extent to which grain boundaries or imperfections in aggregates of micro-crystals of calcite intersect the particle surface certainly affects the Rn release. They also permitted the evaluation of models for the generation of Rn in rocks and transfer to water, in order to interpret the radioactivity due to this gas in groundwaters from the karstic aquifer of the Mendip Hills area, where the calculated activities in groundwater based on the values of 23% and 6% for the emanation coefficient were about 51 and 15 times higher than actually measured in groundwater. Therefore, the emanation coefficient in nature is considerably smaller than in the lab experiment, and another factor k (0 < k < 1) may be introduced into the equations related to the modelling, with the aim of adjusting the theoretical-practical results. (C) 1997 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Viral infections in workers in hospital and research laboratory settings: a comparative review of infection modes and respective biosafety aspects

Objectives: To compare modes and sources of infection and clinical and biosafety aspects of accidental viral infections in hospital workers and research laboratory staff reported in scientific articles. Methods: PubMed, Google Scholar, ISI Web of Knowledge, Scirus, and Scielo were searched (to December 2008) for reports of accidental viral infections, written in English, Portuguese, Spanish, or German; the authors' personal file of scientific articles and references from the articles retrieved in the initial search were also used. Systematic review was carried out with inclusion criteria of presence of accidental viral infection's cases information, and exclusion criteria of absence of information about the viral etiology, and at least probable mode of infection.Results: One hundred and forty-one scientific articles were obtained, 66 of which were included in the analysis. For arboviruses, 84% of the laboratory infections had aerosol as the source; for alphaviruses alone, aerosol exposure accounted for 94% of accidental infections. of laboratory arboviral infections, 15.7% were acquired percutaneously, whereas 41.6% of hospital infections were percutaneous. For airborne viruses, 81% of the infections occurred in laboratories, with hantavirus the leading causative agent. Aerosol inhalation was implicated in 96% of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infections, 99% of hantavirus infections, and 50% of coxsackievirus infections, but infective droplet inhalation was the leading mode of infection for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and the mucocutaneous mode of infection was involved in the case of infection with influenza B. For blood-borne viruses, 92% of infections occurred in hospitals and 93% of these had percutaneous mode of infection, while among laboratory infections 77% were due to infective aerosol inhalation. Among blood-borne virus infections there were six cases of particular note: three cases of acute hepatitis following hepatitis C virus infection with a short period of incubation, one laboratory case of human immunodeficiency virus infection through aerosol inhalation, one case of hepatitis following hepatitis G virus infection, and one case of fulminant hepatitis with hepatitis B virus infection following exposure of the worker's conjunctiva to hepatitis B virus e antigen-negative patient saliva. of the 12 infections with viruses with preferential mucocutaneous transmission, seven occurred percutaneously, aerosol was implicated as a possible source of infection in two cases, and one atypical infection with Macacine herpesvirus 1 with fatal encephalitis as the outcome occurred through a louse bite. One outbreak of norovirus infection among hospital staff had as its probable mode of infection the ingestion of inocula spread in the environment by fomites.Conclusions: The currently accepted and practiced risk analysis of accidental viral infections based on the conventional dynamics of infection of the etiological agents is insufficient to cope with accidental viral infections in laboratories and to a lesser extent in hospitals, where unconventional modes of infection are less frequently present but still have relevant clinical and potential epidemiological consequences. Unconventional modes of infection, atypical clinical development, or extremely severe cases are frequently present together with high viral loads and high virulence of the agents manipulated in laboratories. In hospitals by contrast, the only possible association of atypical cases is with the individual resistance of the worker. Current standard precaution practices are insufficient to prevent most of the unconventional infections in hospitals analyzed in this study; it is recommended that special attention be given to flaviviruses in these settings. (C) 2011 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Division of labor in Ectatomma edentatum (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

The behavioral division of labor between queens and workers of E. edentatum was investigated under laboratory conditions. Each behavioral category of both castes was described by direct observation of the ants in the colonies. The spatial position and the behavior of each individual were recorded. A colony ethogram was constructed to determine comparatively the behavioral repertory of the 2 castes. Most of the members of the colonies, including the queens, occupied the 2nd chamber, which also contained the immature stages. Forty-two behavioral categories were recorded for the workers, and 28 for the queens. The comparison of the behavioral repertory of the 2 castes revealed that ovipositing a fecundated egg is an exclusive behavior of the queens, while the workers showed 15 exclusive behaviors. Queens were never seen foraging out of the nest. Twelve behaviors were common for both castes. Polygynic colonies have only 1 female with full-developed ovaries, which is the main egg layer of the group, a feature defining the social organization of colonies of E. edentatum as a functional monogyny.

Innovaciones en la gestión y calidad de los revestimientos refractarios en la Compañía Sideŕurgica Nacional (Brasil)

The work describes actions carried out in colaboration among the National Steel Company - (CSN)-Brazil and the Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Electrochemistry and Ceramic - LIEC of the Federal University of Sao Carlos Brazil (UFSCar-Brazil), in the area of I&D, for integral management and improvement of the quality and performance of the refractory linings in the sintering areas, blast furnace, hot air pipe lines transferency to the blast furnace, pig-iron ladles, running channels, blast furnaces hearths, torpedo car, etc., as well as, the economic impact generated by the installation of the adopted measures.

Division of labor in pachycondyla striata Fr. Smith, 1858 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae)

Four colonies of the ant Pachycondyla striata were used to analyze the specie behavioral repertoire. Forty-six behavioral acts were recorded in laboratory. Here, we present the record the division of labor between the castes and the temporal polyethism of monomorphic workers. The queens carried out many of the behavioral traits recorded in this work however; they performed them less frequently compared to the worker. The workers activity involved chasing and feeding on fresh insects and usingthem to nourish larvae besides laying eggs in the C-posture, an activity also performed by queens, which is similar to that of wasps of the subfamily Stenogastrinae. The young workers were involved in activities of brood care, sexuate care, and nest maintenance, and the older workers were involved in defense, exploration, and foraging. © 2012 Adolfo da Silva-Melo and Edilberto Giannotti.