Computerized identification of motor complications in Parkinson's disease

Objective: To investigate whether spirography-based objective measures are able to effectively characterize the severity of unwanted symptom states (Off and dyskinesia) and discriminate them from motor state of healthy elderly subjects. Background: Sixty-five patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD) and 10 healthy elderly (HE) subjects performed repeated assessments of spirography, using a touch screen telemetry device in their home environments. On inclusion, the patients were either treated with levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel or were candidates for switching to this treatment. On each test occasion, the subjects were asked trace a pre-drawn Archimedes spiral shown on the screen, using an ergonomic pen stylus. The test was repeated three times and was performed using dominant hand. A clinician used a web interface which animated the spiral drawings, allowing him to observe different kinematic features, like accelerations and spatial changes, during the drawing process and to rate different motor impairments. Initially, the motor impairments of drawing speed, irregularity and hesitation were rated on a 0 (normal) to 4 (extremely severe) scales followed by marking the momentary motor state of the patient into 2 categories that is Off and Dyskinesia. A sample of spirals drawn by HE subjects was randomly selected and used in subsequent analysis. Methods: The raw spiral data, consisting of stylus position and timestamp, were processed using time series analysis techniques like discrete wavelet transform, approximate entropy and dynamic time warping in order to extract 13 quantitative measures for representing meaningful motor impairment information. A principal component analysis (PCA) was used to reduce the dimensions of the quantitative measures into 4 principal components (PC). In order to classify the motor states into 3 categories that is Off, HE and dyskinesia, a logistic regression model was used as a classifier to map the 4 PCs to the corresponding clinically assigned motor state categories. A stratified 10-fold cross-validation (also known as rotation estimation) was applied to assess the generalization ability of the logistic regression classifier to future independent data sets. To investigate mean differences of the 4 PCs across the three categories, a one-way ANOVA test followed by Tukey multiple comparisons was used. Results: The agreements between computed and clinician ratings were very good with a weighted area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) coefficient of 0.91. The mean PC scores were different across the three motor state categories, only at different levels. The first 2 PCs were good at discriminating between the motor states whereas the PC3 was good at discriminating between HE subjects and PD patients. The mean scores of PC4 showed a trend across the three states but without significant differences. The Spearman’s rank correlations between the first 2 PCs and clinically assessed motor impairments were as follows: drawing speed (PC1, 0.34; PC2, 0.83), irregularity (PC1, 0.17; PC2, 0.17), and hesitation (PC1, 0.27; PC2, 0.77). Conclusions: These findings suggest that spirography-based objective measures are valid measures of spatial- and time-dependent deficits and can be used to distinguish drug-related motor dysfunctions between Off and dyskinesia in PD. These measures can be potentially useful during clinical evaluation of individualized drug-related complications such as over- and under-medications thus maximizing the amount of time the patients spend in the On state.

Análise de barragens de gravidade de concreto considerando a fase construtiva e a interação dinâmica barragem-reservatório-fundação

o objetivo deste trabalho é a análise de barragens de gravidade de concreto desde a faseda sua construção até sua completa entrada em serviço. Inicialmente é feita a análise da fase construtiva, onde o problema fundamental é devido às tensões térmicas decorrentes do calor de hidratação. O método dos elementos finitos é empregado para a solução dos problemasde transferência de calor e de tensões. A influência da construção em camadas é introduzidaatravés da redefinição da malha de elementos finitos, logo após o lançamento de cadacamada de concreto. Uma atenção especial é dada ao problema de fissuração em estruturas de concreto simples.Algunsmodelos usuais são apresentados, discutindo-se a eficiência dos mesmos. Os modelosde fissuração distribuída têm sido preferidos, em virtude dos vários inconvenientes apresentados pelas formulações discretas. Esses modelos, entretanto, fornecem resultados dependentesda malha de elementos finitos e alguma consideração adicional deve ser feita para corrigiressas distorções. Normalmente, tenta-se corrigir esse problema através da adoção de umaresistênciaà tração minorada que é definida em função da energia de fratura do material. Neste trabalho, é demonstrado que esse procedimento não é satisfatório e é proposta uma novaformulaçãopara a análise de grandes estruturas de concreto. A análise das tensões na etapa de construção da barragem é feita com o emprego de um modelo constitutivo viscoelástico com envelhecimento para o concreto. Em virtude do envelhecimento,a matriz de rigidez da estrutura é variável no tempo, devendo ser redefinida e triangularizadaem cada instante. Isto leva a um grande esforço computacional, sobretudo, quandoa barragem é construída em muitas camadas. Para evitar esse inconveniente, adota-se um procedimento iterativo que permite que a matriz de rigidez seja redefinida em poucas idadesde referência. Numa segunda etapa da análise, a barragem é submetida à pressão hidrostática e a uma excitação sísmica. A análise dinâmica é realizada considerando-se o movimento do sistema acoplado barragem-reservatório-fundação. O sismo é considerado um processo estocásticonão estacionário e a segurança da estrutura é determinada em relação aos principais modos de falha

A influência dos ativos intangíveis na análise de risco de crédito de empresas de base tecnológica

Evolution is present in world dynamics. And it is just in such transformational environment where companies have been encapsulated. In an economy of knowledge, physical assets alone are unable to provide profits to meet shareholders' demands. Now there comes an invisible component with the purpose of defining strategies and impelling results: Intangible Assets. Banking financing systems, however, have not kept pace with this knowledge revolution and its resulting new income generation techniques. Credit analysis methods for most financing agents would not employ any intangible parameters in their methodology of study as yet. This paper seeks to discuss the importance of intangible assets by focusing their role of influencial factor in decisions to finance technology-based companies. By studying the credit risk classification system employed by FINEP, Brazil's Federal Agency for innovation development, we wished to suggest indicators for intangibles which might be put to use in the Financiadora.

Histórias de empreendedores: significados, narrativas e artefatos

Compreender o processo de significação e ressignificação que o empreendedor atribui ao novo negócio através das etapas de busca, percepção e interpretação propostas por Daft e Weick (1984) ao longo do tempo. Design/metodologia/abordagem: Sob uma perspectiva interpretativista, este trabalho se valeu de abordagens qualitativas. Foram utilizadas téc nicas de análise de narrativas, antenarrativas e análise de dados qualitativos sobre entrevistas realizadas com 11 empreendedores digitais em dois momentos diferentes. Descobertas: as análises sugerem que o empreendedor ressignifica seu negócio com o passar do tempo, provavelmente em função do nível de sucesso do empreendimento. Esta pesquisa corrobora a proposição de Daft & Weick (1984) acerca da existência de um processo cíclico de busca, interpretação e ação que levaria a um contínuo de ressignificações. Implicações da pesquisa: Para os empreendedores (practioners), este trabalho lança luz sobre as possibilidades de uso das narrativas como recursos para influência e disseminação de significados (sensegiving). Para acadêmicos, este trabalho oferece melhor conceituação do constructo ‘artefato estratégico’, além de avançar na consolidação dos métodos de análise de narrativas. Originalidade/Valor: O valor dessa pesquisa se dá em fortalecer os métodos de análise de narrativas, além de apresentar um possível caminho para capturar os elementos de ressignificação. Além disso, ao propor um framework de análise e construção de narrativas empreendedoras, este trabalho pode auxiliar pesquisadores e practioners

O coração e o dragão: perspectivas da vida urbana em uma cidade fragmentada

This research aims to study dimensions of urban life in the contemporaneous city. It is an effort to understand the functioning of the contemporary city as an artifact that somehow affects social relations. The study focuses on the limits and possibilities of urbanity in the city today, understanding urbanity as a set of factors that favor wealth, diversity and spontaneity of public life. The research aims to show that cities today tend to criate fragmented urban life into at least one of the three urbanity dimensions: spatial dimension, social and temporal dimension. The study involves the analysis of two public spaces in Fortaleza (Praça do Ferreira and the open urban public spaces of the Centro Cultural Dragão do Mar), using Space Syntax Analysis methods and for Post Occupancy Evaluation procedures. Research shows that temporal dimension of urbanity is limited in the public spaces studied. In Praça do Ferreira, spatial and social dimensions are present, but their effects are limited by the temporal dimension. The Dragão do Mar, on the other hand, the spatial and social dimensions of urban life are more limited and more concentrated in time

Ecomorfologia de dez espécies de peixes marinhos mais abundantes de Galinhos/RN

Ecomorphology is a science based on the idea that morphological differences among species could be associated with distinct biological and environmental pressures suffered by them. These differences can be studied employing morphological and biometric indexes denominated Ecomorphological attributes , representing standards that express characteristics of the individual in relation to its environment, and can be interpreted as indicators of life habits or adaptations suffered due its occupation of different habitats. This work aims to contribute for the knowledge of the ecomorphology of the Brazilian marine ichthyofauna, specifically from Galinhos, located at Rio Grande do Norte state. 10 different species of fish were studied, belonging the families Gerreidae (Eucinostomus argenteus), Haemulidae (Orthopristis ruber,Pomadasyscorvinaeformis,Haemulonaurolineatum,Haemulonplumieri,Haemulonsteindachneri), Lutjanidae (Lutjanus synagris), Paralichthyidae (Syaciummicrurum), Bothidae (Bothus ocellatus) and Tetraodontidae (Sphoeroidestestudineus), which were obtained during five collections, in the period time of September/2004 to April/2005, utilizing three special nets. The ecomorphological study was performed at the laboratory. Eight to ten samples of each fish specie were measured. Fifteen morphological aspects were considered to calculate twelve ecomorphological attributes. Multivariate statistical analysis methods such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis were done to identify ecmorphological patterns to describe the data set obtained. As results, H.aurolineatumwas the most abundant specie found (23,03%) and S.testudineusthe less one with 0,23%. The 1st Principal component showed variation of 60,03% with influence of the ecomorphological attribute related to body morphology, while the 2nd PC with 23,25% variation had influence of the ecomorphological attribute related to oral morphology. The Cluster Analiysis promoted the identification of three distinct groups Perciformes, Pleuronectiformes and Tetraodontiformes. Based on the obtained data, considering morphological characters differences among the species studied, we suggest that all of them live at the medium (E.argenteus,O.rubber, P.corvinaeformis,H.aurolineatum,H.plumieri,H.steindachneri,L.synagris) and bottom (S.micrurum,B.ocellatus,S.testudineus) region of column water.

Estudo comparativo de carragenanas comerciais Kappa, Iota e Lambda no processo inflamatório em ratos :edema intraplantar e pleurisia

The Iota, Kappa and Lambda commercial carrageenans are rarely pure and normally contain varying amounts of the other types of carrageenans. The exact amount of impurity depends on the seaweed source and extraction procedure. Then, different analysis methods have been applied for determination of the main constituents of carrageenans because these three carrageenans are extensively used in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry. The electrophoresis of these compounds proved that the carrageenans are constituted by sulfated polysaccharides. These compounds were characterized by colorimetric methods and was observed that the Lambda carrageenan shown the greater value (33.38%) of sulfate. These polymers were examined by means of 13C NMR spectroscopy and infrared spectra. The polysaccharides consisted mainly of units alternating of sulfated galactoses and anhydrogalactoses. The aim of the study was also to test the inflammatory action of these different polysaccharides. A suitable model of inflammation is acute sterile inflammation of the rat hind limb induced by carrageenan. Paw edema was induced by injecting carrageenans (κ, ι and λ) in saline into the hind paw of a male Wistar rats (175–200 g). The pathway to acute inflammation by carrageenan (kappa, iota and lambda) were expressed as time-edema dependence and measured by paw edema volume. For this purpose, was used an apparatus (pakymeter), which makes it possible to measure the inflammation (swelling of the rat foot) with sufficient accuracy. The results showed that κ-carrageenan (1%) have an edema of 3.7 mm and the paw edema increase was time and dose dependent; the ι-carrageenan (0.2%) caused an edema of 4 mm and the λ-carrageenan (1%) caused an edema of 3.6 mm. Other model was used in this study based in the inflammation of pleura for comparatives studies. Injection of carrageenans into the pleural cavity of rat induced an acute inflammatory response characterized by fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity, a large number of neutrophils and raised NO production. The levels of NO were measured by Griess reactive. The ι-carrageenan caused the greater inflammation, because it has high concentration of nitrite/nitrate (63.478 nmoles/rat), exudato volume (1.52 ml) and PMNs (4902 x 103 cells). Quantitative evaluation of inflammations of rats is a useful and important parameter for the evaluation of the efficacy of anti-inflammatory drugs

Sistemas de informação geográfica e análise espacial de dados como ferramentas para determinação de agregação espacial de doenças: a hanseníase como modelo

This work demonstrates the importance of using tools used in geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial data analysis (SDA) for the study of infectious diseases. Analysis methods were used to describe more fully the spatial distribution of a particular disease by incorporating the geographical element in the analysis. In Chapter 1, we report the historical evolution of these techniques in the field of human health and use Hansen s disease (leprosy) in Rio Grande do Norte as an example. In Chapter 2, we introduced a few basic theoretical concepts on the methodology and classified the types of spatial data commonly treated. Chapters 3 and 4 defined and demonstrated the use of the two most important techniques for analysis of health data, which are data point processes and data area. We modelled the case distribution of Hansen s disease in the city of Mossoró - RN. In the analysis, we used R scripts and made available routines and analitical procedures developed by the author. This approach can be easily used by researchers in several areas. As practical results, major risk areas in Mossoró leprosy were detected, and its association with the socioeconomic profile of the population at risk was found. Moreover, it is clearly shown that his approach could be of great help to be used continuously in data analysis and processing, allowing the development of new strategies to work might increase the use of such techniques in data analysis in health care

Técnicas de análise multivariada na determinação de grupos homogêneos de produtores de leite

Nesta pesquisa objetivou-se captar a variedade de situações tecnológicas para identificar grupos de produtores, o mais semelhante possível, no conjunto de variáveis e características selecionadas. Foram considerados 72 produtores, 8,33% da amostra total, selecionados conforme 29 variáveis relacionadas a fatores produtivos. Avaliaram-se as variáveis de melhor representatividade dentro de cada fator e suas comunalidades dentro do conjunto de fatores analisados. Para a avaliação desses resultados, foram utilizados métodos de análise fatorial em componentes principais. Posteriormente, aplicou-se o método de análise de agrupamentos. O pluralismo tecnológico requer análises de agrupamento para viabilizar intervenções técnicas diferenciadas, o que permite a consolidação de condições de sustentabilidade a partir das reais necessidades de incorporação tecnológica dos produtores.

Tornar-se, ser e viver do professorado: entre regularidades e variações identitárias

The main aim of this research has been to analyze the identity patterns of the teacher s staff of fundamental education public schools in the Metropolitan Area of Natal-RN. It sets out from the hypothesis that being a teacher within this context grows out of the regularities of a specific habitus, which, according to Bourdieu, develops into mental schemes of thought and action within a specific social group. This habitus forms the basis on which is built the social representation of being a teacher prevailing in the group, as well as the symbolic differences that typify its identity variations. Three data sources have been fundamental in building up this thesis: (a) formative essays of students graduating from a Higher Teacher s Formation Course, as well as observing some of the public defense of these essays during field work; (b) a questionnaire aimed at classifying economically, socially, and culturally a sample of public teachers of the Natal-RN county; and (c) submitting a sub-sample of this group to the process of Multiple Classification Procedures (MCP). The analysis of data was done according to the multidimensional, non-parametric statistical procedures of both the Category Content Analysis and Enunciation Analysis methods. The results of the analysis took into account an ample set of variables, its associations and implications, the cultural and social profile of the population under scrutiny, their life styles, as well as the strategies they developed in the process of becoming a teacher, and the social representation of being a teacher . We came to the conclusion that the social identity of the teachers corps, or as we prefer to say it being a teacher , is a result of a set of regularities produced by the habitus that gives social shape and meaning to the existence of the group proper. We note the existence of identity variations caused by the variables (a) educational level; and (b) mode of action in fundamental education (if these are the first or last grades where the subjects operate). However, these variations will not break the power of the regularities that give shape, meaning, and social visibility to the group. The social representation of being a teacher points to the tensions, ambiguities, and trends inherent to common sense, as well as to a strong tendency to reassign a new meaning to being a teacher. Our thesis, therefore, is that the identity configuration of the teachers corps under scrutiny is characterized by an integrative synthesis, by-product of a habitus that is superimposed, and at the same time co-exists with different identity variations

Como vão se formando os professores em física e química: embates entre o ser, o ter e o fazer na formação de licenciandos da UFRN sob a perspectiva da teoria das representações sociais

The purpose of this work is to approach and understand the Social Representations (SR) (MOSCOVICI, 2003) about Physics and Chemistry from people who are major in these courses, as well as their Social Representations about teaching . We took as principle that approaching these representations it would be possible to relate their symbolic contents, in order to show how people who are following the first segments of bachelor degree courses in Physics and Chemistry become teachers, taking into account a psychosocial view. Two source of data was used during this research: Free-association Technique FA (ABRIC, 1994); and Multiple Classification Procedure (MCP) (ROAZZI, 1995). The analytical treatment of the collected data from FA was done according to the proposition of Grize, Vergés and Silem (1987 apud ABRIC, 1994, p. 66). MCP data were analyzed through MSA (Multidimensional Scalogram Analysis) and SSA (Singular Spectrum Analysis) methods associated with the Facet Theory (BILSKY, 2003). The discourses of MCP discussing groups at the moment of explanations were studied by Content Analysis as it was proposed by Bardin (1977) and Franco (2005). Indicative of an approach to the relations with knowledge (CHARLOT, 2000), the connections which aroused from the analyses showed that the group of future majors in Physics thought that this scientific field was based on a rationalist conception, influencing the idealization sense of the phenomena to be explained by Physics. Thus, Physics as school content started to require the student of the fundamental and high school to think abstractly as a cognitive skill of learning. The identifying elements observed in the relations between SR about Physics and Teaching aroused from the antagonism between future majors and their teacher, as well as from the speculation between their fundamental and high school students and themselves, mainly when they had to face the act of teaching due to the obstacles imposed by the own educational system, and by the weakness of the initial preparation. The group of future majors in Chemistry, through its discourses, showed these relations when they conceived empiricist Chemistry and said that teaching was the way of transmission of this knowledge, and didactics of Chemistry teaching was the direction to learning through pedagogic methods in order to lead the students to discoveries. The psychosocial contents which were built and showed from the symbolic relations in the studied SR achieved the relation of identity. This relation revealed identifying elements for these people, resulting from the traffic between their condition as students of Chemistry, and as teachers regarding their work, what placed the current relational contents in the teaching space, named as Knowledge changing and Adaptability . In order to study emerging questions in the discussing environment about formation and teaching professionalization, we focused the psychosocial view on this traffic and managed to observe epistemological practical and pedagogic obstacles that limited a configuration of the teaching work as a professional activity, especially from the particular conditions which led the relations of senses to Physics , Chemistry and Teaching ; and Chemistry and Physics as it was seen in this research. Generally speaking, we noted that these obstacles can denounce such obstacles concerning to the pedagogic doings which mainly impair the learning process of fundamental and high school students

Padrões nutricionais para lavouras arrozeiras irrigadas por inundação pelos métodos da CDN chance matemática

Para o arroz irrigado, poucos trabalhos utilizam métodos de diagnose foliar desenvolvidos para as condições locais de clima, solo ou cultivares. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os métodos da Diagnose da Composição Nutricional e da Chance Matemática na definição dos padrões nutricionais de lavouras arrozeiras do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Resultados de produtividade de grãos e teores foliares de N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn e Mo de 356 lavouras arrozeiras cultivadas sob sistema de irrigação por inundação foram utilizados para a determinação das faixas de suficiência calculadas pelo método da Chance Matemática. As faixas de suficiência foram comparadas com valores críticos propostos pela literatura e com o intervalo de confiança do teor médio dos nutrientes em lavouras consideradas nutricionalmente equilibradas, identificadas pelo método Diagnose da Composição Nutricional. Observou-se pouca concordância entre os valores das faixas de suficiência indicados pelos métodos da Chance Matemática e da Diagnose da Composição Nutricional e os respectivos valores indicados na literatura. A faixa de teores foliares adequados, consistentes com maior produtividade média das lavouras arrozeiras, foi indicada ser de 23 a 28 g kg-1 para N; 11 a 14 g kg-1 para K; 1,4 a 2,0 g kg-1 para S; 6 a 12 mg kg-1 para B; e 70 a 200 mg kg-1 para Fe. Para os teores foliares de P, Ca, Mg, B, Cu, Mn e Zn e Mo nenhuma das faixas adequadas testadas indicou capacidade para distinguir as lavouras arrozeiras quanto à produtividade média.

Distribuição radicular de cultivares de aspargo em áreas irrigadas de Petrolina - PE

A distribuição radicular de duas cultivares de aspargo (New Jersey 220 e UC 157 F1), irrigadas por aspersão convencional, foi avaliada durante o ano de 1997 em solos de textura arenosa, em plantio experimental e comercial, respectivamente, nos Projetos de Irrigação de Bebedouro e Senador Nilo Coelho, em Petrolina (PE). O objetivo foi obter informações do sistema radicular do aspargo, empregando-se os métodos do monolito e do perfil de solo auxiliado pela análise de imagens digitais, para o manejo de solo e água nesse cultivo. Na área experimental, a maior parte da matéria seca, área e comprimento de raízes no perfil de solo e densidade de comprimento radicular foram encontradas até a profundidade de 0,4 m nas duas cultivares, enquanto que na comercial a maior parte da área e comprimento de raízes no perfil do solo estendeu-se até a profundidade de 0,6 m (cv. New Jersey 220). Nesses dois plantios, as raízes das cultivares atingiram a profundidade de 1 m. Na área experimental, a massa seca, a área e o comprimento no perfil de solo, e a densidade de comprimento radicular nas cultivares concentraram-se até a distância de 0,6 m à linha de plantas. No intervalo de diâmetro (d) de raízes 2

Estudo de antenas patches de microfita miniaturizadas em banda larga para aplicação em dispositivos móveis e portáteis

This work presents techniques used to design and manufacture microstrip patch antennas for applications in portable and mobile devices. To do so, are evaluated several factors that can influence the performance of microstrip patch antennas. Miniaturization techniques are studied and employed in order to apply this type of antenna in mobile and / or mobile. The theories of microstrip patch antennas are addressed by analyzing characteristics such as constitution, kinds of patches, substrates, feeding methods, analysis methods, the main advantages and disadvantages and others. Techniques for obtaining broadband microstrip patch antennas were surveyed in literature and exemplified mainly by means of simulations and measurements. For simulations of the antennas was used the commercial software . In addition, antenna miniaturization techniques have been studied as a main concern the fundamental limits of antennas with special attention to electrically small antennas because they are directly linked to the microstrip patch antennas. Five design antennas are proposed to demonstrate the effectiveness of techniques used to obtain the microstrip patch antennas broadband and miniaturized for use in mobile devices and/or portable. For this, the proposed antennas were simulated, built and measured. The antennas are proposed to be used in modern systems of wireless communications such as DTV, GPS, IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.11, etc. The simulations of the antennas were made in business and computer programs. The measured results were obtained with a parser Vector of networks of the Rhode and Schwarz model ZVB 14

Análise do desempenho térmico de sistema constutivo de concreto com EPS como agregado graúdo

In the last decades there was a concentrate effort of researchers in the search for options to the problem of the continuity of city development and environmental preservation. The recycling and reuse of materials in industry have been considerate as the best option to sustainable development. One of the relevant aspects in this case refers to the rational use of electrical energy. At this point, the role of engineering is to conceive new processes and materials, with the objective of reducing energy consumption and maintaining, at the same time the benefits of the technology. In this context, the objective of the present research is to analyze quantitatively the thermal behavior of walls constructed with concrete blocks which composition aggregates the expanded polystyrene (EPS) reused in the shape of flakes and in the shape of a board, resulting in a “light concrete”. Experiments were conducted, systematically, with a wall (considerate as a standard) constructed with blocks of ordinary concrete; two walls constructed with blocks of light concrete, distinct by the proportion of EPS/sand; a wall of ceramic bricks (“eight holes” type) and a wall with ordinary blocks of cement, in a way to obtain a comparative analysis of the thermal behavior of the systems. Others tests conducted with the blocks were: stress analysis and thermal properties analysis (ρ, cp e k). Based on the results, it was possible to establish quantitative relationship between the concentration (density) of EPS in the constructive elements and the decreasing of the heat transfer rate, that also changes the others thermal properties of the material, as was proved. It was observed that the walls of light concrete presents better thermal behavior compared with the other two constructive systems world wide used. Based in the results of the investigation, there was shown the viability of the use of EPS as aggregate (raw material) in the composition of the concrete, with the objective of the fabrication of blocks to non-structural masonry that works as a thermal insulation in buildings. A direct consequence of this result is the possibility of reduction of the consume of the electrical energy used to climatization of buildings. Other aspect of the investigation that must be pointed was the reuse of the EPS as a raw material to civil construction, with a clear benefit to reducing of environmental problems