Encoding mechanisms based on fast oscillations in the retina of the cat and their dependencies on anesthesia

Processing in the visual system starts in the retina. Its complex network of cells with different properties enables for parallel encoding and transmission of visual information to the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and to the cortex. In the retina, it has been shown that responses are often accompanied by fast synchronous oscillations (30 - 90 Hz) in a stimulus-dependent manner. Studies in the frog, rabbit, cat and monkey, have shown strong oscillatory responses to large stimuli which probably encode global stimulus properties, such as size and continuity (Neuenschwander and Singer, 1996; Ishikane et al., 2005). Moreover, simultaneous recordings from different levels in the visual system have demonstrated that the oscillatory patterning of retinal ganglion cell responses are transmitted to the cortex via the LGN (Castelo-Branco et al., 1998). Overall these results suggest that feedforward synchronous oscillations contribute to visual encoding. In the present study on the LGN of the anesthetized cat, we further investigate the role of retinal oscillations in visual processing by applying complex stimuli, such as natural visual scenes, light spots of varying size and contrast, and flickering checkerboards. This is a necessary step for understanding encoding mechanisms in more naturalistic conditions, as currently most data on retinal oscillations have been limited to simple, flashed and stationary stimuli. Correlation analysis of spiking responses confirmed previous results showing that oscillatory responses in the retina (observed here from the LGN responses) largely depend on the size and stationarity of the stimulus. For natural scenes (gray-level and binary movies) oscillations appeared only for brief moments probably when receptive fields were dominated by large continuous, flat-contrast surfaces. Moreover, oscillatory responses to a circle stimulus could be broken with an annular mask indicating that synchronization arises from relatively local interactions among populations of activated cells in the retina. A surprising finding in this study was that retinal oscillations are highly dependent on halothane anesthesia levels. In the absence of halothane, oscillatory activity vanished independent of the characteristics of the stimuli. The same results were obtained for isoflurane, which has similar pharmacological properties. These new and unexpected findings question whether feedfoward oscillations in the early visual system are simply due to an imbalance between excitation and inhibition in the retinal networks generated by the halogenated anesthetics. Further studies in awake behaving animals are necessary to extend these conclusions

Searching supersymmetry at the LHCb with displaced vertices

Supersymmetric theories with bilinear R-parity violation can give rise to the observed neutrino masses and mixings. One important feature of such models is that the lightest supersymmetric particle might have a sufficiently large lifetime to produce detached vertices. Working in the framework of supergravity models, we analyze the potential of the LHCb experiment to search for supersymmetric models exhibiting bilinear R-parity violation. We show that the LHCb experiment can probe a large fraction of the m(0)circle times m(1/2), being able to explore gluino masses up to 1.3 TeV. The LHCb discover potential for these kinds of models is similar to the ATLAS and CMS ones in the low luminosity phase of operation of the LHC.

Reflexões sobre a formação clínica fenomenológico-existencial na era da técnica

Phenomenology is the focus of this study for its critique of the limits of positivist science, which guides most of the fields of study including Psychology. The clinical formation process in Psychology courses is especially difficult for students-interns who adopt phenomenology as their clinical framework. Such difficulty is due to the incompatibility between theory provided in Psychology courses a science traditionally based on paradigms of scientism , and the theoretical-methodological proposal adopted by the aforementioned approach. As a backdrop for our study, we carefully examined the thought of philosopher Martin Heidegger, especially the Era of Technique. This contemporary technicism society was studied so that we could understand the socio-cultural status where this formation lies. Thus, we questioned if this panorama upon which Clinical Psychology rests favors the development of a phenomenological attitude and a special look at the meanings of existence, as defined in phenomenological clinical practice. Knowing such limits, our research aimed at understanding the experience of formation of clinical psychologists who take part in internships in the field of phenomenology-existentialism. Such study was, then, a phenomenological-hermeneutic research based on Heideggerian ontology and used a semi-structured interview as access tool. Six students of the UFRN higher-degree Psychology course who were doing their supervised internship in clinical psychology and the referred approach took part in this research. The research revealed that the phenomenological-existential formation phase opens a door to discoveries on the part of the intern that transcend the dimension of the other, for they show a self disclosure while a person in the word. Despite the initial discomforts caused by the course curriculum itself and by the freedom for clinical practice, so characteristic of phenomenology, the narratives demonstrate that such difficulties may start a process of search for new meanings, which show a search for sharpening their practices and for a path in balance with the existence of the other

Masculinidade a prova: um estudo de inspiração fenomenologico - hermeneutico sobre a infertilidade masculina

Culturally, childbearing is understood as a situation that subjects will experience at some point in their lives, especially people who are married or have a similar affectionate relationship. Thus, to realize the inability to meet such a fate seems to be a natural cultural trigger of suffering, frustration and feelings of inadequacy and helplessness. Specifically for men, infertility is closely related to loss of masculinity, virility. He fails in his role as a male. This study sought to understand the impact that infertility have on the existence of a man who receives such a diagnosis, both in self-image as in their marital, sexual and professional roles. This study sets up as a hermeneutic phenomenological research based on the ideas of the philosopher Martin Heidegger. Participants were seven heterosexual, married and infertile men. Two interviews were conducted. The analysis of the material included both the material of the narratives, as the affectation of the researcher when interacting with the participants and their narratives, through phenomenological-hermeneutic interpretation. The results corroborate the literature that states the difficulty of the men, immersed in a context that defines them as virile, powerful and invulnerable to worry about issues related to health and disease. The possibility of any condition that impairs the reproductive capacity exceeds the acceptable limits of daily life for these men, not being recognized as a model of masculinity present in the condition in which they recognize. This leads to questions about their masculinity, role in the marital relationship and their existence. Thus, to recognize themselves as infertile surpass a medical diagnosis and is associated with the construction of meaning for their existence from the approximation with the infertility condition, which helps in redirecting their choices, restoring the project to be self and allowing further recognition as men. In the marital relationship, doing what they can to ensure, theirs happiness. Through these actions, they remain playing the role of family provider, showing that they are able to protect their wives and taking in assisted reproduction or adoption of children viable alternatives to fulfill the desire to leave a legacy and give a child to their wives and to society. Another result observed, refers to the ontological condition of care that characterizes the human being. The ways in which men are treated socially demonstrates a type of care that focuses on the development of characteristics such as strength, virility and determination but does not allow them to cope with the suffering of emotionally difficult situations, such as the diagnosis of infertility. At the end, the study gives rise to reflections on the need to provide a 12 space for men and their expressions of suffering, as well as to recognize their ability to overcome the painful and difficult situations

O aborto provocado como uma possibilidade na existência da mulher: reflexões fenomenológico-existenciais

Abortion is a very controversial and stigmatized subject, target of many criticism and discussions, mainly regarding to the legal, bioethical and religious aspects involved. In Brazil, abortion is considered a serious public health problem, being the major cause of maternal death due to its criminalization. The woman who causes an abortion is not up looked by society, since motherhood, culturally and historically, was imposed as a destination. Our main goal is to understand, from the existential-phenomenological perspective, the unique experience of the woman who induced the abortion This study is an offshoot of a larger study from USP in partnership with UFRN. Our participants were women who checked in on a maternity hospital in Natal with a miscarriage diagnosis and, among them, those who reported having induced abortion. Altogether, five women were interviewed. The used method was a phenomenological hermeneutics. The research revealed that the experience of abortion is a possibility that permeates women s life, being understood as a choice. This choice pervaded by much suffering, once it goes against everything that women are culturally taught and meant to be. The feeling more surfacing in this experiment, confirming the literature review, was blame. Abortion was also shown as an experience of helplessness and loneliness, due to lack of support from family and the partner. It was also revealed that abortion was made, mainly, by the desire of going along with future projects, including the prosecute of motherhood in the therms of what they consider ideal to a son s arrival, meaning, a family formation grounded on a stable relationship. Regarding the care provided by health professionals to these women, there is the need of restructuring the operating logic of SUS, so that women have the right to health in a integrate manner. This experience also made women reconsider the meanings they had towards abortion, and their life projects

Histórias de vida de mulheres idosas :um estudo sobre o bem-estar subjetivo na velhice

The elderly population growth in Brazil and in the world is an incontestable reality, arising from a significant declining rate in mortality and fertility, resulting from the remarkable improvements in the quality of life of the people. Associated with the introduction of new technologies in the medical area, these issues have been highly contributing for the increase of the population longevity. The numbers of the elderly in Brazil and in the world show female population predominance within the aging segment, a phenomenon known as the feminisation of the old-age . Aging, therefore, is nowadays one of the primary issues and that has been mobilizing the Brazilian s society, since the development raised from this new reality brought with it enormous challenges and complex social implications which are already felt in the daily lives of the societies. My work experience among some age groups has shown that aging is a much differentiated process which has instigated my interest in understanding why aging has to face an overwhelming and painful experience for some people and enriched and full of signification for others. Overviewing, this research aimed to understand the aging development through the analysis of the processes of signification and production of meaning that permeate the aging and the subjective well-being of three aged women participants of the Project Health and Citizenship on Third Age /CEFET-RN, that evidenced attitudes and behaviors concerning the integration and the activity toward the elderly population. The methodological strategy used was History of Life, starting from collecting data based on deep interviews. The analysis of data evidenced that the elderly well-being is a unique and distinct meaningful experience for each person, concerning each story of their lives within differentiated social, cultural, economic context, from this perspective one can demystify the concept of that aging occurs in a homogeneous way for everyone, everywhere and with the same rhythm. The narratives presented in this research showed the human development as being a dialectic, discursive and interactionist process which extends throughout the adult life and continues to the aging life. The guarantee that development and aging are a parallel phenomenon always in interdependence on the preceding phases of live, are corroborated within the studies. This present study confirms that the elderly population can be a phase of growth, personal realization and continued development, without disrespecting the heterogeneous and the subjectivity of the person who ages. Notifying those healthy and well-succeeded aging experiences, this issue has the intention to contribute to demystify the concept of aging as a social problem, illness needed to be treated, and the stereotypy of the elderly being dependent and unproductive

Violência sob o olhar do adolescente autor de Ato Infracional: reflexões fenomenologicas

O envolvimento de jovens com a violência nos últimos anos, no Brasil, tem aumentado significativamente, bem como o número de adolescentes cumprindo medidas socioeducativas com restrição de liberdade. Entretanto, a literatura mostra a produção incipiente de estudos que abordam o jovem infrator a partir da sua própria experiência. Com base nessas evidências, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo compreender como adolescentes autores de atos infracionais experienciam a violência, sejam como agentes, espectadores ou vítimas, sob a ótica da Analítica Existencial, de Martin Heidegger. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, de inspiração fenomenológico-hermenêutica, tendo sido utilizada a narrativa como recurso metodológico. Foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas, com dois adolescentes de 16 e 17 anos, egressos de medida socioeducativa de restrição de liberdade. A interpretação das narrativas foi feita a partir dos sentidos que emergiram na experiência relatada e do diálogo entre algumas noções heideggerianas como ser-no-mundo, cuidado e impessoalidade. Os relatos mostraram que a violência está presente desde a infância desses adolescentes, tendo sido presenciada na própria família. Para eles, o comportamento violento representa uma forma de impor respeito e admiração. As experiências podem ser interpretadas como uma expressão das relações entre o ser adolescente e o mundo que caracteriza o seu contexto de vida. Assim, as noções de cuidado, no modo de ocupação, e impessoalidade, são vistas como presentes nas experiências narradas. Por hora, o que apresentamos foi nossa compreensão dessas experiências únicas de ser adolescentes num contexto de violência, mostrando peculiaridades de duas crianças que não queriam ser um problema social, mas lançados num mundo inóspito e cruel, na qual nos absorve para as tramas mais sutis de ser, misturando significações e sentidos num espectro fluido que é o viver. Por fim, esperamos que esta pesquisa possa acrescentar não só aos estudos sobre a violência de jovens, mas também ressaltar a importância de se compreender a violência pelo olhar daqueles que a vivenciam

O trabalho profissional dos(as) assistentes sociais no INSS pós as contra-reformas da Previdência Social

The present research study the work professional of the Social worker in the National Institute of Social Security of Rio Grande do Norte s State, especially about the working terms, the demands and working process of Social worker in consequence of the limits established with disorganization of his institutional space derived of the Counter-Reforms of the State and of Social Security. In decade of 1990 there was in Brazil adhesion to the neoliberal politics what configured a new organization of work and a new performance of the State. Inside this context, it was accomplished the Counter-Reforms with emphasis in the privatizations, reform of the Social Security and of the device of the Brazilian State, among other actions. Particularly, in Social Service reforms brought profound consequences for the Social workers of INSS, among it: reduction of professionals and in his institutional space. This study situates the Social Worker of Social Security in front of the contemporary modifications in the world of work as well as in front of the consequences come upon of the Counter-Reforms implemented and executed by the neoliberal governments in the country of way the of frame and to enter to the globalized world and the new order of the capital. From the qualitative research based in the critical and dialectic theoreticianmethodological perspective that study the phenomena from your relations, mediations and contradictions, was possible unveil the limits and the possibilities of the professional work of the Social worker in INSS placed the Counter-Reforms of Social Security. Synthetically, the results of this investigation indicate that, there is an worsening in the inconsistency of the work with relation to social worker's functional situation and his working terms in the institution

Silenciosas e silenciadas: descortinando as violências contra a mulher no cotidiano da prostituição em Natal-RN

The prostitution is known as the world's oldest "profession", according to some historians, "the contemporary civilization itself." However, to refer it that way, we can systematically emptying it of expressions of violence that permeate. Furthermore, this statement tries to legitimize prostitution as a practical historically related to the natural condition of women. The main objective of the research is to examine how the activity prostitucional potentiates in different forms of violence in everyday development of prostitution in the city of Natal. Accordingly, the spot of the categories of gender relations and patriarchal violence against women, refute the thesis advocated by much of feminist studies on of prostitution as an expression of autonomy of women and overcoming the patriarchal order of gender. Procedures as set methodological quali-quantitative approach, guided by the method historicalmaterialist dialectic that allows us to apprehend the object of study beyond their immediate, unmasking its contradictions. We conducted nine interviews with prostitutes belonging to the classes of People who develop the activities in the streets and prostitutes Natals` cabarets. We hand with the systematic observation activities promoted by the Association of Prostitutes in Rio Grande do Norte ASPRORN, as the visits to cabarets, as well as participation in seminars held by this entity, at which establish contacts with informants-c which have facilitated access to interviewed. We note that the economic dimension is the factor determinant for their inclusion in prostitution, all to recognize as who found an alternative for survival, since most do not has no professional training and education. Another issue important to be emphasized concerns the areas where unhealthy develop programs which by itself is characterized as a denial of rights, expressed in the socioeconomic inequality that are subject. As the expressions of violence in their daily lives, the main forms identified were the physical and social, however, there is a trend in naturalizes them, the secondary-over other issues identified as most pressing, such as not service payment by the customers. The determinants of violence identified by respondents were assigned to the woman, or is its boldness. We also, the omission of the State in the issue of prostitution, mainly embodied in absence of public policies directed to sexual rights and reproductive and generation of employment and income. Regarding the regulation of prostitution, the majority of the interviewees is contrary, arguing that exacerbate the stigma in this practice

As diretrizes da política pública de saúde bucal e suas inflexões nos serviços da Clínica Odontológica da UFRN

The crisis that the Brazilian State have been crossing throughout the last decades has revealed intense oscillations in the the way of life of the population reality. In the health area, specifically of buccal health, new alternatives of attending to demands for odontological services have been increasing from the 1990 decade. The research had as objective to analyze the demand of the services of the clinic-school of odontology of the UFRN to identify the socio-economic profile of the users and the inflections of the standards of the National Politics of Buccal Health. The methodology is based on a dialectic perspective and a quali-quantitative boarding. It was used as instrument of data collection forms with open and closed questions, applied to two distinguished groups of citizens: 53 users of the services and 12 pupils of 9th and 10th term of the Odontology Course. The results reaffirm that, with the aggravation of the crisis of SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde- Single Health System) grow the difficulties of accessing the odontological services of the users majority. The subjects of the research make use of a regular socio-economic condition, with high school, own house, formal bond to labor and monthly medium income between 1 and 2 minimum wages. The conclusive analyses point to the selective and exculpatory character of the buccal health right, mainly, those users who find themselves in situation of extreme poverty and social vulnerability. Immediate and of lesser cost odontological assistance is what it s aimed, but the standards praised in the Public Politics of Buccal Health walk in another direction, requiring a bigger strongness of the formation bases and implementation of the programmatical actions since the academic field until the effectiveness of Politics of Buccal Health as a right while as a right to attention and care

Treatment of segmental tibial defects using acute bone shortening followed by gradual lengthening with circular external fixator

The aim of this study was to clinically and radiographically evaluate acute bone shortening followed by gradual lengthening in the treatment of large segmental tibia defects induced in seven clinically normal dogs. A circular external fixator was assembled with one proximal 5/8-circle ring, one middle ring and one distal ring connected with three rods. Thirty per cent of the tibia and fibula were removed in the middle and distal parts of the diaphyses, between the middle and distal rings. Acute bone shortening with compression of proximal and distal segments was performed. A subperiosteal osteotomy was performed between the half-ring and middle ring. Bone distraction started 7 days after surgery; after lengthening, the apparatus was left in place for 14 weeks for consolidation of regenerated bone. The frame was removed at the end of this period, and the dogs observed for four more weeks. Functional results were considered excellent in two, good in three and fair in the other two dogs. Bone regeneration within the distraction gap was obtained 14 weeks after neutral fixation period. We concluded that acute bone shortening followed by gradual lengthening by Ilizarov method can be used to treat extensive tibial defects in dogs, although it presents limb temporary abnormal limb shape and unequal length as early disadvantages.

Umidificação e aquecimento do gás inalado durante ventilação artificial com baixo fluxo e fluxo mínimo de gases frescos

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: em pacientes sob intubação traqueal ou traqueostomia, a umidificação e o aquecimento do gás inalado são necessários para a prevenção de lesões no sistema respiratório, conseqüentes ao contato do gás frio e seco com as vias aéreas. O objetivo da pesquisa foi avaliar o efeito do sistema respiratório circular com absorvedor de dióxido de carbono do aparelho de anestesia Cícero da Dräger, quanto à capacidade de aquecimento e umidificação dos gases inalados, utilizando-se fluxo baixo (1 L.min-1) ou mínimo (0,5 L.min-1) de gases frescos. MÉTODO: O estudo aleatório foi realizado em 24 pacientes, estado físico ASA I, com idades entre 18 e 65 anos, submetidos à anestesia geral, utilizando-se a Estação de Trabalho Cícero da Dräger (Alemanha), para realização de cirurgias abdominais, os quais foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em dois grupos: grupo de Baixo Fluxo (BF), no qual foi administrado 0,5 L.min-1 de oxigênio e 0,5 L.min-1 de óxido nitroso e fluxo mínimo (FM), administrando-se somente oxigênio a 0,5 L.min-1. Os atributos estudados foram temperatura, umidade relativa e absoluta da sala de operação e do gás no sistema inspiratório. RESULTADOS: Os valores da temperatura, umidade relativa e umidade absoluta no sistema inspiratório na saída do aparelho de anestesia e junto ao tubo traqueal não apresentaram diferença significante entre os grupos, mas aumentaram ao longo do tempo nos dois grupos (BF e FM), havendo influência da temperatura da sala de operação sobre a temperatura do gás inalado, nos dois grupos estudados. Níveis de umidade e temperatura próximos dos ideais foram alcançados, nos dois grupos, a partir de 90 minutos. CONCLUSÕES: Não há diferença significante da umidade e temperatura do gás inalado utilizando-se baixo fluxo e fluxo mínimo de gases frescos.

A moralidade e a vida pregressa do candidato como condição autônoma de elegibilidade

The objective of this work was about fixing the free will paradigm as negative evaluation of political rights which presents a new classification dde such rights, producing species: a) conditions of eligibility autonomous (free will), b) eligibility requirements heteronomous (will third party) and c) ineligibility (court decisions / administrative). This morality and life history as a condition of eligibility unattended, making a hermeneutic analysis of art. 14, § 9 of the Constitution, considering the justification of the views of the voting Minister Carlos Ayres Brito Appeal in Ordinary No 1069/2006 of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (where Eurico Miranda). Are fixed concepts of morality and life history from the perspective of the moral act freely and consciously. Has resulted in the identification of the moral virtues of honesty and integrity, which are voluntary acts as a reference to morality and integrity respectively. Justifies the morality and life history as a condition of eligibility unattended. who depend exclusively on the willingness of the candidate. It is noteworthy that the conditions for eligibility as a factual finding does not violate the law and does not allow punitive sanctions or setting a deadline in case of refusal to register the application. Attributed to political parties to take responsibility in their statutes moral criteria for the nomination convention in pre candidates, giving an ethical dimension. Analyzes the law under the Clean Record of morality and life history of the candidate and the possible impact on the electoral context

Transplante cardíaco (TC): a experiência do portador da doença de Chagas

O sucesso do transplante cardíaco com portadores da doença de Chagas está condicionado a cuidados especiais durante todas as fases do transplante, com necessidade de acompanhamento específico e rigoroso pela equipe de saúde. Os receptores devem estar conscientes da permanência do Trypanossoma no organismo, e das possibilidades de reativação da infecção após o transplante. Portanto, seu conhecimento dessa condição, e a sua participação ativa no próprio tratamento, têm importância fundamental. O objetivo do estudo foi investigar a experiência do transplante cardíaco vivenciada por pacientes portadores da doença de Chagas, para buscar compreender os significados que eles atribuem a esta experiência. Os procedimentos metodológicos abrangeram: a seleção dos pacientes; as entrevistas; a análise dos dados, indicando as unidades de significado e a análise individual; a busca de convergências dos discursos; e análise hermenêutica das convergências. da análise dos dados emergiram os seguintes temas: o tempo vivido pelo receptor, portador da Doença de Chagas; a concepção do TC apresentado pelo portador de Chagas; o cuidado na trajetória do TC.

O espaço central das atenções: o corredor de integração da região metropolitana de Natal

This work considers the space study of the main road runner of integration of the Region Metropolitan of Natal (RMN) in formation, emphasizing its repercussion for the geographic context of the city, where we identify the positive and negative aspects of such space configuration, as for the aspects of the urban inaquality, economic centrality and of flows, promoted for the state and private capital (national and foreign). The linear convergence and polinucleately of geographic objects in that we identify as Central Space of Attentions (CSA), promoted, and still it promotes, important repercussion in the space estructuretion of the peripheral areas of the RMN, such as in the constitution of the "Capital Value of the Space". In this direction, to endorse the analysis of such reading, choose as cientific ballast the geographic theory, in a perspective dialectic, as well as we rescue contributions of the science of the administration, sociology, economy, amongst others. From the empirical research, subsidized with the application of forms together the entrepreneurs whom they possess investments in the CSA, as well as in the rescue of information you register in cadastre in the Junta Comercial do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (JUNCERN) and telephonic list, we construct a proposal of reading of the current period of training of the process of space production to which is rank the CSA. The analysis of the data, under a comparative space angle, presents an important contribution to reevaluate the urban space of the RMN in its bigger aspect, exceeding the limits of the studied road corridor