Interfaces cérebro-computador: estudo, design e desenvolvimento do jogo AdmiralMind Battleship

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Food restriction promotes downregulation of myocardial L-type Ca2+ channels

Food restriction (FR) has been shown to impair myocardial performance. However, the mechanisms behind these changes in myocardial function due to FR remain unknown. Since myocardial L-type Ca2+ channels may contribute to the cardiac dysfunction, we examined the influence of FR on L-type Ca2+ channels. Male 60-day-old Wistar rats were fed a control or a restricted diet (daily intake reduced to 50% of the amount of food consumed by the control group) for 90 days. Myocardial performance was evaluated in isolated left ventricular papillary muscles. The function of myocardial L-type Ca2+ channels was determined by using a pharmacological Ca2+ channel blocker, and changes in the number of channels were evaluated by mRNA and protein expression. FR decreased final body weights, as well as weights of the left and right ventricles. The Ca2+ channel blocker diltiazem promoted a higher blockade on developed tension in FR groups than in controls. The protein content of L-type Ca2+ channels was significantly diminished in FR rats, whereas the mRNA expression was similar between groups. These results suggest that the myocardial dysfunction observed in previous studies with FR animals could be caused by downregulation of L-type Ca2+ channels.

Disfunção miocárdica e alterações no trânsito de cálcio intracelular em ratos obesos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Detection of SPM and IMP metallo-beta-lactamases in clinical specimens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from a Brazilian public tertiary hospital

Phenotypic and genotypic SPM and IMP metallo-beta-lactamases (MBL) detection and also the determination of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) to imipenem, meropenem and ceftazidime were evaluated in 47 multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from clinical specimens. Polymerase chain reaction detected 14 positive samples to either bla(SPM) or bla(IMP) genes, while the best phenotypic assay (ceftazidime substrate and mercaptopropionic acid inhibitor) detected 13 of these samples. Imipenem, meropenem and ceftazidime MICs were higher for MBL positive compared to MBL negative isolates. We describe here the SPM and IMP MBL findings in clinical specimens of P. aeruginosa from the University Hospital of Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil, that reinforce local studies showing the high spreading of bla(SPM) and bla(IMP) genes among Brazilian clinical isolates.

Peritoneal Dialysis-Related Peritonitis Due to Staphylococcus aureus: A Single-Center Experience over 15 Years

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Identification of Staphylococcus saprophyticus isolated from patients with urinary tract infection using a simple set of biochemical tests correlating with 16S-23S interspace region molecular weight patterns

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

O carnaval de Natal/RN: espaço dos "índios" no tempo de folia

A cidade de Natal/RN apresenta-se como palco para múltiplas manifestações culturais, entre as quais se encontram as tribos de índios carnavalescas. O presente estudo procurará compreender a produção do carnaval destas agremiações enquanto uma manifestação de lazer e trabalho. Pautado numa visão pluralista, percebemos que os vários usos do espaço implicam em territorialidades que envolvem as dimensões política, econômica e simbólica, intermediadas pela cultura. Sob a análise proposta, pretendemos desvendar as dinâmicas espaciais e os vários agentes sociais que engendram relações de poder, trabalho e sociabilidades, mostrando neste mundo carnavalesco seus aspectos culturais e suas práticas sociais, guardando, em seu cerne, o caráter popular e ordinário do cotidiano. A pesquisa mostra que, para além da racionalidade hegemônica, existem outras racionalidades, manifestadas em microterritorialidades, que acionam mecanismos e táticas cotidianas, valorizando-se o fenômeno do estar-junto, existentes no interior dos centros urbanos, nos bairros e nas ruas

Os marcos da paisagem da cidade no contexto da trama urbana de Natal/RN: um estudo a partir do Morro do Careca, o Midway Mall, o Pórtico dos Reis Magos e a Ponte Newton Navarro

The present work is a study on the functions performed by landmarks landscape Natal / RN in the urban fabric, in the case of Midway Mall, the Portico dos Reis Magos, the Morro do Careca and Newton Navarro Bridge. For such goals established itself as analyze the functionality of the milestones presented here in the urban fabric; discuss the importance of these landmarks of the city landscape in the process of urbanization of Natal, and identify and spatialize actions related to the use of territories where are located landmarks, discussing their reflections. To achieve these goals we chose to use as a literature search procedures, the problematic concept, working with oral sources, and reading speechless. To support this research the main concepts were worked landscape, city, landmark, public space, circuits, among others. After going over the theory, consistent with the empirical data, it appears that the landmarks studied here have different functions and features, but all carry different forms of fascination for the public and visitors to the city, and every man your way, influence the public space, land speculation and feature importance in the process of urbanization of Natal

Um olhar sobre o cotidiano e as re-definições espaciais no Bairro Potengi, Natal/RN

This work aims to conduct an analysis on the production of space and the dynamics between social agents that act and interact, albeit in different ways, in the production and re-production space in the Neighborhood Potengi in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. The neighborhood is undergoing a process of dynamism undeniable and has a daily marked by heterogeneity, especially as a neighborhood in transition. So your analysis, from the perspective of the dialectical method, contributes to the understanding of the production space can be analyzed through the study of the forms and content, and may contribute to its real apprehension. After all, the city reflects forms, assumes functions, features and content that dynamic influences and is influenced by human relationships. Thus, this research seeks to analyze the production of space, based on the observation and study of the rich daily life of different social agents that operate within concrete quoted

Praças públicas caicoense: territorialidades, sociabilidades e identidades

The city, with all its complexity, is marked by the different uses that emerge and give the current composition of its forms, functions, processes and structures (SANTOS, 2008). These uses are responsible for defining the territoriality that engender public squares, especially from the projection of the practices of sociability and pleasure experienced by social groups and urban households, giving rise to the emergence of agreements and conflicts, especially when the public sphere and negotiates a private residence in the same territory. Thus, from analyzes performed in the public squares of the city of Caico / RN in the current context, did a survey of territorialities undertaken by these groups and social aggregates. These squares were seized territories while public use, but marked by the presence of private, becoming as important elements of the urban space caicoense

As faces do corredor cultural de Mossoró-RN: cenários e práticas sociais

This work aims to understand the ways in which the social practices and the scenery within a public space located at the city centre of Mossoró - RN, named `The Cultural Corridor` , are constructed. The public space in question will be looked at and analyzed considering it`s components and specificities that, in relation to each other, work as a `public scenario`. The concept of `scenario` is the key for explaining the human actions in the physical space, that is, in the Cultural Corridor. This work also discusses about the action of the public in general and the political groups, and their relationship, within the context of the social practices related to the use of the Cultural Corridor`s space

Política de regularização de terras quilombolas: identidades e territorialidades negras em Portalegre - RN

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Paisagem arquitetônica da cidade de João Pessoa/PB e seus significados: o perceptivo dos moradores

This study was conducted in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba mesoregion Forest. Having to analyze how does the appreciation of the architectural heritage to the visitor and pessoense Capital Paraiba, taking into account the narratives of João Pessoa, and practitioners of foreign tourists of cultural tourism. This research builds on a theoretical foundation on concepts of landscape and place. Was taken as a foundation to Cultural Geography. The research in question is justified by embarking on Geography and Heritage and cast a glance on the geographical cultural landscape, trying to unravel the symbols assigned to the ancient architectural examples, meaning that interfere with power relationships that cross generations, constructing and deconstructing identities, is dispersed or integrating cultures, creating cultural groups and social conflict. It is concluded that the geographical area derives from a number of factors, among them the culture and this in turn will shaping the landscape, reflecting the abstract over the concrete architecture of the oldest to the most current, turning from the material to the immaterial in World Heritage Site

Macrophage Activation Syndrome in Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus A Multinational Multicenter Study of Thirty-Eight Patients

Objective. To describe the clinical and laboratory features of macrophage activation syndrome as a complication of juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods. Cases of juvenile SLE-associated macrophage activation syndrome were provided by investigators belonging to 3 pediatric rheumatology networks or were found in the literature. Patients who had evidence of macrophage hemophagocytosis on bone marrow aspiration were considered to have definite macrophage activation syndrome, and those who did not have such evidence were considered to have probable macrophage activation syndrome. Clinical and laboratory findings in patients with macrophage activation syndrome were contrasted with those of 2 control groups composed of patients with active juvenile SLE without macrophage activation syndrome. The ability of each feature to discriminate macrophage activation syndrome from active disease was evaluated by calculating sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.Results. The study included 38 patients (20 with definite macrophage activation syndrome and 18 with probable macrophage activation syndrome). Patients with definite and probable macrophage activation syndrome were comparable with regard to all clinical and laboratory features of the syndrome, except for a greater frequency of lymphadenopathy, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia in patients with definite macrophage activation syndrome. Overall, clinical features had better specificity than sensitivity, except for fever, which was highly sensitive but had low specificity. Among laboratory features, the best sensitivity and specificity was achieved using hyperferritinemia, followed by increased levels of lactate dehydrogenase, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypofibrinogenemia. Based on the results of statistical analysis, preliminary diagnostic guidelines for macrophage activation syndrome in juvenile SLE were developed.Conclusion. Our findings indicate that the occurrence of unexplained fever and cytopenia, when associated with hyperferritinemia, in a patient with juvenile SLE should raise the suspicion of macrophage activation syndrome. We propose preliminary guidelines for this syndrome in juvenile SLE to facilitate timely diagnosis and correct classification of patients.