Attention, memory and verbal learning and their relation to schizotypal traits in unaffected parents of schizophrenic patients

The main objective of this ex post facto study is to compare the differences in cognitive functions and their relation to schizotypal personality traits between a group of unaffected parents of schizophrenic patients and a control group. A total of 52 unaffected biological parents of schizophrenic patients and 52 unaffected parents of unaffected subjects were assessed in measures of attention (Continuous Performance Test- Identical Pairs Version, CPT-IP), memory and verbal learning (California Verbal Learning Test, CVLT) as well as schizotypal personality traits (Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences, O-LIFE). The parents of the patients with schizophrenia differ from the parents of the control group in omission errors on the Continuous Performance Test- Identical Pairs, on a measure of recall and on two contrast measures of the California Verbal Learning Test. The associations between neuropsychological variables and schizotpyal traits are of a low magnitude. There is no defined pattern of the relationship between cognitive measures and schizotypal traits

Mejoramiento en el proceso técnico-operativo para la empresa RR Plásticos desde un enfoque preventivo en riesgos laborales

se realizó el presente proyecto en el que se propone el diseño de un Programa de Prevención para la empresa RR Plásticos. Dentro de la metodología desarrollada para la ejecución del proyecto, se encuentra la caracterización de la empresa para determinar las necesidades de ésta y así entrar a analizar la problemática que presenta, donde se evaluaron las condiciones actuales en la elaboración de perfiles de plástico y temo formado, utilizando como herramientas complementarias, para la identificación de puntos críticos de control, el análisis de puesto de trabajo, el panorama de factores de riesgos, el análisis biomecánico de cada actividad del proceso y el método de la Comunidad Económica Europea (CEE). Posteriormente se realiza el diseño del programa de prevención, que plantea la propuesta de mejorar el sistema productivo de la empresa a nivel técnico operativo, en donde se plantean los objetivos generales y específicos que muestran los puntos que se desarrollarán en el programa.

Observatorio del acuerdo comercial alianza pacífico en Colombia: oportunidades de exportación para Colombia a Chile, México y Perú

El desarrollo del presente proyecto de investigación, identifica, consolida, analiza datos económicos y el comportamiento del comercio exterior de Colombia, Chile, Perú y México dentro de la evolución del Acuerdo Alianza Pacífico durante los años 2011 - 2013. El estudio permitirá tener una visión más concreta, sobre la viabilidad que este bloque comercial representa para Colombia y mostrará cual ha sido el desempeño del país dentro del acuerdo con base a las exportaciones e importaciones efectuadas con los demás países miembros de la alianza. A lo largo del estudio, se analizará la balanza comercial de los treinta y dos (32) departamentos colombianos con los países miembros del acuerdo Alianza del Pacifico (Chile, México y Perú) entre 2011 – 2013. A partir de la obtención y análisis de resultados de tipo cuantitativo y cualitativo como el valor las exportaciones e importaciones, se hace un diagnóstico del comportamiento de la comercialización de productos por parte de los departamentos con destino y desde de Chile, México y Perú. Este análisis nos permitirá identificar cuáles son los bienes de mayor exportación y su participación dentro de las transacciones comerciales del acuerdo Alianza Pacifico. Con base a los datos que se recopilen, será posible analizar la situación y el papel que juega Colombia actualmente dentro del acuerdo y así identificar así las oportunidades, debilidades y posibles consecuencias, producto de la firma de este tratado. Finalmente, con la presente investigación se buscará iniciar el Observatorio del Acuerdo Alianza Pacifico, el cual se creará con fines investigativos, facilitando el seguimiento a la evolución de dicho acuerdo. A través del observatorio se lograra saber cuáles son los comportamientos en materia económica, tales como balanza comercial, inversión extranjera, movilidad, entre otros de este bloque de integración. Adicionalmente, será posible y analizar el comportamiento de los principales sectores económicos y los departamentos involucrados en este proceso, en términos comerciales.

Coping, rumination and posttraumatic growth in people affected by an earthquake

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n

Características fenotípicas de personalidad y neuropsicológicas en padres no afectados de pacientes esquizofrénicos

Introducció. Actualment, està àmpliament acceptat que l'esquizofrènia posseeix una etiologia multifactorial i que existeix una complexa interacció entre factors genètics i factors ambientals. Amb l'objectiu de coneixerà quins són els mecanismes etiològics i patofisiològics que determinen el trastorn una part de la investigaci6 s 'ha centrat, en els últims anys, en la detecció de marcadors de vulnerabilitat en subjectes amb risc al trastorn. Aquesta vulnerabilitat, denominada 'esquizotipia', es pot identificar en subjectes clínicament no afectats. Objectiu. L'objectiu d'aquesta investigació s'ha dirigit a intentar contestar a alguns interrogants que encara no tenen resposta. Per exemple, per què alguns familiars, essent portadors del genotip esquizofrènic, no han presentat mai la malaltia?, existeixen formes esquizotípiques de menor risc per a la presentació del trastorn?, poden alguns patrons esquizotípics 'ajudar' a que la vulnerabilitat es mantingui latent i no es manifesti en forma de trastorn? En termes generals, l'estudi s'ha centrat en la identificació de marcadors de vulnerabilitat dels trastorns de l'espectre esquizofrènic en pares no afectats de pacients amb esquizofrènia (subjectes d'edats avançades amb poca probabilitat de presentar el trastorn) comparats amb pares normals de subjectes normals. Metodologia. S' han avaluat 26 parelles de pares no afectats de pacients amb esquizofrènia i 26 parelles de pares normals de subjectes normals (n= 104) en variables de personalitat i comportamentals (esquizotipia psicomètrica -O-LIFE-, trastorns de personalitat -Qüestionari d'avaluació IPDE-, psicopatologia general -SCL-90- i lloc de control -MHLC-) i variables neuropsicològiques (dèficit atencional -CPT-IP-, funció executiva -TMT part B- i memòria i aprenentatge verbal -CVLT-). Resultats. Els pares dels pacients esquizofrènics, comparats amb els controls, mostren significativament puntuacions mes altes al factor d'anhedònia introvertida, al trastorn paranoide de la personalitat i al trastorn per evitació de la personalitat, més característiques de psicopatologia general i un major lloc de control intern relacionat amb la salut. També realitzen mes errors d'omissió en la tasca atencional, presenten una major interferència proactiva al test de memòria i aprenentatge verbal i mostren una tendència a dedicar mes temps a completar la tasca executiva. Els resultats mostren que les associacions entre les variables de personalitat i les neuropsicològiques són de poca magnitud i les diferències entre ambdós grups no segueixen un patró clarament determinat. Conclusions. Els pares dels pacients esquizofrènics presenten més trets esquizotípics negatius que els pares del subjectes normals. L'anhedònia introvertida podria considerar-se com una forma de menor risc a l'esquizofrènia ja que s'evidencia en subjectes (pares) d'edats avançades que ja han superat l'edat de risc i amb poca probabilitat de presentar mai el trastorn. Tanmateix, es confirma que el trastorn paranoide de la personalitat forma part dels trastorns de l'espectre esquizofrènic. Els pares dels pacients atribueixen un major pes i la internalització i al poder dels altres en relació a l'estat de salut, i en general, presenten més característiques psicopatològiques que el grup control. Quant a les variables neuropsicològiques, els pares dels pacients realitzen pitjor la tasca atencional, són més lents en l'anticipació, planificació i flexibilitat de les respostes en el test executiu. Els indicadors de memòria i aprenentatge verbal no discriminen a ambdós grups, i únicament els pares dels pacients presenten una major interferència proactiva. Finalment, el patró de personalitat i el neuropsicològic corresponen a dos fenotips diferents relacionats amb l'esquizofrènia que no es troben íntimament units en subjectes amb aquestes característiques.

The lottery-panel task for bi-dimensional parameter-free elicitation of risk attitudes

We propose first, a simple task for the eliciting attitudes toward risky choice, the SGG lottery-panel task, which consists in a series of lotteries constructed to compensate riskier options with higher risk-return trade-offs. Using Principal Component Analysis technique, we show that the SGG lottery-panel task is capable of capturing two dimensions of individual risky decision making i.e. subjects’ average risk taking and their sensitivity towards variations in risk-return. From the results of a large experimental dataset, we confirm that the task systematically captures a number of regularities such as: A tendency to risk averse behavior (only around 10% of choices are compatible with risk neutrality); An attraction to certain payoffs compared to low risk lotteries, compatible with over-(under-) weighting of small (large) probabilities predicted in PT and; Gender differences, i.e. males being consistently less risk averse than females but both genders being similarly responsive to the increases in risk-premium. Another interesting result is that in hypothetical choices most individuals increase their risk taking responding to the increase in return to risk, as predicted by PT, while across panels with real rewards we see even more changes, but opposite to the expected pattern of riskier choices for higher risk-returns. Therefore, we conclude from our data that an “economic anomaly” emerges in the real reward choices opposite to the hypothetical choices. These findings are in line with Camerer's (1995) view that although in many domains, paid subjects probably do exert extra mental effort which improves their performance, choice over money gambles is not likely to be a domain in which effort will improve adherence to rational axioms (p. 635). Finally, we demonstrate that both dimensions of risk attitudes, average risk taking and sensitivity towards variations in the return to risk, are desirable not only to describe behavior under risk but also to explain behavior in other contexts, as illustrated by an example. In the second study, we propose three additional treatments intended to elicit risk attitudes under high stakes and mixed outcome (gains and losses) lotteries. Using a dataset obtained from a hypothetical implementation of the tasks we show that the new treatments are able to capture both dimensions of risk attitudes. This new dataset allows us to describe several regularities, both at the aggregate and within-subjects level. We find that in every treatment over 70% of choices show some degree of risk aversion and only between 0.6% and 15.3% of individuals are consistently risk neutral within the same treatment. We also confirm the existence of gender differences in the degree of risk taking, that is, in all treatments females prefer safer lotteries compared to males. Regarding our second dimension of risk attitudes we observe, in all treatments, an increase in risk taking in response to risk premium increases. Treatment comparisons reveal other regularities, such as a lower degree of risk taking in large stake treatments compared to low stake treatments and a lower degree of risk taking when losses are incorporated into the large stake lotteries. Results that are compatible with previous findings in the literature, for stake size effects (e.g., Binswanger, 1980; Antoni Bosch-Domènech & Silvestre, 1999; Hogarth & Einhorn, 1990; Holt & Laury, 2002; Kachelmeier & Shehata, 1992; Kühberger et al., 1999; B. J. Weber & Chapman, 2005; Wik et al., 2007) and domain effect (e.g., Brooks and Zank, 2005, Schoemaker, 1990, Wik et al., 2007). Whereas for small stake treatments, we find that the effect of incorporating losses into the outcomes is not so clear. At the aggregate level an increase in risk taking is observed, but also more dispersion in the choices, whilst at the within-subjects level the effect weakens. Finally, regarding responses to risk premium, we find that compared to only gains treatments sensitivity is lower in the mixed lotteries treatments (SL and LL). In general sensitivity to risk-return is more affected by the domain than the stake size. After having described the properties of risk attitudes as captured by the SGG risk elicitation task and its three new versions, it is important to recall that the danger of using unidimensional descriptions of risk attitudes goes beyond the incompatibility with modern economic theories like PT, CPT etc., all of which call for tests with multiple degrees of freedom. Being faithful to this recommendation, the contribution of this essay is an empirically and endogenously determined bi-dimensional specification of risk attitudes, useful to describe behavior under uncertainty and to explain behavior in other contexts. Hopefully, this will contribute to create large datasets containing a multidimensional description of individual risk attitudes, while at the same time allowing for a robust context, compatible with present and even future more complex descriptions of human attitudes towards risk.

Multiwalled nanotubes formed by catanionic mixtures of drug amphiphiles

Mixing of oppositely charged amphiphilic molecules (catanionic mixing) offers an attractive strategy to produce morphologies different from those formed by individual molecules. We report here on the use of catanionic mixing of anticancer drug amphiphiles to construct multiwalled nanotubes containing a fixed and high drug loading. We found that the molecular mixing ratio, the solvent composition, the overall drug concentrations, as well as the molecular design of the studied amphiphiles are all important experimental parameters contributing to the tubular morphology. We believe these results demonstrate the remarkable potential that anticancer drugs could offer to self-assemble into discrete nanostructures and also provide important insight into the formation mechanism of nanotubes by catanionic mixtures. Our preliminary animal studies reveal that the CPT nanotubes show significantly prolonged retention time in the tumor site after intratumoral injection.

Regulation of Ras.GTP loading and Ras-Raf association in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes by G protein-coupled receptor agonists and phorbol ester. Activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase cascade by phorbol ester is mediated by Ras.

The small G protein Ras has been implicated in hypertrophy of cardiac myocytes. We therefore examined the activation (GTP loading) of Ras by the following hypertrophic agonists: phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and phenylephrine (PE). All three increased Ras.GTP loading by 10-15-fold (maximal in 1-2 min), as did bradykinin. Other G protein-coupled receptor agonists (e.g. angiotensin II, carbachol, isoproterenol) were less effective. Activation of Ras by PMA, ET-1, or PE was reduced by inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC), and that induced by ET-1 or PE was partly sensitive to pertussis toxin. 8-(4-Chlorophenylthio)-cAMP (CPT-cAMP) did not inhibit Ras.GTP loading by PMA, ET-1, or PE. The association of Ras with c-Raf protein was increased by PMA, ET-1, or PE, and this was inhibited by CPT-cAMP. However, only PMA and ET-1 increased Ras-associated mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1-activating activity, and this was decreased by PKC inhibition, pertussis toxin, and CPT-cAMP. PMA caused the rapid appearance of phosphorylated (activated) extracellular signal-regulated kinase in the nucleus, which was inhibited by a microinjected neutralizing anti-Ras antibody. We conclude that PKC- and Gi-dependent mechanisms mediate the activation of Ras in myocytes and that Ras activation is required for stimulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase by PMA.

Prolonged exposure to palmitate impairs fatty acid oxidation despite activation of AMP-activated protein kinase in skeletal muscle cells

The aim of this study was to investigate the chronic effects of palmitate on fatty acid (FA) oxidation, AMPK/ACC phosphorylation/activation, intracellular lipid accumulation, and the molecular Mechanisms involved in these processes in skeletal muscle cells. Exposure of L6 myotubes for 8 h to 200, 400, 600, and 800 mu M of palmitate did rot affect cel viability but significantly reduced FA oxidation by similar to 26.5%, similar to 43.5%, similar to 50%, and similar to 47%, respectively. Interestingly, this occurred despite significant increases in AMPK (similar to 2.5-fold) and ACC (similar to 3-fold) phosphorylation and in malonyl-CoA decarboxylase activity (similar to 38-60%). Low concentrations of palmitate (50-100 mu M) caused an increase (similar to 30%) in CPT-I activity. However, as the concentration of palmitate increased, CPT-I activity decreased by similar to 32% after exposure for 8 h to 800 mu M of palmitate. Although FA uptake was reduced (similar to 35%) in cells exposed to increasing, palmitate concentrations, intracellular lipid accumulation increased in a dose-dependent manner, reaching values similar to 2.3-, similar to 3-, and 4-fold higher than control in muscle cells exposed to 400, 600, and 800 mu M palmitate, respectively. Interestingly, myotubes exposed to 400 mu M of palmitate for 1h increased basal glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis by similar to 40%. However, as time of incubation in the presence of palmitate progressed from 1 to 8h, these increases were abolished and a time-dependent inhibition of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake (similar to 65%) and glycogen synthesis (30%) was observed in myotubes. These findings may help explain the dysfunctional adaptations that occur in glucose and FA Metabolism in skeletal muscle under conditions of chronically elevated circulating levels of non-esterified FAs. Such as in obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

NAD(P)H Oxidase Participates in the Palmitate-Induced Superoxide Production and Insulin Secretion by Rat Pancreatic Islets

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate [NAD(P)H] oxidase complex has been shown to be involved in the process of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). In this study, we examined the effect of palmitic acid on superoxide production and insulin secretion by rat pancreatic islets and the mechanism involved. Rat pancreatic islets were incubated during 1 h with 1 mM palmitate, 1% fatty acid free-albumin, 5.6 or 10 mM glucose and in the presence of inhibitors of NAD(P)H oxidase (DPI-diphenyleneiodonium), PKC (calphostin C) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-I (CPT-I) (etomoxir). Superoxide content was determined by hydroethidine assays. Palmitate increased superoxide production in the presence of 5.6 and 10 mM glucose. This effect was dependent on activation of PKC and NAD(P)H oxidase. Palmitic acid oxidation was demonstrated to contribute for the fatty acid induction of superoxide production in the presence of 5.6 mM glucose. In fact, palmitate caused p47(PHOX) translocation to plasma membrane, as shown by immunohistochemistry. Exposure to palmitate for 1 h up-regulated the protein content of p47(PHOX) and the mRNA levels of p22(PHOX), gp91(PHOX), p47(PHOX), proinsulin and the G protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40). Fatty acid stimulation of insulin secretion in the presence of high glucose concentration was reduced by inhibition of NAD(P)H oxidase activity. In conclusion, NAD(P)H oxidase is an important source of superoxide in pancreatic islets and the activity of NAD(P)H oxidase is involved in the control of insulin secretion by palmitate. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 1110-1117, 2011. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Hepatic denervation impairs the assembly and secretion of VLDL-TAG

VLDL secretion is a regulated process that depends on the availability of lipids, apoB and MTP. Our aim was to investigate the effect of liver denervation upon the secretion of VLDL and the expression of proteins involved in this process. Denervation was achieved by applying a 85% phenol solution onto the portal tract, while control animals were treated with 9% NaCl. VLDL secretion was evaluated by the Tyloxapol method. The hepatic concentration of TAG and cholesterol, and the plasma concentration of TAG, cholesterol, VLDL-TAG, VLDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were measured, as well as mRNA expression of proteins involved in the process of VLDL assembly. Hepatic acinar distribution of MTP and apoB was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Denervation increased plasma concentration of cholesterol (125.3 +/- 10.1 vs. 67.1 +/- 4.9 mg dL(-1)) and VLDL-cholesterol (61.6 +/- 5.6 vs. 29.4 +/- 3.3 mg dL(-1)), but HDL-cholesterol was unchanged (45.5 +/- 6.1 vs. 36.9 +/- 3.9 mg dL(-1)). Secretion of VLDL-TAG (47.5 +/- 23.8 vs. 148.5 +/- 27.4 mg dL h(-1)) and mRNA expression of CPT I and apoB were reduced (p < 0.01) in the denervated animals. MTP and apoB acinar distribution was not altered in the denervated animals, but the intensity of the reaction was reduced in relation to controls. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Exercise Training Reduces PGE(2) Levels and Induces Recovery from Steatosis in Tumor-bearing Rats

The effects of endurance training on PGE(2) levels and upon the maximal activity of hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) system were studied in rats bearing the Walker 256 carciosarcoma. Animals were randomly assigned to a sedentary control (SC), sedentary tumor-bearing (ST), exercised control (EC), and as an exercised tumor-bearing (ET) group. Trained rats ran on a treadmill (60% VO(2) max) for 60 min/day, 5 days/week, for 8 weeks. We examined the mRNA expression (RT-PCR) and maximal activity (radio-assay) of the carnitine palmitoyltransferase system enzymes (CPT I and CPT II), as well as the gene expression of fatty-acid-binding protein (L-FABP) in the liver. PGE(2) content was measured in the serum, in tumor cells, and in the liver (ELISA). CPT I and CPT II maximal activity were decreased (p < 0.01) in ST when compared with SC. In contrast, serum PGE(2) was increased (p < 0.05) in cachectic animals as compared with SC. In the liver, PGE(2) content was also increased (p < 0.05) when compared with SC. Endurance training restored maximal CPT I and CPT II activity in the tumor-bearing animals (p < 0.0001). Exercise training induced PGE(2) levels to return to control values in the liver of tumor-bearing training rats (p < 0.05) and decreased the eicosanoid content in the tumor (p < 0.01). In conclusion, endurance training was capable of reestablishing liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) system activity associated with decreased PGE(2) levels in cachectic tumor-bearing animals, preventing steatosis.

Lorentz violation and the proper-time method

In this Letter, we apply the proper-time method to generate the Lorentz-violating Chern-Simons terms in the four-dimensional Yang-Mills and non-linearized gravity theories. It is shown that the coefficient of the induced Chern-Simons term is finite but regularization dependent. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A conversão de D. José Brandão de Castro : a ação social de mediadores religiosos na Diocese de Propriá

This dissertation looked for to study the charisma of the religious mediator us " Movements of Christianity of Liberation " in the Diocese Sergipana of Propriá, during the decade from sixty to eighty. Centering our debate in the understanding of the social action, we have as main subject to understand the " poor " influence in the adoption of actions on the part of the mediators, in that public's favor, mainly in Fazenda Betume conflicts (1974) and of Santana dos Frades (1979). The hypotheses, we became pregnant that the mediators as D. José Brandão de Castro and the nun Maria Joana Hermínia exercised an important influence in the construction of the identity of the movements as CEBs, MEB and CPT in the area. Such influence was motivated by a conversion of the mediator D. Brandão, constituted starting from a relationship maintained between him and the members of the movements and proportionate for the critics and demands done by the popular ones. They resulted in actions in favor of the rural ones, what characterized the Church of Propriá as allied of the involved in the conflicts and no mere middleman. Before the collected material, we made use of the Analysis of Content using the poor " term " as analysis category, complemented by interviews done to members of the mentioned movements. Esta dissertação buscou estudar o carisma do mediador religioso nos “Movimentos de Cristianismo de Libertação” na Diocese Sergipana de Propriá, durante a década de sessenta a oitenta. Centrando nosso debate na compreensão da ação social, temos como questão principal entender a influência dos “pobres” na adoção de ações por parte do mediador, em favor desse público, principalmente nos conflitos da Fazenda Betume (1974) e de Santana dos Frades (1979). Como hipóteses, concebemos que os mediadores como D. José Brandão de Castro e a freira Maria Joana Hermínia exerceram uma importante influência na construção da identidade dos movimentos como as CEBs, o MEB e a CPT na região. Tal influência foi motivada por uma conversão do mediador D. Brandão, constituída a partir de uma relação mantida entre ele e os membros dos movimentos e proporcionada pelas críticas e demandas feita pelos populares. Elas resultaram em ações em favor dos campesinos, o que caracterizou a Igreja de Propriá como aliada dos envolvidos nos conflitos e não mera intermediária. Ante o material coletado, fizemos uso da Análise de Conteúdo utilizando o termo “pobre” como categoria de análise, complementada por entrevistas feitas à membros dos movimentos citados.

Estacas escavadas de pequeno diâmetro nos solos argilosos da formação "Libertad", Uruguai

O estado atual do conhecimento na Engenharia de Fundações é baseado em trabalhos teóricos que fundamentam os problemas de interação solo-estrutura, em resultados de provas de carga e em soluções numéricas. Boa parte da bibliografia é dedicada a estacas cravadas, sendo as referências a trabalhos em estacas escavadas de pequeno diâmetro muito reduzidas. No Uruguai é freqüente a utilização de estacas escavadas de pequeno diâmetro; uma característica particular é que geralmente na execução das estacas utiliza-se concreto apiloado. Entre 1995 e 1999, o Instituto de Estruturas e Transporte da Faculdade de Engenharia de Montevideo, desenvolveu um programa de pesquisa nos solos argilosos da formação geológica “Libertad”, muito comum na região sul do Uruguai, a mais urbanizada do pais. Foram executadas 46 provas de carga em estacas de pequeno diâmetro, 34 à tração e 12 à compressão. A grande maioria foram levadas até à ruptura, sendo este um dos fatores que diferencia o presente estudo de outros trabalhos, uma vez que provas de carga em estacas são normalmente ensaiadas para carregamentos de 2 vezes a carga de trabalho. Esta pesquisa constitui-se em uma contribuição inédita, por tratar-se do primeiro trabalho sistemático relacionado à avaliação do desempenho de fundações dentro da prática de engenharia no Uruguai No presente trabalho diferentes critérios de interpretação da curva carga-recalque são avaliados, sendo complementarmente analisada a influência da relação comprimento/diâmetro na deformabilidade do sistema solo-estaca. Foram aplicados ainda, vários métodos de previsão da capacidade de carga com base nos ensaios SPT e CPT, estudando-se assim a validade da aplicação destes métodos à realidade uruguaia. O método de Philipponnat (1986), apresentou o melhor desempenho entre todos os métodos de previsão de capacidade de carga analisados. Porém trata-se de um método baseado no CPT, não muito utilizado na prática uruguaia. Por este motivo, recomendase os métodos de Decourt e Quaresma (1978) ou Cabral (1987); estes dois métodos utilizam os resultados do ensaio SPT, ferramenta mais utilizada no Uruguai para projeto de fundações que o CPT.