Enterotoxigenicidade de cepas de Aeromonas sp. isoladas em diferentes pontos do fluxograma de abate bovino

Com o objetivo de verificar a capacidade enterotoxigênica de cepas de Aeromonas sp. isoladas em diferentes produtos e locais no fluxograma de abate bovino, foram testadas 102 cepas (18 da espécie A. hydrophila, 65 da espécie A. caviae e 19 atípicas) ante os testes de inoculação intragástrica em camundongo lactente e em alça intestinal ligada de coelho. Revelaram-se como produtoras de enterotoxinas três (16,7%) cepas da espécie A. hydrophila, originárias das mãos do manipulador antes que ele iniciasse seus trabalhos e da carne desossada pronta para o consumo, e uma (1,5%) da espécie A. caviae, também isolada das mãos. Os resultados são preocupantes pela presença de cepas enterotoxigênicas de bactérias do gênero Aeromonas em indústria de alto nível higiênico-sanitário.

Uso de técnicas de otimização baseadas em derivadas como suporte do planejamento operacional de redes de distribuição de energia elétrica

The usual programs for load flow calculation were in general developped aiming the simulation of electric energy transmission, subtransmission and distribution systems. However, the mathematical methods and algorithms used by the formulations were based, in majority, just on the characteristics of the transmittion systems, which were the main concern focus of engineers and researchers. Though, the physical characteristics of these systems are quite different from the distribution ones. In the transmission systems, the voltage levels are high and the lines are generally very long. These aspects contribute the capacitive and inductive effects that appear in the system to have a considerable influence in the values of the interest quantities, reason why they should be taken into consideration. Still in the transmission systems, the loads have a macro nature, as for example, cities, neiborhoods, or big industries. These loads are, generally, practically balanced, what reduces the necessity of utilization of three-phase methodology for the load flow calculation. Distribution systems, on the other hand, present different characteristics: the voltage levels are small in comparison to the transmission ones. This almost annul the capacitive effects of the lines. The loads are, in this case, transformers, in whose secondaries are connected small consumers, in a sort of times, mono-phase ones, so that the probability of finding an unbalanced circuit is high. This way, the utilization of three-phase methodologies assumes an important dimension. Besides, equipments like voltage regulators, that use simultaneously the concepts of phase and line voltage in their functioning, need a three-phase methodology, in order to allow the simulation of their real behavior. For the exposed reasons, initially was developped, in the scope of this work, a method for three-phase load flow calculation in order to simulate the steady-state behaviour of distribution systems. Aiming to achieve this goal, the Power Summation Algorithm was used, as a base for developing the three phase method. This algorithm was already widely tested and approved by researchers and engineers in the simulation of radial electric energy distribution systems, mainly for single-phase representation. By our formulation, lines are modeled in three-phase circuits, considering the magnetic coupling between the phases; but the earth effect is considered through the Carson reduction. It s important to point out that, in spite of the loads being normally connected to the transformer s secondaries, was considered the hypothesis of existence of star or delta loads connected to the primary circuit. To perform the simulation of voltage regulators, a new model was utilized, allowing the simulation of various types of configurations, according to their real functioning. Finally, was considered the possibility of representation of switches with current measuring in various points of the feeder. The loads are adjusted during the iteractive process, in order to match the current in each switch, converging to the measured value specified by the input data. In a second stage of the work, sensibility parameters were derived taking as base the described load flow, with the objective of suporting further optimization processes. This parameters are found by calculating of the partial derivatives of a variable in respect to another, in general, voltages, losses and reactive powers. After describing the calculation of the sensibility parameters, the Gradient Method was presented, using these parameters to optimize an objective function, that will be defined for each type of study. The first one refers to the reduction of technical losses in a medium voltage feeder, through the installation of capacitor banks; the second one refers to the problem of correction of voltage profile, through the instalation of capacitor banks or voltage regulators. In case of the losses reduction will be considered, as objective function, the sum of the losses in all the parts of the system. To the correction of the voltage profile, the objective function will be the sum of the square voltage deviations in each node, in respect to the rated voltage. In the end of the work, results of application of the described methods in some feeders are presented, aiming to give insight about their performance and acuity

e-Pontos: Uma solução embarcada de automação comercial aplicada a clubes de fidelidade baseado em tecnologia RFID e esmart card

In practically all vertical markets and in every region of the planet, loyalty marketers have adopted the tactic of recognition and reward to identify, maintain and increase the yield of their customers. Several strategies have been adopted by companies, and the most popular among them is the loyalty program, which displays a loyalty club to manage these rewards. But the problem with loyalty programs is that customer identification and transfer of loyalty points are made in a semiautomatic. Aiming at this, this paper presents a master's embedded business automation solution called e-Points. The goal of e-Points is munir clubs allegiances with fully automated tooling technology to identify customers directly at the point of sales, ensuring greater control over the loyalty of associate members. For this, we developed a hardware platform with embedded system and RFID technology to be used in PCs tenant, a smart card to accumulate points with every purchase and a web server, which will provide services of interest to retailers and customers membership to the club

Uma Aplicação do Algoritmo QT Clustering para Marcação Colaborativa de Pontos Perigosos em Vias Públicas

This work proposes a collaborative system for marking dangerous points in the transport routes and generation of alerts to drivers. It consisted of a proximity warning system for a danger point that is fed by the driver via a mobile device equipped with GPS. The system will consolidate data provided by several different drivers and generate a set of points common to be used in the warning system. Although the application is designed to protect drivers, the data generated by it can serve as inputs for the responsible to improve signage and recovery of public roads

Medidas e análise estatística em sinais bioelétricos sobre pontos de acupuntura

In the 20th century, the acupuncture has spread on occident as a complementary practice of heath care. This fact has motivated the international scientific community to invest in research that seek to understand why acupuncture works. In this work we compare statistically volt age fluctuation of bioelectric signals caught on the skin at an acupuncture point (IG 4) another nearby on acupuncture point. The acquisition of these signals was performed utilizing an electronic interface with a computer, which was based on an instrumentation amplifier designed with adequate specifications to this end. On the collected signals from a sample of 30 volunteers we have calculated major statistics and submitted them to pairing t-test with significance leveI a = O, 05. We have estimated to bioelectric signals the following parameters: standard deviation, asymmetry and curtose. Moreover, we have calculated the self-correlation function matched by on exponential curve we have observed that the signal decays more rapidly from a non-acupoint then from an acupoint. This fact is an indicative of the existence of information in the acupoint

As chaves para o mundo do quinto império: as imagens de mundo na história do futuro do padre Antonio Vieira

Iconic historical figure, Antônio Vieira (1608-1697) is regarded as an essential character to the Luso-Brazilian history. Between 1646 and 1667, the priest began writing the History of the Future, the first volume of the celebrated "Clavis Prophetarum , political and theological unity that would leverage the process of spread of Christianity across the globe, recognizing Portugal as forefront and center of all millenarian movement. Them, Jesuit represented the "World" in two metaphors: "theater" and "body" responsible for viewing spaces of abstract Christian truth. Starting from the hermeneutical assumptions of analysis, we investigated the historical relations present in the construction of such representations, by which establish the dialogue between politics, theology and seventeenth-century rhetoric. Therefore, the following study supports the hypothesis that beyond a mere stylistic expressions, spatial metaphors of "World" were formulated by Antonio Vieira as a resource that could sharpen the minds of his readers, engaging words into action, become alive and effective use of rhetoric

Análise comparativa na influência da técnica de moldagem funcional em arcos parcialmente edêntulos sobre os pontos de contato oclusais, a integridade da fibromucosa e a extensão da base da prótese

There is a lack of clinical studies evaluating techniques of functional impression for partially edentulous arches. The aim of this double-blind non-randomized controlled clinical trial was to compare the efficacy of altered cast impression (ACI) and direct functional impression (DFI) techniques. The efficacy was evaluated regarding the number of occlusal units on denture teeth, mucosa integrity at 24-hour follow-up and denture base extension. The sample included 51 patients (female and male) with mean age of 58.96 years treated at Dental Department of UFRN. The patients, exhibiting edentulous maxilla and mandibular Kennedy class I, were divided into two groups (group ACI, n=29; group DFI, n=22). Clinical evaluation was based on the number of occlusal units on natural and/or artificial teeth, mucosa integrity at 24-hour follow-up, and denture base extension. Statistical analysis was conducted using the software SPSS 17.0® (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois). Student T-test was used to reveal association between number of occlusal units and impression technique while chi-square test showed association between mucosa integrity and impression technique. Fischer s exact test was applied for association between denture base extension and impression technique at 95% level of significance. No significant difference was observed between the groups regarding number of occlusal units, mucosa integrity and denture base extension. The altered cast technique did not provide significant improvement in comparison to the direct technique when the number of occlusal units, mucosa integrity and denture base extension

Mulher como sujeito da criminalidade: um estudo sobre a realidade de presidiárias do complexo Penal Dr. João Chaves Natal/ RN

This work presents itself as a result of the research: Women as the subject of crime: a study on the complex reality of the criminal inmates Dr. John Keys - Natal / RN, done with women incarcerated in the Women's Pavilion Complex Criminal Dr. John Keys. Aimed to investigate the key determinants that lead women to enter the institution to be subject of crime. To better understand the object of our study, we start to understand and analyze the social reality, economic and cultural these women, as well as seizure of their family relationships and emotional, within a gender perspective and consider the analysis of major crimes committed and their determinations. In our study, it appears from successive approximations and procedures theoretical and methodological quality and quantity, we were privileged to documentary research, observation and semi-structured, beyond the theoretical foundation on the subject - that the question of increase in recent years, women in the criminal occurs as a result of socioeconomic reality experienced by those. At the same time, the study has also believe that poverty and crime are not phenomena of cause and effect, however, it is undeniable that the large number of prisoners (as) are poor and live situation of denial of rights. The main focus of the research points to the socio-emotional relationships, both marital and family as the main determinant for inclusion of women in crime, breaking with the myth that the woman is "fragile sex." And, more, points out that the woman in the process of emancipation and achievement of public spaces to commit a crime seek equal to the male. Moreover, the research also denounced in a prison system collapsed, and totally abandoned by the public. That denies all rights provided to prisoners (as), both inside and outside the "walls". It is a system that criminalizes and no one wants to fulfill its role, which is the functional rehabilitation and resocialization of (the) inmates (those). It is hoped that this work could contribute to the unveiling of the reality of women in the criminal - no pretension of exhausting it - and can also contribute to further studies on the subject

Dinâmica Costeira dos Campos petrolíferos Macau/Serra, litoral setentrional do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte

This thesis describes the general behavior of the northern shore of the State of Rio Grande do Norte relating beach profile morphology with hydrodynamic and sedimentological parameters. The Macau and Serra Oil Field are inserted on this area and are under accelerated coastal erosion. At these oil fields are installed oil wells from PETROBRAS, nowadays located directly in the shoreline, under constant attacks of coastal processes (e.g. waves, tides and currents), which promote an intense morphodynamic variability of this sandy coast. The area was monitored for 24 months in three different stations (P01, P02 and P03). The methodology applied involved current techniques of beach profiles, hydrodynamical processes, remote sensing and geophysics. A synthesis of results obtained through the use of different time scales (monthly, lunar cycle, seasonal, annual) from a coastal dynamics study is presented. The average wind direction corresponded to 77ºAz (NE). The steepness of the berm and of the shoreface, as well as coastal current direction, do not present major changes, with an average of 36º for the steepness of the berm, 15º for the shoreface and 15º for the coastal current direction. This data set allows us to infer that the months of larger coastal erosion were November/2000 and April/2001, because of the largest wave parameter during this time. The months of worse coastal erosion in this area are related with the increasing wavy energy. This in turn, seems to be related to seasonal climatic variations, with the wave energy and tide currents speed increasing during months of minor precipitations (June to January). The months of worse coastal erosion were September and November, when the largest wave parameters and speed currents are measured in the area. Since these months are included on the period of minor precipitations, we related the coastal erosion to seasonal climatic variations. The results obtained during these 24 months of monitoring confirms a situation of accentuated erosion, mainly in Profile 03 (Barra do Corta-Cachorro), where the wave height, period, and coastal current speed are always larger than the values found in Profile 02 (Macau5). Probably these values are more expressive in Profile 03, because it does not present any natural structure of protection against the wave impacts, as the barrier island located at Ponta do Tubarão, or the sand banks in front of Macau5. The transport of the sediments occurs from East to West, and the sand accumulation is more pronounced on Profile 03 intertidal zone, where there are embrionary dunes in dryer months. The tidal currents speed, on the other hand, is more accentuated in the Macau5 area (Profile 02). At Ponta do Tubarão, the tidal currents presented a preferential direction for NE, at times of flood, currents and for NW, at times of ebb current; at Barra do Corta-Cachorro the direction of the currents were predominantly for NW, independent of the tide phase, coinciding with the preferential direction of the longshore current. This currents inversion at Ponta do Tubarão is attributed to the presence of the Ponta do Tubarão island barrier and by the communication channel of the lagoon with the sea. The tide currents are better observed in protected areas, as in the Ponta do Tubarão, when they present inversion in their direction accordingly to the flood and ebb tide. In open areas, as in Barra do Corta-Cachorro, the tide currents are overprinted by the longshore currents. Sediment analysis does not show important modifications in grain size related to seasonality (dry- and rainy seasons). On the foreshore and backshore zones, the sediments vary from fine to medium sand, while in the shoreface they very from fine to very sands. The grains are mostly spheres, varying from sub rounded to sub angled. Quartz is the main component alongside Feldspat and heavy minerals as accessory components. Biogenic content is also present and mainly represented by mollusks fragments. The calculated sediment transport show values around 100 m3/day. The morphodynamic studies indicated that this is a reflexive area from October to April, and intermediate from May to September. The Relative Tide Range-RTR for this area is 4 < RTR < 15, and so classified in the mixed wave-tide group. Having this exposed we can affirm that the more active natural factors in this area are the currents, followed by the tides and the winds. The anthropic factors are exclusively local and punctual (Macau and Serra Oil Field). Taking in account the economic importance of the area, as well as the intensity of coastal processes acting on this shore, it is important a continuity of the monthly environmental monitoring looking for variations on longer-period cycles. These data have been stored on the geo-referenced database of the projects MARPETRO and PETRORISCO (REDE 05), aiming to model the coastal and sea environment, susceptible to oil spills and their derivatives

Fluvoxamina no transtorno depressivo maior: um estudo multicêntrico aberto

OBJETIVO: Este trabalho estudou a eficácia e a tolerabilidade da fluvoxamina no tratamento, de forma aberta, sem comparação com placebo ou outros agentes, por 6 semanas, de pacientes com o diagnóstico de transtorno depressivo maior (TDM). Constitui-se em objetivo secundário do estudo avaliar os efeitos da fluvoxamina sobre o sono dos pacientes. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos 104 pacientes, maiores de 18 anos, com o diagnóstico de TDM, de acordo com os critérios do Manual Diagnóstico e Estatístico de Transtornos Mentais, 4ª edição (DSM-IV), e com escores, na Escala de Hamilton para Depressão, versão de 17 itens (HAM-D 17), de 17 pontos ou mais. Avaliou-se a eficácia da fluvoxamina por meio das Escalas HAM-D 17 e da CGI (Impressão Clínica Global). A análise dos itens 4, 5 e 6 da HAM-D 17 foi utilizada para a avaliação do sono dos pacientes. Avaliaram-se a segurança e a tolerabilidade da fluvoxamina ao longo das 6 semanas, registrando-se quaisquer eventos adversos. A fluvoxamina foi inicialmente ministrada em doses de 50 ou 100 mg/dia, podendo haver aumentos progressivos até 300 mg/dia. RESULTADOS: Dos 104 pacientes incluídos, 81 (78%) concluíram o estudo. Obtiveram resposta favorável (diminuição de 50% ou mais na HAM-D 17) 69% dos pacientes, e a taxa de remissão (HAM-D 17 < 7) foi de 52%. A análise da CGI indicou ter havido melhora significante (p < 0,001) em relação aos escores de base. A análise específica dos itens relativos ao sono, na HAM-D 17, revelou melhora significativa já na segunda visita, mantendo-se ao longo das 6 semanas. Os eventos adversos foram os esperados para inibidores seletivos de recaptação da serotonina, predominando as queixas gastrointestinais, em sua maioria transitórias e de pequena intensidade. CONCLUSÃO: O estudo vem confirmar a eficácia e a tolerabilidade da fluvoxamina no tratamento do transtorno depressivo maior, assim como sua eficácia no tratamento das alterações do sono encontradas nos pacientes deprimidos. O perfil de eventos adversos foi o esperado para os ISRS, ressaltando-se o fato de que poucos pacientes relataram disfunção sexual (2,5% dos pacientes).

Melanoma maligno cutâneo: sistema de pontos (scoring system) para auxílio no diagnóstico histopatológico

INTRODUÇÃO: O diagnóstico histopatológico de algumas lesões melanocíticas pode ser muito difícil, mesmo para especialistas, mas há casos em que a dificuldade surge pela inadequada e subjetiva aplicação dos critérios diagnósticos. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo é desenvolver um método de aplicação sistemática desses critérios, atribuindo valores para os mais importantes. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Selecionaram-se os critérios mais relevantes para o diagnóstico de melanoma, atribuindo valores de 1 a 5 de acordo com sua importância. Foram escolhidos 101 casos de melanomas de tipo extensivo-superficial com menos de 2mm de espessura para análise comparativa com 33 lesões melanocíticas benignas (13 nevos de Spitz, seis de Reed, seis displásicos, três congênitos, três adquiridos, um combinado e um recorrente). RESULTADOS: A soma dos valores dados aos critérios (score) apresentou diferença significativa entre lesões malignas e benignas, mostrando que esse método pode ser útil ao patologista cirúrgico generalista em sua rotina diária. CONCLUSÃO: A aplicação objetiva e sistemática dos critérios histopatológicos pelo sistema de pontos (scoring system) pode ajudar o diagnóstico diferencial entre maligno e benigno em muitas lesões, porém não tendo o efeito desejado nas lesões melanocíticas de comportamento biológico indeterminado.

Proposta de pontos de corte para indicação da obesidade abdominal entre adolescentes

FUNDAMENTO: A ausência de valores críticos para a identificação de risco cardiovascular entre adolescentes brasileiros representa uma importante limitação. OBJETIVOS: Elaborar valores críticos para circunferência de cintura e analisar sua eficiência na indicação de valores elevados de pressão arterial. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal que avaliou 1.145 adolescentes de 11 a 17 anos (536 do sexo masculino e 609 do feminino), dos quais foram coletados valores de peso corporal, estatura, resistência, reatância, dobra cutânea tricepital, circunferência de cintura e pressão arterial (n= 334). A obesidade abdominal foi indicada por meio de valores de circunferência de cintura. RESULTADOS: Os adolescentes obesos apresentaram valores mais altos de circunferência de cintura e, independentemente de gênero e grupo etário, houve relação significativa entre os valores de circunferência de cintura e todos os indicadores de adiposidade adotados no estudo. Os valores críticos propostos apresentaram maior sensibilidade na indicação de valores elevados de pressão arterial. CONCLUSÕES: Os valores críticos propostos para circunferência de cintura foram mais sensíveis na indicação de valores elevados de pressão arterial. Entretanto, ainda são necessários estudos para averiguar a eficiência dos mesmos na indicação de outros parâmetros clínicos e laboratoriais.

Alguns pontos de aproximação entre a ética aristotélica e a kantiana

Nosso propósito, neste artigo, é aproximar dois modelos éticos distintos, o kantiano e o aristotélico, com o intuito de detectar alguns pontos comuns onde talvez possamos encontrar certo diálogo entre ambos os modelos éticos

Notas sobre Siegfried Kracauer, Walter Benjamin e a Paris do Segundo Império: pontos de contato

Trata-se de mostrar a originalidade crítica de Siegfried Kracauer diante da experiência da modernidade estética e de discutir as afinidades estético-teóricas de Kracauer e Benjamim ao analisar a Paris da segunda metade do século XIX, o Segundo Império, em particular, como fenômeno originário da sociedade de massas, da indústria cultural e do entretenimento e, sobretudo, do nazi-fascismo. Kracauer durante seu exílio parisiense (1933-41) escreveu uma biografia da sociedade: Jacques Offenbach e a Paris de sua época (Jacques Offenbach und das Paris seiner Zeit). Obra inovadora pelo seu enfoque da história do presente e com pontos de contatos com a Obra das Passagens (Passagen-Werk) ou Paris capital do século XIX de Walter Benjamin.