Aspectos linguístico-ergonômicos em rótulos: avaliação da linguagem verbo-visual de rótulos de embalagens para alimentos achocolatados

We have been living in a world of packed products. The package and the labels support the companies to communicate with the customers in addition to give protection, storage and convenience in proportion to the products that move in the price list. The labels mainly add up a value which helps the companies differ their products and increase the value of the brands among the final customers. However, the information given in the label are not clear sometimes. It displays a verbal-visual defective language resulted from a poor visibility, legibleness and comprehensibleness of the verbal and visual marks. The aim of this research is to verify, according to the costumers‟ view, the level of the clarity in the informative texts, harmony and ergonomic conformity of the package labels in the chocolate powder of the Claralate brand, considering the linguistic aspects presented on the labels. The criteria to evaluate the chocolate package selected were based on the linguistic field: the organization and the structure of the text derided from the classification of the textual genre; the clarity and the comprehension of the language utilized on those labels. From the ergonomic view, the informative and ergonomic conformity, based on the following requirements: legibility, symbols, characters, reading fields and intermission of the written lines. Therefore, the research done july 2007 and added july 2011 had a structured questionnaire in the interview put to the 118 customers of the chocolate package that go shopping in one of the two supermarkets in Floriano, Piauí São Jorge and/or Super Quaresma. The main results of the investigation show that the linguistic aspects in the informative texts of the labels provide the customers‟ expectancy partially, while the consideration of the informative ergonomic analyzed can contribute to the improvement of the information and consequent visual progress of those, on the labels of chocolate package investigated. As recommendation towards the maker of the product, the outcome of the research indicates: harmonize the proportion of the letters and numbers; enlarge the letters size; make the visual information more comprehensive determined by the reading field; put the expiry date in a better visual place

Adequação de engates rápidos de aspersores como conectores de mangueira para distribuição de água em sulcos de irrigação

As a way to reduce water losses in furrow irrigation systems, used in fresh market tomato production, farmers are improperly distributing water into the field using plastic hose. The objective of this work was to study the suitability of using quick coupler sprinkler as hose connectors for water distribution in tomato plantation. The first step of the study was to assess the current hose field operation for tomato growers. Subsequently, four models of quick couplers sprinklers available in the market were tested in laboratory to determine the coefficient of resistance, the equivalent tube length, the head loss curve and the linking efficiency. As result, a structural design for hose connectors was presented using the model of coupling with the best hydraulic performance. Additionally, some technical recommendations on its use in irrigation water distribution are highlighted. Despite the requirement for additional field trials, the proposed system has potential to optimize the water use efficiency, to improve workers ergonomic conditions, and ensure good profitability to the producer.

Ergonomic Aspects Related to Surgeon Position in Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy

Purpose: The aim is to evaluate the level of inclination of the surgeon's spinal column (ISSC) while performing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) when using one trocar on each side of the patient abdomen (""torero"" position) in two scenarios: With and without a thin head supporter adapted to the table. Materials and Methods: Based on trigonometric principles, we elaborated a formula to calculate the ISSC for a determined surgeon and surgical table while performing LRP in the torero position. The parameters considered were the width of the surgical table (m), the distance between the surgeon's anterior superior iliac spines (q), and the distance from the central point between the surgeon's anterior superior iliac spines to the surgeon's head (h). We used the formula alpha = 90 degree-cos(-1)(b/h) (where b = q/2 + m/2) in an Excel sheet to calculate the angle of inclination of the surgeon's spinal column. We applied the measures of 12 surgeons with different biotypes of our staff to calculate the ISSC with and without the thin head supporter. Results: The use of a thin head supporter reduced the mean ISCC in the torero position from 36.1 +/- 3.73 degrees (range 31.3 to 49.8 degrees) to 22.1 +/- 4.9 degrees (range 18.7 to 32.9 degrees), which corresponds to a reduction of 38.8% in the mean angle of inclination. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The use of a thin head supporter adapted to the surgical table objectively reduces lateral inclination of the surgeon's spinal column in the torero position, making LRP a more comfortable procedure.

Ergonomic Planned Supply in an Automotive Assembly Line

The objective of this research is to identify the benefits of ergonomic improvements in workstations and in planned parts supply in an automotive assembly line. Another aim is to verify to what extent it is possible to create competitive advantages in the manufacturing area with reduction in vehicle assembly time by using technological investments in ergonomics with benefits to the worker and to the company. The Methods Time Measurement (MTM) methodology is chosen to measure the process time differences. To ensure a reliable comparison, a company in Brazil that has two different types of assembly line installations in the same plant was observed, and both assembly lines were under the same influences in terms of human resources, wages, food, and educational level of the staff. In this article, the first assembly line is called ""new"" and was built 6 years ago, with high investments in ergonomic solutions, in the supply system, and in the process. The other is called ""traditional"" and was built 23 years ago with few investments in the area. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Dietary lysine requirement of juvenile pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887)

Lysine is the reference essential amino acid in fish feeds and usually the most limiting amino acid in feedstuffs. The dietary lysine requirement of juvenile pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus (4.3 g) was determined using five isonitrogenous (32% CP) test diets containing graded levels of lysine (0.9, 1.17, 1.44, 1.69 and 1.96% of dry diet) fed three times a day to four groups of 18 fish for 74 days. Growth, body composition, nutrient retention and hematological parameters of pacu were analyzed. Analysis of variance showed that all growth performance parameters were significantly affected by dietary treatments. The lysine requirements estimated using regression analysis for maximum weight gain and feed efficiency were 1.45 and 1.51% of dry diet, respectively. Nitrogen retention efficiency increased with increasing levels of dietary lysine up to 1.43% (p<0.05). Whole-body protein increased (p<0.05) and whole-body lipid decreased (p<0.05) with increasing dietary lysine level. Thus, the lysine requirement of juvenile pacu was estimated as being 1.4-1.5% of dry diet or 4.4-4.7% of dietary protein. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Estimating Amino Acid Requirement of Brazilian Freshwater Fish from Muscle Amino Acid Profile

Information on nutritional requirement of some Brazilian farmed fish species, especially essential amino acids (EAA) requirements, is scarce. The estimation of amino acids requirements based on amino acid composition of fish is a fast and reliable alternative. Matrinxa, Brycon amazonicus, and curimbata, Prochilodus lineatus, are two important Brazilian fish with potential for aquaculture. The objective of the present study was to estimate amino acid requirements of these species and analyze similarities among amino acid composition of different fish species by cluster analysis. To estimate amino acid requirement, the following formula was used: amino acid requirement = [(amount of an individual amino acid in fish muscle tissue) x (average totalEAA requirement among channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, and common carp, Cyprinus carpio)]/(average fish muscle totalEAA). Most values found lie within the range of requirements determined for other omnivorous fish species, in exception of leucine requirement estimated for both species, and arginine requirement estimated for matrinxa alone. Rather than writing off the need for regular dose-response assays under the ideal protein concept to determine EAA requirements of curimbata and matrinxa, results set solid base for the study of tropical species dietary amino acids requirements.

Requirement for PLC gamma 2 in IL-3 and GM-CSF-Stimulated MEK/ERK Phosphorylation in Murine and Human Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells

Even though the involvement of intracellular Ca(2+) (Ca(i)(2+)) in hematopoiesis has been previously demonstrated, the relationship between Ca(i)(2+) signaling and cytokine-induced intracellular pathways remains poorly understood. Herein, the molecular mechanisms integrating Ca(2+) signaling with the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway in primary murine and human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells stimulated by IL-3 and GM-CSF were studied. Our results demonstrated that IL-3 and GM-CSF stimulation induced increased inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) levels and Ca(i)(2+) release in murine and human hematopoietic stem/ progenitor cells. In addition, Ca(i)(2+) signaling inhibitors, such as inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor antagonist (2-APB), PKC inhibitor (GF109203), and CaMKII inhibitor (KN-62), blocked phosphorylation of MEK activated by IL-3 and GM-CSF, suggesting the participation of Ca(2+)-dependent kinases in MEK activation. In addition, we identify phospholipase C gamma 2 (PLC gamma 2) as a PLC gamma responsible for the induction of Ca(2+) release by IL-3 and GM-CSF in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Furthermore, the PLCg inhibitor U73122 significantly reduced the numbers of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units after cytokine stimulation. Similar results were obtained in both murine and human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Taken together, these data indicate a role for PLC gamma 2 and Ca(2+) signaling through the modulation of MEK in both murine and human hematopoietic stem/ progenitor cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 1780-1792, 2011. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

An ergonomic approach to reorganize parking inspection agents` work productivity, health and safety in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Objective: The Traffic Engineering Company of the City of Sao Paulo (Brazil) observed a decrease in productivity, and an increase in sick leave, accidents and psychological distress among their parking inspection agents. To document this situation, qualitative research was undertaken to obtain an in-depth comprehension of work activity. Participants: Workers, managers and health and safety professionals contributed to the documentation of the problem and to the proposal of possible solutions. Methods: Ergonomic work analysis focusing on real work activity, as well as interviews with individual or groups of stakeholders, were conducted. Results: This research revealed that political-economic factors gradually contributed to: 1) an increasing work load; 2) growing fatigue throughout the day, increasing the workers` vulnerability to incidents and accidents and their tendency to react inappropriately to violence experienced on the street; and 3) excessive individual responsibility to manage dangerous situations. Conclusions: Recommendations to ameliorate the situation are proposed. These suggestions are discussed in terms of feasibility given the impact of macro social factors upon micro work activity, and the associated potential expansion of the ergonomist`s role.

The requirement of zinc and calcium ions for functional MMP activity in demineralized dentin matrices

The progressive degradation of resin-dentin bonds is due, in part, to the slow degradation of collagen fibrils in the hybrid layer by endogenous matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) of the dentin matrix. In in vitro durability studies, the storage medium composition might be important because the optimum activity of MMPs requires both zinc and calcium. Objective. This study evaluated the effect of different storage media on changes in matrix stiffness, loss of dry weight or solubilization of collagen from demineralized dentin beams incubated in vitro for up to 60 days. Methods. Dentin beams (1 mm x 2 mm x 6 mm) were completely demineralized in 10% phosphoric acid. After baseline measurements of dry mass and elastic modulus (E) (3-point bending, 15% strain) the beams were divided into 5 groups (n = 11/group) and incubated at 37 degrees C in either media containing both zinc and calcium designated as complete medium (CM), calcium-free medium, zinc-free medium, a doubled-zinc medium or water. Beams were retested at 3, 7, 14, 30, and 60 days of incubation. The incubation media was hydrolyzed with HCl for the quantitation of hydroxyproline (HOP) as an index of solubilization of collagen by MMPs. Data were analyzed using repeated measures of ANOVA. Results. Both the storage medium and the storage time showed significant effects on E, mass loss and HOP release (p < 0.05). The incubation in CM resulted in relatively rapid and significant (p < 0.05) decreases in stiffness, and increasing amounts of mass loss. The HOP content of the experimental media also increased with incubation time but was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than in the control CM medium, the recommended storage medium. Conclusions. The storage solutions used to age resin-dentin bonds should be buffered solutions that contain both calcium and zinc. The common use of water as an aging medium may underestimate the hydrolytic activity of endogenous dentin MMPs. (c) 2010 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Interferon-gamma enhances cytotoxic T lymphocyte recognition of endogenous peptide in keratinocytes without lowering the requirement for surface peptide

Keratinocytes expressing the human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 E7 protein, as a transgene driven by the K14 promoter, form a murine model of HPV-mediated epithelial cancers in humans. Our previous studies have shown that K14E7 transgenic skin grafts onto syngeneic mice are not susceptible to immune destruction despite the demonstrated presence of a strong, systemic CTL response directed against the E7 protein. Consistent with this finding, we now show that cultured, E7 transgenic keratinocytes (KC) express comparable endogenous levels of E7 protein to a range of CTL-sensitive E7-expressing cell lines but are not susceptible to CTL-mediated lysis in vitro . E7 transgenic and non-transgenic KC are susceptible to conventional mechanisms of CTL-mediated lysis, including perforin and Fas/FasL interaction when an excess of exogenous peptide is provided. The concentration of exogenous peptide required to render a cell susceptible to lysis was similar between KC and other conventional CTL targets (e.g. EL-4), despite large differences in H-2D(b) expression at the cell surface. Furthermore, exposure of KC to IFN-gamma increased H-2D(b) expression, but did not substantially alter the exogenous peptide concentration required to sensitize cells for half maximal lysis. In contrast, the lytic sensitivity of transgenic KC expressing endogenous E7 is modestly improved by exposure to IFN-gamma. Thus, failure of CTL to eliminate KC expressing endogenous E7, and by inference squamous tumours expressing E7, may reflect the need for a sustained, local inflammatory environment during the immune effector phase.

Complementation analysis of the flavivirus Kunjin NS3 and NS5 proteins defines the minimal regions essential for formation of a replication complex and shows a requirement of NS3 in cis for virus assembly

We have previously reported successful trans-complementation of defective Kunjin virus genomic RNAs with a range of large lethal deletions in the nonstructural genes NSI, NS3, and NS5 (A. A. Khromykh et al., J. Virol. 74:3253-3263, 2000). In this study we have mapped further the minimal region in the NS5 gene essential for efficient trans-complementation of genome-length RNAs in repBHK cells to the first 316 of the 905 codons. To allow amplification and easy detection of complemented defective RNAs with deletions apparently affecting virus assembly, we have developed a dual replicon complementation system. In this system defective replicon RNAs with a deletion(s) in the nonstructural genes also encoded the puromycin resistance gene (PAC gene) and the reporter gene for beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal). Complementation of these defective replicon RNAs in repBHK cells resulted in expression of PAC and beta-Gal which allowed establishment of cell lines stably producing replicating defective RNAs by selection with puromycin and comparison of replication efficiencies of complemented defective RNAs by beta-Gal assay. Using this system we demonstrated that deletions in the C-terminal 434 codons of NS3 (codons 178 to 611) were complemented for RNA replication, while any deletions in the first 178 codons were not. None of the genome-length RNAs containing deletions in NS3 shown to be complementable for RNA replication produced secreted defective viruses during complementation in repBHK cells. In contrast, structural proteins produced from these complemented defective RNAs were able to package helper replicon RNA. The results define minimal regions in the NS3 and NS5 genes essential for the formation of complementable replication complex and show a requirement of NS3 in cis for virus assembly.

Constitutively active signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 can replace the requirement for growth hormone in adipogenesis of 3T3-F442A preadipocytes

Although it is the best characterized in vitro model of GH action, the mechanisms used by GH to induce differentiation of murine 3T3-F442A preadipocytes remain unclear. Here we have examined the role of three transcriptional regulators in adipogenesis. These regulators are either rapidly induced in response to GH [Stra13, signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat) 3] or of central importance to GH signaling (Stat5). Retroviral transfection of 3T3-F442A preadipocytes was used to increase expression of Stra13, Stat3, and Stat5a. Only Stat5a transfection increased the expression of adipogenic markers peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, CCAAT enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)alpha, and adipose protein 2/fatty acid-binding protein in response to GH, as determined by quantitative RT-PCR. Transfection with constitutively active Stat3 and Stat5a revealed that constitutively active Stat5a but not Stat3 was able to replace the GH requirement for adipogenesis. Constitutively active Stat5a but not Stat3 was able to increase the formation of lipid droplets and expression of alpha-glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase toward levels seen in mature adipocytes. Constitutively active Stat5a was also able to increase the expression of transcripts for C/EBPalpha to similar levels as GH, and of C/EBPbeta, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and adipose protein 2/fatty acid-binding protein transcripts to a lesser extent. An in vivo role for GH in murine adipogenesis is supported by significantly decreased epididymal fat depot size in young GH receptor-deleted mice, before manifestation of the lipolytic actions of GH. We conclude that Stat5 is a critical factor in GH-induced, and potentially prolactin-induced, murine adipogenesis.

Chilling requirement for seed germination and phenological observations on peach cultivars

In subtropical climate areas, the models and methods proposed to evaluate the chilling requirement of temperate fruit crops often do not provide satisfactory results, thus calling for the development of alternative techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlations between some phonological traits and chilling requirement for seed germination of 18 peach cultivars and one nectarine cultivar. Two experiments were installed separately for the correlation studies. In experiment 1, the phenological traits were observed in the field, while in experiment 2, the chilling requirement for 50 and 100% seed germination of each cultivar was assessed. The number of days for beginning of bloom (r = 0.70**, 0.61**) and full bloom (r = 0.72**, 0.76**) were both significantly correlated with the number of chilling units for 50% and 100% germination of seeds. The number of days for beginning of budding and dormancy break were both significantly correlated with the number of chilling units for 50% and 100% germination (r = 0.48*, 0.50*, respectively). However, the same significant effect for these phenological traits was not found between chilling units and 50% germination of seeds, as well as between chilling units and harvest dates.

Tools for testing the Solvency Capital Requirement for life insurance

Longevity risk is one of the major risks that an insurance company or a pension fund has to deal with and it is expected that its importance will grow in the near future. In agreement with these considerations, in Solvency II regulation the Standard formula furnished for calculating the Solvency Capital Requirement explicitly considers this kind of risk. According to the new European rules in our paper we suggest a multiperiod approach to evaluate the SCR for longevity risk. We propose a backtesting framework for measuring the consistency of SCR calculations for life insurance policies.