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Sample records for coupling agent estudo

  1. Surface modification of basalt with silane coupling agent on asphalt mixture moisture damage

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Min, Yahong; Fang, Ying; Huang, Xiaojun; Zhu, Yinhui; Li, Wensheng [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082 (China); Yuan, Jianmin [College of Materials Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082 (China); Tan, Ligang [College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082 (China); Wang, Shuangyin [State Key Laboratory of Chem/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082 (China); Wu, Zhenjun, E-mail: wooawt@163.com [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082 (China)

    2015-08-15

    Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • A new silane coupling agent was synthesized based on KH570. • Basalt surface was modified using the new silane coupling agent. • Chemical bond between basalt and the new silane coupling agent was formed. • Asphalt mixture which used modified basalt show superior water stability. - Abstract: A new silane coupling agent was synthesized based on γ-(methacryloyloxy) propyltrimethoxysilane (KH570). The surface of basalt rocks was modified by KH570 and the new silane coupling agent (NSCA), and the interfacial interaction between silane coupling agent and basalt was also studied. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that the silane coupling agent molecule bound strongly with basalt rocks. Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) observation showed that a thin layer of coupling agent was formed on the surface of modified basalt. The boiling test and immersion Marshall test confirmed that the moisture sensitivity of basalt modified with the new silane coupling agent increased more significantly than that untreated and treated with KH570. The Retained Marshall Strength of basalt modified with the new coupling agent increased from 71.74% to 87.79% compared with untreated basalt. The results indicated that the new silane coupling agent played an important role in improving the interfacial performance between basalt and asphalt.

  2. Revealing the Interface Structure and Bonding Mechanism of Coupling Agent Treated WPC

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Jiuping Rao

    2018-03-01

    Full Text Available This paper presents the interfacial optimisation of wood plastic composites (WPC based on recycled wood flour and polyethylene by employing maleated and silane coupling agents. The effect of the incorporation of the coupling agents on the variation of chemical structure of the composites were investigated by Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR and Solid state 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR analyses. The results revealed the chemical reactions that occurred between the coupling agents and raw materials, which thus contributed to the enhancement of compatibility and interfacial adhesion between the constituents of WPC. NMR results also indicated that there existed the transformation of crystalline cellulose to an amorphous state during the coupling agent treatments, reflecting the inferior resonance of crystalline carbohydrates. Fluorescence Microscope (FM and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM analyses showed the improvements of wood particle dispersion and wettability, compatibility of the constituents, and resin penetration, and impregnation of the composites after the coupling agent treatments. The optimised interface of the composites was attributed to interdiffusion, electrostatic adhesion, chemical reactions, and mechanical interlocking bonding mechanisms.

  3. A Coupled Simulation Architecture for Agent-Based/Geohydrological Modelling

    Science.gov (United States)

    Jaxa-Rozen, M.

    2016-12-01

    The quantitative modelling of social-ecological systems can provide useful insights into the interplay between social and environmental processes, and their impact on emergent system dynamics. However, such models should acknowledge the complexity and uncertainty of both of the underlying subsystems. For instance, the agent-based models which are increasingly popular for groundwater management studies can be made more useful by directly accounting for the hydrological processes which drive environmental outcomes. Conversely, conventional environmental models can benefit from an agent-based depiction of the feedbacks and heuristics which influence the decisions of groundwater users. From this perspective, this work describes a Python-based software architecture which couples the popular NetLogo agent-based platform with the MODFLOW/SEAWAT geohydrological modelling environment. This approach enables users to implement agent-based models in NetLogo's user-friendly platform, while benefiting from the full capabilities of MODFLOW/SEAWAT packages or reusing existing geohydrological models. The software architecture is based on the pyNetLogo connector, which provides an interface between the NetLogo agent-based modelling software and the Python programming language. This functionality is then extended and combined with Python's object-oriented features, to design a simulation architecture which couples NetLogo with MODFLOW/SEAWAT through the FloPy library (Bakker et al., 2016). The Python programming language also provides access to a range of external packages which can be used for testing and analysing the coupled models, which is illustrated for an application of Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES).

  4. Study on Surface Modification of Glass Bead by a Block Copolymer Coupling Agent

    Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (English)

    LI Yin; ZHANG Bing; ZHOU Xiao-dong

    2008-01-01

    A tri-block copolymer coupling agent polystyrene biock-poly(n-butyl-acrylate)-block-poly(r-methacryloxypro pylt rimethoxysilane)(PS-b-PnBA-b-PMPS)was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization(ATRP),and its molecular structure was characterized by fourier-transform infrared spectra,hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance and gel permeation chromatography.The glass bead was treated with the block copolymer coupling agent,and then studied by transmission electron microscopy.The result showed that strong interaction was formed between the block copolymer coupling agent and the surface of glass bead,and then the block of poly(n-butylacrylate)formed a layer of film on the surface.

  5. Investigations Into Internal and External Aspects of Dynamic Agent-Environment Couplings

    Science.gov (United States)

    Dautenhahn, Kerstin

    This paper originates from my work on `social agents'. An issue which I consider important to this kind of research is the dynamic coupling of an agent with its social and non-social environment. I hypothesize `internal dynamics' inside an agent as a basic step towards understanding. The paper therefore focuses on the internal and external dynamics which couple an agent to its environment. The issue of embodiment in animals and artifacts and its relation to `social dynamics' is discussed first. I argue that embodiment is linked to a concept of a body and is not necessarily given when running a control program on robot hardware. I stress the individual characteristics of an embodied cognitive system, as well as its social embeddedness. I outline the framework of a physical-psychological state space which changes dynamically in a self-modifying way as a holistic approach towards embodied human and artificial cognition. This framework is meant to discuss internal and external dynamics of an embodied, natural or artificial agent. In order to stress the importance of a dynamic memory I introduce the concept of an `autobiographical agent'. The second part of the paper gives an example of the implementation of a physical agent, a robot, which is dynamically coupled to its environment by balancing on a seesaw. For the control of the robot a behavior-oriented approach using the dynamical systems metaphor is used. The problem is studied through building a complete and co-adapted robot-environment system. A seesaw which varies its orientation with one or two degrees of freedom is used as the artificial `habitat'. The problem of stabilizing the body axis by active motion on a seesaw is solved by using two inclination sensors and a parallel, behavior-oriented control architecture. Some experiments are described which demonstrate the exploitation of the dynamics of the robot-environment system.

  6. Assessment of covalent bond formation between coupling agents and wood by FTIR spectroscopy and pull strength tests

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Rasmussen, Jonas Stensgaard; Barsberg, Søren Talbro; Venås, Thomas Mark

    2014-01-01

    In the focus was the question whether metal alkoxide coupling agents – titanium, silane, and zirconium – form covalent bonds to wood and how they improve coating adhesion. In a previous work, a downshift of the lignin infrared (IR) band ∼1600 cm-1 was shown to be consistent with the formation...... of ether linkages between lignin and titanium coupling agent. In the present work, changes were found in the attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform IR (ATR-FTIR) spectra of lignin and wood mixed with silane, and titanium coupling agents, and to a lesser extent for a zirconium coupling agent...

  7. Kenaf-polypropylene composites: effect of amphiphilic coupling agent on surface properties of fibres and composites

    CSIR Research Space (South Africa)

    Jacob John, Maya

    2010-10-01

    Full Text Available This paper presents an experimental study on the use of zein as a coupling agent in natural fibre composites. Kenaf nonwovens were treated with zein coupling agent, which is a protein extracted from corn. The surface characteristics of untreated...

  8. MARKETING VERDE NAS OPERAÇÕES DE AGENTES DE LOGÍSTICA DE DISTRIBUIÇÃO: ESTUDO DE CASO EM EMPRESA DE BASE TECNOLÓGICA

    OpenAIRE

    Tiago Hennemann Hilario da Silva; Alessio Bessa Sarquis; Vilmar Antonio Gonçalves Tondolo

    2013-01-01

    Este estudo tem por objetivo explorar a utilização do marketing verde nas operações de agentes da logística do processo de distribuição. O referencial teórico utilizado foi baseado em duas subáreas de conhecimento: marketing verde em serviços e cadeia de suprimentos verde. O objeto de estudo foi uma organização de médio porte do ramo de tecnologia e fornecedora de soluções em automação industrial. A coleta de dados empíricos envolveu um estudo de caso único, a pesquisa do tipo exploratória qu...

  9. ZnO nanowire-based glucose biosensors with different coupling agents

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Jung, Juneui [Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-749 (Korea, Republic of); Lim, Sangwoo, E-mail: swlim@yonsei.ac.kr [Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-749 (Korea, Republic of)

    2013-01-15

    Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Fabrication of ZnO nanowire-based glucose biosensors using different coupling agents. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Highest sensitivity for (3-aminopropyl)methyldiethoxysilane-treated biosensor. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Larger amount of glucose oxidase and lower electron transfer resistance for (3-aminopropyl)methyldiethoxysilane-treated biosensor. - Abstract: ZnO-nanowire-based glucose biosensors were fabricated by immobilizing glucose oxidase (GOx) onto a linker attached to ZnO nanowires. Different coupling agents were used, namely (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS), (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES), and (3-aminopropyl)methyldiethoxysilane (APS), to increase the affinity of GOx binding to ZnO nanowires. The amount of GOx immobilized on the ZnO nanowires, the performance, sensitivity, and Michaelis-Menten constant of each biosensor, and the electron transfer resistance through the biosensor were all measured in order to investigate the effect of the coupling agent on the ZnO nanowire-based biosensor. Among the different biosensors, the APS-treated biosensor had the highest sensitivity (17.72 {mu}A cm{sup -2} mM{sup -1}) and the lowest Michaelis-Menten constant (1.37 mM). Since APS-treated ZnO nanowires showed the largest number of C-N groups and the lowest electron transfer resistance through the biosensor, we concluded that these properties were the key factors in the performance of APS-treated glucose biosensors.

  10. ZnO nanowire-based glucose biosensors with different coupling agents

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Jung, Juneui; Lim, Sangwoo

    2013-01-01

    Highlights: ► Fabrication of ZnO nanowire-based glucose biosensors using different coupling agents. ► Highest sensitivity for (3-aminopropyl)methyldiethoxysilane-treated biosensor. ► Larger amount of glucose oxidase and lower electron transfer resistance for (3-aminopropyl)methyldiethoxysilane-treated biosensor. - Abstract: ZnO-nanowire-based glucose biosensors were fabricated by immobilizing glucose oxidase (GOx) onto a linker attached to ZnO nanowires. Different coupling agents were used, namely (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS), (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES), and (3-aminopropyl)methyldiethoxysilane (APS), to increase the affinity of GOx binding to ZnO nanowires. The amount of GOx immobilized on the ZnO nanowires, the performance, sensitivity, and Michaelis–Menten constant of each biosensor, and the electron transfer resistance through the biosensor were all measured in order to investigate the effect of the coupling agent on the ZnO nanowire-based biosensor. Among the different biosensors, the APS-treated biosensor had the highest sensitivity (17.72 μA cm −2 mM −1 ) and the lowest Michaelis–Menten constant (1.37 mM). Since APS-treated ZnO nanowires showed the largest number of C-N groups and the lowest electron transfer resistance through the biosensor, we concluded that these properties were the key factors in the performance of APS-treated glucose biosensors.

  11. Thermal behavior and transformation kinetics of titanium dioxide nanocrystallites prepared by coupling agents

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Chen, W.C.; Wang, Y.T.; Shih, C.J.

    2010-01-01

    Coupling agents have been widely used to retard the sintering of silver paste and minimize co-firing defects due to densification mismatch between silver and dielectrics. The thermal-decomposition and crystallization behavior of the coupling agent is a subject of great concern. To elucidate what is responsible for the oxidation, Ti organometallic compounds were calcined at different temperatures (350, 400, 500, 600 o C) for 2 h and the crystallization behavior was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The activation energy for crystallization of coupling agents was studied by using isothermal methods. According to the quantitative XRD method, the values calculated by the Johnson-Mehi-Avrami equation are 134.9 kJ mol -1 . The growth morphology parameters are 1.061, 0.915, 1.016 respectively. Combining the results of DTA, XRD and TEM, it is found that formation of nanocrystallized titania accompanies the combustion of organometallic compounds.

  12. Thermal behavior and transformation kinetics of titanium dioxide nanocrystallites prepared by coupling agents

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Chen, W.C. [School of Dentistry, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Shi-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan (China); Wang, Y.T. [Department of Medical Research and Education, Chen Hsin General Hospital, 45 Cheng-Hsin Street, Pai-Tou, Taipei 11220, Taiwan (China); Shih, C.J., E-mail: cjshih@kmu.edu.t [Department of Fragrance and Cosmetics Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Shi-Chuan1st Road, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan (China)

    2010-02-04

    Coupling agents have been widely used to retard the sintering of silver paste and minimize co-firing defects due to densification mismatch between silver and dielectrics. The thermal-decomposition and crystallization behavior of the coupling agent is a subject of great concern. To elucidate what is responsible for the oxidation, Ti organometallic compounds were calcined at different temperatures (350, 400, 500, 600 {sup o}C) for 2 h and the crystallization behavior was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The activation energy for crystallization of coupling agents was studied by using isothermal methods. According to the quantitative XRD method, the values calculated by the Johnson-Mehi-Avrami equation are 134.9 kJ mol{sup -1}. The growth morphology parameters are 1.061, 0.915, 1.016 respectively. Combining the results of DTA, XRD and TEM, it is found that formation of nanocrystallized titania accompanies the combustion of organometallic compounds.

  13. Modification of eucalyptus pulp fiber using silane coupling agents with aliphatic side chains of different length

    Science.gov (United States)

    The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of three silane coupling agents with different aliphatic chain lengths on the hydrophobicity of eucalyptus pulp fiber. The three silanes coupling agents used (isobutyltrimethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, and n-octyltriethoxysilane [OTES]) we...

  14. Magnetostrictive properties of titanate coupling agent treated Terfenol-D composites

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Dong Xufeng, E-mail: dongxf@dlut.edu.cn [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, 116024 Dalian (China); Qi Min [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, 116024 Dalian (China); Guan Xinchun [School of Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 150090 Harbin (China); Li Jinhai [School of Civil Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, 116024 Dalian (China); Ou Jinping [School of Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 150090 Harbin (China); School of Civil Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, 116024 Dalian (China)

    2012-03-15

    As a kind of composites, the bond strength between the polymer matrix and the Terfenol-D particles affects the performance of magnetostrictive composites. By observing the fracture morphologies, the bond strength of the magnetostrictive composites prepared with untreated Terfenol-D was proved weak. Titanate coupling agent was used for particles to improve the bond strength. Contact angle analysis indicates the work of adhesion of the epoxy resin to the treated Terfenol-D is larger than that to the untreated Terfenol-D. Different magnetostrictive composites with 20%, 35% and 50% particle volume fractions were prepared with treated and untreated Terfenol-D particles. Their static and dynamic magnetostriction was tested without pre-stress at room temperature. The results indicate titanate coupling agent treating increases the magnetostrictive properties of magnetostrictive composites, that is probably because the bond strength improves due to the particle treating. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Our experimental results indicate the particles and the polymer matrix have poor bonding. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The poor bonding prevents the effective transfer of the strain from the particles to the matrix. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We used titanate as the coupling agent to improve the bond strength between the particles and the matrix. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The results indicate the bond strength does increase as expected. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The promotion of the bond strength leads to the increase of magnetostrictive properties.

  15. Complex between lignin and a Ti-based coupling agent

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Rasmussen, Jonas Stensgaard; Barsberg, Søren Talbro; Felby, Claus

    2014-01-01

    -fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in combination with first principle predictions based on the density functional theory (DFT). In the infrared spectra, a new band at 1586 cm-1 was identified and the DFT predictions confirmed that the new band is because of the covalent bonds in the form of ether linkages...... coating formulations would have a better performance if the adhesion to wood could be improved. In the present work, the chemical interaction between a titanium-based coupling agent, isopropyl triisostearoyl titanate (titanium agent, TA) and lignin has been studied by means of attenuated total reflectance...

  16. Synthesis of novel bis(perfluorophenyl azides) coupling agents: Evaluation of their performance by crosslinking of poly(ethylene oxide)

    KAUST Repository

    Mehenni, Hakim

    2011-11-01

    Novel bis(perfluorophenyl azides) coupling agents, containing spacer arms from ethylene or ethylene glycol subunits, were successfully synthesized. Nitrenes photogenerated from these novel bis(PFPA) coupling agents were applied successfully to the cross-linking of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO10,000) in either aqueous medium or at the solid state, thus, we demonstrated the potential of these bis(PFPA) molecules as promising coupling agents in surface engineering. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Synthesis of novel bis(perfluorophenyl azides) coupling agents: Evaluation of their performance by crosslinking of poly(ethylene oxide)

    KAUST Repository

    Mehenni, Hakim; Bakr, Osman

    2011-01-01

    Novel bis(perfluorophenyl azides) coupling agents, containing spacer arms from ethylene or ethylene glycol subunits, were successfully synthesized. Nitrenes photogenerated from these novel bis(PFPA) coupling agents were applied successfully

  18. Effect Of Coupling Agent On Microstructure And Mechanical Properties Of Polipropene-Flour Maizena Composite

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Sudirman; Karo Karo, Aloma; Darwinto, Tri; Teguh, Yulius S.P.P.; Handayani, Ari; Iraman, Dian

    2001-01-01

    Synthesize of PoIipropilene-flour maizena composite with addition of coupling agent have been done. Polypropylene (PP') which containing of CH 3 functional group was choosen due to its good property of degradable compare to Polyethylene (PE). The experiment carried out by mixing thermoplastic polymer (polypropylene with variation of PP MF2 and PP MFIO) with natural polymer ,flour maizena) varied in the mixing temperature of 180 c . The mixing caused the decreased mechanical properties of the PI' as major component. In addition, PE has better Mechanical properties than PP. Therefore, coupling agent of 3-Aminoprophyl triethoxy silane was added into the composite having function to homogenize the composite, thus the mechanical properties of the composite could increased. The experimental result showed that by adding the coupling agent of 10 phr (per hundred polypmpilene) ioto the PP-Maizena composite (60:40) . of the PP MFIO type could increased a tensile strength from 150.11kg/cm 2 to 226.93 kg/cm 2 , but it decreased the elongation at break from 75.7% to be brittle. Oil the contrary. the addition of coupling agent of 10 phr into PP MF2 could decreased either the tensile strength from 172.05 kg/cm2 to 154.93 kg/cm 2 , or the elongation at break of the composite from 520 % to 425 %

  19. MARKETING VERDE NAS OPERAÇÕES DE AGENTES DE LOGÍSTICA DE DISTRIBUIÇÃO: ESTUDO DE CASO EM EMPRESA DE BASE TECNOLÓGICA

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Tiago Hennemann Hilario da Silva

    2013-01-01

    Full Text Available Este estudo tem por objetivo explorar a utilização do marketing verde nas operações de agentes da logística do processo de distribuição. O referencial teórico utilizado foi baseado em duas subáreas de conhecimento: marketing verde em serviços e cadeia de suprimentos verde. O objeto de estudo foi uma organização de médio porte do ramo de tecnologia e fornecedora de soluções em automação industrial. A coleta de dados empíricos envolveu um estudo de caso único, a pesquisa do tipo exploratória qualitativa e a aplicação dos métodos observação participante e entrevistas semiestruturadas. Os dados coletados foram examinados por meio da técnica de análise de conteúdo. Os resultados revelaram que ações de marketing verde, nos agentes da logística de distribuição, são perceptíveis aos olhos de todos os participantes do processo, tanto internos como externos à organização, principalmente, aos clientes finais. A pesquisa identificou também necessidade de ações internas na organização e de melhorias nos processos “verdes” dos agentes de logística no processo de distribuição. Palavras-chave: Cadeia de suprimentos verde. Logística de distribuição. Marketing em serviços. Marketing verde.

  20. Investigating the use of coupling agents to improve the interfacial properties between a resorbable phosphate glass and polylactic acid matrix.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hasan, Muhammad Sami; Ahmed, Ifty; Parsons, Andrew J; Rudd, Chris D; Walker, Gavin S; Scotchford, Colin A

    2013-09-01

    Eight different chemicals were investigated as potential candidate coupling agents for phosphate glass fibre reinforced polylactic acid composites. Evidence of reaction of the coupling agents with phosphate glass and their effect on surface wettability and glass degradation were studied along with their principle role of improving the interface between glass reinforcement and polymer matrix. It was found that, with an optimal amount of coupling agent on the surface of the glass/polymer, interfacial shear strength improved by a factor of 5. Evidence of covalent bonding between agent and glass was found for three of the coupling agents investigated, namely: 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane; etidronic acid and hexamethylene diisocyanate. These three coupling agents also improved the interfacial shear strength and increased the hydrophobicity of the glass surface. It is expected that this would provide an improvement in the macroscopic properties of full-scale composites fabricated from the same materials which may also help to retain these properties for the desired length of time by retarding the breakdown of the fibre/matrix interface within these composites.

  1. Direct Formation of Silane Coupling Agents on Glass for Improved Composite Performance

    National Research Council Canada - National Science Library

    Boyles, David

    2003-01-01

    ...; and 3) reaction of aminoalkenes with the reduced surface via a hydrosilylation reaction which formed the coupling agent directly on the surface of the glass fiber for glass surfaces incorporated into epoxy systems...

  2. Facile Fabrication of a Hierarchical Superhydrophobic Coating with Aluminate Coupling Agent Modified Kaolin

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Hui Li

    2013-01-01

    Full Text Available A superhydrophobic coating was fabricated from the dispersion of unmodified kaolin particles and aluminate coupling agent in anhydrous ethanol. Through surface modification, water contact angle of the coating prepared by modified kaolin particles increased dramatically from 0° to 152°, and the sliding angle decreased from 90° to 3°. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the surface morphology. A structure composed of micro-nano hierarchical component, combined with the surface modification by aluminate coupling agent which reduced the surface energy greatly, was found to be responsible for the superhydrophobicity. The method adopted is relatively simple, facile, and cost-effective and can potentially be applied to large water-repellent surface coatings.

  3. Effects of Titanate Coupling Agent on Engineering Properties of Asphalt Binders and Mixtures Incorporating LLDPE-CaCO3 Pellet

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Mohd Rosli Mohd Hasan

    2018-06-01

    Full Text Available This study was initiated to evaluate the performance of asphalt binders and mixtures incorporating linear low-density polyethylene- calcium carbonate (LLDPE-CaCO3 pellet, either with or without titanate coupling agent. The detailed manufacturing process of modifier pellets was displayed. The coupling agent was used to enhance the cross-linking between materials by means of winding up covalent bonds or molecule chains, thus improving the performance of composites. In the preparation of modified bitumen, the preheated asphalt binder was mixed with the modifiers using a high shear mixer at 5000 rpm rotational speed for 45 min. Experimental works were conducted to evaluate the performance of asphalt binders in terms of volatile loss, viscosity, rutting potential, and low temperature cracking. Meanwhile, the asphalt mixtures were tested using the flow number test and tensile strength ratio (TSR test. The addition of LLDPE-CaCO3 modifiers and coupling agent does not significantly affect the volatile loss of modified asphalt binders. The addition of modifiers and coupling agent has significantly improved the resistance to permanent deformation of asphalt binders. Even though, the addition of LLDPE-CaCO3 modifier and coupling agent remarkably increased the mixture stiffness that contributed to lower rutting potential, the resistance to low temperature cracking of asphalt binder was not adversely affected. The combination of 1% coupling agent with 3% PECC is optimum dosage for asphalt binder to have satisfactory performance in resistance to moisture damage and rutting.

  4. Enhancement of interfacial properties of basalt fiber reinforced nylon 6 matrix composites with silane coupling agents

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    2010-10-01

    Full Text Available In this work solution surface treatment was applied for producing basalt fiber reinforced PA6 matrix composites. Beyond scanning electron microscopy, static and dynamic mechanical tests, dynamic mechanical analysis of composites was used for qualifying the interfacial adhesion in a wide temperature range. The loss factor peak height of loss factor is particularly important, because it is in close relationship with the mobility of polymer molecular chain segments and side groups, hence it correlates with the number and strength of primary or secondary bondings established between the matrix and the basalt fibers. It was proven, that the interfacial adhesion between basalt fibers and polyamide can be largely improved by the application of silane coupling agents in the entire usage temperature range of composites. The presence of coupling agents on the surface of basalt fibers was proven by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The best results were obtained by 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane coupling agent.

  5. Aryl diazonium salts: a new class of coupling agents for bonding polymers, biomacromolecules and nanoparticles to surfaces.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Mahouche-Chergui, Samia; Gam-Derouich, Sarra; Mangeney, Claire; Chehimi, Mohamed M

    2011-07-01

    This critical review summarizes existing knowledge on the use of diazonium salts as a new generation of surface modifiers and coupling agents for binding synthetic polymers, biomacromolecules, and nanoparticles to surfaces. Polymer grafts can be directly grown at surfaces through the so-called grafting from approaches based on several polymerization methods but can also be pre-formed in solution and then grafted to surfaces through grafting onto strategies including "click" reactions. Several routes are also described for binding biomacromolecules through aryl layers in view of developing biosensors and protein arrays, while the use of aryl diazonium coupling agents is extended to the attachment of nanoparticles. Patents and industrial applications of the surface chemistry of diazonium compounds are covered. This review stresses the paramount role of aryl diazonium coupling agents in adhesion, surface and materials sciences (114 references).

  6. Study of different coupling agents in the conjugation of a V3-based synthetic MAP to carrier proteins.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Cruz, L J; Iglesias, E; Aguilar, J C; Quintana, D; Garay, H E; Duarte, C; Reyes, O

    2001-09-01

    The conjugation of synthetic peptides to carrier proteins is a widely used method for immunological studies. Different coupling agents have been described to form the conjugate with carrier proteins. In this paper, we demonstrate that the antibody response toward V3-based synthetic MAPs derived from HIV-1, JY1 isolate, conjugated to two different carrier proteins using either m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS) or beta-maleimidopropionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MPS), or succinic anhydride (SA) show different behaviors. An excellent anti-JY1 response without a strong response to the coupling agent is observed in the case of succinic anhydride spacer. In contrast, MBS produces total abrogation of the antibody response with a high response toward the coupling agent.

  7. Long Alkyl Chain Organophosphorus Coupling Agents for in Situ Surface Functionalization by Reactive Milling

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Annika Betke

    2014-08-01

    Full Text Available Innovative synthetic approaches should be simple and environmentally friendly. Here, we present the surface modification of inorganic submicrometer particles with long alkyl chain organophosphorus coupling agents without the need of a solvent, which makes the technique environmentally friendly. In addition, it is of great benefit to realize two goals in one step: size reduction and, simultaneously, surface functionalization. A top-down approach for the synthesis of metal oxide particles with in situ surface functionalization is used to modify titania with long alkyl chain organophosphorus coupling agents. A high energy planetary ball mill was used to perform reactive milling using titania as inorganic pigment and long alkyl chain organophosphorus coupling agents like dodecyl and octadecyl phosphonic acid. The final products were characterized by IR, NMR and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, thermal and elemental analysis as well as by X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The process entailed a tribochemical phase transformation from the starting material anatase to a high-pressure modification of titania and the thermodynamically more stable rutile depending on the process parameters. Furthermore, the particles show sizes between 100 nm and 300 nm and a degree of surface coverage up to 0.8 mmol phosphonate per gram.

  8. Influence of additional coupling agent on the mechanical properties of polyester–agave cantala roxb based composites

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ubaidillah, E-mail: ubaidillah@uns.ac.id [Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Sebelas Maret University, Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A, Kentingan, Surakarta, 57126 (Indonesia); Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia); Raharjo, Wijang W.; Wibowo, A. [Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Sebelas Maret University, Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A, Kentingan, Surakarta, 57126 (Indonesia); Harjana [Iwany Acoustic Research Group, Sebelas Maret University, Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A, Kentingan, Surakarta, 57126 (Indonesia); Mazlan, S. A., E-mail: amri.kl@utm.my [Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

    2016-03-29

    The mechanical and morphological properties of the unsaturated polyester resins (UPRs)-agave cantala roxb based composite are investigated in this paper. The cantala fiber woven in 3D angle interlock was utilized as the composite reinforcement. Surface grafting of the cantala fiber through chemical treatment was performed by introducing silane coupling agent to improving the compatibility with the polymer matrix. The fabrication of the composite specimens was conducted using vacuum bagging technique. The effect of additional coupling agent to the morphological appearance of surface fracture was observed using scanning electron microscopy. Meanwhile, the influence of additional silane to the mechanical properties was examined using tensile, bending and impact test. The photograph of surface fracture on the treated specimens showed the residual matrix left on the fibers in which the phenomenon was not found in the untreated specimens. Based on mechanical tests, the treated specimens were successfully increased their mechanical properties by 55%, 9.67%, and 92.4% for tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength, respectively, at 1.5% silane coupling agent.

  9. Effect of silane coupling agent on interfacial adhesion of copper/glass fabric/epoxy composites

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Langroudi, A. E.; Yousefi, A. A.; Kabiri, Kourosh

    2003-01-01

    The effect of silane coupling agent on the peel strength of copper/prep reg/copper composites was investigated. The composite consisted of one or two sheets of prepress covered by two copper plates. The prep reg was prepared by hand dry-lay-up technique using an epoxy resin and an electrical resistant glass fabric (e-glass style 2165). 4,4'-methylene dianiline. An aromatic amine, was used as curing agent. curing times for prep reg and composite at 120 d ig C and 170 d ig C were 15 min and 1 h, respectively. γ-aminopropyl trimethoxy silane was used as coupling agent. The effect of aminopropyl trimethoxy silane on the adhesion of epoxy/glass and epoxy/copper interfaces was investigated by two methods. In the first method, the surface of the glass fabric and/or the copper plates were treated by aminopropyl trimethoxy silane. In the second method, aminopropyl trimethoxy silane was directly added to epoxy resin. In addition, the effect of additional resin on the adhesion strength was also studied by the latter method

  10. [Effect of amount of silane coupling agent on flexural strength of dental composite resins reinforced with aluminium borate whisker].

    Science.gov (United States)

    Zhu, Ming-yi; Zhang, Xiu-yin

    2015-06-01

    To evaluate the effect of amount of silane coupling agent on flexural strength of dental composite resins reinforced with aluminium borate whisker (ABW). ABW was surface-treated with 0%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% silan coupling agent (γ-MPS), and mixed with resin matrix to synthesize 5 groups of composite resins. After heat-cured at 120 degrees centigrade for 1 h, specimens were tested in three-point flexure to measure strength according to ISO-4049. One specimen was selected randomly from each group and observed under scanning electron microscope (SEM). The data was analyzed with SAS 9.2 software package. The flexural strength (117.93±11.9 Mpa) of the group treated with 2% silane coupling agent was the highest, and significantly different from that of the other 4 groups (α=0.01). The amount of silane coupling agent has impact on the flexural strength of dental composite resins reinforced with whiskers; The flexual strength will be reduced whenever the amount is higher or lower than the threshold. Supported by Research Fund of Science and Technology Committee of Shanghai Municipality (08DZ2271100).

  11. Influence of silane coupling agent on microstructure and properties of CCTO-P(VDF-CTFE composites

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Yang Tong

    2018-04-01

    Full Text Available Influence of the coupling agent on microstructure and dielectric properties of ceramic–polymer composites is systematically studied using CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO as the filler, trichloro-(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl-silane (Cl3-silane as coupling agent, and P(VDF-CTFE 88/12mol.% copolymer as the matrix. It is demonstrated that Cl3-silane molecules can be attached onto CCTO surface using a simple process. The experimental results show that coating CCTO with Cl3-silane can improve the microstructure uniformity of the composites due to the good wettability between Cl3-silane and P(VDF-CTFE, which also significantly improves the electric breakdown field of the composites. It is found that the composites using CCTO coated with 1.0wt.% Cl3-silane exhibit a higher dielectric constant with a higher electric breakdown field. For the composites with 15vol.% CCTO that is coated with 1.0wt.% Cl3-silane, an electric breakdown field of more than 240MV/m is obtained with an energy density of more than 4.5J/cm3. It is also experimentally found that the dielectric constant can be used to easily identify the optimized content of coupling agent.

  12. Influence of silane coupling agent on microstructure and properties of CCTO-P(VDF-CTFE) composites

    Science.gov (United States)

    Tong, Yang; Zhang, Lin; Bass, Patrick; Rolin, Terry D.; Cheng, Z.-Y.

    Influence of the coupling agent on microstructure and dielectric properties of ceramic-polymer composites is systematically studied using CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) as the filler, trichloro-(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl)-silane (Cl3-silane) as coupling agent, and P(VDF-CTFE) 88/12mol.% copolymer as the matrix. It is demonstrated that Cl3-silane molecules can be attached onto CCTO surface using a simple process. The experimental results show that coating CCTO with Cl3-silane can improve the microstructure uniformity of the composites due to the good wettability between Cl3-silane and P(VDF-CTFE), which also significantly improves the electric breakdown field of the composites. It is found that the composites using CCTO coated with 1.0wt.% Cl3-silane exhibit a higher dielectric constant with a higher electric breakdown field. For the composites with 15vol.% CCTO that is coated with 1.0wt.% Cl3-silane, an electric breakdown field of more than 240MV/m is obtained with an energy density of more than 4.5J/cm3. It is also experimentally found that the dielectric constant can be used to easily identify the optimized content of coupling agent.

  13. Effect of Silane Coupling Agent on the Creep Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fibers/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber Composites.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Choi, Woong-Ki; Park, Gil-Young; Kim, Byoung-Shuk; Seo, Min-Kang

    2018-09-01

    In this study, we investigated the effect of the silane coupling agent on the relationship between the surface free energy of carbon fibers (CFs) and the mechanical strength of CFs/acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) composites. Moreover, the creep behavior of the CF/NBR composites at surface energetic point of view were studied. The specific component of the surface free energy of the carbon fibers was found to increase upon grafting of the silane coupling agent, resulting in an increase in the tensile strength of the CF/NBR composites. On the other hand, the compressive creep strength was found to follow a slightly different trend. These results indicate the possible formation of a complex interpenetrating polymer network depending on the molecular size of the organic functional groups of the silane coupling agent.

  14. End-functional silicone coupling agent modified PEO/P(VDF-HFP)/SiO2 nanocomposite polymer electrolyte DSSC

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Zhang Jing; Yang Ying; Wu Sujuan; Xu Sheng; Zhou Conghua; Hu Hao; Chen Bolei; Xiong Xiaodong; Sebo, Bobby; Han Hongwei; Zhao Xingzhong

    2008-01-01

    The end-functional silicone coupling agent (dodecyl-trimethoxysilane, DTMS for short) was used to modify the PEO/P(VDF-HFP)/SiO 2 nanocomposite polymer electrolyte (CPE) and the different amounts of DTMS modification effects were studied. The experiments showed the silicone coupling agent with hydrophobic alkyl chains (-C 12 H 25 ) chemically engineered on the SiO 2 nanoparticles, and formed a Si-O-Si cross-linked network in the new nanocomposite polymer electrolyte. Proper content of DTMS modified CPE exhibited improved ionic conductivity and the connection with the photoanode and counter electrode. However, much higher content of the DTMS modification changed the conformation of the polymer network and reduced the ionic movement. Compared with the performance (3.84%) of the original DSSC, the DSSC with functional silicone coupling agent modified CPE (DTMS:SiO 2 = 2:1, mol ratio) exhibited improved J sc (7.94 mA cm -2 ), V oc (0.624 V) and optimal efficiency (5.2%) (measured at AM1.5, light intensity of 58.4 mW cm -2 ). The V oc of the silicone coupling agent modified polymer electrolyte DSSC is obviously improved, which is mainly due to that the hydrophobic alkyl chain end groups formed an insulating layer that retarded the electron recombination at the TiO 2 nanoporous photoanode/polymer electrolyte interface. The DTMS:SiO 2 = 2:1 modified CPE type DSSC exhibited a performance of 6.42% at a light intensity of 32.1 mW cm -2 and 4.94% at 99.2 mW cm -2

  15. Agente versus estrutura no modelo multidimensional-reflexivo: estudo de caso de uma organização hoteleira do tipo cama café

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Mariana Bueno de Andrade Matos

    2016-06-01

    Full Text Available O presente estudo teve como objetivo compreender o sistema organizacional de um meio de hospedagem do tipo Cama e Café a partir da relação agência/estrutura, ou seja, da relação entre as pessoas e a estrutura organizacional da empresa. A análise dessa relação buscou avaliar como esses elementos (agente e estrutura se influenciam a partir do modelo Multidimensional-Reflexivo (ALVES, 2004. Para tanto, buscou-se fundamentação na teoria de Weber, nomeadamente, os conceitos de Ação Social, Tipo Ideal e Estruturas puras de Dominação. Como metodologia, realizou-se um estudo de caso de natureza qualitativa de um meio de hospedagem do tipo Cama e Café. A coleta de dados se deu por entrevistas semiestruturadas, e as informações foram tratadas com a técnica de análise do discurso. Com o resultado da pesquisa verificou-se que existe a supremacia do agente sobre a estrutura na empresa e o subtipo em que se enquadra o ‘cama e café’ é o organizacional-administrativo patriarcal reformista, ou seja, em que o líder da empresa têm autonomia administrativa e é livre da tradição, e, assim, promove mudanças já que a coordenação e o controle são centrados nele.

  16. Cytocompatibility and Mechanical Properties of Short Phosphate Glass Fibre Reinforced Polylactic Acid (PLA Composites: Effect of Coupling Agent Mediated Interface

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Gavin Walker

    2012-10-01

    Full Text Available In this study three chemical agents Amino-propyl-triethoxy-silane (APS, sorbitol ended PLA oligomer (SPLA and Hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI were identified to be used as coupling agents to react with the phosphate glass fibre (PGF reinforcement and the polylactic acid (PLA polymer matrix of the composite. Composites were prepared with short chopped strand fibres (l = 20 mm, ϕ = 20 µm in a random arrangement within PLA matrix. Improved, initial composite flexural strength (~20 MPa was observed for APS treated fibres, which was suggested to be due to enhanced bonding between the fibres and polymer matrix. Both APS and HDI treated fibres were suggested to be covalently linked with the PLA matrix. The hydrophobicity induced by these coupling agents (HDI, APS helped to resist hydrolysis of the interface and thus retained their mechanical properties for an extended period of time as compared to non-treated control. Approximately 70% of initial strength and 65% of initial modulus was retained by HDI treated fibre composites in contrast to the control, where only ~50% of strength and modulus was retained after 28 days of immersion in PBS at 37 °C. All coupling agent treated and control composites demonstrated good cytocompatibility which was comparable to the tissue culture polystyrene (TCP control, supporting the use of these materials as coupling agent’s within medical implant devices.

  17. Effect of silane coupling agents on the chemical and physical properties of photocrosslinked poly(dimethylsiloxane) dimethacrylate/poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogel

    Science.gov (United States)

    Lim, K. W.; Hamid, Z. A. A.

    2017-07-01

    Inorganic-organic hydrogels based on dimethacrylated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMSMA) and diacrylated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEGDA) macromers were prepared via photocrosslinking method. Silane coupling agent was incorporated into the hydrogel formulations to overcome the phase incompatibility. Pure PEGDA (0:100) hydrogels showed the highest value of ESR %, while pure PDMSMA (100:0) hydrogels showed no swelling as we expected. Inclusion of more hydrophobic domains resulted in a lower value of ESR %, i.e. in 75:25 hybrid hydrogels. Beside, we had noticed 50:50 and 75:25 hybrid hydrogels disintegrate during swelling period. However, their integrity was improved and sustained after the coupling agent was added. Similarly, the value of E* for the hybrid hydrogels showed an increment after the coupling agent was incorporated, and this is in a good agreement with the SEM micrograph which display an improved interfacial adhesion.

  18. Uma proposta de arquitetura de software baseada em agentes

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Elisa Hatsue Moriya Huzita

    2000-05-01

    Full Text Available O desenvolvimento de software baseado em agentes tem sido objeto de estudo de diversos pesquisadores, que analisam a sua aplicação em sistemas distribuídos e buscam técnicas capazes de minimizar as dificuldades encontradas nesta nova abordagem. Neste contexto, este artigo tem por objetivo principal descrever uma proposta de arquitetura de software para sistemas multiagente, elaborada a partir de estudos realizados sobre agentes de software, sistemas multiagente e arquiteturas de software baseadas em agentes. São ainda apresentados alguns dos conceitos estudados, incluindo as principais falhas encontradas na construção de arquiteturas baseadas em agentes e dois modelos propostos por outros autores, que serviram de subsídio para a elaboração da proposta a ser apresentada

  19. Facile Fabrication of a Hierarchical Superhydrophobic Coating with Aluminate Coupling Agent Modified Kaolin

    OpenAIRE

    Hui Li; Mengnan Qu; Zhe Sun; Jinmei He; Anning Zhou

    2013-01-01

    A superhydrophobic coating was fabricated from the dispersion of unmodified kaolin particles and aluminate coupling agent in anhydrous ethanol. Through surface modification, water contact angle of the coating prepared by modified kaolin particles increased dramatically from 0° to 152°, and the sliding angle decreased from 90° to 3°. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the surface morphology. A structure composed of micro-nano hierarchical component, combined with the surface modi...

  20. The Effects of Coupling Agents on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Eucalyptus Flour/HDPE Composite

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Metanawin Siripan

    2015-01-01

    Full Text Available The aim of this research was to study the effects of the coupling agents, FusabondTM E-528 (polyethylene-grafted maleic anhydride; PE-g-MA, MA and Amino Silane (Si, on the thermal properties, and mechanical properties of Eucalyptus flour-HDPE composite. Variation of the Eucalyptus flour contents in the HDPE resulted in properties of the composite. With increasing in the contents of Eucalyptus flour in polymer matrix, the mechanical properties of the HDPE composite decreased in EU-MA series samples while they were gradually decreased in EU-Si series samples. SEM micrographs showed the fracture surface of the HDPE/Eucalyptus composite at different ratios of Eucalyptus flour. SEM micrograpgh exhibited the dispersion of EU flour in polymer matrix. The samples of both coupling agents showed an increase in interfacial adhesion, observed for the considerable decreased of gaps between the matrix and the dispersed phase. However, the EU-MA sample appeared to be more uniformly than the EU-Si sample.

  1. The dispersion of SWCNTs treated by coupling and dispersing agents in fiber reinforced polymer composities

    Science.gov (United States)

    Duan, Yuexin; Yuan, Lu; Zhao, Yan; Guan, Fengxia

    2007-07-01

    It is an obstacle issue for Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) applied in fiber reinforced polymer composites that CNTs is dispersed in nano-level, particularly for single-wall Carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). In this paper, SWCNTs were treated by the coupling agent like volan and dispersing agent as BYK to improve the dispersion in the Glass Fiber/Epoxy composites. The result of dispersion of SWCNTs in composites was observed by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Then the Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) of these kinds of composites with treated and untreated SWCNTs were obtained by Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA). Moreover, the bending properties of these composites were tested.

  2. Teaching Couple Relationship Education: The Influence on Regional Extension Agents and Family Life Educators

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Julianne McGill

    2017-10-01

    Full Text Available Couple Relationship Education (CRE programs are a prevention resource used to assist adult individuals, couples, and families reduce relationship distress and improve prosocial behaviors. Regional Extension agents (REAs and other community family life educators (FLEs who teach CRE are involved in a facilitation process that develops relationships and rapport with their participants similar to other helping relationships. To date, no published research has focused on how CRE may affect the REAs/FLEs who provide the programs through community adult education programs. Informed by relational-cultural theory and the ecological systems perspective, the current study focused on assessing change in ten outcomes measuring REAs/FLEs’ (N = 54 individual, couple, and co-parenting functioning and whether that change differed by gender. Results from repeated measure ANCOVAs indicate REAs/FLEs experience gains across several domains of functioning. There were no differences by gender. Implications for REAs/FLEs and suggestions for future research are described.

  3. Use of new phosphonylating and coupling agents in the synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides via the H-phosphonate approach.

    OpenAIRE

    Sakatsume, O; Yamane, H; Takaku, H; Yamamoto, N

    1990-01-01

    New phosphonylating and coupling agents for the synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides via H-phosphonate approach have been developed. Tris(1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl) phosphite, prepared by the reaction of lithium salt of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propoxide with PCl3, reacts with deoxyribonucleosides in the presence of a catalytic amount of triethylamine to produce in the high yield the corresponding deoxyribonucleoside 3'-H-phosphonate units. The use of a new coupling reagent, 1,3-dimet...

  4. The effect of interstitial pressure on therapeutic agent transport: coupling with the tumor blood and lymphatic vascular systems.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Wu, Min; Frieboes, Hermann B; Chaplain, Mark A J; McDougall, Steven R; Cristini, Vittorio; Lowengrub, John S

    2014-08-21

    Vascularized tumor growth is characterized by both abnormal interstitial fluid flow and the associated interstitial fluid pressure (IFP). Here, we study the effect that these conditions have on the transport of therapeutic agents during chemotherapy. We apply our recently developed vascular tumor growth model which couples a continuous growth component with a discrete angiogenesis model to show that hypertensive IFP is a physical barrier that may hinder vascular extravasation of agents through transvascular fluid flux convection, which drives the agents away from the tumor. This result is consistent with previous work using simpler models without blood flow or lymphatic drainage. We consider the vascular/interstitial/lymphatic fluid dynamics to show that tumors with larger lymphatic resistance increase the agent concentration more rapidly while also experiencing faster washout. In contrast, tumors with smaller lymphatic resistance accumulate less agents but are able to retain them for a longer time. The agent availability (area-under-the curve, or AUC) increases for less permeable agents as lymphatic resistance increases, and correspondingly decreases for more permeable agents. We also investigate the effect of vascular pathologies on agent transport. We show that elevated vascular hydraulic conductivity contributes to the highest AUC when the agent is less permeable, but to lower AUC when the agent is more permeable. We find that elevated interstitial hydraulic conductivity contributes to low AUC in general regardless of the transvascular agent transport capability. We also couple the agent transport with the tumor dynamics to simulate chemotherapy with the same vascularized tumor under different vascular pathologies. We show that tumors with an elevated interstitial hydraulic conductivity alone require the strongest dosage to shrink. We further show that tumors with elevated vascular hydraulic conductivity are more hypoxic during therapy and that the response

  5. Gamma radiation effect on sisal / polyurethane composites without coupling agents

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Vasco, Marina Cardoso; Claro Neto, Salvador; Nascimento, Eduardo Mauro; Azevedo, Elaine, E-mail: marina.mcv@gmail.com [University of Patras (Greece); Universidade de Sao Paulo (USP) Sao Carlos, SP (Brazil); Universidade Tecnologica Federal do Parana (UTFPR), Curitiba, PR (Brazil)

    2017-04-15

    Natural fibers and polyurethane based composites may present chemical bonding between the components of the polymer and the lignin of the fiber. The incidence of radiation can cause degradation of the polymeric material and alter its mechanical properties. The objective of this study was to obtain and characterize cold pressed composites from polyurethane derived from castor oil and sisal fibers, without coupling agents, through thermogravimetric and mechanical tests, before and after the incidence of 25 kGy dose of gamma radiation. Woven composites that were not irradiated had maximum values of 4.40 GPa for flexural elastic modulus on three point flexural test and dispersed fiber composite that were not irradiated had maximum values of 2.25 GPa. These materials are adequate for use in non-structural applications in radiotherapy and radiodiagnostic rooms. (author)

  6. Grafting of cellulose by fluorine-bearing silane coupling agents

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Ly, B.; Belgacem, M.N.; Bras, J.; Brochier Salon, M.C.

    2010-01-01

    The surface of model cellulose fibres, Avicell (AV), as well as that of Whatman paper (WP) was chemically modified with two fluorine-bearing alkoxysilane coupling agents, namely: 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl trimethoxysilane (TFPS) and 1H,1H,2H,2H,perfluorooctyl trimethoxysilane (PFOS). The occurrence of the grafting of soxhlet extracted modified cellulose was confirmed by the presence of silicon and fluorine atoms detected by elemental analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Electron Dispersion Energy/Scanning Electron Microscopy (EDS/SEM). The contact angle measurements showed that, after grafting, the surface of AV and WP samples became totally highly hydrophobic with a contact angle of 140 deg. Thus, the polar contribution to the surface energy of the modified substrates was found to be close to zero. These modified substrate could be interesting for application such as self-cleaning surface, wipes paper, grease barrier paper or for biocomposite with a polar matrix.

  7. O fim da cognição? Os estudos de ciência e tecnologia desafiam o conceito de agente cognitivo The end of cognition? Science and technology studies challenge the concept of the cognising agent

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Steve Woolgar

    1996-02-01

    Full Text Available O conceito de 'cognição' ocupa um lugar central em ampla literatura nas ciências sociais e na filosofia, onde um pressuposto-chave consiste na conceituação do agente cognitivo enquanto unidade central de análise. Entretanto, desdobramentos recentes nos Estudos de Ciência e Tecnologia (ECT questionam este pressuposto e sugerem as bases para a sua modificação. Este trabalho descreve e avalia estes desdobramentos. Ele examina algumas críticas à visão largamente aceita de ciência e sugere que não menos que uma ampla inversão analítica é necessária para desafiar certos conceitos arraigados sobre cognição. A partir de uma revisão panorâmica de sucessivas tentativas de estabelecer simetria nos ECT, o presente artigo considera três conjuntos de pressupostos-chave em relação à agência: 1. o que faz o agente?; 2. qual a natureza do agente?; e 3. por que agentes humanos deveriam possuir o monopólio dos atributos humanos?The concept of 'cognition' is central to a wide literature in social science and philosophy where a key assumption conceptualises the central unit of analysis as a cognising agent. However, recent developments in Science and Technology Studies (STS question this assumption and suggest the basis for its modification. The paper describes and evaluates these developments. It examines critiques of the "received view" of science and suggests that nothing less than a full scale analytic inversion is needed adequately to confront entrenched conceptions about cognition. It surveys progressive attempts to achieve symmetry in STS. It then considers three sets of key assumptions about agency: 1. what is the agent doing?; 2. what is the nature of the agent?; and 3. why should human agents have the monopoly on human attributes?

  8. Influences of surface modification of nano-silica by silane coupling agents on the thermal and frictional properties of cyanate ester resin

    Science.gov (United States)

    Chuang, Wang; Geng-sheng, Jiao; Lei, Peng; Bao-lin, Zhu; Ke-zhi, Li; Jun-long, Wang

    2018-06-01

    The surface of nano-silicon dioxide (nano-SiO2) particles was modified by small molecular coupling agent KH-560 and macromolecular coupling agent SEA-171, respectively, to change the surface activity and structure. The modified nano-SiO2 was then used for reinforcing cyanate ester resin (CE). Influences of the content of nano-SiO2 and the interfacial structure over the thermal and frictional properties of nano-SiO2/CE composites were investigated. The mechanism of the surface modification of silicon dioxide by KH-560 and SEA-171 was discussed. The experimental results show that the addition of coupling agents increased the interfacial bonding between nano-SiO2 particles and the CE resin so that the heat resistance and friction properties of the composites were improved. After surface treatment of nano-SiO2 by SEA-171, the thermal decomposition temperature of the 3.0 wt% nano-SiO2/CE composites increased nearly by 75 °C and the frictional coefficient was reduced by 25% compared with that of the pure CE, and the wear resistance increased by 77%.

  9. Gamma radiation effect on sisal / polyurethane composites without coupling agents

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Marina Cardoso Vasco

    Full Text Available Abstract Natural fibers and polyurethane based composites may present chemical bonding between the components of the polymer and the lignin of the fiber. The incidence of radiation can cause degradation of the polymeric material and alter its mechanical properties. The objective of this study was to obtain and characterize cold pressed composites from polyurethane derived from castor oil and sisal fibers, without coupling agents, through thermogravimetric and mechanical tests, before and after the incidence of 25 kGy dose of gamma radiation. Woven composites that were not irradiated had maximum values of 4.40 GPa for flexural elastic modulus on three point flexural test and dispersed fiber composite that were not irradiated had maximum values of 2.25 GPa. These materials are adequate for use in non-structural applications in radiotherapy and radiodiagnostic rooms.

  10. Hybrid joining of polyamide and hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber through heat-resistant functional layer of silane coupling agent

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sang, Jing; Sato, Riku [Department of Frontier Materials and Function Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Iwate University, 4-3-5 Ueda, Morioka 020-8551 (Japan); Aisawa, Sumio, E-mail: aisawa@iwate-u.ac.jp [Department of Frontier Materials and Function Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Iwate University, 4-3-5 Ueda, Morioka 020-8551 (Japan); Hirahara, Hidetoshi [Department of Frontier Materials and Function Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Iwate University, 4-3-5 Ueda, Morioka 020-8551 (Japan); Mori, Kunio [Department of Frontier Materials and Function Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Iwate University, 4-3-5 Ueda, Morioka 020-8551 (Japan); Sulfur Chemical Institute, 210, Collabo MIU, 4-3-5, Ueda, Morioka 020-0066 (Japan)

    2017-08-01

    Highlights: • We modify PA6 surface using silane coupling agent layer of APTMS to link HNBR. • APTMS greatly improved heat resistance of PA6 from 153 °C up to 325 °C. • A PA6/HNBR joined body was obtained, and it exhibits high adhesion strength with cohesive failure. • Chemical structures of the adhesion interfaces of PA6/HNBR were confirmed by Nano-IR. - Abstract: A simple, direct adhesion method was developed to join polyamide (PA6) to hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) by grafting a functional layer of a silane coupling agent on plasma functionalized PA6 surfaces. The functional layer of the silane coupling agent was prepared using a self-assembly method, which greatly improved the heat resistance of PA6 from 153 °C up to 325 °C and the resulting PA6/HNBR joints showed excellent adhesion properties with cohesive failure between PA6 and HNBR. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nanoscale infrared microscopy and chemical imaging (Nano-IR, AFM-IR) were employed to characterize the surfaces and interfaces. The Nano-IR analysis method was employed for the first time to analyze the chemical structures of the adhesion interfaces between different materials and to establish the interface formation mechanism. This study is of significant value for interface research and the study of adhesion between resins and rubbers. There is a promising future for heat-resistant functional layers on resin surfaces, with potential application in fuel hose composite materials for the automotive and aeronautical industries.

  11. Study of Crossling Agent and Couplink Agent Synergism on Mechanical Properties of HDPE-Cu Composites

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Mashuri; Sujud, A.A.; Karo Karo, Aloma

    2001-01-01

    The effects of crosslink agents, coupling agents and synergism on mechanical properties of HDPE-Cu composites materials has been investigated. The crosslink was made with dicumyl peroxide as crosslink agents of 2% concentration, so the interface adhesion of matrix-filler was made with 3-amino propyl triethoxysilane as coupling agents of 0.5% concentration. The results of research's showed, that the crosslink and interface adhesion of matrix-filler can increase tensile strength and elongation at break of HDPE-Cu composites. The synergism of two agents can increase tensile strength to 20% and elongation at break to 23% of HDPE-Cu composites materials

  12. Field validation of a free-agent cellular automata model of fire spread with fire–atmosphere coupling

    Science.gov (United States)

    Gary Achtemeier

    2012-01-01

    A cellular automata fire model represents ‘elements’ of fire by autonomous agents. A few simple algebraic expressions substituted for complex physical and meteorological processes and solved iteratively yield simulations for ‘super-diffusive’ fire spread and coupled surface-layer (2-m) fire–atmosphere processes. Pressure anomalies, which are integrals of the thermal...

  13. Simulation of low temperature combustion mechanism of different combustion-supporting agents in close-coupled DOC and DPF system.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Jiao, Penghao; Li, Zhijun; Li, Qiang; Zhang, Wen; He, Li; Wu, Yue

    2018-07-01

    In the coupled Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) and Diesel Particular Filter (DPF) system, soot cannot be completely removed by only using the passive regeneration. And DPF active regeneration is necessary. The research method in this paper is to spray different kinds of combustion-supporting agents to the DOC in the front of the DPF. Therefore, the low temperature combustion mechanism of different kinds of combustion-supporting agents in DOC was studied, in order to grasp the law of combustion in DOC, and the influence of follow-up emission on DPF removal of soot. During the study, CH 4 H 2 mixture and diesel (n-heptane + toluene) were used as combustion-supporting agents respectively. The simplified mechanisms of two kinds of gas mixtures used as the combustion-supporting agents in DPF have been constructed and testified in the paper. In this paper, the combustion and emission conditions of the two combustion-supporting agents were analyzed so as to meet the practical requirements of different working conditions. Copyright © 2017 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Estudo comparativo da reação inflamatória renal entre álcool de polivinil - flocular e álcool de polivinil + acetato de polivinil - esférico: estudo experimental

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Warley Dias Siqueira Mendes

    Full Text Available OBJETIVO: Avaliar as características e os efeitos de um agente embólico, disponível comercialmente, consistindo de Polivinil Álcool (PVA de morfologia flocular, e comparar com um agente esférico, de tecnologia nacional, consistindo de Polivinil Álcool e Polivinil Acetato (PVA + PVAc. MÉTODO: Foram utilizadas fêmeas de coelho albino "New Zealand", submetidas à embolização arterial renal. PVA-flocular foi usado em 24 animais, assim como PVA+PVAc-esférico. Seis animais foram utilizados como controle. Todos foram mantidos em cativeiro até a morte, por períodos pós-operatórios de 48 horas, cinco dias, 10 dias e 30 dias. RESULTADOS: Ambos os agentes promoveram oclusão do vaso e infarto do órgão. O estudo microscópico inicial das artérias embolizadas com PVA-flocular, mostra oclusão com trombo e PVA. Os vasos embolizados com PVA+PVAc-esférico, mostram os agentes ocupando praticamente todo o lúmen. No estudo de 30 dias, observa-se absorção do trombo e retração dos agentes de PVAflocular, criando espaços. E com PVA+PVAc-esférico, pode-se observar os agentes circundados por intensa fibrose. CONCLUSÕES: Ambas as partículas foram efetivas para causar isquemia tecidual. A reação inflamatória foi mais intensa com PVA+PVAc-esférico que também apresentou grau de penetração maior no sistema vascular.

  15. Study of the leaching of heavy metals from waste water sludge and incinerator's ash, using coupled thermostated columns and DTPA as complex agent

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Vite T, J.; Vite T, M.; Guerrero D, J.; Carreno de Leon, M.C.

    2000-01-01

    We studied the metallic composition from waste water sludge and incinerators ashes of an incinerator located in Toluca, Mexico, the qualitative studies were made using the Activation Analysis technique, and fluorescence X-ray techniques. The quantitative analysis of heavy metals in the wastes were made using Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (Icp-Aes). For leaching the samples, we used four coupled thermostated columns, each one had a p H of 2,5, 7 and 10. The flux of the air was of 1600 cc/min. The temperature was maintain constant in 60 Centigrade using a thermostated system. For this study we used 100 g of wastes mixed with mineral acid or sodium hydroxide to reach p H 2,5,7 and 10. We added a reducing and tensoactive agents and finally DTPA as complex agent. With this method, we obtain a better leaching efficiency using a complex agent. However the high DTPA cost, make this process expansive that is why we recommend to work with another classes of complex agents, that be cheaper to leach metals of different chemistry matrix. (Author)

  16. The Effect Of Coupling Agent On Composite Magnet Characteristic Based On Hexa ferrite (Sr M/Ba M) With Polyester And Epoxy Binder

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Sudirman; Ridwan; Mujamilah; Karo Karo, Aloma; Handayani, Ari; Rukihati

    2004-01-01

    Magnetic composites are mixtures of hexa ferrite powder and non magnetic materials such as polymers as binders. These composites have been investigated because they are light, elastic, and cheap. In this study thermoset polymer (epoxy and polyester) were used as binders. Inside study of coupling agent added effect on mechanical properties, hardness and microstructure. The composites were prepared by mixture thermoset polymer epoxy or polyester with hexa ferrite powder Sr M (SrFe 12 O 19 ) or Ba M (BaFe 12 O 19 ) with volume fraction of 40,50 and 60 % v/v, coupling agent of the Tetra Isopropyl Titanate in the amount of 5 ml or 10 ml are added before mix turing of the thermoset polymer epoxy or polyester with hexa ferrite powder. The resulting composite were characterized mechanically (tensile strength), hardness and microstructure test. The results showed that the tensile strength and hardness of the composite magnet were increased by increasing the composition of magnetic powder, either Sr M or Ba M, it caused by microstructure of particle Sr M magnetic powder 1.6 μm in the form splinter, where as the Ba M magnetic powder 1,2 μm in nodular form. Thermoset polymer epoxy as binder have tensile strength and hardness is bigger than composite magnet based on polyester, either Sr M or Ba M. The addition of coupling agent is very influenced on the tensile strength and hardness composite magnet, the more coupling magnet addition causes the more tensile strength and hardness of the composite magnet

  17. Effect of coupling agents on the dielectric properties and energy storage of Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3/P(VDF-CTFE nanocomposites

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Peixuan Wu

    2017-07-01

    Full Text Available Dielectric materials with high electric energy density and low dielectric loss are critical for electric applications in modern electronic and electrical power systems. To obtain desirable dielectric properties and energy storage, nanocomposites using Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 (BST as the filler and poly(vinylidene fluoride-chlorotrifluoroethylene as the matrix material are prepared with a uniform microstructure by using a newly developed process that combines the bridge-linked action of a coupling agent, solution casting, and a hot-pressing method. When a proper amount of coupling agent is used to modify the surface of the nanoparticles, the composite exhibits a higher dielectric constant and a more uniform microstructure. A dielectric constant of 95, dielectric loss of 0.25, and energy density of 2.7 J/cm3 is obtained in the nanocomposite with 30 vol.% of BST and 15 wt.% of coupling agent. The results suggest that the energy storage ability of the composites could be improved by the surface modification of the fillers and from the interface compatibility between the fillers and the polymer matrix.

  18. Hybrid joining of polyamide and hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber through heat-resistant functional layer of silane coupling agent

    Science.gov (United States)

    Sang, Jing; Sato, Riku; Aisawa, Sumio; Hirahara, Hidetoshi; Mori, Kunio

    2017-08-01

    A simple, direct adhesion method was developed to join polyamide (PA6) to hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) by grafting a functional layer of a silane coupling agent on plasma functionalized PA6 surfaces. The functional layer of the silane coupling agent was prepared using a self-assembly method, which greatly improved the heat resistance of PA6 from 153 °C up to 325 °C and the resulting PA6/HNBR joints showed excellent adhesion properties with cohesive failure between PA6 and HNBR. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nanoscale infrared microscopy and chemical imaging (Nano-IR, AFM-IR) were employed to characterize the surfaces and interfaces. The Nano-IR analysis method was employed for the first time to analyze the chemical structures of the adhesion interfaces between different materials and to establish the interface formation mechanism. This study is of significant value for interface research and the study of adhesion between resins and rubbers. There is a promising future for heat-resistant functional layers on resin surfaces, with potential application in fuel hose composite materials for the automotive and aeronautical industries.

  19. Surface modification of TiO2 nanotubes by grafting with APTS coupling agents

    Science.gov (United States)

    Phan Duong, Hong; Le, Minh Duc; Dao, Hung Cuong; Chen, Chia-Yun

    2017-10-01

    Titanium dioxide nanotubes (TNTs) have been considered the promising nanostructures employed for many practical applications such as biomedical, photonic and optoelectronic devices. Nevertheless, strong aggregation of TNTs within various aqueous media significantly hindered their practical utilizations and the capability of dispersing TNTs in the desired solvents are urgent to be improved. Therefore, in this study, the methodic investigations have been performed on the grafted modification of 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTS) on the surfaces of synthesized TNTs. A preliminary study was carried out to evaluate the influences of key parameters, including the concentrations of coupling agents, temperatures and the reaction durations, on the grafting efficiency of the aminosilane using Statistical design of experiments (DoE) methodology. TNTs with approximately 10-20 nm in diameter were prepared with the controlled hydrothermal treatment of commercialized P25 particles. The obtained products were revealed by the modern physicochemical systems including x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. The additions of silane agent, reaction temperature and time have been adjusted to reveal the influences of the grafting efficiency (from 2.5 to 7.8 wt %) by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Analysis of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) has confirmed the successful link of Ti-O-Si chemical bonds on the grafted TNTs.

  20. Studies on the effects of titanate and silane coupling agents on the performance of poly (methyl methacrylate)/barium titanate denture base nanocomposites.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Elshereksi, Nidal W; Ghazali, Mariyam J; Muchtar, Andanastuti; Azhari, Che H

    2017-01-01

    This study aimed to fabricate and characterise silanated and titanated nanobarium titanate (NBT) filled poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) denture base composites and to evaluate the behaviour of a titanate coupling agent (TCA) as an alternative coupling agent to silane. The effect of filler surface modification on fracture toughness was also studied. Silanated, titanated and pure NBT at 5% were incorporated in PMMA matrix. Neat PMMA matrix served as a control. NBT was sonicated in MMA prior to mixing with the PMMA. Curing was carried out using a water bath at 75°C for 1.5h and then at 100°C for 30min. NBT was characterised via Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis before and after surface modification. The porosity and fracture toughness of the PMMA nanocomposites (n=6, for each formulation and test) were also evaluated. NBT was successfully functionalised by the coupling agents. The TCA exhibited the lowest percentage of porosity (0.09%), whereas silane revealed 0.53% porosity. Statistically significant differences in fracture toughness were observed among the fracture toughness values of the tested samples (pPMMA composites. Thus, TCA seemed to be more effective than silane. Minimising the porosity level could have the potential to reduce fungus growth on denture base resin to be hygienically accepTable Such enhancements obtained with Ti-NBT could lead to promotion of the composites' longevity. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Estudo fitoquímico e ensaios biológicos de Davilla Kunthii A. St. Hil (Dilleniaceae)

    OpenAIRE

    Leandro da Silva Nascimento

    2014-01-01

    O uso de plantas ou extratos de plantas para propósitos medicinais tem sido realizado a milhares de anos. O estudo químico e biológico de plantas constitui numa estratégia alternativa na procura de novos agentes terapêuticos para a identificação de compostos bioativos. A espécie Davilla kunthii A. St. Hil, pertencente à família Dilleniaceae, é conhecida popularmente como cipódefogo e podem ser encontradas em regiões de savana. Este trabalho teve como objetivo realizar o estudo fitoquímico e e...

  2. Estudo de estabilidade do antibiótico meropenem

    OpenAIRE

    Andreas Sebastian Loureiro Mendez

    2007-01-01

    A estabilidade de medicamentos constitui um tema atual e de grande importância no meio científico. Tem sido constantemente abordada em estudos direcionados à avaliação da qualidade das preparações farmacêuticas. O meropenem, um antibiótico carbapenêmico de amplo espectro de ação, é utilizado como um importante recurso terapêutico para o tratamento de infecções graves. Por ser um agente antimicrobiano ativo e eficaz, de uso clínico em muitos países, tornase necessária a pesquisa mais aprofunda...

  3. Investigation of oil recovery improvement by coupling an interfacial tension agent and a mobility control agent in light oil reservoirs. Second annual report, October 1993--September 1994

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Pitts, M.J.

    1995-04-01

    {open_quotes}Investigation of Oil Recovery Improvement by Coupling an Interfacial Tension Agent and a Mobility Control Agent in Light Oil Reservoirs{close_quotes} is studying two major areas concerning co-injecting an interfacial tension reduction agent(s) and a mobility control agent. The first area defines the interactions of alkaline agents, surfactants, and polymers on a fluid-fluid and a fluid-rock basis. The second area concerns the economic improvement of the combined technology. This report continues the fluid-fluid interaction evaluations and begins the fluid-rock studies. Fluid-fluid interfacial tension work determined that replacing sodium ion with either potassium or ammonium ion in solutions with interfacial tension reduction up to 19,600 fold was detrimental and had little or no effect on alkali-surfactant solutions with interfacial tension reduction of 100 to 200 fold. Reservoir brine increases interfacial tension between crude oil and alkaline-surfactant solutions. Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3}-surfactant solutions maintained ultra low and low interfacial tension values better than NaOH-surfactant solutions. The initial phase of the fluid-rock investigations was adsorption studies. Surfactant adsorption is reduced when co-dissolved with alkali. Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3} and Na{sub 3}PO{sub 4} are more efficient at reducing surfactant adsorption than NaOH. When polymer is added to the surfactant solution, surfactant adsorption is reduced as well. When both polymer and alkali are added, polymer is the dominate component, reducing the Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3} and NaOH effect on adsorption. Substituting sodium ion with potassium or ammonium ion increased or decreased surfactant adsorption depending on surfactant structure with alkali having a less significant effect. No consistent change of surfactant adsorption with increasing salinity was observed in the presence or absence of alkali or polymer.

  4. Preparation and characterization of the sol–gel nano-bioactive glasses modified by the coupling agent 3-(Trimethoxysilyl Propyl methacrylate

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    A. Abdolahi

    2016-06-01

    Full Text Available In this study, NBG was successfully achieved through a sol-gel technique, and to further improve its dispersibility, a crylate coupling agent was coupled onto the surface of the NBG. The 3-(TrimethoxysilylPropylmethacrylate coupling agent was used to the surface modification of the synthesized NBG by a wet-chemical method in a dynamic inert nitrogen atmosphere. The surface properties of the biomaterials before and after modification were characterized and compared using FTIR and AFM techniques. The characteristic peaks in FTIR spectra indicated that –CH2, –CH3 and C=O groups appeared on the surface of modified NBG, and also, AFM analysis revealed that the dispersibility of surface modified NBG was improved, significantly. The above results proved that the desired groups of 3-(TrimethoxysilylPropyl methacrylate had been covalently bonded onto the surface of NBG. Besides, a nanocomposite scaffold was synthesized using the synthesized NBG and polyurethane foam as raw materials. The morphology of pores, porosity contents, compress strength and bioactivity of the scaffold were studied. The results showed that the biological scaffolds for use in bone tissue engineering with the basic requirements (90% porosity and 200-600 μm pore diameter were successfully prepared. The polymer component had no effect on the relationship between the scaffold pores and bioactivity of bioglass nanoparticles. Improvement of compressive strength and proper bioactivity of the resulted scaffold showed that it is an acceptable candidate for biomaterials applications.

  5. Evaluation of gloves as a water bag coupling agent for therapeutic ultrasound

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Lúcio Salustiano de Lima

    2017-03-01

    Full Text Available Abstract Introduction Therapeutic ultrasound (TUS is a widespread modality in physiotherapy, and the water bag technique is a coupling method employed in the presence of anatomical irregularities in the treatment area. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the acoustic attenuation of the water bag and its effectiveness as a TUS coupling agent. Methods The rated output powers (ROPs of the TUS equipment were evaluated based on IEC 61689. Then, a radiation force balance was used to measure ROP with and without a water bag (latex and nitrile gloves filled with deionized water between a TUS transducer and the cone-shaped target of the balance. Each experiment was performed five times for each nominal power (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, and 7.0 W and in the following configurations: without the water bag (A, with nitrile gloves and with (B and without (C a height controller, and latex gloves with (D and without (E height controller. ROPs obtained in different media were compared. Results The highest relative error of ROP was 16.72% for 0.5 W. Although the power values of the equipment were within the range recommended by IEC, there was a significant difference between the ROP values measured with A and with B, C and D. Conclusion As intensity differences below 0.5 W/cm2 are considered clinically not relevant, conditions A, B, C, D, or E can be used interchangeably.

  6. Quantifying human behavior uncertainties in a coupled agent-based model for water resources management

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hyun, J. Y.; Yang, Y. C. E.; Tidwell, V. C.; Macknick, J.

    2017-12-01

    Modeling human behaviors and decisions in water resources management is a challenging issue due to its complexity and uncertain characteristics that affected by both internal (such as stakeholder's beliefs on any external information) and external factors (such as future policies and weather/climate forecast). Stakeholders' decision regarding how much water they need is usually not entirely rational in the real-world cases, so it is not quite suitable to model their decisions with a centralized (top-down) approach that assume everyone in a watershed follow the same order or pursue the same objective. Agent-based modeling (ABM) uses a decentralized approach (bottom-up) that allow each stakeholder to make his/her own decision based on his/her own objective and the belief of information acquired. In this study, we develop an ABM which incorporates the psychological human decision process by the theory of risk perception. The theory of risk perception quantifies human behaviors and decisions uncertainties using two sequential methodologies: the Bayesian Inference and the Cost-Loss Problem. The developed ABM is coupled with a regulation-based water system model: Riverware (RW) to evaluate different human decision uncertainties in water resources management. The San Juan River Basin in New Mexico (Figure 1) is chosen as a case study area, while we define 19 major irrigation districts as water use agents and their primary decision is to decide the irrigated area on an annual basis. This decision will be affected by three external factors: 1) upstream precipitation forecast (potential amount of water availability), 2) violation of the downstream minimum flow (required to support ecosystems), and 3) enforcement of a shortage sharing plan (a policy that is currently undertaken in the region for drought years). Three beliefs (as internal factors) that correspond to these three external factors will also be considered in the modeling framework. The objective of this study is

  7. Mechanical and dynamic characteristics of encapsulated microbubbles coupled by magnetic nanoparticles as multifunctional imaging and drug delivery agents

    Science.gov (United States)

    Guo, Gepu; Lu, Lu; Yin, Leilei; Tu, Juan; Guo, Xiasheng; Wu, Junru; Xu, Di; Zhang, Dong

    2014-11-01

    Development of magnetic encapsulated microbubble agents that can integrate multiple diagnostic and therapeutic functions is a key focus in both biomedical engineering and nanotechnology and one which will have far-reaching impact on medical diagnosis and therapies. However, properly designing multifunctional agents that can satisfy particular diagnostic/therapeutic requirements has been recognized as rather challenging, because there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of how the integration of magnetic nanoparticles to microbubble encapsulating shells affects their mechanical properties and dynamic performance in ultrasound imaging and drug delivery. Here, a multifunctional imaging contrast and in-situ gene/drug delivery agent was synthesized by coupling super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIOs) into albumin-shelled microbubbles. Systematical studies were performed to investigate the SPIO-concentration-dependence of microbubble mechanical properties, acoustic scattering response, inertial cavitation activity and ultrasound-facilitated gene transfection effect. These demonstrated that, with the increasing SPIO concentration, the microbubble mean diameter and shell stiffness increased and ultrasound scattering response and inertial cavitation activity could be significantly enhanced. However, an optimized ultrasound-facilitated vascular endothelial growth factor transfection outcome would be achieved by adopting magnetic albumin-shelled microbubbles with an appropriate SPIO concentration of 114.7 µg ml-1. The current results would provide helpful guidance for future development of multifunctional agents and further optimization of their diagnostic/therapeutic performance in clinic.

  8. Mechanical and dynamic characteristics of encapsulated microbubbles coupled by magnetic nanoparticles as multifunctional imaging and drug delivery agents

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Guo, Gepu; Lu, Lu; Tu, Juan; Guo, Xiasheng; Zhang, Dong; Yin, Leilei; Wu, Junru; Xu, Di

    2014-01-01

    Development of magnetic encapsulated microbubble agents that can integrate multiple diagnostic and therapeutic functions is a key focus in both biomedical engineering and nanotechnology and one which will have far-reaching impact on medical diagnosis and therapies. However, properly designing multifunctional agents that can satisfy particular diagnostic/therapeutic requirements has been recognized as rather challenging, because there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of how the integration of magnetic nanoparticles to microbubble encapsulating shells affects their mechanical properties and dynamic performance in ultrasound imaging and drug delivery. Here, a multifunctional imaging contrast and in-situ gene/drug delivery agent was synthesized by coupling super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIOs) into albumin-shelled microbubbles. Systematical studies were performed to investigate the SPIO-concentration-dependence of microbubble mechanical properties, acoustic scattering response, inertial cavitation activity and ultrasound-facilitated gene transfection effect. These demonstrated that, with the increasing SPIO concentration, the microbubble mean diameter and shell stiffness increased and ultrasound scattering response and inertial cavitation activity could be significantly enhanced. However, an optimized ultrasound-facilitated vascular endothelial growth factor transfection outcome would be achieved by adopting magnetic albumin-shelled microbubbles with an appropriate SPIO concentration of 114.7 µg ml −1 . The current results would provide helpful guidance for future development of multifunctional agents and further optimization of their diagnostic/therapeutic performance in clinic. (paper)

  9. Optimization of food waste hydrolysis in leach bed coupled with methanogenic reactor: effect of pH and bulking agent.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Xu, Su Yun; Lam, Hoi Pui; Karthikeyan, O Parthiba; Wong, Jonathan W C

    2011-02-01

    The effects of pH and bulking agents on hydrolysis/acidogenesis of food waste were studied using leach bed reactor (LBR) coupled with methanogenic up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. The hydrolysis rate under regulated pH (6.0) was studied and compared with unregulated one during initial experiment. Then, the efficacies of five different bulking agents, i.e. plastic full particles, plastic hollow sphere, bottom ash, wood chip and saw dust were experimented under the regulated pH condition. Leachate recirculation with 50% water replacement was practiced throughout the experiment. Results proved that the daily leachate recirculation with pH control (6.0) accelerated the hydrolysis rate (59% higher volatile fatty acids) and methane production (up to 88%) compared to that of control without pH control. Furthermore, bottom ash improved the reactor alkalinity, which internally buffered the system that improved the methane production rate (0.182 l CH(4)/g VS(added)) than other bulking agents. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Bonding properties of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber with polyamide mediated by a functional layer of silane coupling agent

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Sang, J.; Aisawa, S.; Hirahara, H.; Mori, K.

    2017-01-01

    This study demonstrates that coating layers, expected to be formed as self-assembled monolayers, of silane coupling agents can act as adhesion layers as the hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) and polyamide (PA6) plate interfaces. The resulting PA6/HNBR joints showed excellent adhesion properties with cohesive failure and the interfaces were jointed through chemical bonds, which were confirmed by swelling tests. The surfaces and bonding properties of rubber and PA6 were studied by means of peel tests, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nanoscale infrared microscopy and chemical imaging (AFM-IR). (authors)

  11. ESTUDO DOS PRINCÍPIOS APLICADOS À UTILIZAÇÃO DOS AGENTES QUÍMICOS DESINFETANTES HOSPITALARES

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Vanda M. Galvão Jouclas

    Full Text Available As autoras realizaram um levantamento bibliográfico coletando dados atualizados sobre a utilização dos agentes químicos desinfetantes hospitalares, levando-se em consideração suas possibilidades e suas limitações. São abordados na fundamentação científica o conceito de desinfecção e esterilização, as condições necessárias para a ação efetiva de um agente químico, os critérios de escolha do agente químico, e a classificação dos agentes químicos utilizados em equipamentos e materiais médico-cirúrgicos.

  12. Agentes hemostáticos locais e adesivos teciduais

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Marcus Vinicius H. de Carvalho

    Full Text Available Nos últimos dez anos os agentes hemostáticos e os adesivos teciduais têm sido usados frequentemente e são uma alternativa positiva para evitar a perda sanguínea excessiva. O objetivo dessa revisão é discutir as características de cada um desses agentes para facilitar a decisão do cirurgião na escolha do produto mais adequado para cada tipo de sangramento e natureza da hemorragia. Uma pesquisa da literatura sobre o assunto, nas línguas inglesa e portuguesa, foi conduzida usando o PubMed (www.pubmed.com e Google (www.google.com.br para encontrar artigos recentes sobre o tema. Com base nestes estudos, os autores fizeram uma revisão didática sobre os agentes hemostáticos e adesivos teciduais e concluem que existe um agente hemostático a ser usado em cada cenário específico.

  13. Colestase neonatal prolongada: estudo prospectivo

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    PRADO Elizabeth Teixeira Mendes Livramento

    1999-01-01

    Full Text Available Em razão da urgência de se decidir por um tratamento clínico ou por uma intervenção cirúrgica imediata, o estudo da colestase neonatal prolongada envolve dois objetivos básicos: o diagnóstico diferencial entre atresia biliar e hepatite neonatal e a pesquisa dos agentes etiológicos associados. Desta maneira, através de estudo prospectivo desenvolvido na década de 1970, foram avaliadas 77 crianças portadoras de colestase neonatal prolongada para estabelecer o diagnóstico diferencial entre atresia biliar e hepatite neonatal e, numa segunda fase, 108 crianças, visando esclarecer a etiopatogenia da colestase neonatal prolongada. Os resultados do diagnóstico diferencial revelaram que, dos 18 atributos avaliados, apenas oito mostraram-se bons indicadores de atresia biliar, em ordem decrescente: ductos proliferados (espaço-porta, fibrose (espaço-porta, colestase (espaço-porta, cor das fezes -- acolia, hepatomegalia, colestase canalicular (lóbulo, infiltrado (espaço-porta, células gigantes (lóbulo. Estes oito atributos foram então compostos, mediante uma ponderação, em um único indicador de grande poder discriminativo, capaz de decidir o diagnóstico diferencial em 99% dos casos. Quanto à etiopatogenia, registrou-se: vírus rubéola 0%, vírus herpes simples 0%, listeriose 0%, citomegalovirose 2,2%, vírus hepatite B 2,4%, toxoplasmose 2,8%, deficiência de alfa-1-antitripsina 13,1%, sífilis 21,1 %, auto-anticorpos hepáticos 58,4%. O trabalho desenvolvido mostra que as 8 variáveis mais decisivas, como indicadoras diferenciais entre atresia biliar e hepatite neonatal, permanecem como índices fundamentais, auxiliando, em conjunto com novos métodos diagnósticos, na composição de uma estratégia multifatorial cada vez menos invasiva e mais precisa. O estudo da etiopatogenia, dependente das condições epidemiológicas locais e da época, com a introdução de novos métodos diagnósticos, torna-se atualmente cada vez mais

  14. The influence of starch oxidization and aluminate coupling agent on interfacial interaction, rheological behavior, mechanical and thermal properties of poly(propylene carbonate)/starch blends

    Science.gov (United States)

    Jiang, Guo; Zhang, Shui-Dong; Huang, Han-Xiong; The Key Laboratory of Polymer Processing Engineering of the Ministry of Education Team

    Poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) is a kind of new biodegradable polymer that is synthesized by copolymerization of propylene oxide and carbon dioxide. In this work, PPC end-capped with maleic anhydride (PPCMA)/thermoplastic starch (TPS), PPCMA/thermoplastic oxidized starch (TPOS) and PPCMA/AL-TPOS (TPOS modified by aluminate coupling agent) blends were prepared by melt blending to improve its thermal and mechanical properties. FTIR results showed that there existed hydrogen-bonding interaction between PPCMA and starch. SEM observation revealed that the compatibility between PPCMA and TPOS was improved by the oxidation of starch. The enhanced interfacial interactions between PPCMA and TPOS led to a better performance of PPC blends such as storage modulus (G'), loss modulus (G''), complex viscosity (η*), tensile strength and thermal properties. Furthermore, the modification of TPOS by aluminate coupling agent (AL) facilitated the dispersion of oxidized starch in PPC matrix, and resulted in increasing the tensile strength and thermal stability. National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Science Fund of Guangdong Province.

  15. NMR chemical shift and J coupling parameterization and quantum mechanical reference spectrum simulation for selected nerve agent degradation products in aqueous conditions.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Koskela, Harri; Anđelković, Boban

    2017-10-01

    The spectral parameters of selected nerve agent degradation products relevant to the Chemical Weapons Convention, namely, ethyl methylphosphonate, isopropyl methylphosphonate, pinacolyl methylphosphonate and methylphosphonic acid, were studied in wide range of pH conditions and selected temperatures. The pH and temperature dependence of chemical shifts and J couplings was parameterized using Henderson-Hasselbalch-based functions. The obtained parameters allowed calculation of precise chemical shifts and J coupling constants in arbitrary pH conditions and typical measurement temperatures, thus facilitating quantum mechanical simulation of reference spectra in the chosen magnetic field strength for chemical verification. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  16. Uma análise dos fatores que afetam o comportamento ético dos agentes de microcrédito

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Maurício José Serpa Barros de Moura

    2011-01-01

    Full Text Available Este estudo analisa o comportamento ético dos agentes de microcrédito produtivo, modalidade de crédito que oferta quantias menores de dinheiro para o público de baixa renda. Nesta modalidade, o agente de microcrédito exerce importante trabalho ao conceder ou negar crédito em comunidades carentes, podendo estar exposto a situações de tomada de decisão ética, como negar crédito para conhecidos da própria comunidade onde ele vive. Baseando-se nos modelos de Ferrell, Fraedrich e Ferrell (2009 e Kohlberg (1969 o estudo analisa quais os fatores que influenciam o comportamento ético deste público. Os resultados mostram que a importância dada pelo agente ao seu emprego e sua sensibilidade individual a negar crédito podem ter influências sobre seu comportamento ético. Recomendase que esses resultados sejam usados na contratação e treinamento destes agentes, o que pode melhorar a tomada de decisão ética sobre o microcrédito.

  17. Agentes hemostáticos locais e adesivos teciduais Topical haemostatic agents and tissue adhesives

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Marcus Vinicius H. de Carvalho

    2013-02-01

    Full Text Available Nos últimos dez anos os agentes hemostáticos e os adesivos teciduais têm sido usados frequentemente e são uma alternativa positiva para evitar a perda sanguínea excessiva. O objetivo dessa revisão é discutir as características de cada um desses agentes para facilitar a decisão do cirurgião na escolha do produto mais adequado para cada tipo de sangramento e natureza da hemorragia. Uma pesquisa da literatura sobre o assunto, nas línguas inglesa e portuguesa, foi conduzida usando o PubMed (www.pubmed.com e Google (www.google.com.br para encontrar artigos recentes sobre o tema. Com base nestes estudos, os autores fizeram uma revisão didática sobre os agentes hemostáticos e adesivos teciduais e concluem que existe um agente hemostático a ser usado em cada cenário específico.In the last ten years the hemostatic agents and tissue adhesives have been frequently used and they are positive alternatives to prevent excessive blood loss. The objective of this review is to discuss the characteristics of each of these agents to facilitate the surgeon's decision when choosing the most suitable product for every type of bleeding and nature of hemorrhage. A survey of the literature on the subject, in English and in Portuguese, was conducted using PubMed (www.pubmed.com and Google (www.google.com.br to find recent articles on the topic. Based on these studies, the authors conducted a didactic review on the hemostatic agents and tissue adhesives and concluded that there is a hemostatic agent to be used in each specific scenario.

  18. A Study on the Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Photo-Curable Ceramic/Polymer Composites with Different Silane Coupling Agents for SLA 3D Printing Technology.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Song, Se Yeon; Park, Min Soo; Lee, Jung Woo; Yun, Ji Sun

    2018-02-07

    Silane coupling agents (SCAs) with different organofunctional groups were coated on the surfaces of Al₂O₃ ceramic particles through hydrolysis and condensation reactions, and the SCA-coated Al₂O₃ ceramic particles were dispersed in a commercial photopolymer based on interpenetrating networks (IPNs). The organofunctional groups that have high radical reactivity and are more effective in UV curing systems are usually functional groups based on acryl, such as acryloxy groups, methacrloxy groups, and acrylamide groups, and these silane coupling agents seem to improve interfacial adhesion and dispersion stability. The coating morphology and the coating thickness distribution of SCA-coated Al₂O₃ ceramic particles according to the different organofunctional groups were observed by FE-TEM. The initial dispersibility and dispersion stability of the SCA-coated Al₂O₃/High-temp composite solutions were investigated by relaxation NMR and Turbiscan. The rheological properties of the composite solutions were investigated by viscoelastic analysis and the mechanical properties of 3D-printed objects were observed with a nanoindenter.

  19. Surface preparation and coupling in plastic scintillator dosimetry

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Ayotte, Guylaine; Archambault, Louis; Gingras, Luc; Lacroix, Frederic; Beddar, A. Sam; Beaulieu, Luc

    2006-01-01

    One way to improve the performance of scintillation dosimeters is to increase the light-collection efficiency at the coupling interfaces of the detector system. We performed a detailed study of surface preparation of scintillating fibers and their coupling with clear optical fibers to minimize light loss and increase the amount of light collected. We analyzed fiber-surface polishing with aluminum oxide sheets, coating fibers with magnesium oxide, and the use of eight different coupling agents (air, three optical gels, an optical curing agent, ultraviolet light, cyanoacrylate glue, and acetone). We prepared 10 scintillating fiber and clear optical fiber light guide samples to test different coupling methods. To test the coupling, we first cut both the scintillating fiber and the clear optical fiber. Then, we cleaned and polished both ends of both fibers. Finally, we coupled the scintillating fiber with the clear optical fiber in either a polyethylene jacket or a V-grooved support depending on the coupling agent used. To produce more light, we used an ultraviolet lamp to stimulate scintillation. A typical series of similar couplings showed a standard deviation in light-collection efficiency of 10%. This can be explained by differences in the surface preparation quality and alignment of the scintillating fiber with the clear optical fiber. Absence of surface polishing reduced the light collection by approximately 40%, and application of magnesium oxide on the proximal end of the scintillating fiber increased the amount of light collected from the optical fiber by approximately 39%. Of the coupling agents, we obtained the best results using one of the optical gels. Because a large amount of the light produced inside a scintillator is usually lost, better light-collection efficiency will result in improved sensitivity

  20. Community health agent: a literature review Agente comunitario de salud: una revisión de literatura O agente comunitário de saúde: uma revisão da literatura

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ana Cláudia Garabeli Cavalli Kluthcovsky

    2006-12-01

    Full Text Available Study of the review literature regarding brazilian Community Health Agent. The methodology was descriptive and exploratory study, using the LILACS database (1982 to march/2005 and MEDLINE (1966 to 2005. The analysis resulted 153 publications, from which 97 had been excluded. About type of production, of the 56 references (100%, 53,6% were books, 32,1% periodic articles, 7,1% Master's Theses and remains 7,2%, doctoral dissertations and specialization monographs. It was observed that 59% of the references had been enclosed in the database in 2000. Considering only periodic articles, specialization monographs, Master's Theses and doctoral dissertations, an amount of 26 studies, the experimental design predominated (73%, being the objectives most frequent: characterization of the agents and their functions, process work and results. The data suggest increasing interest on the subject, however, these workers still consist a population little studied.Estudio de literatura de revisión sobre Agente Comunitario de Salud brasileiro. La metodología era estudio descriptivo y exploratório, en base de datos LILACS (1982 a 2005 y MEDLINE (1966 a 2005. El análisis resultó 153 publicaciones, 97 excluidos. De las 56 referencias (100%, 53,6% eran los libros, 32,1% artículos de periódicos, 7,1% eran disertaciones de maestría y del resto 7,2%, las tesis de doctorado y monografías de especialización. El 59% de las referencias habían sido incluidos en la base de datos en 2000. Considerando los artículos periódicos, las monografías de especialización, dissertaciones de maestría y tesis de doctorado (26 estudios, el diseño experimental predominó (73%, siendo los objetivos más frecuentes: caracterización de los agentes y de sus funciones, evaluaciónes del proceso y de los resultados del trabajo. Los datos sugieren interés de aumento en el tema, estos trabajadores todavía consisten una población poco estudiada.Este é um estudo de revisão da

  1. The Effect of Silane Coupling Agents on a Composite Polyamide-6/Talc

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    H. Wiebeck

    1998-12-01

    Full Text Available This paper evaluates the effect of the addition of silane agents on the mechanical properties (tensile strength, hardness and flexibility of the composite polyamide-6/talc. For this purpose, 30% and 40% of a talc with and without the addition of silane agents were incorporated into polyamide-6. Three kinds of silane agents were used, resulting in nine formulations. Comparing the experimental results, it is concluded that the silane agents improve the mechanical properties of the composite material.

  2. Earnings management: estudo de caso do Banco Nacional Earnings management: Central Bank's case study

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    César Medeiros Cupertino

    2006-08-01

    Full Text Available Este artigo promove um estudo de caso de uma das maiores instituições financeiras brasileiras da década de 90: o Banco Nacional S.A. (BNSA. O BNSA teve sua intervenção decretada pelo Banco Central do Brasil em 1995, após ser identificada a existência de ativos insolventes, originados por gerenciamento fraudulento dos lucros da entidade. O estudo visa investigar a gestão fraudulenta de lucros do Banco Nacional S.A., tanto nos seus aspectos motivadores, quanto em relação aos seus efeitos na composição patrimonial da entidade. A abordagem metodológica contempla: (i pesquisa explicativa, quanto aos objetivos do estudo; (ii estudo de caso, quanto aos procedimentos aplicados e (iii pesquisa qualitativa, quanto à abordagem do problema. Constatou-se que pode haver interesses inconciliáveis entre o agente e o principal, conforme disciplinado pela teoria da agência. O artigo, ainda, ressalta a importância do conhecimento dos dados financeiros na identificação dos fatos de interesse, dos ajustes pertinentes e da correta evidenciação da situação patrimonial da entidade.This paper features a case study of one of the main Brazilian banks of the 90's: Banco Nacional S/A (BNSA. The bank had its intervention decreed by Central Bank of Brazil in 1995, after the existence of insolvent assets, originated by fraudulent earnings management, were identified. The study aims to investigate the fraudulent earnings management of BNSA, both in motivational aspects and in relation of the effects in its balance sheet structure. The methodological approach of the study encompasses: (i an explanatory research, regarding the intended aim of the study; (ii case study, regarding the applied procedures; and (iii a qualitative research, regarding the approach to the problem. It was concluded that irreconcilable conflicts of interest might occur between the agent and the principal, according to the Agency Theory. The paper also emphasizes the importance of

  3. Study of the leaching of heavy metals from waste water sludge and incinerator's ash, using coupled thermostated columns and DTPA as complex agent; Estudio de la extraccion de metales pesados de lodos y cenizas de aguas residuales usando columnas termostatizadas acopladas y DTPA como agente complejante

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Vite T, J.; Vite T, M.; Guerrero D, J.; Carreno de Leon, M.C. [Departamento de Estudios del Ambiente, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, A.P. 18-1027, 11801 Mexico D.F. (Mexico)

    2000-07-01

    We studied the metallic composition from waste water sludge and incinerators ashes of an incinerator located in Toluca, Mexico, the qualitative studies were made using the Activation Analysis technique, and fluorescence X-ray techniques. The quantitative analysis of heavy metals in the wastes were made using Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (Icp-Aes). For leaching the samples, we used four coupled thermostated columns, each one had a p H of 2,5, 7 and 10. The flux of the air was of 1600 cc/min. The temperature was maintain constant in 60 Centigrade using a thermostated system. For this study we used 100 g of wastes mixed with mineral acid or sodium hydroxide to reach p H 2,5,7 and 10. We added a reducing and tensoactive agents and finally DTPA as complex agent. With this method, we obtain a better leaching efficiency using a complex agent. However the high DTPA cost, make this process expansive that is why we recommend to work with another classes of complex agents, that be cheaper to leach metals of different chemistry matrix. (Author)

  4. Study of occupational risk agents and its probable hazards to human health; Estudo dos agentes de risco ocupacional e seus provaveis agravos na saude humana

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Carneiro, Janete Cristina G. Gaburo; Alves, Alice dos Santos; Sanches, Matias P., E-mail: janetegc@ipen.br, E-mail: alicesante@hotmail.com, E-mail: msanches@ipen.br [Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares (IPEN/CNEN-SP), Sao Paulo, SP (Brazil)

    2013-07-01

    Currently the workplaces become increasingly complex and a strategy evaluation and the control of occupational risks agents is needed. Workers may be exposed to environmental agents (chemical, physical and biological) and other unsuitable conditions by performing tasks that involve these agents directly. The main objective of this study is to approach conceptual aspects of risk conditions, physical in nature, with emphasis on ionizing radiation and its interaction with other agents in occupational and environmental situations. To meet this goal, it is performed a literature review and a summary of the main occupational agents known or suspected to cause any adverse health effects in humans. According to the available literature the reported studies on the effects of combined exposures to radiation and others agents are recognized and, as far as possible, should be taken into account in evaluating of the potential radiation risks at low levels of exposure. (author)

  5. Enabling Agility through Coordinating Temporally Constrained Planning Agents

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Steenhuisen, J.R.; De Weerdt, M.M.; Witteveen, C.

    2007-01-01

    In crisis response, hierarchical organizations are being replaced by dynamic assemblies of autonomous agents that promise more agility. However, these autonomous agents might cause a decrease in effectiveness when individually constructed plans for moderately-coupled tasks are not jointly feasible.

  6. Agentes estressores no trabalho e sugestões para amenizá-los: opiniões de enfermeiros de pós-graduação Stressors agents in workplace and sugestions to soften its: opinions of the post graduation's nurses

    OpenAIRE

    Luciana Monteiro Mendes Martins; Jeane A. G. Bronzatti; Carmem Silvia de Campos A. Vieira; Silvia Helena Baffi Parra; Yara Boaventura da Silva

    2000-01-01

    A sobrecarga de trabalho, relacionamento e comunicação, características da Instituição e poluição ambiental foram os agentes estressores organizacionais mais citados neste estudo composto por 30 enfermeiras, sendo que a melhoria no planejamento do trabalho, o aspecto de humanização, adequação dos recursos humanos, melhora na comunicação e educação continuada, dentre outras, foram as sugestões identificadas para melhorar estes agentes estressores. Como agentes estressores extra organizacionais...

  7. Connection adaption for control of networked mobile chaotic agents.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Zhou, Jie; Zou, Yong; Guan, Shuguang; Liu, Zonghua; Xiao, Gaoxi; Boccaletti, S

    2017-11-22

    In this paper, we propose a strategy for the control of mobile chaotic oscillators by adaptively rewiring connections between nearby agents with local information. In contrast to the dominant adaptive control schemes where coupling strength is adjusted continuously according to the states of the oscillators, our method does not request adaption of coupling strength. As the resulting interaction structure generated by this proposed strategy is strongly related to unidirectional chains, by investigating synchronization property of unidirectional chains, we reveal that there exists a certain coupling range in which the agents could be controlled regardless of the length of the chain. This feature enables the adaptive strategy to control the mobile oscillators regardless of their moving speed. Compared with existing adaptive control strategies for networked mobile agents, our proposed strategy is simpler for implementation where the resulting interaction networks are kept unweighted at all time.

  8. Silane coupling agent for attaching fusion-bonded epoxy to steel.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Tchoquessi Diodjo, Madeleine R; Belec, Lénaïk; Aragon, Emmanuel; Joliff, Yoann; Lanarde, Lise; Perrin, François-Xavier

    2013-07-24

    We describe the possibility of using γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (γ-APS) to increase the durability of epoxy powder coating/steel joints. The curing temperature of epoxy powder coatings is frequently above 200 °C, which is seen so far as a major limitation for the use of the heat-sensitive aminosilane coupling agent. Despite this limitation, we demonstrate that aminosilane is a competitive alternative to traditional chromate conversion to enhance the durability of epoxy powder coatings/steel joints. Fourier-transform reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (FT-RAIRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to identify the silane deposition conditions that influence the adhesion of epoxy powder coatings on steel. We show that AFM analysis provides highly sensitive measurements of mechanical property development and, as such, the degree of condensation of the silane. The joint durability in water at 60 °C was lower when the pH of the γ-APS solution was controlled at 4.6 using formic acid, rather than that at natural pH (10.6). At the curing temperature of 220 °C, oxidation of the carbon adjacent to the amine headgroup of γ-APS gives amide species by a pseudofirst-order kinetics. However, a few amino functionalities remain to react with oxirane groups of epoxy resin and, thus, strengthen the epoxy/silane interphase. The formation of ammonium formate in the acidic silane inhibits the reaction between silane and epoxy, which consequently decreases the epoxy/silane interphase cohesion. We find that the nanoroughness of silane deposits increases with the cure temperature which is beneficial to the wet stability of the epoxy/steel joints, due to increased mechanical interlocking.

  9. A Study on the Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Photo-Curable Ceramic/Polymer Composites with Different Silane Coupling Agents for SLA 3D Printing Technology

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Se Yeon Song

    2018-02-01

    Full Text Available Silane coupling agents (SCAs with different organofunctional groups were coated on the surfaces of Al2O3 ceramic particles through hydrolysis and condensation reactions, and the SCA-coated Al2O3 ceramic particles were dispersed in a commercial photopolymer based on interpenetrating networks (IPNs. The organofunctional groups that have high radical reactivity and are more effective in UV curing systems are usually functional groups based on acryl, such as acryloxy groups, methacrloxy groups, and acrylamide groups, and these silane coupling agents seem to improve interfacial adhesion and dispersion stability. The coating morphology and the coating thickness distribution of SCA-coated Al2O3 ceramic particles according to the different organofunctional groups were observed by FE-TEM. The initial dispersibility and dispersion stability of the SCA-coated Al2O3/High-temp composite solutions were investigated by relaxation NMR and Turbiscan. The rheological properties of the composite solutions were investigated by viscoelastic analysis and the mechanical properties of 3D-printed objects were observed with a nanoindenter.

  10. The Designated Convergence Rate Problems of Consensus or Flocking of Double-Integrator Agents With General Nonequal Velocity and Position Couplings: Further Results and Patterns of Convergence Rate Contours.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Li, Wei

    2017-05-01

    This paper considers the designated convergence rate (DCR) (or the designated convergence margin) problems of consensus or flocking of coupled double-integrator agents. The DCR problems are more valuable for systems design than just convergence or stability conditions. The system setting in this paper is general, i.e., the velocity coupling and position coupling (VCPC) between agents, respectively, are set to be general and nonequal (up to rescaling), together with distinct damping and stiffness gains for the VCPC, respectively. This paper has two primary contributions on consensus: 1) further necessary and sufficient conditions are established to guarantee the DCR problems of the system, which have enriched the previous results and 2) the patterns of the convergence rate contours for the DCR are characterized, in terms of the damping and stiffness gains, which are closely related to the characteristics of the spectra of the two Laplacian matrices of the VCPC. Additionally, this paper has a contribution on matrix theory, i.e., the sufficient conditions for the simultaneous upper-triangularization of two independent Laplacian matrices, particularly from an easily verifiable topological perspective on the corresponding digraphs of these Laplacian matrices.

  11. Production of Galactooligosaccharides Using β-Galactosidase Immobilized on Chitosan-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles with Tris(hydroxymethylphosphine as an Optional Coupling Agent

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Su-Ching Chen

    2015-06-01

    Full Text Available β-Galactosidase was immobilized on chitosan-coated magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles and was used to produce galactooligosaccharides (GOS from lactose. Immobilized enzyme was prepared with or without the coupling agent, tris(hydroxymethylphosphine (THP. The two immobilized systems and the free enzyme achieved their maximum activity at pH 6.0 with an optimal temperature of 50 °C. The immobilized enzymes showed higher activities at a wider range of temperatures and pH. Furthermore, the immobilized enzyme coupled with THP showed higher thermal stability than that without THP. However, activity retention of batchwise reactions was similar for both immobilized systems. All the three enzyme systems produced GOS compound with similar concentration profiles, with a maximum GOS yield of 50.5% from 36% (w·v−1 lactose on a dry weight basis. The chitosan-coated magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles can be regenerated using a desorption/re-adsorption process described in this study.

  12. Effect of Bagasse Chemical Pulping and Coupling Agent on the Physical - Mechanical Properties of Composites Based on Bagasse pulp/Low density polyethylene

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    maryam allahdadi

    2016-12-01

    Full Text Available In this research, effect of reinforcing bagasse pulp and raw bagasse fibers and applying coupling agent MAPE (Maleic Anhydride Polyethylene on physical-mechanical properties of low density polyethylene (LDPE composites were studided. Fresh bagasse were collected from an experimental field in Khuzestan and after investigating anatomy and chemical properties of Different pulp fibers including monoethanolamine (MEA bagasse pulp, alkaline sulfite-anthraquinone (AS bagasse pulp, bleached soda (BS bagasse pulp, unbleached soda (UNS bagasse pulp and raw bagasse fibers (B were prepared. Then, composites with 30wt.% fiber content were manufactured by twin-screw extrusion followed by compression molding processing. The mechanical and physical properties of these composites were analyzed and compared. Results revealed that the chemical pulping dissolved a fraction of lignin and hemicelluloses so that the linkage potential and aspect ratio of bagasse fibers was improved and consequently, as compared with the raw bagasse fibers, bagasse pulp fibers have better reinforcing capability. The best overall properties were achieved with MEA and AS/AQ fibers. Addition of 5% (wt/wt of coupling agent MAPE resulted in a significant enhancement in the tensile strength, tensile modulus and impact strength in line with the improvement of the fiber-matrix interfacial adhesion making more effective the transfer of stress from the matrix to the rigid reinforcement.

  13. Understanding coupled natural and human systems on fire prone landscapes: integrating wildfire simulation into an agent based planning system.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Barros, Ana; Ager, Alan; Preisler, Haiganoush; Day, Michelle; Spies, Tom; Bolte, John

    2015-04-01

    Agent-based models (ABM) allow users to examine the long-term effects of agent decisions in complex systems where multiple agents and processes interact. This framework has potential application to study the dynamics of coupled natural and human systems where multiple stimuli determine trajectories over both space and time. We used Envision, a landscape based ABM, to analyze long-term wildfire dynamics in a heterogeneous, multi-owner landscape in Oregon, USA. Landscape dynamics are affected by land management policies, actors decisions, and autonomous processes such as vegetation succession, wildfire, or at a broader scale, climate change. Key questions include: 1) How are landscape dynamics influenced by policies and institutions, and 2) How do land management policies and actor decisions interact to produce intended and unintended consequences with respect to wildfire on fire-prone landscapes. Applying Envision to address these questions required the development of a wildfire module that could accurately simulate wildfires on the heterogeneous landscapes within the study area in terms of replicating historical fire size distribution, spatial distribution and fire intensity. In this paper we describe the development and testing of a mechanistic fire simulation system within Envision and application of the model on a 3.2 million fire prone landscape in central Oregon USA. The core fire spread equations use the Minimum Travel Time algorithm developed by M Finney. The model operates on a daily time step and uses a fire prediction system based on the relationship between energy release component and historical fires. Specifically, daily wildfire probabilities and sizes are generated from statistical analyses of historical fires in relation to daily ERC values. The MTT was coupled with the vegetation dynamics module in Envision to allow communication between the respective subsystem and effectively model fire effects and vegetation dynamics after a wildfire. Canopy and

  14. Socio-Ecohydrologic Agents And Services: Integrating Human And Natural Components To Address Coupled System Resilience

    Science.gov (United States)

    Pavao-zuckerman, M.; Pope, A.; Chan, D.; Curl, K.; Gimblett, H. R.; Hough, M.; House-Peters, L.; Lee, R.; Scott, C. A.

    2012-12-01

    decision-making on spatially-explicit landscapes in a mechanistic way, taking into account social interaction, adaptation, and decision-making at different levels, allowing individual stakeholders to make decisions based on their unique perceptions of their environment, be it economic, social, or ecological awareness. Initial parameterization of the ABM proceeds from a case study centered in the town of Rayón, Sonora, Mexico, where semi-structured interviews were used to elicit perceptions by water resource users of CNH function, change, and solutions relating to livelihood changes in response to several drivers. In both case studies, we see the potential and limitations for an approach to adaptive management and decision support related to water resources that links ecosystem services and agent-based modeling. Methodologically, synthetic approaches such as these may allow coupling of systems for improved assessment and analysis, while at the same time lack a connection to the perspectives of water users and managers on the ground. There is thus potential for a either a loss of system resilience in the face of external change, or an opportunity to increase system resilience by building off perspectives already in place within these coupled socio-ecohydrologic systems.

  15. Adaptive tracking control of leader-following linear multi-agent systems with external disturbances

    Science.gov (United States)

    Lin, Hanquan; Wei, Qinglai; Liu, Derong; Ma, Hongwen

    2016-10-01

    In this paper, the consensus problem for leader-following linear multi-agent systems with external disturbances is investigated. Brownian motions are used to describe exogenous disturbances. A distributed tracking controller based on Riccati inequalities with an adaptive law for adjusting coupling weights between neighbouring agents is designed for leader-following multi-agent systems under fixed and switching topologies. In traditional distributed static controllers, the coupling weights depend on the communication graph. However, coupling weights associated with the feedback gain matrix in our method are updated by state errors between neighbouring agents. We further present the stability analysis of leader-following multi-agent systems with stochastic disturbances under switching topology. Most traditional literature requires the graph to be connected all the time, while the communication graph is only assumed to be jointly connected in this paper. The design technique is based on Riccati inequalities and algebraic graph theory. Finally, simulations are given to show the validity of our method.

  16. Governança e Cooperação em Arranjos Produtivos Locais: Um Estudo de Múltiplos Casos em Sergipe

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Aline de Aragão Zambrana

    2013-03-01

    Full Text Available Os Arranjos Produtivos Locais (APLs têm se apresentado como estratégia para as micro, pequenas e médias empresas aumentarem suas chances de sobrevivência e superarem as barreiras para seu crescimento. O presente estudo pretendeu analisar como a governança e a cooperação entre os agentes institucionais e econômicos podem influenciar o desenvolvimento de APLs no Estado de Sergipe. Foram utilizados os procedimentos metodológicos relativos ao estudo de casos múltiplos. O nível de análise considerado foi o APL, e a unidade de análise foram os agentes institucionais e os agentes econômicos. Foram realizadas 32 entrevistas semiestruturadas com os agentes dos APLs de Sergipe. Com base na análise dos casos, observouse que nos APLs estudados predominam as micro e pequenas empresas com baixo nível tecnológico e que utilizam os mercados local/regional e regional/nacional como destinos da produção. Os maiores aglomerados, em número de unidades produtivas existentes e de empregos formais gerados, foram o de Cerâmica Vermelha de Itabaianinha e o de Confecções de Tobias Barreto. A natureza da coordenação e articulação entre as empresas localizadas tende a ser baixa e é caracterizada por competição descomedida e baixos níveis de confiança. Constatou-se que a prática da concorrência desleal tem provocado o isolamento dos empresários e reduzido a probabilidade de ocorrência de ações conjuntas.

  17. Emergent Behavior of Coupled Barrier Island - Resort Systems

    Science.gov (United States)

    McNamara, D. E.; Werner, B. T.

    2004-12-01

    Barrier islands are attractive sites for resorts. Natural barrier islands experience beach erosion and island overwash during storms, beach accretion and dune building during inter-storm periods, and migration up the continental shelf as sea level rises. Beach replenishment, artificial dune building, seawalls, jetties and groins have been somewhat effective in protecting resorts against erosion and overwash during storms, but it is unknown how the coupled system will respond to long-term sea level rise. We investigate coupled barrier island - resort systems using an agent-based model with three components: natural barrier islands divided into a series of alongshore cells; resorts controlled by markets for tourism and hotel purchases; and coupling via storm damage to resorts and resort protection by government agents. Modeled barrier islands change by beach erosion, island overwash and inlet cutting during storms, and beach accretion, tidal delta growth and dune and vegetation growth between storms. In the resort hotel market, developer agents build hotels and hotel owning agents purchase them using predictions of future revenue and property appreciation, with the goal of maximizing discounted utility. In the tourism market, hotel owning agents set room rental prices to maximize profit and tourist agents choose vacation destinations maximizing a utility based on beach width, price and word-of-mouth. Government agents build seawalls, groins and jetties, and widen the beach and build up dunes by adding sand to protect resorts from storms, enhance beach quality, and maximize resort revenue. Results indicate that barrier islands and resorts evolve in a coupled manner to resort size saturation, with resorts protected against small-to-intermediate-scale storms under fairly stable sea level. Under extended, rapidly rising sea level, protection measures enhance the effect of large storms, leading to emergent behavior in the form of limit cycles or barrier submergence

  18. Unidade de estudos de mastites em pequenos ruminantes: estudos em ovinos de regime extensivo Small ruminant mastitis unity: studies on grazing ewes

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    M.C. Queiroga

    2007-01-01

    Full Text Available A “Unidade de Estudo de Mastites em Pequenos Ruminantes”, formalmente constituída no âmbito do Programa Nacional de Re-equipamento Científico, da Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, vem dar corpo ao trabalho de colaboração de diversas equipas de investigação que se têm debruçado sobre a problemática das infecções intramamárias em pequenos ruminantes, nos seus aspectos de saúde animal, saúde pública veterinária e qualidade e segurança alimentar. Tem como principal objectivo criar condições para o desenvolvimento de trabalhos de investigação e divulgação científica que contribuam para reduzir a prevalência de mastites em pequenos ruminantes e assim melhorar a produção e a qualidade do leite, favorecendo produtores de leite, produtores de queijo e consumidores. Entre os trabalhos já realizados pela equipa científica, destacam-se o isolamento e identificação de agentes etiológicos de mastite em ovelhas, o estudo de factores de virulência nas bactérias mais relevantes, o estudo dos mecanismos de infecção e a resposta imunológica local e sistémica do hospedeiro e outros estudos na área da epidemiologia. O estudo da etiologia e da fisiopatologia da mastite ovina, com o objectivo de compreender a modulação da resposta imunitária da glândula mamária, poderá contribuir para o desenvolvimento de métodos de controlo com base na estimulação da resposta imunitária, alternativos ao uso de antibióticos.The “Small Ruminant Mastitis Unit”, formally constituted in the scope of the Programa Nacional de Re-equipamento Científico, Science and Technology Foundation, gathers the collaborative work of several research groups that have been addressing the issue of small ruminants intramammary infections, related to animal health, veterinary public health and food safety and quality. Its main purpose is to generate an adequate environment for research and scientific communication that may contribute to

  19. Estresse no trabalho em agentes dos centros de atendimento socioeducativo do Rio Grande do Sul Estrés en el trabajo en agentes en los centros de atención socioeducativa de Rio Grande do Sul Job stress in agents at the socio-educational service centers in the state of Rio Grande do Sul

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Patrícia Bitencourt Toscani Greco

    2013-03-01

    Full Text Available Estudo que teve por objetivo verificar a associação entre estresse no trabalho, características sociodemográficas, laborais, hábitos e condições de saúde dos agentes socioeducadores do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Trata-se de um estudo transversal com 381 agentes dos Centros de Atendimento Socioeducativo do Rio Grande do Sul. Utilizou-se a versão brasileira da Job Stress Scale, para avaliação do estresse no trabalho. Foram classificados, em situação de alta exigência no trabalho, 19,2% dos agentes. Mostraram-se associados ao estresse no trabalho: necessidade de acompanhamento psicológico, falta de tempo para lazer, turno diurno de trabalho, insatisfação com o local de trabalho, necessidade de afastamento do trabalho, por problemas de saúde, e escala de trabalho insuficiente. Há necessidade de buscar melhores condições de trabalho e a efetivação de um Serviço de Saúde do Trabalhador atuante, no sentido de minimizar os efeitos das demandas psicológicas no trabalho do agente socioeducador.El estudo tenía el objetivo de verificar la asociación entre estrés en el trabajo, rasgos sociodemográficos, laborales, hábitos y condiciones de salud de los agentes socioeducadores de Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Es un estudio transversal con 381 agentes de Centros de Atención Socioeducativa de Rio Grande do Sul. Se utilizó la versión brasileña de Job Stress Scale para evaluación de estrés en el trabajo. El 19, 2% de los agentes se clasificó en situación de alta exigencia laboral. Se mostraron asociadas al estrés en el trabajo: necesidad de acompañamiento psicológico, falta de tiempo para el ocio, tiempo diurno de trabajo, insatisfacción con el lugar de trabajo, necesidad de alejamiento del trabajo por problemas de salud y escala de trabajo insuficiente. Existe la necesidad de buscar mejores condiciones de trabajo y la efectuación de un Servicio de Salud del Trabajador actuante, para minimizar los efectos de las demandas

  20. Ação do óxido nitroso no sistema nervoso central: estudo eletrofisiológico como agente único e como agente coadjuvante Acción del óxido nitroso en el sistema nervioso central: estudio eletrofisiológico como agente único y como agente coadyuvante Nitrous oxide action on the central nervous system: electrophysiological study as a sole agent or a coadjuvant

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Verônica Vieira da Costa

    2002-06-01

    Full Text Available JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: O óxido nitroso é o agente anestésico inalatório mais utilizado em todo o mundo. Seu mecanismo de ação é bastante discutido, com base em resultados experimentais e em evidências clínicas. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar a ação eletrofisiológica deste fármaco no Sistema Nervoso Central através de monitorização específica. MÉTODO: Foram estudados vinte e cinco pacientes de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 6 e 25 anos, submetidos à cirurgia ortopédica ou plástica reparadora, os quais foram monitorizados com índice bispectral do eletroencefalograma (BIS e potencial evocado somatossensitivo (PESS durante a anestesia. Foram realizados registros basais do BIS e do PESS, bem como após o uso do óxido nitroso em fracionais alveolares (FA de 30%, 50% e 66%. Em seguida o óxido nitroso era descontinuado e administrado aleatoriamente isoflurano ou desflurano em 0,5 CAM e 1 CAM. Mantinha-se 1 CAM do determinado agente e o óxido nitroso era novamente administrado nas mesmas concentrações anteriores. RESULTADOS: O óxido nitroso quando utilizado como agente único, produz uma redução no BIS que, embora seja estatisticamente significante, não expressa um estado de hipnose. Esta redução também ocorre quando utilizado como agente coadjuvante mas sem importância clínica. Como agente único, o óxido nitroso deprimiu significantemente a amplitude das ondas cerebrais, sem promover aumento na latência. O isoflurano e desflurano reduziram a amplitude e aumentaram a latência das ondas cerebrais. A associação do óxido nitroso a estes agentes, intensificou ainda mais estes efeitos nas ondas corticais. Não houve alteração significativa das ondas periférica e medular do PESS. CONCLUSÕES: O óxido nitroso tem uma pequena ação hipnótica, que não é captada completamente pelo BIS. Tem ação acentuada nas estruturas corticais, tanto como agente único como associado ao isoflurano e desflurano, o que

  1. Optimal Sequential Resource Sharing and Exchange in Multi-Agent Systems

    OpenAIRE

    Xiao, Yuanzhang

    2014-01-01

    Central to the design of many engineering systems and social networks is to solve the underlying resource sharing and exchange problems, in which multiple decentralized agents make sequential decisions over time to optimize some long-term performance metrics. It is challenging for the decentralized agents to make optimal sequential decisions because of the complicated coupling among the agents and across time. In this dissertation, we mainly focus on three important classes of multi-agent seq...

  2. Effect of Amount of 3-Methacryloxy Propyl Thrimethoxysilane Coupling Agent and Nano Filling Structure on Physic-Mechanical Properties of Dental Resin Composite

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Farbod Tondnevis

    2017-07-01

    Full Text Available Many researchers in the field of dental polymeric base nano composite investigated the effect filling morphology and filling material content on mechanical and physical properties of construction after setting reaction. Our present study concentrated on the effect of ϒ metacryloxy propyloxt tri metoxy silane (ϒ MPS content as coupling agent (orgnic material on physical and mechanical performance of nano composite material. It was shown that despite of contraction after setting reaction, all this properties improved and efficient silanization can efficiently affect structural integrity of dental filling nano composite

  3. Second-Order Controllability of Multi-Agent Systems with Multiple Leaders

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Liu Bo; Han Xiao; Shi Yun-Tao; Su Hou-Sheng

    2016-01-01

    This paper proposes a new second-order continuous-time multi-agent model and analyzes the controllability of second-order multi-agent system with multiple leaders based on the asymmetric topology. This paper considers the more general case: velocity coupling topology is different from location coupling topology. Some sufficient and necessary conditions are presented for the controllability of the system with multiple leaders. In addition, the paper studies the controllability of the system with velocity damping gain. Simulation results are given to illustrate the correctness of theoretical results. (paper)

  4. ESTADO E NOVOS AGENTES SOCIAIS NA RECONSTRUÇÃO DO ESPAÇO

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Cláudio Barbosa da Costa

    2006-07-01

    Full Text Available Este estudo tem como objetivo principal sistematizar novas questões referentes à complexidade das ações dos agentes sociais na construção do espaço contemporâneo, e que vem interferindo, de maneira significativa, na forma como o Estado vem realizando o processo de intervenção no território. Os eixos analíticos do estudo serão constituídos pelo novo patamar de acumulação que constitui a globalização, os grandes agentes econômicos internacionais e as novas referências da chamada lógica civilizatória, na qual emergem sujeitos sociais que ao buscarem romper com idéia dominante de desenvolvimento e de crescimento, vêm construindo novas formas de lidar com a natureza, com o território e com o trabalho, estabelecendo a alteridade, a partir da luta pela sua legitimidade. A compreensão teórica dos novos movimentos sociais possibilitou um melhor entendimento do papel histórico destes agentes na construção contemporânea do espaço e das suas relações com o vetor ecológico e o desenvolvimento sustentável. Para finalizar, realizamos uma análise histórica das intervenções do Estado brasileiro na construção do território nacional, buscando identificar a complexidade dos agentes da sociedade civil, e as possibilidades e os limites da constituição de um projeto geopolítico através de um novo pacto social, que resguardando as diferenças, consideram-se as territorialidades dos setores sociais historicamente excluídos do processo de

  5. Covalent immobilization of lipase onto chitosan-mesoporous silica hybrid nanomaterials by carboxyl functionalized ionic liquids as the coupling agent.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Xiang, Xinran; Suo, Hongbo; Xu, Chao; Hu, Yi

    2018-05-01

    Chitosan-mesoporous silica SBA-15 hybrid nanomaterials (CTS-SBA-15) were synthesized by means of carboxyl functionalized ionic liquids as the coupling agent. The as-prepared CTS-SBA-15 support was characterized by TEM, FTIR, TG and nitrogen adsorption-desorption techniques. Porcine pancreas lipase (PPL) was then bound to the hybrid nanomaterials by using the cross-linking reagent glutaraldehyde (GA). Further, the parameters like cross-linking concentration, time and ratio of supports to enzyme were optimized. The property of immobilized lipase were tested in detail by enzyme activity assays. The results indicated that the hybrid nanomaterials could form three-dimensional (3D) structure with homogeneous mesoporous structures and immobilized PPL revealed excellent enzymatic performance. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. Prevalência de distúrbios psíquicos menores em agentes socioeducadores do Rio Grande do Sul

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Patrícia Bitencourt Toscani Greco

    2015-02-01

    Full Text Available Objetivo: verificar a prevalência e os fatores associados aos distúrbios psíquicos menores (DPM em agentes socioeducadores. Método: trata-se de um estudo transversal, com 381 agentes socioeducadores dos Centros de Atendimento Socioeducativo do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Utilizaram-se as versões brasileiras da Job Stress Scale e do Self Reporting Questionnaire-20. Resultados: a prevalência de suspeição para DPM foi de 50,1%. Mostraram-se associadas à DPM: ser do sexo feminino (55,7%, ter idade até 44 anos (58,5%, não realizar atividade física (57,4%, não possuir tempo para lazer (75%, fazer uso de medicação (61,4%, necessitar de atendimento médico (56,9% e de acompanhamento psicológico (72,7%, não estar satisfeito com o local de trabalho (61,7% e necessitar de afastamento do trabalho (65,6%. Conclusão: o estudo traz dados importantes sobre a saúde mental dos agentes, demonstrando a necessidade do envolvimento dos gestores e do serviço de saúde do trabalhador no planejamento de ações de promoção à saúde desses trabalhadores.

  7. TRABALHO, SOFRIMENTO E ADOECIMENTO: A REALIDADE DE AGENTES COMUNITÁRIOS DE SAÚDE NO SUL DO BRASIL

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Suzane Beatriz Frantz Krug

    Full Text Available Resumo O estudo que deu origem a este artigo teve por objetivo analisar como o agente comunitário de saúde avalia seu contexto de trabalho e os possíveis fatores que contribuem para seu sofrimento/adoecimento. Tratou-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo, de abordagem quantitativo-qualitativa, com agentes de saúde de 13 municípios da região central do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, no ano de 2014. Utilizaram-se para a coleta de dados um questionário sociodemográfico, o ‘Inventário de trabalho e risco de adoecimento’ e entrevista. Os dados foram examinados por meio da análise de conteúdo. As situações de sofrimento relacionaram-se ao não reconhecimento profissional, ritmos excessivos, sobrecarga de trabalho, conflitos com a comunidade, não resolutividade das ações, indisponibilidade de materiais e insumos somados à localização geográfica da unidade de saúde e das residências dos usuários, tipo de estratégia e gestão da saúde. Concluiu-se que o contexto de trabalho do agente de saúde pode resultar em sofrimento/adoecimento desses trabalhadores.

  8. Pinning synchronization of a mobile agent network

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Wang, Lei; Sun, You-xian

    2009-01-01

    We investigate the problem of controlling a group of mobile agents in a plane in order to move them towards a desired orbit via pinning control, in which each agent is associated with a chaotic oscillator coupled with those of neighboring agents, and the pinning strategy is to have the common linear feedback acting on a small fraction of agents by random selection. We explore the effects of the pinning probability, feedback gains and agent density in the pinning synchronization of a mobile agent network under a fast-switching constraint, and perform numerical simulations for validation. In particular, we show that there exists a critical pinning density for network synchronization with an unbounded region: above the threshold, the dynamical network can be controlled by pinning; below it, anarchy prevails. And for the network with a single bounded synchronization region, pinning control has little effect as regards enhancing network synchronizability

  9. The Optimal Income Taxation of Couples

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Kleven, Henrik Jacobsen; Kreiner, Claus Thustrup; Satz, Emmanuel

    This paper analyzes the optimal income tax treatment of couples. Each couple is modelled as a single rational economic agent supplying labor along two dimensions: primary and secondary earnings. We consider fully general joint income tax systems. Separate taxation is never optimal if social welfare...... that many actual redistribution systems, featuring family-based transfers combined with individually-based taxes, generate schedules with negative jointness...

  10. Study on the uptake and distribution of gadolinium based contrast agents in biological samples using laser ablation with inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Lingott, Jana

    2016-01-01

    Gadolinium based contrast agents are used for magnetic resonance imaging. After their excretion by medicated patients they reach surface water passing waste water treatment plants where they are not removed sufficiently. The behavior of the contrast agents in the environment and the interaction with organisms was investigated in this work due to the toxicity of the free Gd 3+ ion and the associated risks, such as accumulation in the human food chain. In this work, the two elemental analytical imaging methods laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence analysis (SRXRF) have been used to investigate the uptake, distribution, and excretion of Gd-based contrast agents by various biological systems. Both methods were analytically characterized and compared for this application. The detection limits of gadolinium were determined under optimized conditions by LA-ICP-MS and SRXRF. With calibration by remains of dried elemental standard droplets detection limits of 0.78 pg absolute amount of gadolinium (LA-ICP-MS), respectively 89 pg (SRXRF) were reached. Based on filamentous algae as water plants the uptake and the excretion of Gd-based contrast agents were revealed. The dependence on concentration of the contrast agent in the exposition solution and the independence of temporal uptake within one to seven days were studied for duckweed. By LA-ICP-MS gadolinium was quantified in a leaf of cress plant. The verification of the results was performed by SRXRF and ICP-MS after digestion. Furthermore, the uptake and distribution of Gd-based contrast agents in higher organisms (water flea) were observed. The exact location of gadolinium was resolved by three-dimensional μ-computed tomography by the comparison of an exposed with a Gd-free water flea. In all studies, gadolinium was detected in the investigated exposed model organisms. It can be concluded that the contrast agents were taken from the environment.

  11. Trabalho em saúde: retrato dos agentes comunitários de saúde da região Nordeste do Brasil

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Paloma Ribeiro Pires Simas

    Full Text Available Resumo O objetivo deste estudo consistiu em caracterizar o perfil e os aspectos relacionados à gestão do trabalho dos agentes comunitários de saúde na Região Nordeste do Brasil. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, que contemplou 535 agentes comunitários distribuídos em 107 unidades básicas de saúde da Região Nordeste do Brasil. Os dados foram extraídos de oito blocos de questões referentes à Percepção dos Agentes Comunitários de Saúde sobre aspectos: sociodemográficos, econômico e político; mecanismos de contratação e remuneração; valorização do trabalhador, condições de trabalho e processos de formação dos agentes. Os resultados apontam que a proporção de agentes comunitários contratados pela administração direta na Região Nordeste é predominante. A forma de inserção dos agentes comunitários nos serviços de saúde se deu por concurso seguido de seleção pública. A administração direta é a principal forma de contratação, no entanto, novas modalidades, como as fundações de direito público e privado, organizações sociais e consórcios intermunicipais, constituem alternativas adotadas pelos gestores, produzindo um conjunto de fragilidades provocadas pela flexibilização das relações de trabalho.

  12. Coupling Agent-Based and Groundwater Modeling to Explore Demand Management Strategies for Shared Resources

    Science.gov (United States)

    Al-Amin, S.

    2015-12-01

    Municipal water demands in growing population centers in the arid southwest US are typically met through increased groundwater withdrawals. Hydro-climatic uncertainties attributed to climate change and land use conversions may also alter demands and impact the replenishment of groundwater supply. Groundwater aquifers are not necessarily confined within municipal and management boundaries, and multiple diverse agencies may manage a shared resource in a decentralized approach, based on individual concerns and resources. The interactions among water managers, consumers, and the environment influence the performance of local management strategies and regional groundwater resources. This research couples an agent-based modeling (ABM) framework and a groundwater model to analyze the effects of different management approaches on shared groundwater resources. The ABM captures the dynamic interactions between household-level consumers and policy makers to simulate water demands under climate change and population growth uncertainties. The groundwater model is used to analyze the relative effects of management approaches on reducing demands and replenishing groundwater resources. The framework is applied for municipalities located in the Verde River Basin, Arizona that withdraw groundwater from the Verde Formation-Basin Fill-Carbonate aquifer system. Insights gained through this simulation study can be used to guide groundwater policy-making under changing hydro-climatic scenarios for a long-term planning horizon.

  13. Estudos de atmosfera

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Carlos Eduardo Riccioppo

    2016-11-01

    Full Text Available Joker e Estudos de balística possuíam formas distintas dos cadernos ou livros quando foram exibidos pela primeira vez, na mostra Dual Overdrive. De algum modo, o flagrante das imagens dos cartazes da campanha política parisiense e daquelas cusparadas sobre o asfalto era preservado no modo como eram mostrados os trabalhos, que repunham não apenas a orientação espacial dos objetos fotografados, mas, igualmente, sua escala: Joker apresentava-se na parede, em dimensões relativamente próximas às dos cartazes lambe-lambe que retratavam; e Estudos de balística, no chão da galeria, também com ampliação suficiente para que se tivesse a impressão de que se tratava de imagens “em tamanho real”.

  14. ESTUDOS ESTILÍSTICOS NO BRASIL

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Carlos Eduardo Falcão Uchôa

    2013-06-01

    Full Text Available Este artigo objetiva mostrar os inícios e a progressão dos estudos estilísticos no Brasil. Após uma introdução sobre o surgimento, na Europa, da Estilística como disciplina de pesquisa no campo da linguagem, detém-se, sucessivamente, nas contribuições de filólogos, linguistas, teóricos da literatura e gramáticos para o estudo dos mais variados recursos estilísticos ocorrentes sobretudo em autores brasileiros.

  15. Plan Validation Using DES and Agent-based Simulation

    National Research Council Canada - National Science Library

    Wong, Teck H; Ong, Kim S

    2008-01-01

    .... This thesis explores the possibility of using a multi-agent system (MAS) to generate the aggressor's air strike plans, which could be coupled with a low resolution Discrete Event Simulation (DES...

  16. O desamparo aprendido revisitado: estudos com animais

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Maria Helena Leite Hunziker

    Full Text Available O desamparo aprendido tem sido definido como a dificuldade de aprendizagem apresentada por indivíduos que tiveram experiência prévia com estímulos aversivos incontroláveis. O objetivo deste trabalho é fazer uma revisão crítica dos estudos sobre o desamparo aprendido, com animais. Nessa análise, são considerados aspectos conceituais e metodológicos dos estudos em questão e as interpretações teóricas sobre esse efeito comportamental. Aborda-se a evolução histórica desses estudos, bem como alguns aspectos controversos das publicações que se acumularam ao longo de quatro décadas de pesquisa. A associação do desamparo aprendido com a depressão clínica é analisada criticamente, destacando-se a necessidade de maior rigor metodológico e conceitual nos estudos da área.

  17. Spatial agent-based models for socio-ecological systems: challenges and prospects

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    de Filatova, T.; Verburg, P.H.; Parker, D.C.; Stannard, S.R.

    2013-01-01

    Departing from the comprehensive reviews carried out in the field, we identify the key challenges that agent-based methodology faces when modeling coupled socio-ecological systems. Focusing primarily on the papers presented in this thematic issue, we review progress in spatial agent-based models

  18. Comparative study of the action of two different types of bleaching agents activated by two different types of irradiation fonts: xenon plasma arc lamp and 960 nm diode laser; Avaliacao da cor e estudo comparativo da acao de dois tipos diferentes de agentes clareadores ativados pelo laser de diodo e lampada xenonio plasmatica, na superficie do esmalte

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Walverde, Debora Ayala

    2001-07-01

    This in vitro study compares two different types of tooth bleaching agents stimulated with two different irradiation fonts. These fonts accelerate the action of the bleaching agents upon the enamel surface by heating up the materials. We used the xenon plasma arc lamp and a 960 nm fiber-coupled diode laser to irradiate the two materials containing 35% of hydrogen peroxide (Opus White and Opalescence extra). The color of the teeth was measured with a spectrophotometer using the CIELAB color system that gives the numeric values of L{sup *}a{sup *}b{sup *}. (author)

  19. Photoluminescence investigation of ZnO quantum dots surface modified with silane coupling agent as a capping agent

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Moghaddam, E., E-mail: e.moghaddam@merc.ac.ir; Youzbashi, A.A; Kazemzadeh, A.; Eshraghi, M.J.

    2015-12-15

    This report presents the luminescence measurement results of surface modified zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnO QDs) performed with different concentrations of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) as a capping agent. Surface modification was performed by an in situ procedure on the surface of ZnO QDs in a sol gel solution route. The modified samples were characterized by various analytical techniques such as XRD, TEM, FT-IR, and UV–vis spectroscopy. Surface modification efficiency was experimentally investigated by variation of the photoluminescence) PL (emission intensities observed by changing the capping agent concentration. In order to investigate the effectiveness of the capping agent on the stability of the QDs, The PL spectra of the surface modified ZnO QDs were compared with that of unmodified ZnO QDs. Molecular layer of this type and similar silane based molecules with a variety of surface terminations that have the same molecular attachment schemes should enable interface engineering in optimizing the chemical selectivity of ZnO biosensors or electrical and optical properties of ZnO-polymer hybrid films. - Highlights: • Surface modification of ZnO QDs resulted in the small- size QDs (around 2 nm). • Surface modification resulted in the enhancement of the UV emission upon quenching the visible emission. • Surface modification efficiency was decreased with reduction of the QD size • Intensified stability of the surface modified ZnO QDs was obtained from surface modification.

  20. Separation and analysis of lanthanides by isotachophoresis coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Vio, Laurent; Cretier, Gerard; Rocca, Jean-Louis; Chartier, Frederic; Geertsen, Valerie; Gourgiotis, Alkiviadis; Isnard, Helene

    2012-01-01

    This study is a large project initiated by the French Nuclear Agency, and concerns the development of a new electrolyte system for the separation of lanthanides by isotachophoresis. This new system is based on a leading electrolyte that incorporates 2-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid as complexing agent. The optimization of separation conditions (complexing agent concentration, pH, capillary dimensions, injection conditions, and current intensity) performed by experiments on a commercial capillary instrument with contactless conductivity detection, which allows to improve the separation of 13 lanthanides (La to Lu, except Pm and Ho). We have also directly coupled the isotachophoresis to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer to visualize the mono-elementary elution bands and demonstrate the potentiality of the method for isotope ratio measurements. The application to a simulated solution representative of a fraction of fission products present in a MOX spent fuel is presented in this paper to demonstrate the possible application in future on nuclear fuel samples. (authors)

  1. A influencia dos agentes sociais nos interesses fisico-esportivos do lazer

    OpenAIRE

    Olivia Ferreira Ribeiro

    1997-01-01

    Resumo: Este estudo buscou relaciona o processo de socialização aprendizagem dos valores culturais de uma sociedade com os hábitos de lazer dentro dos interesses físico-esportivos (Dumazedier, 1980). È reconhecido que os agentes socializadores, ou seja, os elementos ativos que participam do processo de socialização, têm grande influência no comportamento no lazer. Baseando-se no referencial teórico da Psicologia Social do Lazer (Isso-Ahola 1980), esta pesquisa teve como objetivo verificar c...

  2. Combining human and machine intelligence to derive agents' behavioral rules for groundwater irrigation

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hu, Yao; Quinn, Christopher J.; Cai, Ximing; Garfinkle, Noah W.

    2017-11-01

    For agent-based modeling, the major challenges in deriving agents' behavioral rules arise from agents' bounded rationality and data scarcity. This study proposes a "gray box" approach to address the challenge by incorporating expert domain knowledge (i.e., human intelligence) with machine learning techniques (i.e., machine intelligence). Specifically, we propose using directed information graph (DIG), boosted regression trees (BRT), and domain knowledge to infer causal factors and identify behavioral rules from data. A case study is conducted to investigate farmers' pumping behavior in the Midwest, U.S.A. Results show that four factors identified by the DIG algorithm- corn price, underlying groundwater level, monthly mean temperature and precipitation- have main causal influences on agents' decisions on monthly groundwater irrigation depth. The agent-based model is then developed based on the behavioral rules represented by three DIGs and modeled by BRTs, and coupled with a physically-based groundwater model to investigate the impacts of agents' pumping behavior on the underlying groundwater system in the context of coupled human and environmental systems.

  3. Synthesis of (+)-Antroquinonol: An Antihyperglycemic Agent.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Sulake, Rohidas S; Lin, Hsiao-Han; Hsu, Chia-Yu; Weng, Ching-Feng; Chen, Chinpiao

    2015-06-19

    The total synthesis of antroquinonol has been accomplished through Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling and Barton-McCombie reaction, and the α,β-unsaturation was achieved through selenylation and oxidation protocols. In vitro and in vivo studies on the glucose-lowering properties of antroquinonol indicate that it is a potential antidiabetic agent.

  4. Integration agent-based models and GIS as a virtual urban dynamic laboratory

    Science.gov (United States)

    Chen, Peng; Liu, Miaolong

    2007-06-01

    Based on the Agent-based Model and spatial data model, a tight-coupling integrating method of GIS and Agent-based Model (ABM) is to be discussed in this paper. The use of object-orientation for both spatial data and spatial process models facilitates their integration, which can allow exploration and explanation of spatial-temporal phenomena such as urban dynamic. In order to better understand how tight coupling might proceed and to evaluate the possible functional and efficiency gains from such a tight coupling, the agent-based model and spatial data model are discussed, and then the relationships affecting spatial data model and agent-based process models interaction. After that, a realistic crowd flow simulation experiment is presented. Using some tools provided by general GIS systems and a few specific programming languages, a new software system integrating GIS and MAS as a virtual laboratory applicable for simulating pedestrian flows in a crowd activity centre has been developed successfully. Under the environment supported by the software system, as an applicable case, a dynamic evolution process of the pedestrian's flows (dispersed process for the spectators) in a crowds' activity center - The Shanghai Stadium has been simulated successfully. At the end of the paper, some new research problems have been pointed out for the future.

  5. An investigation of sodium–CO{sub 2} interaction byproduct cleaning agent for SFR coupled with S-CO{sub 2} Brayton cycle

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Jung, Hwa-Young, E-mail: jhy0523@kaist.ac.kr [Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 373-1 Guseong-dong Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701 (Korea, Republic of); Division of SFR NSSS System Design, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 111, Daedeok-daero 989beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-353 (Korea, Republic of); Lee, Jeong Ik, E-mail: jeongiklee@kaist.ac.kr [Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 373-1 Guseong-dong Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701 (Korea, Republic of); Wi, Myung-Hwan, E-mail: mhwi@kaeri.re.kr [Division of SFR NSSS System Design, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 111, Daedeok-daero 989beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-353 (Korea, Republic of); Ahn, Hong Joo, E-mail: ahjoo@kaeri.re.kr [Division of Nuclear Chemistry Research, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 111, Daedeok-daero 989beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-353 (Korea, Republic of)

    2016-02-15

    Highlights: • Study on cleaning agent was conducted to remove Na–CO{sub 2} interaction byproducts. • Screening criteria to select candidate substances as cleaning agents were suggested. • The mixtures of Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3} with NaBrO{sub 3}, NaClO{sub 3}, or NaBF{sub 4} were thermally analyzed with the TG/DTA studies. • Three candidate substances decomposed before 600 °C and did not react with Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3}. - Abstract: One of the promising future nuclear energy systems, the Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) has been actively developed internationally. Recently, to improve safety and economics of a SFR further, coupling supercritical CO{sub 2} power cycle was suggested. However, there can be a chemical reaction between sodium and CO{sub 2} at high temperature (more than 400 °C) when the pressure boundary fails in a sodium–CO{sub 2} heat exchanger. To ensure the performance of such a system, it is important to employ a cleaning agent to recover the system back to normal condition after the reaction. When sodium and CO{sub 2} react, solid and gaseous reaction products such as sodium carbonate (Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3}) and carbon monoxide (CO) appear. Since most of solid reaction products are hard and can deteriorate system performance, quick removal of solid reaction products becomes very important for economic performance of the system. Thus, the authors propose the conceptual method to remove the byproducts with a chemical reaction at high temperature. The chemical reaction will take place between the reaction byproducts and a cleaning agent while the cleaning agent is inert with sodium. Thus, various sodium-based compounds were first investigated and three candidate substances satisfying several criteria were selected; sodium bromate (NaBrO{sub 3}), sodium chlorate (NaClO{sub 3}), and sodium tetrafluoroborate (NaBF{sub 4}). The selected substances were thermally analyzed with the TG/DTA studies. Unfortunately, it was revealed that all candidate

  6. Agentes estressores no trabalho e sugestões para amenizá-los: opiniões de enfermeiros de pós-graduação Stressors agents in workplace and sugestions to soften its: opinions of the post graduation's nurses

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Luciana Monteiro Mendes Martins

    2000-03-01

    Full Text Available A sobrecarga de trabalho, relacionamento e comunicação, características da Instituição e poluição ambiental foram os agentes estressores organizacionais mais citados neste estudo composto por 30 enfermeiras, sendo que a melhoria no planejamento do trabalho, o aspecto de humanização, adequação dos recursos humanos, melhora na comunicação e educação continuada, dentre outras, foram as sugestões identificadas para melhorar estes agentes estressores. Como agentes estressores extra organizacionais, os mais citados foram problemas econômicos e familiares e distância do trabalho / transporte.The work overload, relationship and comunication problems, institution's characteristics and ambiental pollution were the stressing organization agents with the greatest pontuation in this study composed by 30 nurses. The work planning, work humanization, suitable human resourses, improving comunication and continued education were the suggestions given by nurses to minimize these stressing organizational agents. Analysing the stressing extra organizational agents, economic and familiar problems, work distance and transportation to work , were the most pointed.

  7. Comunicação Integrada de Marketing em Eventos Turísticos: Um Estudo da Oktoberfest de Blumenau-SC

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Fabrícia Durieux Zucco

    2010-12-01

    Full Text Available Para promover um destino turístico com sucesso é fundamental desenvolver canais de comunicação com os potenciais visitantes, assim como, agentes turísticos e outras partes interessadas. O presente estudo busca aprofundar tal discussão e, tem o objetivo de analisar o processo de planejamento e implantação da comunicação integrada de marketing (CIM na Oktoberfest de Blumenau/SC, consagrada como a segunda maior festa alemã do mundo. Utilizou-se o método de estudo de caso com observação das instalações da festa e foram entrevistados profissionais diretamente envolvidos no processo de gestão da CIM, inclusive o presidente do Parque Germânica, autarquia responsável pela organização do evento. As atividades relacionadas à CIM demonstram adequação às necessidades de manter o fluxo crescente de visitantes. DOI: 10.5585/remark.v9i3.2175

  8. Surface modification of silicon carbide with silane coupling agent and hexadecyl iodiele

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Shang, Xujing, E-mail: shangxujing@tju.edu.cn; Zhu, Yumei, E-mail: zymtju@163.com; Li, Zhihong, E-mail: lzhtju@163.com

    2017-02-01

    Highlights: • A novel universal method was performed to enhance hydrophobicity of SiC powder. • The modification effects of KH550 and KH590 were compared and the optimum reaction parameters were established. • Hexadecyl iodiele was successfully grafted on the surface of SiC-KH590 powder. • Surface changes on SiC powder before and after modification were analyzed via FTIR, XPS, SEM. • The related reaction mechanisms were discussed. - Abstract: In this paper, two kinds of silane coupling agents, namely 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (KH550) and 3-mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane (KH590), were adopted as preliminary modifiers to improve the hydrophobic surface properties of silicon carbide (SiC) powder for the first step. The factors that influence the modification effects were investigated by measuring the contact angle. The results showed that KH590 has a better effect than KH550 for the hydrophobic modification of SiC, and the contact angle improved most after SiC powder was reacted with 0.3 g KH590 at 75 °C in aqueous/alcohol solution for 4 h. On account of further enhancement of hydrophobicity, the study was focused on utilizing nucleophilic substitution between KH590 and hexadecyl iodiele to extend the length of alkyl chain. Compared with using KH590 alone, SiC powder modified by KH590 and hexadecyl iodiele showed better water resistance with an increase of contact angle from 106.8° to 127.5°. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis results showed that KH550/KH590 and hexadecyl iodiele can be covalently bonded to the surface of SiC powder without altering its crystal configuration. This methodology may provide a new way of the modification of inorganic materials in further.

  9. Increasing gap junctional coupling: a tool for dissecting the role of gap junctions

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Axelsen, Lene Nygaard; Haugan, Ketil; Stahlhut, Martin

    2007-01-01

    Much of our current knowledge about the physiological and pathophysiological role of gap junctions is based on experiments where coupling has been reduced by either chemical agents or genetic modification. This has brought evidence that gap junctions are important in many physiological processes....... In a number of cases, gap junctions have been implicated in the initiation and progress of disease, and experimental uncoupling has been used to investigate the exact role of coupling. The inverse approach, i.e., to increase coupling, has become possible in recent years and represents a new way of testing...... the role of gap junctions. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge obtained with agents that selectively increase gap junctional intercellular coupling. Two approaches will be reviewed: increasing coupling by the use of antiarrhythmic peptide and its synthetic analogs...

  10. Extended Neural Metastability in an Embodied Model of Sensorimotor Coupling

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Miguel Aguilera

    2016-09-01

    Full Text Available The hypothesis that brain organization is based on mechanisms of metastable synchronization in neural assemblies has been popularized during the last decades of neuroscientific research. Nevertheless, the role of body and environment for understanding the functioning of metastable assemblies is frequently dismissed. The main goal of this paper is to investigate the contribution of sensorimotor coupling to neural and behavioural metastability using a minimal computational model of plastic neural ensembles embedded in a robotic agent in a behavioural preference task. Our hypothesis is that, under some conditions, the metastability of the system is not restricted to the brain but extends to the system composed by the interaction of brain, body and environment. We test this idea, comparing an agent in continuous interaction with its environment in a task demanding behavioural flexibility with an equivalent model from the point of view of 'internalist neuroscience'. A statistical characterization of our model and tools from information theory allows us to show how (1 the bidirectional coupling between agent and environment brings the system closer to a regime of criticality and triggers the emergence of additional metastable states which are not found in the brain in isolation but extended to the whole system of sensorimotor interaction, (2 the synaptic plasticity of the agent is fundamental to sustain open structures in the neural controller of the agent flexibly engaging and disengaging different behavioural patterns that sustain sensorimotor metastable states, and (3 these extended metastable states emerge when the agent generates an asymmetrical circular loop of causal interaction with its environment, in which the agent responds to variability of the environment at fast timescales while acting over the environment at slow timescales, suggesting the constitution of the agent as an autonomous entity actively modulating its sensorimotor coupling

  11. Extended Neural Metastability in an Embodied Model of Sensorimotor Coupling.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Aguilera, Miguel; Bedia, Manuel G; Barandiaran, Xabier E

    2016-01-01

    The hypothesis that brain organization is based on mechanisms of metastable synchronization in neural assemblies has been popularized during the last decades of neuroscientific research. Nevertheless, the role of body and environment for understanding the functioning of metastable assemblies is frequently dismissed. The main goal of this paper is to investigate the contribution of sensorimotor coupling to neural and behavioral metastability using a minimal computational model of plastic neural ensembles embedded in a robotic agent in a behavioral preference task. Our hypothesis is that, under some conditions, the metastability of the system is not restricted to the brain but extends to the system composed by the interaction of brain, body and environment. We test this idea, comparing an agent in continuous interaction with its environment in a task demanding behavioral flexibility with an equivalent model from the point of view of "internalist neuroscience." A statistical characterization of our model and tools from information theory allow us to show how (1) the bidirectional coupling between agent and environment brings the system closer to a regime of criticality and triggers the emergence of additional metastable states which are not found in the brain in isolation but extended to the whole system of sensorimotor interaction, (2) the synaptic plasticity of the agent is fundamental to sustain open structures in the neural controller of the agent flexibly engaging and disengaging different behavioral patterns that sustain sensorimotor metastable states, and (3) these extended metastable states emerge when the agent generates an asymmetrical circular loop of causal interaction with its environment, in which the agent responds to variability of the environment at fast timescales while acting over the environment at slow timescales, suggesting the constitution of the agent as an autonomous entity actively modulating its sensorimotor coupling with the world. We

  12. How initial representations shape coupled learning processes

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Puranam, Phanish; Swamy, M.

    2016-01-01

    Coupled learning processes, in which specialists from different domains learn how to make interdependent choices among alternatives, are common in organizations. We explore the role played by initial representations held by the learners in coupled learning processes using a formal agent-based model....... We find that initial representations have important consequences for the success of the coupled learning process, particularly when communication is constrained and individual rates of learning are high. Under these conditions, initial representations that generate incorrect beliefs can outperform...... one that does not discriminate among alternatives, or even a mix of correct and incorrect representations among the learners. We draw implications for the design of coupled learning processes in organizations. © 2016 INFORMS....

  13. Conhecimentos dos agentes de endemias: aplicação de bases teóricas sobre saneamento e ambiente / Knowledge agents endemic: applying theoretical bases on sanitation and the environment

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Leide Suzana Maia

    2013-08-01

    Full Text Available Este estudo buscou identifi car o conhecimento dos agentes de controle de endemias sobre saneamento básico e meio ambiente no município de Natal, capital do Rio Grande do Norte, em 2012. Trata-se de um estudo exploratório de abordagem quantitativa, realizado com 209 agentes do Programa Municipal de Controle da Dengue. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionários e tabulados no programa Statistical Package for Social Sciences, com análise univariada de frequência, média e desvio padrão. Os resultados apontam que cerca de 50,0% dos agentes são constituídos por mulheres, 93,3% dos quais têm conhecimento a respeito de fornecimento de água potável, implantação de rede coletora de esgoto e drenagem, e coleta de lixo. Boa parte apresenta conhecimento adequado sobre o destino final de resíduos (74,1% e 95,2% afirmam que as ações de saneamento básico contribuem para a prevenção de doenças. Ressalta-se que 86,1% referiram adotar medidas contributivas para a preservação ambiental. A maioria dos agentes de controle de endemias (74,0% apresentou um grau de conhecimento entre bom e ótimo. -------------------------------------------------------------------- This study sought to identify the knowledge of the endemic control agents, about sanitation and environment in the city of Natal, capital of Rio Grande do Norte in 2012. This is an exploratory, descriptive and quantitative approach performed with 209 agents from the Municipal Program for Dengue Control. The data collection was conducted through a questionnaires, and tabulated in program Statistical Package for Social Sciences, with univariate analyze of frequency, average and standard deviation. The results show that 50,0% of agents are made up of women, and 93.3% of these have knowledge regarding the drinking water supply, installation of sanitary sewer and drainage, and garbage collection. Much has adequate knowledge about the disposal of waste (74.1%, and 95.2% said that

  14. O turismo como agente indutor da preservação do patrimônio ambiental urbano: uma discussão contemporânea

    OpenAIRE

    Costa, Sarany Rodrigues da; Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA; Silva, Welyza Carla da Anunciação; Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA; Carvalho, Conceição de Maria Belfort de; Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA

    2015-01-01

    O turismo como agente indutor da preservação do patrimônio ambiental urbano propõe uma discussão contemporânea acerca das possibilidades de intervenção do turismo nas questões preservacionistas. Tendo o objetivo de abordar o conceito de patrimônio ambiental urbano no contexto da contemporaneidade, e de relacioná-lo com as ações de preservação despertadas pelo turismo, realizou-se um estudo bibliográfico de caráter descritivo. O estudo expõe as contribuições da atividade turística para a manut...

  15. Uma ferramenta para planejamento de estudos para concursos

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Leonardo Pimentel

    2015-11-01

    Full Text Available De acordo com a constituição brasileira, a única forma de se tornar um empregado do governo é passar em um concurso público. O exame de conhecimento do cargo é um dos componentes mais importantes de um concurso. Estudar para esse exame é uma tarefa que requer planejamento. Um meio de obter um bom planejamento é construir uma grade de horários que relacione as matérias a serem estudadas com os respectivos horários disponíveis para o estudo. Esse tipo de problema se assemelha bastante à gerência de projetos, em que se procura estabelecer a distribuição das atividades ao longo do tempo disponível. Assim, torna-se interessante explorar a dinâmica de estudos para concursos como um projeto. O presente trabalho apresenta a ferramenta de apoio ao estudos - Passe-me, baseada no ciclo PDCA (do inglês, Plan-Do-Check-Act. Por se tratar de uma ferramenta web, o tempo de resposta para produzir uma grade de estudos é fundamental. A ferramenta faz uso de algoritmo genético para calcular a grade de horários priorizando a velocidade de resposta. A ferramenta foi avaliada em diferentes cenários de uso e obteve desempenho satisfatório durante a produção da grade de estudos.

  16. Debates críticos: os Estudos de Segurança e o futuro dos Estudos da Paz e dos Conflitos 10.5102/uri.v11i2.2526

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    André Barrinha

    2013-11-01

    Full Text Available Irremediavelmente ligados pela proximidade dos respetivos objetos de estudo, Estudos de Segurança e Estudos da Paz e dos Conflitos constituíram-se e evoluíram ao longo da Guerra Fria como disciplinas antagónicas. Essa divisão operou-se sobretudo na Europa, onde Galtung e seus discípulos encaminharam o estudo das questões da guerra e da paz para uma agenda claramente normativa e crítica, enquanto o estudo das questões de segurança se centrava numa abordagem orientada para o policy-making. Como é defendido neste artigo, o final do conflito bipolar correspondeu, até certo ponto, a uma inversão de papéis, com os Estudos da Paz e dos Conflitos acomodados a um empirismo desprovido de normatividade e os Estudos de Segurança, pelo menos na Europa, a abrirem-se a novas abordagens de cariz mais crítico. É aqui sugerido que esta inversão contém, em si, importantes lições para os Estudos da Paz e da Segurança, nomeadamente sobre a centralidade da teoria na definição de uma nova agenda crítica que permita uma aproximação entre as duas disciplinas.

  17. Emprego de agentes retardadores em substituição aos desmoldantes convencionais na moldagem de concreto para recebimento do revestimento de argamassas.

    OpenAIRE

    Mirella Pennacchi Assali

    2012-01-01

    As estruturas de concreto são moldadas em formas tratadas com desmoldantes e sua presença dificulta a adesão da argamassa fresca, com posterior descolamento no estado endurecido. Este estudo tem por objetivo explorar o potencial de uso de agentes retardadores em substituição aos desmoldantes convencionais na moldagem de concreto para obtenção de superfícies com maior capacidade de ancoragem das argamassas. A viabilidade do uso de agentes retardadores foi verificada determinando-se de modo com...

  18. O TRABALHO EDUCATIVO DO AGENTE COMUNITÁRIO DE SAÚDE NAS VISITAS DOMICILIARES EM DOIS MUNICÍPIOS DO BRASIL

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Dixis Figueroa Pedraza

    Full Text Available Resumo O estudo objetivou descrever e analisar possíveis diferenças nas atividades de educação em saúde realizadas por agentes comunitários de saúde durante a visita domiciliar. Foram analisados os dados de dois estudos transversais no contexto das Unidades Básicas de Saúde da Família dos municípios de Campina Grande (2010 e Queimadas (2011, no estado da Paraíba, Brasil. Em Campina Grande, foram elegíveis mulheres com crianças menores de um ano, selecionadas por sorteio sistemático, de 30% das unidades de saúde (n= 508. Em Queimadas, foram elegíveis todas as mulheres com crianças nascidas durante o ano de 2009, residentes no município e atendidas em todas as 16 unidades de saúde (n= 204. As mães foram questionadas sobre as atividades educativas desenvolvidas pelos agentes durante as visitas domiciliares. Uma maior proporção de mulheres indicou não receber visitas domiciliares no município de Campina Grande, foram encontradas deficiências relacionadas a orientações sobre o cuidado com a saúde da criança nos dois municípios e maior frequência de atividades educativas entre os agentes de Queimadas. As diferenças relativas ao trabalho dos agentes comunitários de saúde podem envolver fatores como desvalorização profissional e precárias condições de trabalho. Destaca-se a importância da capacitação e preparação dos enfermeiros para a supervisão do trabalho dos agentes.

  19. Tissue gadolinium deposition in renally impaired rats exposed to different gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents: evaluation with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

    Science.gov (United States)

    Sato, Tomohiro; Ito, Katsuyoshi; Tamada, Tsutomu; Kanki, Akihiko; Watanabe, Shigeru; Nishimura, Hirotake; Tanimoto, Daigo; Higashi, Hiroki; Yamamoto, Akira

    2013-10-01

    To quantify tissue gadolinium (Gd) deposition in renally impaired rats exposed to Gd-EOB-DTPA and other Gd-based MRI contrast agents by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and to compare the differences in distribution among major organs as possible triggers for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). A total of 15 renally impaired rats were injected with Gd-EOB-DTPA, Gd-DTPA-BMA and Gd-HP-DO3A. Gd contents of skin, liver, kidney, lung, heart, spleen, diaphragm and femoral muscle were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Histological assessment was also conducted. Tissue Gd deposition in all organs was significantly higher (P=0.005~0.009) in the Gd-DTPA-BMA group than in the Gd-HP-DO3A and Gd-EOB-DTPA groups. In the Gd-DTPA-BMA group, Gd was predominantly deposited in kidney (1306±605.7μg/g), followed by skin, liver, lung, spleen, femoral muscle, diaphragm and heart. Comparing Gd-HP-DO3A and Gd-EOB-DTPA groups, Gd depositions in the kidney, liver and lung were significantly lower (P=0.009~0.011) in the Gd-EOB-DTPA group than in the Gd-HP-DO3A group although no significant differences were seen for any other organs. Gd-EOB-DTPA is a stable and safe Gd-based contrast agent (GBCA) showing lower Gd deposition in major organs in renally impaired rats, compared with other GBCAs. This fact suggests that the risk of NSF onset would be low in the use of Gd-EOB-DTPA. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  20. Observation and inverse problems in coupled cell networks

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Joly, Romain

    2012-01-01

    A coupled cell network is a model for many situations such as food webs in ecosystems, cellular metabolism and economic networks. It consists in a directed graph G, each node (or cell) representing an agent of the network and each directed arrow representing which agent acts on which. It yields a system of differential equations .x(t)=f(x(t)), where the component i of f depends only on the cells x j (t) for which the arrow j → i exists in G. In this paper, we investigate the observation problems in coupled cell networks: can one deduce the behaviour of the whole network (oscillations, stabilization, etc) by observing only one of the cells? We show that the natural observation properties hold for almost all the interactions f

  1. Pensamento, Teoria e Estudos Latino-americanos

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Jacques de Novion

    2014-12-01

    Full Text Available RESUMO O presente trabalho configura como artigo inicial do Dossiê Especial – Pensamento, Teoria e Estudos Latino-americanos, organizado conjuntamente por nós, a pedido da Revista de Estudos e Pesquisas sobre as Américas (CEPPAC, do Instituto de Ciências Sociais (ICS, da Universidade de Brasília (UnB. De forma breve, este artigo apresenta a importância alcançada pelo Pensamento, pela Teoria, e, sobre tudo, pelos Estudos Latino-americanos nas últimas décadas. Em seguida, o artigo apresenta os quatorze trabalhos e uma resenha que compõem este Dossiê, resultado da contribuição de diferentes pesquisadores de distintas localidades da região, organizados em três blocos: Ciências Sociais Latino-americanas, Pensamento e Estudos. PALAVRAS CHAVE: Ciências Sociais Latino-americanas; Pensamento Latino-americanos; Teoria Latino-americana; Estudos Latino-americanos. --- RESUMEN El presente trabajo configura como articulo inicial del Dossier Especial – Pensamiento Teoría y Estudios Latinoamericanos, organizado conjuntamente por nosotros, a pedido de la Revista de Estudos e Pesquisas sobre as Américas (CEPPAC, del Instituto de Ciências Sociais (ICS, de la Universidade de Brasília (UnB. De forma breve, este articulo presenta la importancia alcanzada por el Pensamiento, por la Teoría, y, sobre todo, por los Estudios Latinoamericanos en las últimas décadas. En seguida, el articulo presenta los catorce trabajos e una reseña que componen este Dossier, resultado de la contribución de diferentes investigadores de distintas localidades de la región, organizados en tres bloques: Ciencias Sociales Latinoamericanas, Pensamiento y Estudios. PALABRAS CLAVE: Ciencias Sociales Latinoamericanas; Pensamiento Latinoamericano; Teoría Latinoamericana; Estudios Latinoamericanos. --- ABSTRACT This paper is set up as the initial article of this Special Dossier - Thought, Theory and Latin American Studies, which we organized collectively, at the request

  2. Desafios dos Estudos Gays, Lésbicos e Transgêneros

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Denilson Lopes

    2008-09-01

    Full Text Available Resumo: Este ensaio introduz algumas questões relativas aos estudos feministas, gays, lésbicos, transgênecos e teoria queer na busca de contribuições teórico-metodológicas na análise da cultura contemporânea. Palavras-chave: Estudos gays e lésbicos, estudos transgêneros, teoria queer, cultura. Abstrat: This essay introduces some issues related tofeminist studies, gay and lesbian studies, transgender studies and queer theory in the search of theoretical and methodological contributions in the analysis of contemporary culture. Key-words: Gay and Lesbian Studies, transgender studies, queer theory, culture

  3. BASES DE PODER SOCIAL, ENGAJAMENTO NO TRABALHO E RESILIÊNCIA: UM ESTUDO COM SERVIDORES PÚBLICOS MUNICIPAIS DE DIADEMA - SP

    OpenAIRE

    Rusticci, Roberto

    2013-01-01

    Este estudo teve a intenção de analisar até que ponto o uso de diferentes bases de poder dos superiores hierárquicos predizem os níveis de engajamento no trabalho e de resiliência dos trabalhadores, colaborando para aumentar o conhecimento sobre o comportamento dos servidores públicos municipais, quanto aos níveis de engajamento no trabalho e resiliência apresentados. Partiu-se da definição de poder de French e Raven (1959): poder é a influência potencial que o agente O poderia causar no suje...

  4. Sintomas depressivos em crianças: estudos com duas versões do CDI

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Miriam Cruvinel

    Full Text Available O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar o número de crianças com sintomas depressivos em duas amostras de estudantes da cidade de campinas. Utilizou-se, no estudo 1, a versão brasileira do Inventário de Depressão Infantil (CDI e, no estudo 2, a versão original. Do estudo 1, realizado em 2001, participaram 169 estudantes de 3ª, 4ª e 5ª séries, e, do estudo 2, conduzido em 2005, 157 alunos de 3ª e 4ª séries. A prevalência de sintomatologia depressiva no estudo 1 foi de 3,55%, e, no estudo 2, de 17%. Em ambos os estudos, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre a média no CDI em relação às variáveis demográficas. conclui-se pela necessidade de mais estudos nacionais de prevalência no ensino fundamental e de esforços direcionados não só para a identificação dos fatores de risco, de proteção e das variáveis associadas mas também do refinamento dos instrumentos de medidas da depressão infantil.

  5. estudo comparativo

    OpenAIRE

    Álvaro, Rocha

    2005-01-01

    O sítio web é um importante meio de comunicação e competitividade das universidades. Há diferentes razões para acreditar que os sítios possam variar entre universidades, mas contudo há certeza da existência de requisitos de qualidade comuns e transversais a todas. Este estudo visou avaliar, de forma quantitativa e objectiva, o cumprimento de requisitos de qualidade pelos sítios web das Universidades Portuguesas, com base nas características de alto nível da norma ISO 9126-1 que interessam aos...

  6. Realization of consensus of multi-agent systems with stochastically mixed interactions

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sun, Yongzheng, E-mail: yzsung@gmail.com; Li, Wang [School of Science, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008 (China); Zhao, Donghua [School of Mathematical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433 (China)

    2016-07-15

    In this paper, we propose a new consensus model in which the interactions among agents stochastically switch between attraction and repulsion. Such a positive-and-negative mechanism is described by the white-noise-based coupling. Analytic criteria for the consensus and non-consensus in terms of the eigenvalues of the noise intensity matrix are derived, which provide a better understanding of the constructive roles of random interactions. Specifically, we discover a positive role of noise coupling that noise can accelerate the emergence of consensus. We find that the converging speed of the multi-agent network depends on the square of the second smallest eigenvalue of its graph Laplacian. The influence of network topologies on the consensus time is also investigated.

  7. Agentes comunitários de saúde: perfil e formação Community health agents: profile and education

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Carla Kowalski Marzari

    2011-01-01

    Full Text Available A pesquisa discute o perfil e a formação dos agentes comunitários de saúde. Não existe ainda clareza sobre o tipo de profissional necessário e a formação adequada para o desempenho da função. Trata-se de um estudo de caso com metodologia exploratória e abordagem qualitativa. A coleta de dados foi com grupo focal formado por dez agentes, selecionados intencionalmente entre aqueles com mais tempo de serviço nas Equipes da Estratégia Saúde da Família do município de Santa Maria (RS. As discussões foram gravadas e transcritas. Os dados foram trabalhados através da análise de conteúdo. Os resultados apontaram para algumas questões centrais sobre a identidade dos agentes: integração na equipe de saúde, inserção na comunidade, perfil e formação. O perfil que emerge da pesquisa não é diferente daquele proposto pelo Ministério da Saúde. No entanto, o diferencial é a busca por profissionalização, iniciativa assumida pelo próprio agente, efetivada e pautada pela realidade que ele enfrenta a partir da sua atuação. As lacunas percebidas na sua formação levam o agente a construir sua própria identidade profissional, pautada mais pelo aspecto técnico do conhecimento científico do que pela sua competência social como agente comunitário.This research discusses the profile and education of the community health agents. There is no clarity about the kind of professional needed and the appropriate training to the fulfillment of the function. The research is a case study with exploratory methodology and qualitative approach. The data was collected with a focused group, formed by ten agents, intentional selected from those with more time in service in Family Health Strategy teams from the municipality of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul State. The discussions were recorded and transcribed by the researcher. The data was interpreted by content analysis. The results pointed to some important questions concerning the identity of

  8. Estudos experimentais com isolados do metapneumovirus aviário (aMPV) subtipos A e B em frangos de corte

    OpenAIRE

    Márcia Bianchi dos Santos

    2010-01-01

    Resumo: O Metapneumovirus aviário (aMPV) pertence à família Paramyxoviridae, subfamília Pneumovirinae, gênero Metapneumovirus. O vírus, relatado pela primeira vez no Brasil em 1995, é o agente etiológico da Rinotraqueíte em perus (TRT) e está associado também à Síndrome da Cabeça Inchada (SHS) em frangos e poedeiras comerciais. O presente estudo foi dividido em três partes. Na primeira foi avaliada a suscetibilidades de oito sistemas celulares para a propagação de amostras virais do aMPV subt...

  9. Contato, epidemias e corpo como agentes de transformação: um estudo sobre a AIDS entre os Índios Xokléng de Santa Catarina, Brasil

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Wiik Flávio Braune

    2001-01-01

    Full Text Available A partir da análise dos episódios de AIDS que acometeram os Índios Xokléng em 1988, o presente artigo visa referir fenômenos de doença a rupturas e transformações socioculturais ocorridas nesse universo com base na história de contato com a sociedade abrangente. A interpretação e a análise da relação estabelecida são feitas à luz de teorias antropológicas acerca da centralidade que corpo, corporalidade e processos corporais degenerativos ocupam nas sociedades indígenas brasileiras. Propõe-se que corpo, sociedade e agentes macroconjunturais são articulados pela práxis; por isso, devem ser relacionados nos estudos socio-antropológicos concernentes aos fenômenos de doença. O artigo traz a descrição sucinta das epidemias advindas com o contato, tentando vinculá-las aos contextos históricos específicos que o marcaram. Categorias da etnomedicina, cosmologia e corporalidade Xokléng são associadas à organização social e aos casos de AIDS. Estes são apresentados tendo, como enfoque principal, a ligação estabelecida entre seu advento e as transformações no universo Xokléng em função da construção da Barragem Norte junto a sua Terra.

  10. Dynamical Consensus Algorithm for Second-Order Multi-Agent Systems Subjected to Communication Delay

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Liu Chenglin; Liu Fei

    2013-01-01

    To solve the dynamical consensus problem of second-order multi-agent systems with communication delay, delay-dependent compensations are added into the normal asynchronously-coupled consensus algorithm so as to make the agents achieve a dynamical consensus. Based on frequency-domain analysis, sufficient conditions are gained for second-order multi-agent systems with communication delay under leaderless and leader-following consensus algorithms respectively. Simulation illustrates the correctness of the results. (interdisciplinary physics and related areas of science and technology)

  11. A model for ultrasound contrast agent in a phantom vessel

    KAUST Repository

    Qamar, Adnan; Samtaney, Ravi

    2014-01-01

    A theoretical framework to model the dynamics of Ultrasound Contrast Agent (UCA) inside a phantom vessel is presented. The model is derived from the reduced Navier-Stokes equation and is coupled with the evolving flow field solution inside

  12. C4. Pneumonia adquirida na comunidade (PAC: estudo retrospectivo num hospital central

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    A. Oliveira

    2003-11-01

    Full Text Available A PAC é uma importante causa de morbilidade e mortalidade nos doentes hospitalizados. O objectivo deste estudo foi analisar a etiologia, factores de risco, tratamento e mortalidade da PAC no internamento. Procedemos a um estudo retrospectivo de 246 doentes, admitidos no nosso Departamento com o diagnóstico de PAC num período de 24 meses. A média etária foi de 58,9 anos e 61% eram do sexo masculino. Em 48,6% existiam comorbilidades. Na radiografia torácica havia envolvimento multilobar em 17,1%, padrão alveolar em 66,7% e derrame pleural em 18,3%.Os agentes etiológicos foram pesquisados em 195 doentes (75,9% e foram positivos em 57 (29,2%: 11% das hemoculturas (19/173; 30% dos exames culturais de expectoração (48/160 e 10.4% das serologias e antigenúria para Legionella (7/67 foram positivos. Nos doentes com etiologia bacteriana o agente etiológico mais frequente foi S. pneumoniae (47%, seguindo-se os Gram-negativos (26% e H. Influenza (18%.A amoxicilina/clavulanato (82,9% e macrólidos (68,1% foram os antibióticos mais usados. Houve associação de antibióticos em 61,6% dos doentes. A duração média do tratamento foi de 12 dias. Em 93% dos doentes assistiu-se a evolução favorável. A mortalidade foi de 5,1%.Concluimos que o S. pneumoniae continua a ser o agente etiológico mais frequente de PAC. A escolha terapêutica esteve de acordo com as guidelines internacionais e o regime terapêutico mostrou-se adequado tendo a maioria das PAC evolução favorável com baixa mortalidade. : CAP is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to analyze etiology, risk factors, treatment and mortality of CAP. We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from 246 patients admitted to our Department with CAP diagnosis throughout an 24 month period.The patients were in average age 58,9 years old and 61% were male. In 48,6% significant co-morbidities were found. On chest X-ray there

  13. ACREDITAÇÃO HOSPITALAR: UM ESTUDO DE CASO

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Felipe Antunes

    2005-06-01

    Full Text Available Este artigo aborda a qualidade e acreditação hospitalar através do Manual das Organizações Prestadoras de Serviços Hospitalares, desenvolvido pela Organização Nacional de Acreditação (ONA. O objetivo geral deste trabalho é avaliar o processo de acreditação, identificando dificuldades e benefícios advindos da implantação deste  Manual. Após a realização de uma revisão bibliográfica sobre qualidade em hospitais e normas da qualidade aplicáveis a hospitais, é feita uma análise crítica teórica do Manual das Organizações Prestadoras de Serviços Hospitalares. Tal análise crítica inclui um estudo comparativo entre os requisitos do Manual e da norma NBR ISO 9001/2000. A seguir, a análise teórica é complementada através de um estudo de caso contemplando a implantação do Manual junto a um hospital de grande porte. Finalmente, são apresentadas as conclusões, baseadas tanto no estudo teórico como no estudo prático.

  14. The situated HKB model: how sensorimotor spatial coupling can alter oscillatory brain dynamics

    Science.gov (United States)

    Aguilera, Miguel; Bedia, Manuel G.; Santos, Bruno A.; Barandiaran, Xabier E.

    2013-01-01

    Despite the increase of both dynamic and embodied/situated approaches in cognitive science, there is still little research on how coordination dynamics under a closed sensorimotor loop might induce qualitatively different patterns of neural oscillations compared to those found in isolated systems. We take as a departure point the Haken-Kelso-Bunz (HKB) model, a generic model for dynamic coordination between two oscillatory components, which has proven useful for a vast range of applications in cognitive science and whose dynamical properties are well understood. In order to explore the properties of this model under closed sensorimotor conditions we present what we call the situated HKB model: a robotic model that performs a gradient climbing task and whose “brain” is modeled by the HKB equation. We solve the differential equations that define the agent-environment coupling for increasing values of the agent's sensitivity (sensor gain), finding different behavioral strategies. These results are compared with two different models: a decoupled HKB with no sensory input and a passively-coupled HKB that is also decoupled but receives a structured input generated by a situated agent. We can precisely quantify and qualitatively describe how the properties of the system, when studied in coupled conditions, radically change in a manner that cannot be deduced from the decoupled HKB models alone. We also present the notion of neurodynamic signature as the dynamic pattern that correlates with a specific behavior and we show how only a situated agent can display this signature compared to an agent that simply receives the exact same sensory input. To our knowledge, this is the first analytical solution of the HKB equation in a sensorimotor loop and qualitative and quantitative analytic comparison of spatially coupled vs. decoupled oscillatory controllers. Finally, we discuss the limitations and possible generalization of our model to contemporary neuroscience and

  15. The Situated HKB Model: how sensorimotor spatial coupling can alter oscillatory brain dynamics

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Miguel eAguilera

    2013-08-01

    Full Text Available Despite the increase both of dynamic and embodied/situated approaches in cognitive science, there is still little research on how coordination dynamics under a closed sensorimotor loop might induce qualitatively different patterns of neural oscillations compared to those found in isolated systems. We take as a departure point the HKB model, a generic model for dynamic coordination between two oscillatory components, which has proven useful for a vast range of applications in cognitive science and whose dynamical properties are well understood. In order to explore the properties of this model under closed sensorimotor conditions we present what we call the situated HKB model: a robotic model that performs a gradient climbing task and whose "brain" is modelled by the HKB equation. We solve the differential equations that define the agent-environment coupling for increasing values of the agent's sensitivity (sensor gain, finding different behavioural strategies. These results are compared with two different models: a decoupled HKB with no sensory input and a passively-coupled HKB that is also decoupled but receives a structured input generated by a situated agent. We can precisely quantify and qualitatively describe how the properties of the system, when studied in coupled conditions, radically change in a manner that cannot be deduced from the decoupled HKB models alone. We also present the notion of neurodynamic signature as the dynamic pattern that correlates with a specific behaviour and we show how only a situated agent can display this signature compared to an agent that simply receives the exact same sensory input.To our knowledge, this is the first analytical solution of the HKB equation in a sensorimotor loop and qualitative and quantitative analytic comparison of spatially coupled vs. decoupled oscillatory controllers. Finally, we discuss the limitations and possible generalization of our model to contemporary neuroscience and philosophy

  16. AGENTES EXTERNOS INFLUENCIAM O COMPORTAMENTO MECÂNICO DOS COMPÓSITOS POLIMÉRICOS - ESTUDO DE CASOS

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ricardo Alex Dantas da Silva

    2011-03-01

    Full Text Available A necessidade de se obter um melhor aproveitamento e desempenho técnico nas novas tecnologias (automotiva, petrolífera, naval, está levando o homem a descobrir novos tipos de materiais, exemplo de disso são os materiais compósitos que se caracterizam pela combinação de dois ou mais materiais que possuem propriedades mecânicas, físicas, químicas diferentes, os quais apresentam uma formação com um reforço e uma matriz, essas materiais vêm sendo estudados, com destaque nessas novas tecnologias de ponta, onde os mesmos estão desempenhando de forma satisfatória e promissora. Para melhor entendimento do comportamento desses materiais, esse trabalho faz uma abordagem, a partir de vários estudos realizados por diversos pesquisadores, no que diz respeito à incidência de temperatura em compósitos buscando avaliar até que ponto o efeito térmico nestes materiais, modificam ou não o desempenho. Com isso, os resultados das pesquisas apresentam que os compósitos poliméricos podem sofrer influência da temperatura e do calor no seu comportamento mecânico bem como na sua fratura final. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Material Compósito, Propriedades Mecânicas, Calor.

  17. Occurrence of Salmonella spp. in broiler chicken carcasses and their susceptibility to antimicrobial agents Ocorrência de Salmonella spp. em carcaças de frango e sua suscetibilidade a agentes antimicrobianos

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Dalila Angélica Moliterno Duarte

    2009-09-01

    Full Text Available The present study was carried out to evaluate the occurrence of Salmonellae in broiler chicken carcasses and to determine the antimicrobial resistance profile of the isolated strains. Twenty-five out of the 260 broiler chicken carcasses samples (9.6% were positive for Salmonella. S. Enteritidis was the most frequent serovar. Nineteen Salmonella isolates were tested for antimicrobial resistance, and the results indicated that 94.7% were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent. Resistance to streptomycin (73.7%, nitrofurantoin (52.3%, tetracycline (31.6%, and nalidixic acid (21% were the prevalent amongst Salmonella strains tested.O presente estudo teve como objetivo verificar a ocorrência de Salmonellae em amostras de carcaças de frango e a suscetibilidade dos isolados a agentes antimicrobianos. Das 260 carcaças analisadas, 25 (9,6% foram positivas para Salmonella. Salmonella Enteritidis foi o sorovar predominante. Com relação à suscetibilidade a agentes antimicrobianos, 94,7% das cepas de Salmonella testadas, apresentaram resistência a um ou mais agentes antimicrobianos. Os perfís de resistência mais comumente observados entre os isolados foram a resistência à estreptomicina (73,7%, nitrofurantoína (52,3%, tetraciclina (31,6% e ácido nalidíxico (21%.

  18. Marketing do mercado de luxo: Estudo de caso Victoria's Secret

    OpenAIRE

    Ana Francisca Giuliani

    2013-01-01

    Este artigo teve por objetivo identificar quais são as estratégias de marketing utilizadas pela empresa varejista Victoria’s Secret para a fidelização do consumidor de luxo em nível global. O estudo caracterizou-se como uma pesquisa qualitativa, utilizando-se como estratégia de campo o estudo de caso de caráter ilustrativo. Para o alcance do objetivo proposto, dividiu-se o estudo em duas fases. Na primeira, denominada exploratória, buscou-se em dados secundários o embasamento para a construçã...

  19. Enhancement of mechanical strength of TiO2/high-density polyethylene composites for bone repair with silane-coupling treatment

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Hashimoto, Masami; Takadama, Hiroaki; Mizuno, Mineo; Kokubo, Tadashi

    2006-01-01

    Mechanical properties of composites made up of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and silanated TiO 2 particles for use as a bone-repairing material were investigated in comparison with those of the composites of HDPE with unsilanized TiO 2 particles. The interfacial morphology and interaction between silanated TiO 2 and HDPE were analyzed by means of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The absorption in spectral bands related to the carboxyl bond in the silane-coupling agent, the vinyl group in the HDPE, and the formation of the ether bond was studied in order to assess the influence of the silane-coupling agent. The SEM micrograph showed that the 'bridging effect' between HDPE and TiO 2 was brought about by the silane-coupling agent. The use of the silane-coupling agent and the increase of the hot-pressing pressure for shaping the composites facilitated the penetration of polymer into cavities between individual TiO 2 particles, which increased the density of the composite. Therefore, mechanical properties such as bending yield strength and Young's modulus increased from 49 MPa and 7.5 GPa to 65 MPa and 10 GPa, respectively, after the silane-coupling treatment and increase in the hot-pressing pressure

  20. Fatores associados à qualidade de vida de Agentes Comunitários de Saúde Factors associated with the quality of life of community health agents

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Marcos Henrique Fernandes

    2013-05-01

    Full Text Available Este estudo objetivou analisar a associação dos fatores sociodemográficos, ocupacionais, comportamentos de risco e de saúde com o comprometimento da qualidade de vida dos Agentes Comunitários de Saúde do município de Jequié, Bahia. Trata-se de um estudo transversal com 316 indivíduos, no qual foi utilizado o WHOQOL-Bref para avaliar a qualidade de vida. Aplicou-se o modelo de regressão de Poisson, adotando o intervalo de confiança de 95%. As variáveis associadas ao maior comprometimento do domínio Físico foram sexo, idade, dor e satisfação com a saúde; ao domínio Psicológico foram escolaridade, aspectos psicossociais, tabagismo, dor e satisfação com a saúde; ao domínio Relações Sociais foram sexo, situação conjugal, escolaridade, aspectos psicossociais e satisfação com a saúde; ao domínio Meio Ambiente foram sexo, renda familiar, local de trabalho, aspectos psicossociais e satisfação com a saúde. Espera-se que esse estudo possa subsidiar o desenvolvimento de políticas públicas destinadas à melhoria das condições de vida e trabalho desse grupo de trabalhadores.This study examined the association of socio-demographic, occupational and risk and health behavioral factors with the loss of quality of life for community health agents of the municipality of Jequié in the state of Bahia. It is a cross-sectional study with 316 individuals, in which WHOQOL-Bref was used to evaluate the quality of life. The Poisson regression model was applied adopting the confidence interval of 95%. The variables associated with the largest threat to the Physical domain were gender, age, pain and satisfaction with health. Threats to the Psychological domain were schooling, psycho-social aspects, smoking, pain and satisfaction with health were analyzed. Threats to the Social Relations domain of were sex, marital situation, schooling, psycho-social aspects, and satisfaction with health. Threats to the Environmental domain were sex

  1. Simple D-A-D Structural Bisbithiophenyl Diketopyrrolopyrrole (TDPP) as Efficient Bioimaging and Photothermal Agents.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Zong, Shan; Wang, Xin; Lin, Wenhai; Liu, Shi; Zhang, Wei

    2018-06-20

    Design and synthesis of biocompatible and multi-functional photothermal agents is crucial for effective cancer phototherapy. In order to achieve this ambition, simple D-A-D structural bisbithiophenyl diketopyrrolopyrrole (TDPP) was fabricated. In this molecule, the donor, 2-thiophenylboric acid, was conjugated via Suzuki coupling reaction, which could expand the emission wavelength to the red region of the spectrum. TDPP could self-assemble into stable and uniform nanoparticles (TDPP NPs) in the assistant of amphiphilic Pluronic F-127 polymer. Exposing the TDPP NPs (100 µg/mL) aqueous dispersion to 638 nm (0.61 W/cm2) laser irradiation resulted in a temperature elevation of approximately 30 oC within 5 min, which is high enough for inducing the cytotoxicity and tumor inhibition. Because of the bathochromic shift absorption of TDPP NPs in water, TDPP NPs could also act as a contrast agent for near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIRF) to visualize the drug distribution in vivo. Coupled with the infrared thermal imaging properties of the photothermal agent, TDPP NPs were proved to be a multifunctional theranostic agent for dual-modal imaging-guided phototherapy.

  2. Pragmatismo e os pragmáticos nos estudos organizacionais

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Francis Kanashiro Meneghetti

    Full Text Available O objetivo central deste ensaio teórico é avaliar as contribuições do pragmatismo nos Estudos Organizacionais e, os específicos, avaliar se as contribuições teóricas de Charles Peirce e John Dewey possibilitam afirmar o pragmatismo como senso comum, ciência ou teoria do conhecimento; analisar as contribuições - possibilidadese limites - do pragmatismo como conhecimento científico; compreender os percursos do pragmatismo nos Estudos Organizacionais. Chaga-se a conclusão de que ser pragmático é diferente de conceber estudos articulados no campo epistemológico do pragmatismo. O sujeito pragmático vê na sua utilidade e na necessidade deação, o ponto de tensão que coloca em dúvida a veracidade dos pressupostos do pragmatismo como ciência. O que ocorre nos Estudos Organizacionais éa conversão do pragmatismo como conhecimento científico emsubordinação irracional à utilidade e à ação prática, sobretudo, no campo da economia, da política, da ciência, da cultura, da educação, e assim por diante.

  3. Agent-based simulation of electricity markets : a literature review

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Sensfuss, F.; Genoese, M.; Genoese, M.; Most, D.

    2007-01-01

    The electricity sector in Europe and North America is undergoing considerable changes as a result of deregulation, issues related to climate change, and the integration of renewable resources within the electricity grid. This article reviewed agent-based simulation methods of analyzing electricity markets. The paper provided an analysis of research currently being conducted on electricity market designs and examined methods of modelling agent decisions. Methods of coupling long term and short term decisions were also reviewed. Issues related to single and multiple market analysis methods were discussed, as well as different approaches to integrating agent-based models with models of other commodities. The integration of transmission constraints within agent-based models was also discussed, and methods of measuring market efficiency were evaluated. Other topics examined in the paper included approaches to integrating investment decisions, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) trading, and renewable support schemes. It was concluded that agent-based models serve as a test bed for the electricity sector, and will help to provide insights for future policy decisions. 74 refs., 6 figs

  4. Secretômica de Trichoderma atroviride e Trichoderma harzianum frente a Guignardia e citricarpa, agente etiológico da Pinta Preta dos Citros

    OpenAIRE

    Lima, Fernanda Blauth de

    2016-01-01

    Os agentes de controle biológico têm recebido grande reconhecimento, e o seu uso tem contribuído como um complemento ou substituição de agroquímicos. No entanto, existem poucos estudos sobre o controle biológico da Pinta Preta dos Citros, causada pelo fungo Guignardia citricarpa, o que impede o seu mercado in natura, além de prejudicar a sua exportação pelo uso intensivo de insumos químicos para controlar este patógeno. Os fungos do gênero Trichoderma são agentes de controle utilizados em tod...

  5. Viabilidade do emprego de agentes retardadores em substituição aos desmoldantes convencionais na moldagem de concreto para aplicação de argamassas de revestimento

    OpenAIRE

    Assali, Mirella Pennacchi; Loh, Kai

    2011-01-01

    N presença do desmoldante na superfície estruturas de concreto armado pode dificultar a adesão da argamassa quando fresca, com posterior descolamento no estado endurecido. Este estudo tem por objetivo explorar o potencial de uso de agentes retardadores em substituição aos desmoldantes convencionais na moldagem de concreto para a obtenção de superfícies com maior capacidade de ancoragem das argamassas. A viabilidade do uso de agentes retardadores foi verificada determinando-se de modo comparat...

  6. Assessing groundwater policy with coupled economic-groundwater hydrologic modeling

    Science.gov (United States)

    Mulligan, Kevin B.; Brown, Casey; Yang, Yi-Chen E.; Ahlfeld, David P.

    2014-03-01

    This study explores groundwater management policies and the effect of modeling assumptions on the projected performance of those policies. The study compares an optimal economic allocation for groundwater use subject to streamflow constraints, achieved by a central planner with perfect foresight, with a uniform tax on groundwater use and a uniform quota on groundwater use. The policies are compared with two modeling approaches, the Optimal Control Model (OCM) and the Multi-Agent System Simulation (MASS). The economic decision models are coupled with a physically based representation of the aquifer using a calibrated MODFLOW groundwater model. The results indicate that uniformly applied policies perform poorly when simulated with more realistic, heterogeneous, myopic, and self-interested agents. In particular, the effects of the physical heterogeneity of the basin and the agents undercut the perceived benefits of policy instruments assessed with simple, single-cell groundwater modeling. This study demonstrates the results of coupling realistic hydrogeology and human behavior models to assess groundwater management policies. The Republican River Basin, which overlies a portion of the Ogallala aquifer in the High Plains of the United States, is used as a case study for this analysis.

  7. A Teoria Queer e os Estudos Organizacionais: Revisando Conceitos sobre Identidade

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Eloisio Moulin de Souza

    2017-05-01

    Full Text Available A teoria queer desenvolveu-se incialmente na década de noventa, nas ciências sociais e humanas, principalmente nos estudos literários e linguísticos, sendo posteriormente incorporada aos estudos organizacionais. Entretanto, apesar de sua aplicação aos estudos organizacionais, ainda existe uma lacuna acerca do debate sobre seus conceitos e significados. Por isso, este artigo objetiva aprofundar e revisar o debate sobre os aspectos desenvolvidos por essa teoria, focando-se nos conceitos relacionados à produção identitária e subjetiva. Para cumprir este intento, as ideias queer sobre identidade, sujeito, performatividade, performance e identificação são apresentadas e debatidas. Defende-se que a teoria queer é um verbo (ação ao invés de um substantivo (identidade e a aplicação de seus conceitos não se restringe somente aos estudos sobre gênero, sexualidade e minorias. Por fim, discute-se a expansão da utilização dos conceitos queer no estudo de outras formas hegemônicas de categorias identitárias presentes no mundo corporativo.

  8. Theory of agent-based market models with controlled levels of greed and anxiety

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Papadopoulos, P; Coolen, A C C

    2010-01-01

    We use generating functional analysis to study minority-game-type market models with generalized strategy valuation updates that control the psychology of agents' actions. The agents' choice between trend-following and contrarian trading, and their vigor in each, depends on the overall state of the market. Even in 'fake history' models, the theory now involves an effective overall bid process (coupled to the effective agent process) which can exhibit profound remanence effects and new phase transitions. For some models the bid process can be solved directly, others require Maxwell-construction-type approximations.

  9. Estudo do efeito da interferencia por RNA (RNAi) na replicação do metapneumovirus aviario (AMPV) subtipo A in vitro

    OpenAIRE

    Helena Lage Ferreira

    2007-01-01

    Resumo: O metapneumovírus aviário (AMPV) é o agente primário da rinotraqueíte dos perus (TRT). O AMPV pertence à família Paramyxoviridae, subfamília Pneumovirinae, gênero Metapneumovirus. Também está associado à síndrome da cabeça inchada (SHS) em galinhas e é responsável por significativas perdas econômicas em sua produção. O presente estudo foi dividido em três partes. A primeira parte do trabalho consistiu em avaliar a beta-actina, gene utilizado como controle interno das técnicas molecula...

  10. Agent-based Modeling Methodology for Analyzing Weapons Systems

    Science.gov (United States)

    2015-03-26

    technique involve model structure, system representation and the degree of validity, coupled with the simplicity, of the overall model. ABM is best suited... system representation of the air combat system . We feel that a simulation model that combines ABM with equation-based representation of weapons and...AGENT-BASED MODELING METHODOLOGY FOR ANALYZING WEAPONS SYSTEMS THESIS Casey D. Connors, Major, USA

  11. Terapia com agentes biológicos na criança e no adolescente Treatment with biologic agents in child and adolescent

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ricardo Maisse Suehiro

    2010-06-01

    Full Text Available OBJETIVO: Revisar os mecanismos fisiopatológicos e novos alvos terapêuticos, os agentes biológicos disponíveis, principais indicações e a evidência científica atual para o uso de terapias biológicas na população pediátrica. FONTES DE DADOS: Pesquisa na base de dados Medline e SciELO, nas línguas inglesa e portuguesa, entre 2000 e 2009. As palavras-chave usadas foram "agentes biológicos", "crianças" e "adolescentes". SÍNTESE DOS DADOS: Os agentes biológicos são uma importante opção terapêutica para tratar as doenças autoimunes refratárias às terapias convencionais na infância e na adolescência. Com exceção da artrite idiopática juvenil, a maioria dos estudos em outras doenças autoimunes não é controlada. CONCLUSÕES: Os agentes biológicos têm demonstrado eficácia no tratamento de doenças autoimunes pediátricas como artrite idiopática juvenil, miopatias idiopáticas inflamatórias, lúpus eritematoso juvenil, vasculites, uveítes crônicas, doenças inflamatórias intestinais e púrpura trombocitopênica imune crônica, assim como no linfoma não-Hodgkin. Considerando-se o custo elevado e os potenciais eventos adversos, o uso desses agentes deve ser individualizado e acompanhado por especialista.OBJECTIVE: To review the physiopathology and new therapeutical targets, the available biologic agents, the main indications and the current scientific evidence for the use of biological therapies in the pediatric population. DATA SOURCES: A bibliographical search was obtained from Medline and SciELO databases in English and Portuguese from 2000 to 2009. The key-words included were "biologic agent", "children" and "adolescent". DATA SYNTHESIS: Biologic agents are important therapeutic options to treat refractory autoimmune diseases to conventional therapies in childhood and adolescence. Excluding juvenile idiopathic arthritis, the majority of studies in other autoimmune diseases are uncontrolled trials. CONCLUSIONS

  12. O COTIDIANO DE TRABALHO DO AGENTE COMUNITÁRIO DE SAÚDE: ENTRE A DIFICULDADE E A POTÊNCIA

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Deise Lisboa Riquinho

    2017-12-01

    Full Text Available Resumo O estudo objetivou analisar o processo de trabalho no cotidiano de agentes comunitários de saúde e as proposições de enfrentamento das adversidades comuns ao processo de trabalho no âmbito da Estratégia Saúde da Família de uma gerência distrital de saúde em Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Tratou-se de estudo qualitativo com realização de grupos focais e entrevistas semiestruturadas, no período de agosto de 2015 a fevereiro de 2016. A análise ocorreu por meio de categorização temática. Os resultados emergiram a partir de quatro temas: o trabalho administrativo e a descaracterização do trabalho da agente comunitária de saúde; o cotidiano em equipe e suas condições de trabalho; as redes de atenção e sua descontinuidade no cuidado em saúde; e as táticas de enfrentamento entre as dificuldades e a potência. Ao se levarem em conta as interfaces entre o trabalho real e o prescrito, é inegável a necessidade de diálogo entre o controle social, profissionais e gestores para o enfrentamento das situações geradoras de sofrimento aos usuários e profissionais.

  13. Multiwalled carbon nanotube hybrids as MRI contrast agents

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Nikodem Kuźnik

    2016-07-01

    Full Text Available Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI is one of the most commonly used tomography techniques in medical diagnosis due to the non-invasive character, the high spatial resolution and the possibility of soft tissue imaging. Contrast agents, such as gadolinium complexes and superparamagnetic iron oxides, are administered to spotlight certain organs and their pathologies. Many new models have been proposed that reduce side effects and required doses of these already clinically approved contrast agents. These new candidates often possess additional functionalities, e.g., the possibility of bioactivation upon action of particular stimuli, thus serving as smart molecular probes, or the coupling with therapeutic agents and therefore combining both a diagnostic and therapeutic role. Nanomaterials have been found to be an excellent scaffold for contrast agents, among which carbon nanotubes offer vast possibilities. The morphology of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs, their magnetic and electronic properties, the possibility of different functionalization and the potential to penetrate cell membranes result in a unique and very attractive candidate for a new MRI contrast agent. In this review we describe the different issues connected with MWCNT hybrids designed for MRI contrast agents, i.e., their synthesis and magnetic and dispersion properties, as well as both in vitro and in vivo behavior, which is important for diagnostic purposes. An introduction to MRI contrast agent theory is elaborated here in order to point to the specific expectations regarding nanomaterials. Finally, we propose a promising, general model of MWCNTs as MRI contrast agent candidates based on the studies presented here and supported by appropriate theories.

  14. Estudos de atmosfera

    OpenAIRE

    Carlos Eduardo Riccioppo

    2016-01-01

    Joker e Estudos de balística possuíam formas distintas dos cadernos ou livros quando foram exibidos pela primeira vez, na mostra Dual Overdrive. De algum modo, o flagrante das imagens dos cartazes da campanha política parisiense e daquelas cusparadas sobre o asfalto era preservado no modo como eram mostrados os trabalhos, que repunham não apenas a orientação espacial dos objetos fotografados, mas, igualmente, sua escala: Joker apresentava-se na parede, em dimensões relativamente próximas às d...

  15. Estudos no exterior e mediação de modelos institucionais: o caso dos juristas brasileiros

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Fabiano Engelmann

    2008-08-01

    Full Text Available O presente texto constitui uma análise do perfil dos estudos no exterior dos professores de mestrado e doutorado em Direito no Brasil, a partir das informações fornecidas por eles nos currículos registrados na Plataforma Lattes, do Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, em 2006. Esses dados são analisados no contexto de uma discussão sobre os efeitos da internacionalização das perícias de gestão do Estado e dos usos das "Ciências Sociais Aplicadas", já que a utilização de tais perícias está relacionada às estratégias mobilizadas pelos agentes nas disputas pelas posições de poder e pela definição do sentido de "Estado", "política" e "justiça". Assim, pode-se elaborar hipóteses sobre a relação entre a circulação internacional de juristas brasileiros e os movimentos de importação e exportação de modelos institucionais, bem como suas repercussões no espaço jurídico e político nacionais. As reconversões de agentes - até então dedicados principalmente ao "mundo operacional" - em direção à carreira acadêmica e à produção intelectual, por meio dos investimentos em titulação de doutorado e em estudos no exterior, podem ser analisadas em estreita correspondência com a demanda pela refundamentação e com a internacionalização dos conhecimentos relacionados ao Estado e à gestão das instituições políticas e jurídicas. Da mesma forma, esse processo, no caso dos juristas, contempla a fundamentação intelectual da resistência aos modelos institucionais que apontam para o enfraquecimento dos pressupostos do Estado-nação.

  16. Portable Solid Phase Micro-Extraction Coupled with Ion Mobility Spectrometry System for On-Site Analysis of Chemical Warfare Agents and Simulants in Water Samples

    Science.gov (United States)

    Yang, Liu; Han, Qiang; Cao, Shuya; Yang, Jie; Yang, Junchao; Ding, Mingyu

    2014-01-01

    On-site analysis is an efficient approach to facilitate analysis at the location of the system under investigation as it can result in more accurate, more precise and quickly available analytical data. In our work, a novel self-made thermal desorption based interface was fabricated to couple solid-phase microextraction with ion mobility spectrometry for on-site water analysis. The portable interface can be connected with the front-end of an ion mobility spectrometer directly without other modifications. The analytical performance was evaluated via the extraction of chemical warfare agents and simulants in water samples. Several parameters including ionic strength and extraction time have been investigated in detail. The application of the developed method afforded satisfactory recoveries ranging from 72.9% to 114.4% when applied to the analysis of real water samples. PMID:25384006

  17. Agent Model Development for Assessing Climate-Induced Geopolitical Instability.

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Boslough, Mark B.; Backus, George A.

    2005-12-01

    We present the initial stages of development of new agent-based computational methods to generate and test hypotheses about linkages between environmental change and international instability. This report summarizes the first year's effort of an originally proposed three-year Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project. The preliminary work focused on a set of simple agent-based models and benefited from lessons learned in previous related projects and case studies of human response to climate change and environmental scarcity. Our approach was to define a qualitative model using extremely simple cellular agent models akin to Lovelock's Daisyworld and Schelling's segregation model. Such models do not require significant computing resources, and users can modify behavior rules to gain insights. One of the difficulties in agent-based modeling is finding the right balance between model simplicity and real-world representation. Our approach was to keep agent behaviors as simple as possible during the development stage (described herein) and to ground them with a realistic geospatial Earth system model in subsequent years. This work is directed toward incorporating projected climate data--including various C02 scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Third Assessment Report--and ultimately toward coupling a useful agent-based model to a general circulation model.3

  18. Alegrias e tristezas no cotidiano de trabalho do agente comunitário de saúde: cenários de paixões e afetamentos

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Heletícia Scabelo Galavote

    2013-09-01

    Full Text Available O estudo busca desvendar o processo de trabalho do agente comunitário de saúde (ACS com base na teoria das afecções de Espinosa. Considera o encontro como uma unidade de análise, e pretende compreendê-lo na sua dinâmica de produção do cuidado, analisando as afecções que se expressam por alegrias e tristezas e os seus efeitos no trabalho do ACS. Trata-se de estudo exploratório-descritivo, de caráter qualitativo, realizado na Unidade Jardim Catarina, São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Os dados foram coletados em entrevista com dez ACS's, por meio de roteiro semiestruturado e observação etnográfica. O estudo revela um ACS múltiplo, exposto às afecções das relações que mantém, variando entre o reconhecimento e a submissão às lógicas instituídas, resultando em alegria e tristeza, aumento e redução da sua potência de agir, respectivamente.

  19. REMOTE BIOSENSOR FOR IN SITU MONITORING OF ORGANOPHOSPHATE NERVE AGENTS. (R823663)

    Science.gov (United States)

    A remote electrochemical biosensor for field monitoring of organophosphate nerve agents is described. The new sensor relies on the coupling of the effective biocatalytic action of organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) with a submersible amperometric probe design. This combination resu...

  20. A identidade do agente comunitário de saúde: uma abordagem fenomenológica The identity of the community healthcare agent: a phenomenological approach

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Rosane Guimarães Bachilli

    2008-02-01

    Full Text Available A construção do Sistema Único de Saúde ganhou sustentação com programas que engendraram a participação de um novo elemento na equipe multiprofissional, o agente comunitário de saúde. O objetivo deste estudo foi compreender os fatores psicossociais, segundo as perspectivas destes agentes, que são significativos na construção de sua identidade. O referencial metodológico adotado foi a fenomenologia hermenêutica de Paul Ricoeur. Os sujeitos da pesquisa foram sete agentes comunitários de saúde que, após aprovação do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa e consentimento esclarecido, foram entrevistados com a questão norteadora: "Conte-me sua experiência como agente comunitário de saúde". A análise dos discursos resgatou os temas: "A experiência anterior", "A capacitação para o trabalho", "O estabelecimento de vínculo", "A conquista do conhecimento", "Experiência gratificante", "Sentimentos de (im potência", "A comunicação", "O cotidiano do trabalho", "O crescimento pessoal", "A crítica da instituição", "A experiência do agente usuário", "A inserção na realidade social". A análise do geral desvelou o fenômeno a partir das convergências e divergências do agrupamento dos temas engendrando, na perspectiva do agente comunitário de saúde, os aspectos psicossociais que constroem a sua identidade.The structure of Brazil's National Health System (SUS is being firmed up through programs adding a new element to its multi-professional healthcare teams: Community Healthcare Agents. This study examines psycho-social factors that are significant for the construction of this identity, from the standpoint of these Community Healthcare Agents, using the hermeneutic phenomenology of Paul Ricoeur as its reference methodology. The subjects of this survey were seven Community Healthcare Agents who were asked during interviews (with informed consent and after approval by the Research Ethics Committee to: 'Tell me about your experience

  1. Agents, Bayes, and Climatic Risks - a modular modelling approach

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    A. Haas

    2005-01-01

    Full Text Available When insurance firms, energy companies, governments, NGOs, and other agents strive to manage climatic risks, it is by no way clear what the aggregate outcome should and will be. As a framework for investigating this subject, we present the LAGOM model family. It is based on modules depicting learning social agents. For managing climate risks, our agents use second order probabilities and update them by means of a Bayesian mechanism while differing in priors and risk aversion. The interactions between these modules and the aggregate outcomes of their actions are implemented using further modules. The software system is implemented as a series of parallel processes using the CIAMn approach. It is possible to couple modules irrespective of the language they are written in, the operating system under which they are run, and the physical location of the machine.

  2. Agents, Bayes, and Climatic Risks - a modular modelling approach

    Science.gov (United States)

    Haas, A.; Jaeger, C.

    2005-08-01

    When insurance firms, energy companies, governments, NGOs, and other agents strive to manage climatic risks, it is by no way clear what the aggregate outcome should and will be. As a framework for investigating this subject, we present the LAGOM model family. It is based on modules depicting learning social agents. For managing climate risks, our agents use second order probabilities and update them by means of a Bayesian mechanism while differing in priors and risk aversion. The interactions between these modules and the aggregate outcomes of their actions are implemented using further modules. The software system is implemented as a series of parallel processes using the CIAMn approach. It is possible to couple modules irrespective of the language they are written in, the operating system under which they are run, and the physical location of the machine.

  3. Estudo multicasos sobre atividades inovativas

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Sonia Regina Hierro Parolin

    2013-09-01

    Full Text Available Em estudos sobre competitividade argumenta-se que as empresas necessitam de estratégias baseadas em inovações e de capacidades internas em constantes e intensas transformações, não somente nos padrões tecnológicos, mas também no encadeamento do processo de gestão das atividades inovativas, como processos dinâmicos, não lineares e diversificados, em função de múltiplos fatores dos ambientes interno e externo. Para contribuir com essas discussões, neste artigo apresenta-se um estudo multicasos em quatro indústrias de médio e grande portes, de segmentos, densidades tecnológicas e históricos com inovações diferentes entre si. Como principais resultados, salientam-se o encadeamento das atividades inovativas como parte de uma estratégia organizacional para obter resultados com inovação e a afluência de todas as pessoas, e não somente as alocadas em pesquisa e desenvolvimento, para o cumprimento dessa estratégia.

  4. Theory of agent-based market models with controlled levels of greed and anxiety

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Papadopoulos, P; Coolen, A C C [Department of Mathematics, King' s College London, The Strand, London WC2R 2LS (United Kingdom)], E-mail: panagiotis.2.papadopoulos@kcl.ac.uk, E-mail: ton.coolen@kcl.ac.uk

    2010-01-15

    We use generating functional analysis to study minority-game-type market models with generalized strategy valuation updates that control the psychology of agents' actions. The agents' choice between trend-following and contrarian trading, and their vigor in each, depends on the overall state of the market. Even in 'fake history' models, the theory now involves an effective overall bid process (coupled to the effective agent process) which can exhibit profound remanence effects and new phase transitions. For some models the bid process can be solved directly, others require Maxwell-construction-type approximations.

  5. Agentes comunitários de saúde: sentidos acerca do trabalho em HIV/AIDS Community health agents: meanings in HIV/AIDS work

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Nara Helena Lopes Pereira da Silva

    2008-08-01

    Full Text Available Este estudo pretende ampliar discussões sobre o trabalho dos agentes comunitários de saúde, na atenção primária, em relação ao HIV/AIDS. Para tal, o objetivo foi dar visibilidade para os sentidos construídos sobre HIV/AIDS em um grupo com agentes comunitários de saúde. Foi realizada uma entrevista com um grupo de quatro agentes, sendo a mesma gravada, transcrita e analisada na perspectiva do construcionismo social. A análise das narrativas informa como os diferentes sentidos atribuídos ao longo da história da epidemia se fazem presentes nas concepções e no trabalho com HIV/AIDS, a saber: o preconceito ancorado pelo discurso científico; as relações de gênero implicadas no trabalho; os valores contemporâneos atrelados à perfeição e juventude. Destaca-se que tais sentidos construídos conjuntamente na interação grupal, interpretam e constituem o fazer saúde. Assim, conclui-se que a criação de espaços para a troca dialógica entre os profissionais possibilita problematizar sentidos aparentemente cristalizados no que se refere a temática do HIV/AIDS.The present study intends to extend discussions about the community health agents work in the primary attention, concerning HIV/AIDS. For this purpose, the objective was to give visibility to the constructed meanings regarding HIV/AIDS in a group of community health agents. A group interview was conducted with four agents. The interview was tape-recorded, transcribed and analyzed in the perspective of social constructionism. The analysis of the narratives informed how the different meanings attributed throughout the history of the epidemy are present in conceptions and in the work with HIV/AIDS, namely, the prejudice anchored by the scientific discourse; gender issues involved in work relations; contemporary values expressed in the ideals of perfection and youth. We emphasize that these meanings jointly constructed with group interaction, interpret and constitute health care

  6. Swarm autonomic agents with self-destruct capability

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hinchey, Michael G. (Inventor); Sterritt, Roy (Inventor)

    2011-01-01

    Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments an autonomic entity manages a system by generating one or more stay alive signals based on the functioning status and operating state of the system. In some embodiments, an evolvable synthetic neural system is operably coupled to one or more evolvable synthetic neural systems in a hierarchy. The evolvable neural interface receives and generates heartbeat monitor signals and pulse monitor signals that are used to generate a stay alive signal that is used to manage the operations of the synthetic neural system. In another embodiment an asynchronous Alice signal (Autonomic license) requiring valid credentials of an anonymous autonomous agent is initiated. An unsatisfactory Alice exchange may lead to self-destruction of the anonymous autonomous agent for self-protection.

  7. Tensile properties and water absorption assessment of linear low-Density Polyethylene/Poly (Vinyl Alcohol)/Kenaf composites: effect of eco-friendly coupling agent

    Science.gov (United States)

    Pang, A. L.; Ismail, H.; Abu Bakar, A.

    2018-02-01

    Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) filled with untreated kenaf (UT-KNF) and eco-friendly coupling agent (ECA)-treated kenaf (ECAT-KNF) were prepared using ThermoHaake internal mixer, respectively. Filler loadings of UT-KNF and ECAT-KNF used in this study are 10 and 40 parts per hundred parts of resin (phr). The effect of ECA on tensile properties and water absorption of LLDPE/PVOH/KNF composites were investigated. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis was applied to visualize filler-matrix adhesion. The results indicate LLDPE/PVOH/ECAT-KNF composites possess higher tensile strength and tensile modulus, but lower elongation at break compared to LLDPE/PVOH/UT-KNF composites. The morphological studies of tensile fractured surfaces using FESEM support the increment in tensile properties of LLDPE/PVOH/ECAT-KNF composites. Nevertheless, LLDPE/PVOH/UT-KNF composites reveal higher water absorption compared to LLDPE/PVOH/ECAT-KNF composites.

  8. An agent-based negotiation approach for balancing multiple coupled control domains

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Umair, Aisha; Clausen, Anders; Jørgensen, Bo Nørregaard

    2015-01-01

    Solving multi-objective multi-issue negotiation problems involving interdependent issues distributed among multiple control domains is inherent to most non-trivial cyber-physical systems. In these systems, the coordinated operation of interconnected subsystems performing autonomous control....... The proposed approach can solve negotiation problems with interdependent issues across multiple coupled control domains. We demonstrate our approach by solving a coordination problem where a Combined Heat and Power Plant must allocate electricity for three commercial greenhouses to ensure the required plant...

  9. Estudos organizacionais, (descolonialidade e estudos da dependência: as contribuições da Cepal

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Sergio Wanderley

    Full Text Available O objetivo deste artigo é (revisitar o conceito de dependência como categoria de investigação da (e a partir da América Latina, por meio de uma perspectiva histórica crítica descolonial, a fim de ampliar o espaço de debates em estudos organizacionais e promover alternativas à ordem neoliberal. Este ensaio terá como foco os estudos da dependência realizados pela Comissão Econômica para a América Latina e o Caribe (Cepal durante a década de 1950 e o início dos anos 1960. A perspectiva descolonial é um constructo teórico de autores latino-americanos que se consideram herdeiros da longa tradição do pensamento social crítico da região, na qual a teoria da dependência está inserida. As propostas dos autores da dependência confrontaram as principais teorias ortodoxas do Norte produzidas à época. A partir do conceito de centro-periferia, da denúncia de assimetrias nas relações entre essas regiões, do reconhecimento da interdependência entre desenvolvimento e subdesenvolvimento, o conceito de dependência foi sendo (reelaborado nas décadas de 1950 e 1960 por diversos autores latino-americanos como uma categoria de investigação da realidade da (e a partir da região. Essas investigações tinham por objetivo não somente elaborar constructos teóricos, mas, também, transformar a realidade por meio da criação de diversas organizações e instituições que deveriam servir ao propósito de superar o subdesenvolvimento. A denúncia da historicidade da situação de subdesenvolvimento desnudou o caráter de neutralidade do economicismo das teorias produzidas no Norte e promoveu um encontro teórico entre economia e política que muito tem a contribuir com a área dos estudos organizacionais.

  10. Initial and long-term bond strengths of one-step self-etch adhesives with silane coupling agent to enamel-dentin-composite in combined situation.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Mamanee, Teerapong; Takahashi, Masahiro; Nakajima, Masatoshi; Foxton, Richard M; Tagami, Junji

    2015-01-01

    This study evaluated the effect of adding silane coupling agent on initial and long-term bond strengths of one-step self-etch adhesives to enamel-dentin-composite in combined situation. Cervical cavities were prepared on extracted molars and filled with Clearfil AP-X. After water-storage for one-week, the filled teeth were sectioned in halves to expose enamel, dentin and composite surfaces and then enamel-dentin-composite surface was totally applied with one of adhesive treatments (Clearfil SE One, Clearfil SE One with Clearfil Porcelain Bond Activator, Beautibond Multi, Beautibond Multi with Beautibond Multi PR Plus and Scotchbond Universal). After designed period, micro-shear bond strengths (µSBSs) to each substrate were determined. For each period of water-storage, additive silane treatments significantly increased µSBS to composite (penamel (p>0.05). Moreover, the stability of µSBS was depended on materials and substrates used.

  11. Aqueous microwaves assisted cross-coupling reactions applied to unprotected nucleosides.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    CHRISTOPHE eLEN

    2015-02-01

    Full Text Available Nucleoside analogues have attracted much attention due to their potential biological activities. Amongst all synthetic nucleosides, C5-modified pyrimidines and C7- or C8-modified purines have mostly been prepared using palladium cross-coupling reactions and then studied as antitumoral and antiviral agents. Our objective is to focus this review on the Suzuki-Miyaura and on the Heck cross-couplings of nucleosides using microwave irradiations which are an alternative technology compatible with green chemistry and sustainable development.

  12. Estudo in vivo sobre a influência do fototipo na resposta da pele humana ao contacto com lauril sulfato de sódio

    OpenAIRE

    Pinto, Pedro Contreiras; Martinho, Hugo; Rodrigues, Luís Monteiro

    2007-01-01

    O Lauril Sulfato de Sódio (LSS) é um tensioactivo aniónico utilizado em muitas formas farmacêuticas, que apresenta, no entanto, algum potencial de irritação. Também por esse motivo o LSS é utilizado como agente provocador em diversos micrométodos de exploração in vivo da fisiopatologia da pele. Factores como a idade, sexo, hidratação da pele, região anatómica, afectam a resposta da pele ao contacto com LSS, O objectivo deste estudo foi estudar a influência do fototipo na recuperação ...

  13. Results and Lessons Learned from a Coupled Social and Physical Hydrology Model: Testing Alternative Water Management Policies and Institutional Structures Using Agent-Based Modeling and Regional Hydrology

    Science.gov (United States)

    Murphy, J.; Lammers, R. B.; Prousevitch, A.; Ozik, J.; Altaweel, M.; Collier, N. T.; Kliskey, A. D.; Alessa, L.

    2015-12-01

    Water Management in the U.S. Southwest is under increasing scrutiny as many areas endure persistent drought. The impact of these prolonged dry conditions is a product of regional climate and hydrological conditions, but also of a highly engineered water management infrastructure and a complex web of social arrangements whereby water is allocated, shared, exchanged, used, re-used, and finally consumed. We coupled an agent-based model with a regional hydrological model to understand the dynamics in one richly studied and highly populous area: southern Arizona, U.S.A., including metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson. There, multiple management entities representing an array of municipalities and other water providers and customers, including private companies and Native American tribes are enmeshed in a complex legal and economic context in which water is bought, leased, banked, and exchanged in a variety of ways and on multiple temporal and physical scales. A recurrent question in the literature of adaptive management is the impact of management structure on overall system performance. To explore this, we constructed an agent-based model to capture this social complexity, and coupled this with a physical hydrological model that we used to drive the system under a variety of water stress scenarios and to assess the regional impact of the social system's performance. We report the outcomes of ensembles of runs in which varieties of alternative policy constraints and management strategies are considered. We hope to contribute to policy discussions in this area and connected and legislatively similar areas (such as California) as current conditions change and existing legal and policy structures are revised. Additionally, we comment on the challenges of integrating models that ostensibly are in different domains (physical and social) but that independently represent a system in which physical processes and human actions are closely intertwined and difficult to disentangle.

  14. Estudo sobre reciclagem de lâmpadas fluorescentes

    OpenAIRE

    Bacila,Danniele Miranda; Fischer,Klaus; Kolicheski,Mônica Beatriz

    2014-01-01

    Lâmpadas fluorescentes (LF) contêm mercúrio em sua composição, um metal pesado que pode causar danos à saúde e ao meio ambiente. As LF são amplamente consumidas no Brasil, porém o descarte correto de LF usadas não é amplamente divulgado e os índices de reciclagem são baixos. O objetivo deste estudo foi demonstrar a relevância do descarte adequado, avaliar as tecnologias de reciclagem e a destinação dos materiais, por meio de estudo comparativo entre Brasil e Alemanha. Através de visitas a rec...

  15. Portable Solid Phase Micro-Extraction Coupled with Ion Mobility Spectrometry System for On-Site Analysis of Chemical Warfare Agents and Simulants in Water Samples

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Liu Yang

    2014-11-01

    Full Text Available On-site analysis is an efficient approach to facilitate analysis at the location of the system under investigation as it can result in more accurate, more precise and quickly available analytical data. In our work, a novel self-made thermal desorption based interface was fabricated to couple solid-phase microextraction with ion mobility spectrometry for on-site water analysis. The portable interface can be connected with the front-end of an ion mobility spectrometer directly without other modifications. The analytical performance was evaluated via the extraction of chemical warfare agents and simulants in water samples. Several parameters including ionic strength and extraction time have been investigated in detail. The application of the developed method afforded satisfactory recoveries ranging from 72.9% to 114.4% when applied to the analysis of real water samples.

  16. Os estudos brasileiros e os 'brazilianists'

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    José Honório Rodrigues

    1976-09-01

    Full Text Available (primeiro parágrafo do artigo Quando, em 1943-1944, estive nos Estados Unidos, estudando e pesquisando, conheci muitas bibliotecas públicas e universitárias, e o grande Arquivo Nacional dos Estados Unidos. Nas Universidades já se ofereciam cursos de estudos latino-americanos, centralizados sobretudo no estudo da língua espanhola, portuguesa em menor escala, estenografía em espanhol, e raras propunham o ensino da literatura comparativa, antropologia, economia, geografia, política e história latino-americana, sempre em conjunto; raríssimas, como a Columbia, ofereciam aulas de história social e econômica do Brasil, e tambem do México e da América Central, e ainda da Argentina, Uruguai e Paraguai. Havia pouca especialização por paises e áreas, e se via predominantemente a América Latina como um bloco uno e uniforme.

  17. Lectin conjugates as biospecific contrast agents for MRI. Coupling of Lycopersicon esculentum agglutinin to linear water-soluble DTPA-loaded oligomers.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Pashkunova-Martic, Irena; Kremser, Christian; Galanski, Markus; Schluga, Petra; Arion, Vladimir; Debbage, Paul; Jaschke, Werner; Keppler, Bernhard

    2011-06-01

    Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) requires synthesis of contrast media bearing targeting groups and numerous gadolinium chelating groups generating high relaxivity. This paper explores the results of linking the gadolinium chelates to the targeting group, a protein molecule, via various types of linkers. Polycondensates of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) with either diols or diamines were synthesised and coupled to the targeting group, a lectin (Lycopersicon esculentum agglutinin, tomato lectin) which binds with high affinity to specific oligosaccharide configurations in the endothelial glycocalyx. The polycondensates bear up to four carboxylic groups per constitutive unit. Gd-chelate bonds are created through dative interactions with the unshared pair of electrons on each oxygen and nitrogen atom on DTPA. This is mandatory for complexation of Gd(III) and avoidance of the severe toxicity of free gadolinium ions. The polymer-DTPA compounds were characterised by (1)H NMR and mass spectrometry. The final lectin-DTPA-polycondensate conjugates were purified by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). The capacity for specific binding was assessed, and the MRI properties were examined in order to evaluate the use of these oligomers as components of selective perfusional contrast agents.

  18. Liposomal Drug Delivery of Anticancer Agents

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Pedersen, Palle Jacob

    and retention (EPR) effect. The liposomes consists of sPLA2 IIA sensitive phospholipids having anticancer drugs covalently attached to the sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone in the phospholipids, hence drug leakage is avoided from the carrier system. Various known anticancer agents, like chlorambucil, all......) based strategy using a limited number of reaction types. Upon coupling of unsaturated building blocks ring closing metathesis cascades were used to “reprogram” the molecular scaffold and highly diverse structures were obtained. In total 20 novel compounds with a broad structural diversity were prepared...

  19. Consumo de medicamentos por agentes comunitários de saúde

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Dominick Danielle Mendonça SANTOS

    2018-04-01

    Full Text Available Esse trabalho investigou o consumo de medicamentos pelos agentes comunitários de saúde (ACS, e realizou uma capacitação abordando a temática. Participaram do estudo 44 ACS. Os medicamentos mais utilizados foram os analgésicos, antitérmicos e anti-inflamatórios (70,8%. Os ACS relataram a seguinte frequência de uso de medicamentos no último mês: 12 usaram uma vez, seis usaram duas vezes, 17 usaram três vezes ou mais e 18 não usaram medicamentos. Quanto à forma de consumo, 18 realizam a automedicação. Dos entrevistados, 35 não tiveram dificuldade em adquirir medicamentos sob prescrição sem a mesma, seis fazem uso de medicamento sob controle especial e 51 entrevistados utilizam água para tomar o medicamento. Os entrevistados afirmaram não consumirem medicamentos pela influência da propaganda comercial. Diante dos dados obtidos, conclui-se que ocorre a prática da automedicação e falhas no uso racional de medicamentos entre os agentes comunitários de saúde.

  20. Combining integrated river modelling and agent based social simulation for river management; The case study of the Grensmaas project

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Valkering, P.; Krywkow, Jorg; Rotmans, J.; van der Veen, A.; Douben, N.; van Os, A.G.

    2003-01-01

    In this paper we present a coupled Integrated River Model – Agent Based Social Simulation model (IRM-ABSS) for river management. The models represent the case of the ongoing river engineering project “Grensmaas”. In the ABSS model stakeholders are represented as computer agents negotiating a river

  1. The value of less connected agents in Boolean networks

    Science.gov (United States)

    Epstein, Daniel; Bazzan, Ana L. C.

    2013-11-01

    In multiagent systems, agents often face binary decisions where one seeks to take either the minority or the majority side. Examples are minority and congestion games in general, i.e., situations that require coordination among the agents in order to depict efficient decisions. In minority games such as the El Farol Bar Problem, previous works have shown that agents may reach appropriate levels of coordination, mostly by looking at the history of past decisions. Not many works consider any kind of structure of the social network, i.e., how agents are connected. Moreover, when structure is indeed considered, it assumes some kind of random network with a given, fixed connectivity degree. The present paper departs from the conventional approach in some ways. First, it considers more realistic network topologies, based on preferential attachments. This is especially useful in social networks. Second, the formalism of random Boolean networks is used to help agents to make decisions given their attachments (for example acquaintances). This is coupled with a reinforcement learning mechanism that allows agents to select strategies that are locally and globally efficient. Third, we use agent-based modeling and simulation, a microscopic approach, which allows us to draw conclusions about individuals and/or classes of individuals. Finally, for the sake of illustration we use two different scenarios, namely the El Farol Bar Problem and a binary route choice scenario. With this approach we target systems that adapt dynamically to changes in the environment, including other adaptive decision-makers. Our results using preferential attachments and random Boolean networks are threefold. First we show that an efficient equilibrium can be achieved, provided agents do experimentation. Second, microscopic analysis show that influential agents tend to consider few inputs in their Boolean functions. Third, we have also conducted measurements related to network clustering and centrality

  2. ESTUDOS NACIONAIS SOBRE O ENSINO PARA CEGOS: UMA REVISÃO BIBLIOGRÁFICA

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Rosana Mendes Éleres de FIGUEIREDO

    2015-12-01

    Full Text Available RESUMO O presente artigo tem como objetivo apresentar uma revisão bibliográfica dos estudos nacionais acerca do ensino curricular para cegos. Foi realizada uma busca sistemática em três bases de dados: Google Acadêmico, Scielo e Lilacs, de estudos publicados no período de 2004 a 2014, que tivessem em seu título um dos seguintes descritores: alunos cegos; alunos deficientes visuais; crianças cegas; crianças deficientes visuais. Foram localizados 188 estudos e 56 selecionados dentro dos critérios estabelecidos. Fez-se a leitura integral desses e definiram-se cinco categorias de análise: tipo de estudo; participantes; tipo de abordagem; tipo de discussão e matrizes curriculares. Para cada categoria, foram estabelecidas subcategorias. Ao total 26 subcategorias foram descritas. Os resultados indicam que o Google Acadêmico é a base de dados com maior número de títulos encontrados (188/156; a Scielo apresenta melhor eficiência na relação encontrado x selecionado (12/10. Nas subcategorias de análise, as maiores frequências são identificadas nos estudos empíricos (22; junto a crianças (19; de análises qualitativas (21; na matriz curricular de Educação Física (sete e na subcategoria relacionamento social (16. Contudo, os estudos são convergentes em apontar que as principais dificuldades no ensino às pessoas cegas se referem a deficiências na formação de professores, onde, normalmente, não são discutidos métodos de ensino e produção de material para trabalhar com essa população específica. Em conclusão, além de realizar um mapeamento dos estudos que têm sido conduzidos junto a alunos cegos nos últimos dez anos, este artigo aponta para lacunas na literatura e direciona futuras investigações na área.

  3. Estudo de uma cepa humana de Schistosoma mansoni resistente a agentes esquistossomicidas

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Naftale Katz

    1973-12-01

    Full Text Available Foi isolada uma cepa de Schistosoma mansoni proveniente de dois pacientes tratados com hycanthone, por duas vezes, na dose de 2,5mg/kg, i.m., em janeiro e em abril de 1970, e com niridazole (25mg/kg dia x 5 oral, em abril de 1971. O número de ovos por grama de fezes nestes pacientes antes do tratamento era de 2675 e 1025, respectivamente e, após o terceiro tratamento, em torno de 100 ovos/g. Miracídios obtidos das fezes destes pacientes, infectaram caramujos (Biomphalaria glabrata, que passaram a eliminar cercárias (cepa WW. Estas foram utilizadas para infecção experimental de camundongos albinos. Os animais infectados foram tratados com esquemas múltiplos de hycanthone, niridazole e oxamniquine. Estudos comparativos das cepas WW e LE (esta última mantida rotineiramente em nossos laboratórios mostraram diferenças acentuadas quando à sensibilidade aos esquistossomicidas usados. De fato, com hycanthone, na dose de 80mg/kg, i.m. houve 100% de alteração do oograma nos camundongos infectados com a cepa L.E. e de 0,0% nos infectados com a cepa WW. Com a oxamniquine e niridazole as diferenças foram menores, mas, ainda assim, suficientes para indicar maior resistência da cepa WW a estes esquistossomicidas. Esta é a primeira vez na literatura, que se demonstra resistência em cepas de S. mansoni provenientes de pacientes tratados.There has been isolated a Schistosoma mansoni strain from two patients submitted to two courses of treatment with hycanthone (2,5mg/kg, i.m., in January and April, 1970, and to one course with niridazole (25mg/kg/day x 5, per os, in April, 1971. Before treatment, the number of eggs in the faeces of those patients was, per gram, 2,675 and 1,025, respectively; after completion of treatment, such number had come down to around 100 eggs/gram. Miracidia hatched from the patients faeces could infect Biomphalaria glabrata snails, which elimmated cercariae (WW strain that were used for experimental infection of albino

  4. Presença de genes de resistência a agentes antimicrobianos em saliva, biofilme supragengival e canais radiculares infectados

    OpenAIRE

    Ludmila Coutinho Moraes

    2013-01-01

    Embora diferentes estudos indiquem que há um aumento da resistência dos microrganismos aos agentes antimicrobianos prescritos, pouco se sabe a respeito da sua distribuição na cavidade oral. A presente dissertação está dividida em dois capítulos, representados por dois diferentes manuscritos. No manuscrito I, uma revisão sistemática foi realizada e teve como objetivo determinar quais genes de resistência a antimicrobianos foram pesquisados em saliva (S), no biofilme supragengival (SB) e canal ...

  5. Recent developments in antiviral agents against enterovirus 71 infection.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Tan, Chee Wah; Lai, Jeffrey Kam Fatt; Sam, I-Ching; Chan, Yoke Fun

    2014-02-12

    Enterovirus 71 (EV-71) is the main etiological agent of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). Recent EV-71 outbreaks in Asia-Pacific were not limited to mild HFMD, but were associated with severe neurological complications such as aseptic meningitis and brainstem encephalitis, which may lead to cardiopulmonary failure and death. The absence of licensed therapeutics for clinical use has intensified research into anti-EV-71 development. This review highlights the potential antiviral agents targeting EV-71 attachment, entry, uncoating, translation, polyprotein processing, virus-induced formation of membranous RNA replication complexes, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The strategies for antiviral development include target-based synthetic compounds, anti-rhinovirus and poliovirus libraries screening, and natural compound libraries screening. Growing knowledge of the EV-71 life cycle will lead to successful development of antivirals. The continued effort to develop antiviral agents for treatment is crucial in the absence of a vaccine. The coupling of antivirals with an effective vaccine will accelerate eradication of the disease.

  6. Caso de estudo: a entrada do azeite Gallo no mercado chinês

    OpenAIRE

    Costa, Miguel Maria Portugal Martins

    2014-01-01

    Mestrado em Gestão 7 Classificação JEL: M16; F23 A elaboração desta dissertação consiste na criação de um caso de estudo pedagógico com o objectivo de tirar ilações sobre a entrada da marca “Azeite Gallo” no mercado Chinês. Optamos por desenvolver este caso de estudo através de um estudo qualitativo, suportado por um referencial teórico. O intuito do projecto é de documentar um exemplo paradigmático de um produto consumível de marca portuguesa que sucedeu em ultrapassar as barreiras ...

  7. Influence of spacer length on heparin coupling efficiency and fibrinogen adsorption of modified titanium surfaces

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Gbureck Uwe

    2007-07-01

    Full Text Available Abstract Background Chemical bonding of the drug onto surfaces by means of spacer molecules is accompanied with a reduction of the biological activity of the drug due to a constricted mobility since normally only short spacer molecule like aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APMS are used for drug coupling. This work aimed to study covalent attachment of heparin to titanium(oxide surfaces by varying the length of the silane coupling agent, which should affect the biological potency of the drug due to a higher mobility with longer spacer chains. Methods Covalent attachment of heparin to titanium metal and TiO2 powder was carried out using the coupling agents 3-(Trimethoxysilyl-propylamine (APMS, N- [3-(Trimethoxysilylpropyl]ethylenediamine (Diamino-APMS and N1- [3-(Trimethoxy-silyl-propyl]diethylenetriamine (Triamino-APMS. The amount of bound coupling agent and heparin was quantified photometrically by the ninhydrin reaction and the tolidine-blue test. The biological potency of heparin was determined photometrically by the chromogenic substrate Chromozym TH and fibrinogen adsorption to the modified surfaces was researched using the QCM-D (Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Monitoring technique. Results Zeta-potential measurements confirmed the successful coupling reaction; the potential of the unmodified anatase surface (approx. -26 mV shifted into the positive range (> + 40 mV after silanisation. Binding of heparin results in a strongly negatively charged surface with zeta-potentials of approx. -39 mV. The retaining biological activity of heparin was highest for the spacer molecule Triamino-APMS. QCM-D measurements showed a lower viscosity for adsorbed fibrinogen films on heparinised surfaces by means of Triamino-APMS. Conclusion The remaining activity of heparin was found to be highest for the covalent attachment with Triamino-APMS as coupling agent due to the long chain of this spacer molecule and therefore the highest mobility of the drug

  8. IMPACTOS MICROCLIMÁTICOS DO DESENHO URBANO: ESTUDOS REALIZADOS EM CURITIBA

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Eduardo KRUGER

    2011-04-01

    Full Text Available O artigo busca compreender as relações entre atributos da geometria urbana e alterações no microclima. São apresentados dois estudos distintos conduzidos na mesma área central de Curitiba, PR, a partir de medições de campo realizadas em 2009 e de simulações de clima urbano no software ENVI-met. Os estudos, embora utilizem a mesma campanha de coleta de dados, possuem objetivos e metodologias diferentes. O primeiro estudo foca no impacto da geometria urbana, na temperatura ambiente e nos níveis de conforto em ruas de pedestre no período diurno, sendo o fator de visão do céu utilizado como indicador da complexa geometria urbana. O segundo estudo trata do impacto da orientação das vias em relação ao vento dominante, quanto às taxas de ventilação resultantes (velocidade do ar e distribuição espacial, visando à dispersão de poluentes gerados pelo tráfego, no contexto urbano. Os resultados auferidos evidenciam a influência da forma urbana para a determinação do conforto térmico em ruas de pedestres, restringindo-se a um período diurno específico, e para a criação de cenários de poluição.

  9. O espaço de vida do agente de segurança penitenciária no cárcere: entre gaiolas, ratoeiras e aquários

    OpenAIRE

    Arlindo da Silva Lourenço

    2010-01-01

    O objetivo da pesquisa foi estudar a psicologia dos Agentes de Segurança Penitenciária (ASPs), como integrantes de um grupo profissional no exercício de sua função no interior do cárcere. O referencial teórico foi a Teoria de Campo de Kurt LEWIN, com destaque para os conceitos de espaço de vida, pessoa e ambiente, regiões, barreiras, locomoção e tempo. O objeto de estudo foi 27 ASPs de duas Penitenciárias masculinas do Estado de São Paulo. Esses agentes foram observados em três situações de t...

  10. A Watershed-Scale Agent-Based Model Incorporating Agent Learning and Interaction of Farmers' Decisions Subject to Carbon and Miscanthus Prices

    Science.gov (United States)

    Ng, T.; Eheart, J.; Cai, X.; Braden, J. B.

    2010-12-01

    Agricultural watersheds are coupled human-natural systems where the land use decisions of human agents (farmers) affect surface water quality, and in turn, are affected by the weather and yields. The reliable modeling of such systems requires an approach that considers both the human and natural aspects. Agent-based modeling (ABM), representing the human aspect, coupled with hydrologic modeling, representing the natural aspect, is one such approach. ABM is a relatively new modeling paradigm that formulates the system from the perspectives of the individual agents, i.e., each agent is modeled as a discrete autonomous entity with distinct goals and actions. The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate the applicability of this approach to agricultural watershed management. This is done using a semi-hypothetical case study of farmers in the Salt Creek watershed in East-Central Illinois under the influence markets for carbon and second-generation bioenergy crop (specifically, miscanthus). An agent-based model of the system is developed and linked to a hydrologic model of the watershed. The former is based on fundamental economic and mathematical programming principles, while the latter is based on the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Carbon and second-generation bioenergy crop markets are of interest here due to climate change and energy independence concerns. The agent-based model is applied to fifty hypothetical heterogeneous farmers. The farmers' decisions depend on their perceptions of future conditions. Those perceptions are updated, according to a pre-defined algorithm, as the farmers make new observations of prices, costs, yields and the weather with time. The perceptions are also updated as the farmers interact with each other as they share new information on initially unfamiliar activities (e.g., carbon trading, miscanthus cultivation). The updating algorithm is set differently for different farmers such that each is unique in his processing of

  11. Cascades on a stochastic pulse-coupled network

    Science.gov (United States)

    Wray, C. M.; Bishop, S. R.

    2014-09-01

    While much recent research has focused on understanding isolated cascades of networks, less attention has been given to dynamical processes on networks exhibiting repeated cascades of opposing influence. An example of this is the dynamic behaviour of financial markets where cascades of buying and selling can occur, even over short timescales. To model these phenomena, a stochastic pulse-coupled oscillator network with upper and lower thresholds is described and analysed. Numerical confirmation of asynchronous and synchronous regimes of the system is presented, along with analytical identification of the fixed point state vector of the asynchronous mean field system. A lower bound for the finite system mean field critical value of network coupling probability is found that separates the asynchronous and synchronous regimes. For the low-dimensional mean field system, a closed-form equation is found for cascade size, in terms of the network coupling probability. Finally, a description of how this model can be applied to interacting agents in a financial market is provided.

  12. um estudo de caso

    OpenAIRE

    Costa, Cátia Filipa Pereira da

    2011-01-01

    Dissertação apresentada à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Psicologia Jurídica As situações de abuso sexual de crianças nas quais o perpetrador pertence ao sexo feminino obtiveram ao longo dos últimos anos um acrescido reconhecimento por parte da comunidade científica, evidenciado pelo significativo incremento das investigações no âmbito desta temática consistindo na sua maioria estudos de caso. Um conjunto de particularidades encont...

  13. Aprendizagem Organizacional, Teoria Ator-Rede e Estudos Foucaultianos: Tempo, Espaço e Poder

    OpenAIRE

    Bruno Luiz Américo

    2016-01-01

    Esse trabalho baseia-se no mapeamento de lacunas encontradas nos desenvolvimentos dos estudos organizacionais de conhecimento e aprendizagem, e busca contribuir para a consolidação da aprendizagem organizacional como uma teoria do movimento organizacional/social. Para isso, propõe diálogo entre a Perspectiva Social-Política da Aprendizagem social, a Teoria Ator-Rede e os estudos foucaultianos. O trabalho conclui destacando o potencial da teoria ator-rede e dos estudos foucaultianos para anali...

  14. Viabilidade do emprego de agentes retardadores em substituição aos desmoldantes convencionais na moldagem de concreto para aplicação de argamassas de revestimento

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Mirella Pennacchi Assali

    Full Text Available N presença do desmoldante na superfície estruturas de concreto armado pode dificultar a adesão da argamassa quando fresca, com posterior descolamento no estado endurecido. Este estudo tem por objetivo explorar o potencial de uso de agentes retardadores em substituição aos desmoldantes convencionais na moldagem de concreto para a obtenção de superfícies com maior capacidade de ancoragem das argamassas. A viabilidade do uso de agentes retardadores foi verificada determinando-se de modo comparativo a resistência de aderência à tração da argamassa e do chapisco aplicados sobre placas de concreto moldadas com formas de madeira plastificada tratadas com agente retardador e com desmoldante convencional. O ensaio de aderência mostrou que a utilização de produtos retardadores possibilitou maior facilidade para a remoção da camada superficial do concreto, resultando em um aumento de rugosidade e absorção superficial. Posteriormente, foram avaliados produtos retardadores existentes no mercado para os quais foram observados desempenho na aplicação sobre as formas, impacto dos produtos na saúde do trabalhador e no meio ambiente. O estudo mostrou que o uso de desmoldante retardador pode ser uma técnica viável para evitar os problemas de descolamento do revestimento aplicado sobre superfícies de concreto.

  15. Estudo de ligas de ouro por XRF e SEM-EDS

    OpenAIRE

    Coxito, Afonso Maria Teixeira

    2016-01-01

    Serve o presente estudo para testar uma metodologia para análise de ligas metálicas, em particular ligas de ouro, utilizando as técnicas de fluorescência de raios-X e microscopia electrónica de varrimento. No contexto do presente estudo, foi identificada a composição das folhas de ouro utilizadas em obras de arte. As técnicas laboratoriais utilizadas foram: Microscopia óptica; Espectroscopia de fluorescência de raios-X com dispersão de energia (EDXRF); Microscopi...

  16. Double coupling: modeling subjectivity and asymmetric organization in social-ecological systems

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    David Manuel-Navarrete

    2015-09-01

    Full Text Available Social-ecological organization is a multidimensional phenomenon that combines material and symbolic processes. However, the coupling between social and ecological subsystem is often conceptualized as purely material, thus reducing the symbolic dimension to its behavioral and actionable expressions. In this paper I conceptualize social-ecological systems as doubly coupled. On the one hand, material expressions of socio-cultural processes affect and are affected by ecological dynamics. On the other hand, coupled social-ecological material dynamics are concurrently coupled with subjective dynamics via coding, decoding, personal experience, and human agency. This second coupling operates across two organizationally heterogeneous dimensions: material and symbolic. Although resilience thinking builds on the recognition of organizational asymmetry between living and nonliving systems, it has overlooked the equivalent asymmetry between ecological and socio-cultural subsystems. Three guiding concepts are proposed to formalize double coupling. The first one, social-ecological asymmetry, expands on past seminal work on ecological self-organization to incorporate reflexivity and subjectivity in social-ecological modeling. Organizational asymmetry is based in the distinction between social rules, which are symbolically produced and changed through human agents' reflexivity and purpose, and biophysical rules, which are determined by functional relations between ecological components. The second guiding concept, conscious power, brings to the fore human agents' distinctive capacity to produce our own subjective identity and the consequences of this capacity for social-ecological organization. The third concept, congruence between subjective and objective dynamics, redefines sustainability as contingent on congruent relations between material and symbolic processes. Social-ecological theories and analyses based on these three guiding concepts would support the

  17. EMPREENDEDORISMO E VALORES HUMANOS: UM ESTUDO CONCEITUAL

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Luciano Vignochi

    2013-09-01

    Full Text Available O objetivo principal deste artigo foi identificar conceitos de valores humanos em publicações científicas sobre empreendedorismo. Não há um único conceito de valores humanos, gerando diversas abordagens e aplicações do termo em estudos sobre empreendedorismo. Para identificar diferenças conceituais e aplicações práticas, optou-se por realizar uma análise de conteúdo em um portfólio de artigos selecionados em bases de dados. O principal critério de seleção das publicações foi aderência ao tema. Os resultados mostram que valores podem ser definidos como: critérios de julgamento da realidade; aspectos abstratos, cognitivos e afetivos ou características determinantes da personalidade e do comportamento de empreendedores. Valores influenciam a sobrevivência do indivíduo, o crescimento do empreendimento e podem nivelar a congruência do empreendedor e seu propósito de empreendimento com os critérios de convivência social. Ainda foram discriminados resultados de estudos aplicados com vistas a destacar evidências de contribuições práticas de pesquisas sobre valores humanos em empreendedorismo. Futuras investigações para aprofundar e replicar as análises realizadas neste estudo podem contribuir com a formação de empreendedores, a realização de diagnóstico empresarial e com avanços para a consolidação um modelo de desenvolvimento de empresas baseado em valores humanos.

  18. Computation of the target state and feedback controls for time optimal consensus in multi-agent systems

    Science.gov (United States)

    Mulla, Ameer K.; Patil, Deepak U.; Chakraborty, Debraj

    2018-02-01

    N identical agents with bounded inputs aim to reach a common target state (consensus) in the minimum possible time. Algorithms for computing this time-optimal consensus point, the control law to be used by each agent and the time taken for the consensus to occur, are proposed. Two types of multi-agent systems are considered, namely (1) coupled single-integrator agents on a plane and, (2) double-integrator agents on a line. At the initial time instant, each agent is assumed to have access to the state information of all the other agents. An algorithm, using convexity of attainable sets and Helly's theorem, is proposed, to compute the final consensus target state and the minimum time to achieve this consensus. Further, parts of the computation are parallelised amongst the agents such that each agent has to perform computations of O(N2) run time complexity. Finally, local feedback time-optimal control laws are synthesised to drive each agent to the target point in minimum time. During this part of the operation, the controller for each agent uses measurements of only its own states and does not need to communicate with any neighbouring agents.

  19. A structure-activity analysis of the variation in oxime efficacy against nerve agents

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Maxwell, Donald M.; Koplovitz, Irwin; Worek, Franz; Sweeney, Richard E.

    2008-01-01

    A structure-activity analysis was used to evaluate the variation in oxime efficacy of 2-PAM, obidoxime, HI-6 and ICD585 against nerve agents. In vivo oxime protection and in vitro oxime reactivation were used as indicators of oxime efficacy against VX, sarin, VR and cyclosarin. Analysis of in vivo oxime protection was conducted with oxime protective ratios (PR) from guinea pigs receiving oxime and atropine therapy after sc administration of nerve agent. Analysis of in vitro reactivation was conducted with second-order rate contants (k r2 ) for oxime reactivation of agent-inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) from guinea pig erythrocytes. In vivo oxime PR and in vitro k r2 decreased as the volume of the alkylmethylphosphonate moiety of nerve agents increased from VX to cyclosarin. This effect was greater with 2-PAM and obidoxime (> 14-fold decrease in PR) than with HI-6 and ICD585 ( r2 as the volume of the agent moiety conjugated to AChE increased was consistent with a steric hindrance mechanism. Linear regression of log (PR-1) against log (k r2 · [oxime dose]) produced two offset parallel regression lines that delineated a significant difference between the coupling of oxime reactivation and oxime protection for HI-6 and ICD585 compared to 2-PAM and obidoxime. HI-6 and ICD585 appeared to be 6.8-fold more effective than 2-PAM and obidoxime at coupling oxime reactivation to oxime protection, which suggested that the isonicotinamide group that is common to both of these oximes, but absent from 2-PAM and obidoxime, is important for oxime efficacy

  20. ESTUDO DE ETNOECODESIGN DE IMAGENS SACRAS EM GESSO DANIFICADAS E DESCARTADAS PELO USUÁRIO. ESTUDO DE MODELO SUSTENTÁVEL DE NICHO DE DESCARTE.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Paulo Sergio de Sena

    2016-10-01

    Full Text Available O Etnoecodesingn trata-se de um estudo interdisciplinar onde o dialogo envolve os critérios culturais, sociais e ambientais. Os componentes etnoecológicos do estudo das Imagens Sacras de Gesso se materializam no grupo de artesãos tradicionais locais (mais de 100 anos de exploração da técnica e recurso natural gesso. Na produção de imagens sacras, como souvenir, em Aparecida- SP, que agrega processos e materiais que contribuem significativamente para contaminação do ambiente, durante a pré-produção, produção, pós-produção e descarte, principalmente quando houve constatação, no projeto anterior, de matéria prima contaminada por metais pesados. Este trabalho trata dos possíveis impactos causados pelo descarte das imagens, uma vez danificadas, diretamente no ambiente por conta de uma prática cultural denominada de “Santa Cruz” e vem contribuir para o estudo comparado dos atuais modelos de nicho de descarte e a proposta de um modelo mais sustentável para a Santa Cruz.

  1. Festivais musicais : um estudo sob a ótica do turismo

    OpenAIRE

    Ruas, Rayane

    2014-01-01

    Este trabalho trata-se de uma pesquisa de caráter qualitativo, baseada no método hipotético-dedutivo, que busca analisar os festivais de música enquanto encontros que permitem a ruptura do cotidiano proporcionando uma experiência do turismo. Primeiramente foi realizada uma pesquisa exploratória explicativa acerca do tema o que delimitou o seu objeto de estudo. O recorte do objeto de estudo foram os festivais de música desde o Festival de Monterey em 1967 até os dias atuais. Durante a pesquisa...

  2. CATS-based Air Traffic Controller Agents

    Science.gov (United States)

    Callantine, Todd J.

    2002-01-01

    This report describes intelligent agents that function as air traffic controllers. Each agent controls traffic in a single sector in real time; agents controlling traffic in adjoining sectors can coordinate to manage an arrival flow across a given meter fix. The purpose of this research is threefold. First, it seeks to study the design of agents for controlling complex systems. In particular, it investigates agent planning and reactive control functionality in a dynamic environment in which a variety perceptual and decision making skills play a central role. It examines how heuristic rules can be applied to model planning and decision making skills, rather than attempting to apply optimization methods. Thus, the research attempts to develop intelligent agents that provide an approximation of human air traffic controller behavior that, while not based on an explicit cognitive model, does produce task performance consistent with the way human air traffic controllers operate. Second, this research sought to extend previous research on using the Crew Activity Tracking System (CATS) as the basis for intelligent agents. The agents use a high-level model of air traffic controller activities to structure the control task. To execute an activity in the CATS model, according to the current task context, the agents reference a 'skill library' and 'control rules' that in turn execute the pattern recognition, planning, and decision-making required to perform the activity. Applying the skills enables the agents to modify their representation of the current control situation (i.e., the 'flick' or 'picture'). The updated representation supports the next activity in a cycle of action that, taken as a whole, simulates air traffic controller behavior. A third, practical motivation for this research is to use intelligent agents to support evaluation of new air traffic control (ATC) methods to support new Air Traffic Management (ATM) concepts. Current approaches that use large, human

  3. Estudo prospectivo da cadeia produtiva do capim-limão: estado do Paraná

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Eliane Carneiro Gomes

    2004-12-01

    Full Text Available A aplicação de prospectiva para cadeias produtivas engloba várias etapas como a segmentação de cada elo, a análise do ambiente institucional e organizacional que envolve a cadeia, a identificação das necessidades e aspirações de cada segmento da cadeia e dos fatores críticos para a melhoria do desempenho. Desta forma, considerando a importância econômica da produção, industrialização e comercialização do capim-limão, Cymbopogon citratus (D.C. Stapf, e visando uma ação integrada do setor agrícola envolvido, este trabalho propõe o estudo prospectivo da cadeia produtiva desta espécie no estado do Paraná, identificando também fatores e condicionantes de qualidade em cada segmento desta cadeia. Para isto, o presente estudo apresenta o panorama da produção agroindustrial e da comunidade produtora agrícola paranaense de capim-limão; identifica e caracteriza os outros segmentos que integram a respectiva cadeia produtiva no Paraná e, por fim, identifica e analisa os principais gargalos, elos faltantes e pontos de estrangulamento. Evidenciaram-se como principais componentes da cadeia produtiva: a unidade produtiva, a agroindústria, a indústria (alimentícia, farmacêutica e química e o mercado consumidor interno (atacadista e varejista e externo. Com esse estudo prospectivo, espera-se contribuir para a implementação de medidas político-organizacionais, entre os agentes econômicos dos setores público e privado, que fazem parte da cadeia produtiva do capim-limão, possibilitando-lhes desenvolver estratégias que aumentem a competitividade e conduzam à expansão do mercado.The application of a prospective study to productive chains incorporates several stages like the segmentation of each link, the analysis of institutional and organizational environments to include the chain, the identification of necessities and aspirations of each chain segment and the critical factors for the improvement of performance. Thus

  4. Nanocompósitos de polietileno/argila bentonita nacional: influência da argila e do agente compatibilizante PE-g-MA nas propriedades mecânicas e de inflamabilidade Polyethylene/national bentonite clay nanocomposites: influence of clay and PE-g-MA coupling agent on the mechanical properties and flammability

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Gustavo F. Brito

    2008-06-01

    Full Text Available Nanocompósitos de polietileno de alta densidade/argila bentonita nacional foram preparados por intercalação por fusão. A influência da adição da argila sem tratamento e da argila tratada com o sal quaternário de amônio Cetremide e do polietileno graftizado com anidrido maléico (PE-g-MA como agente compatibilizante foi avaliada. Os sistemas obtidos foram caracterizados por inflamabilidade, propriedades mecânicas e reológicas, difração de raios X e microscopia eletrônica de transmissão. Os resultados de difração de raios X e microscopia eletrônica de transmissão indicaram a obtenção de nanocompósitos com estruturas parcialmente esfoliadas e/ou intercaladas que conduziram ao aumento do módulo de elasticidade e do valor do torque. O teste de inflamabilidade mostrou que a adição da argila na matriz polimérica e a presença do PE-g-MA retardaram a velocidade de queima do sistema, ou seja, diminuíram a inflamabilidade do PE puro. Em geral, o sistema contendo o agente compatibilizante (PE-g-MA exibiu melhorias na estabilidade térmica e nanocompósitos parcialmente esfoliados foram formados, quando comparados à matriz de polietileno de alta densidade. O polietileno graftizado com anidrido maléico não apenas promoveu a esfoliação da argila, mas também facilitou a adesão carga-matriz, obtendo-se com isso melhorias nos resultados mecânicos do sistema.High density polyethylene/national bentonite clay nanocomposites were prepared with the melt intercalation technique. The effect of the clay without treatment and clay treated with quaternary ammonium salt Cetremide with polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride as coupling agent was evaluated. The systems were characterized by flammability, mechanical and rheological properties, X ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. In general, the results of X ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy showed partially exfoliated and/or intercalated structures with

  5. Novas tecnologias no estudo de ondas sonoras

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Marisa Almeida Cavalcante

    2013-10-01

    Full Text Available http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2175-7941.2013v30n3p579 O presente trabalho propõe a construção de um Tubo de Kundt adaptado às novas tecnologias disponíveis para o ensino de física. Tem como principal objetivo utilizar a placa Arduino em experimentos didáticos envolvendo o estudo de ondas sonoras. O Arduino é uma placa de controle I/O baseada no micro-controlador Atmega (Atmel e foi projetado inicialmente para fins didáticos. O fato da linguagem de programação utilizada e hardware serem do tipo open source (código aberto possibilitou sua ampla difusão em diversas áreas. Uma das intenções deste projeto é difundir o uso deste recurso para fins educacionais e particularmente no estudo de ondas sonoras estacionarias em tubos, contribuindo com a melhora na abordagem deste conteúdo no ensino e aprendizagem de Física.

  6. Elemental imaging of MRI contrast agents: benchmarking of LA-ICP-MS to MRI

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Pugh, J.A.T. [University of Sheffield, Centre for Analytical Sciences, Sheffield (United Kingdom); University of Sheffield, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Sheffield (United Kingdom); Cox, A.G.; McLeod, C.W. [University of Sheffield, Centre for Analytical Sciences, Sheffield (United Kingdom); Bunch, J. [University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Birmingham (United Kingdom); Writer, M.J.; Hart, S.L. [UCL Institute of Child Health, Wolfson Centre for Gene Therapy of Childhood Disease, London (United Kingdom); Bienemann, A.; White, E. [University of Bristol, School of Clinical Sciences, Southmead Hospital, Bristol (United Kingdom); Bell, J. [Hammersmith Hospital, Metabolic and Molecular Imaging Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, London (United Kingdom)

    2012-06-15

    Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) has been used to map the spatial distribution of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents (Gd-based) in histological sections in order to explore synergies with in vivo MRI. Images from respective techniques are presented for two separate studies namely (1) convection enhanced delivery of a Gd nanocomplex (developmental therapeutic) into rat brain and (2) convection enhanced delivery, with co-infusion of Magnevist (commercial Gd contrast agent) and Carboplatin (chemotherapy drug), into pig brain. The LA technique was shown to be a powerful compliment to MRI not only in offering improved sensitivity, spatial resolution and signal quantitation but also in giving added value regarding the fate of administered agents (Gd and Pt agents). Furthermore simultaneous measurement of Fe enabled assignment of an anomalous contrast enhancement region in rat brain to haemorrhage at the infusion site. (orig.)

  7. Ana Carolina Escosteguy: Cenários dos estudos culturais

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Thaisa Cristina Bueno

    2015-12-01

    Full Text Available Autora do livro “Cartografia dos Estudos Culturais”, “Comunicação e recepção” (em coautoria com Nilda Jacks, “Leituras em comunicação, cultura e tecnologia”, além de coautora e organizadora em outras obras de referência sobre o tema cultura e comunicação no Brasil, Ana Carolina Escosteguy é hoje um dos nomes mais importantes quando se pensa em Estudos Culturais no país. Doutora em Ciências da Comunicação pela Universidade de São Paulo (2000, com pós-doutorado no CAMRI (Communication and Media Research Institute, associado ao Department of Journalism and Mass Communication da School of Media, Art and Design da University of Westminster (UK, Ana Carolina Escosteguy é professora titular da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS e bolsista produtividade em pesquisa do CNPq, desde março 2001. Nesta entrevista ela discute pontos sensíveis da área, entre eles o pouco destaque das pesquisas desse campo têm tido no Jornalismo, o fato de a base teórica ser bem mais ampla que os tradicionais estudos de recepção a que são comumente aproximados, não se nega a tratar das confusões com a folkcomunicação, bem como as próprios limites e intersecções desse campo de estudos. Durante esta conversa, aproveita para apontar as obras que considera essenciais para adentrar na área e mostra coragem e segurança para se colocar como uma pesquisadora que busca entender o tempo atual, as tecnologias e as rupturas a partir da perspectiva do usuário. Confiram:

  8. Pulse-coupled Belousov-Zhabotinsky oscillators with frequency modulation

    Science.gov (United States)

    Horvath, Viktor; Epstein, Irving R.

    2018-04-01

    Inhibitory perturbations to the ferroin-catalyzed Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) chemical oscillator operated in a continuously fed stirred tank reactor cause long term changes to the limit cycle: the lengths of the cycles subsequent to the perturbation are longer than that of the unperturbed cycle, and the unperturbed limit cycle is recovered only after several cycles. The frequency of the BZ reaction strongly depends on the acid concentration of the medium. By adding strong acid or base to the perturbing solutions, the magnitude and the direction of the frequency changes concomitant to excitatory or inhibitory perturbations can be controlled independently of the coupling strength. The dynamics of two BZ oscillators coupled through perturbations carrying a coupling agent (activator or inhibitor) and a frequency modulator (strong acid or base) was explored using a numerical model of the system. Here, we report new complex temporal patterns: higher order, partially synchronized modes that develop when inhibitory coupling is combined with positive frequency modulation (FM), and complex bursting patterns when excitatory coupling is combined with negative FM. The role of time delay between the peak and perturbation (the analog of synaptic delays in networks of neurons) has also been studied. The complex patterns found under inhibitory coupling and positive FM vanish when the delay is significant, whereas a sufficiently long time delay is required for the complex temporal dynamics to occur when coupling is excitatory and FM is negative.

  9. Síntese sol-gel de scaffolds porosos de vidro bioativo com adição de agente porogênico

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    F. B. A. P. Guimarães

    Full Text Available Resumo O uso de biomateriais capazes de gerar uma resposta biológica tem sido um dos maiores progressos em medicina regenerativa, devido à sua habilidade de suportar o crescimento e estimular a regeneração do tecido danificado. Neste contexto, biocerâmicas, particularmente o vidro bioativo (VB, foram o objetivo de múltiplos estudos. A técnica de adição de agentes porogênicos para a síntese de scaffolds é uma técnica interessante, pois vários tipos de agentes porogênicos podem ser usados. Este estudo propôs obter scaffolds através de quatro agentes porogênicos e avaliar os efeitos que a mudança na temperatura de tratamento poderiam ter em sua cristalinidade. Scaffolds de vidro bioativo obtidos pela técnica sol-gel 100S (100% SiO2 mais agentes porogênicos (parafina 1, parafina 2, cera e CMC - carboximetilcelulose foram preparados e caracterizados. Como os melhores resultados foram obtidos com a parafina 1, scaffolds com composição 58S (60%SiO2-36%CaO-4%P2O5 e 100S usando parafina 1 como agente porogênico foram preparados. Os scaffolds foram submetidos a diferentes temperaturas de tratamento para avaliar a cristalinidade do material. A estrutura de poros foi analisada por microscopia eletrônica de varredura e microtomografia computadorizada e apresentou tamanho, distribuição e porosidade satisfatória, características importantes pois permitem migração celular, transporte de nutrientes, vascularização e crescimento tecidual. Por meio da difração de raios X constatou-se a natureza amorfa dos scaffolds. A 900 °C, scaffolds de VB 58S e 100S tiveram um pequeno aumento na sua cristalinidade. As análises de BET (adsorção de N2 mostraram estrutura mesoporosa no material. A área de superfície específica variou de 73,2 m2/g no scaffold 58S tratado a 800 °C até 331,2 m2/g no scaffold 100S tratado a 800 °C. O material não é tóxico pelos ensaios MTT de citotoxicidade. Os resultados mostraram que é poss

  10. Novel Cs-Based Upconversion Nanoparticles as Dual-Modal CT and UCL Imaging Agents for Chemo-Photothermal Synergistic Therapy.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Liu, Yuxin; Li, Luoyuan; Guo, Quanwei; Wang, Lu; Liu, Dongdong; Wei, Ziwei; Zhou, Jing

    2016-01-01

    Lanthanide-based contrast agents have attracted increasing attention for their unique properties and potential applications in cancer theranostics. To date, many of these agents have been studied extensively in cells and small animal models. However, performance of these theranostic nanoparticles requires further improvement. In this study, a novel CsLu2F7:Yb,Er,Tm-based visual therapeutic platform was developed for imaging-guided synergistic cancer therapy. Due to the presence of the heavy alkali metal Cesium (Cs) in host lattice, the nanoplatform can provide a higher resolution X-ray CT imaging than many other reported lanthanide-based CT contrast agents. Furthermore, by using the targeted RGD motif, chemotherapy drug alpha-tocopheryl succinate (α-TOS), and photothermal coupling agent ICG, this nanoplatform simultaneously provides multifunctional imaging and targeted synergistic therapy. To demonstrate the theranostic performance of this novel nanoplatform in vivo, visual diagnosis in the small animal model was realized by UCL/CT imaging which was further integrated with targeted chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy. These results provided evidence for the successful construction of a novel lanthanide-based nanoplatform coupled with multimodal imaging diagnosis and potential application in synergistic cancer theranostics.

  11. A História dos Cristãos-Novos no Brasil Colonial e a Escrita nos Livros Didáticos: um Estudo Comparativo

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Helena Ragusa

    2012-08-01

    Full Text Available As referências acerca dos cristãos-novos no Brasil são vastas na historiografia brasileira. Fugidos das perseguições ibéricas, milhares de judeus convertidos vieram se estabelecer na colônia com o intuito de aqui construírem uma nova vida. Cada vez mais surgem estudos que dedicados ao tema, apontam para as múltiplas possibilidades de se trabalhar com esses personagens, tendo em vista, as redes que aqui formaram envolvidos em uma série de atividades em diversos espaços e tempos diferentes. Nosso interesse consiste em analisar a presença de tais indivíduos em alguns livros didáticos, tanto àqueles voltados para o Ensino Fundamental quanto para o Ensino Médio, e que possuem em sua temática a História do Brasil, remontando à época do Descobrimento. O objetivo é perceber a forma como esses agentes vem sendo representados pela escrita da história apresentada por esses manuais, considerando, sobre esses últimos, o complexo universo que os constituem. Os cristãos-novos estiveram presentes durante todo o período de nossa colonização, podendo ser encontrados na sociedade que passaram a integrar, uma série de elementos de sua cultura que ainda se fazem presentes nos dias de hoje. Através de fontes variadas, tais como os próprios livros didáticos, este estudo visa compreender como se constrói o conhecimento histórico acerca de nossa formação frente a uma sociedade predominantemente cristã, o que acreditamos influenciar significativamente no tipo de ensino e aprendizagem pretendido pelas escolas e pelos agentes que as constituem como é o caso dos livros didáticos, parte da cultura material escolar.

  12. Benchmarking e a indústria do conhecimento: um estudo de caso

    OpenAIRE

    Maciel Filho, Adalberto Rego; Aquino, Miriam Cunha de; Sales, Nayade Kennedy

    2016-01-01

    Resumo Estudo de caso das Bibliotecas Indústria do Conhecimento (IDCs) do sistema do Serviço Social da Indústria-Sesi localizadas em Alagoas (25), Paraíba (10),Pernambuco (18), Rio Grande do Norte (10), especificamente as IDCs Públicas, objetivando analisar o seu desempenho e apresentar oportunidades para incremento de frequência utilizando benchmarking. Inclui revisão de literatura de projetos nacionais de uso de benchmarking, bem como estudos e considerações sobre esse processo. Para anális...

  13. Fostering Multimedia Learning of Science: Exploring the Role of an Animated Agent's Image

    Science.gov (United States)

    Dunsworth, Qi; Atkinson, Robert K.

    2007-01-01

    Research suggests that students learn better when studying a picture coupled with narration rather than on-screen text in a computer-based multimedia learning environment. Moreover, combining narration with the visual presence of an animated pedagogical agent may also encourage students to process information deeper than narration or on-screen…

  14. O adolescer como portadora de HIV/AIDS : um estudo com adolescentes e suas cuidadoras-familiares

    OpenAIRE

    Ana Amélia Antunes Lima

    2006-01-01

    Trata-se de um estudo exploratório com abordagem qualitativa que aborda a questão do adolescer com HIV/AIDS. Os objetivos do estudo foram: conhecer como ocorre o processo de adolescer para as adolescentes portadoras de HIV/AIDS por transmissão materno-infantil e conhecer como os cuidadores-familiares dessas adolescentes percebem o processo de adolescer com HIV/AIDS. Participaram do estudo sete sujeitos, sendo quatro adolescentes portadoras de HIV/AIDS e três cuidadoras, residentes em Porto Al...

  15. Coupled replicator equations for the dynamics of learning in multiagent systems

    Science.gov (United States)

    Sato, Yuzuru; Crutchfield, James P.

    2003-01-01

    Starting with a group of reinforcement-learning agents we derive coupled replicator equations that describe the dynamics of collective learning in multiagent systems. We show that, although agents model their environment in a self-interested way without sharing knowledge, a game dynamics emerges naturally through environment-mediated interactions. An application to rock-scissors-paper game interactions shows that the collective learning dynamics exhibits a diversity of competitive and cooperative behaviors. These include quasiperiodicity, stable limit cycles, intermittency, and deterministic chaos—behaviors that should be expected in heterogeneous multiagent systems described by the general replicator equations we derive.

  16. Balancing work, study and home: a research with master’s students in a Brazilian University / Equilibrando trabalho, estudo e lar: um estudo com mestrandos em uma universidade brasileira

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Amanda Magri Eller

    2016-06-01

    Full Text Available Purpose: Understand the tactics that nontraditional students use to manage the boundaries between work, home and study. Originality/gap/relevance/implications: The originality of this study relies on transfer of the focus from the conflict to the balance between work, home and study. It also breaks new ground by directing attention to the micro level of individual action, in contrast to a literature that traditionally studied organizational actions. Finally, it performs an innovative reading of the interface between work, home and study domains from the perspective of the boundary theory. Key methodological aspects: This qualitative study was held from 18 interviews that were recorded, transcribed and content analyzed, which revealed a list of individual tactics employed by respondents to reconcile the demands of work, home and study. Summary of key results: The analysis allowed us to identify 18 tactics that our respondents employ to negotiate the level of permeability between the boundaries between work, school and home. These tactics were classified as behavioral, communicative, physical and temporal. Key considerations/conclusions: The study revealed that students develop an active role by interpreting the expectations of the social actors from the home and work domains and from the institution where they study and adopt boundaries with degrees of permeability that enable a state of greater balance between these domains Objetivo: Compreender as táticas que estudantes não tradicionais utilizam para gerenciar as fronteiras entre trabalho, lar e estudo. Originalidade/Lacuna/Relevância/Implicações: O estudo se mostra original ao transferir o foco do conflito para o equilíbrio entre trabalho, lar e estudos. Além disso, também inova ao direcionar a atenção para o nível micro da ação individual, contrastando com uma literatura que tradicionalmente estuda ações organizacionais. Por fim, realiza uma leitura inovadora do fenômeno da

  17. Between Complexity and Parsimony: Can Agent-Based Modelling Resolve the Trade-off

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Nielsen, Helle Ørsted; Malawska, Anna Katarzyna

    2013-01-01

    to BR- based policy studies would be to couple research on bounded ra-tionality with agent-based modeling. Agent-based models (ABMs) are computational models for simulating the behavior and interactions of any number of decision makers in a dynamic system. Agent-based models are better suited than...... are general equilibrium models for capturing behavior patterns of complex systems. ABMs may have the potential to represent complex systems without oversimplifying them. At the same time, research in bounded rationality and behavioral economics has already yielded many insights that could inform the modeling......While Herbert Simon espoused development of general models of behavior, he also strongly advo-cated that these models be based on realistic assumptions about humans and therefore reflect the complexity of human cognition and social systems (Simon 1997). Hence, the model of bounded rationality...

  18. The effect of surface modification of glass fiber on the performance of poly(lactic acid) composites: Graphene oxide vs. silane coupling agents

    Science.gov (United States)

    Jing, Mengfan; Che, Junjin; Xu, Shuman; Liu, Zhenwei; Fu, Qiang

    2018-03-01

    In this work, a comparison study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of glass fiber (GF) in reinforcing poly(lactic acid) (PLA) by using traditional silane coupling agents (GF-S) and novel graphene oxide (GF-GO) as surface modifiers. The crystallization behavior of the PLA matrix was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. The mechanical performances and the thermomechanical properties of the composites were evaluated by uniaxial tensile testing and dynamic mechanical analysis, respectively. For neat GF without any treatment, the poor interfacial adhesion and the sharp shortening of the GF length result in the relatively poor mechanical performances of PLA/GF composites. However, the incorporation of GF-S significantly improves the mechanical strength and keeps relatively good toughness of the composites, while GF-GO exhibits excellent nucleation ability for PLA and could moderately increase the modulus of the composites. The thermomechanical properties of the composites are improved markedly resulting from the crystallinity increase. The different surface modification of glass fiber influences the crystallinity of matrix, the interfacial interaction and the length of fiber, which altogether affect the mechanical performances of the prepared PLA/GF composites.

  19. A three-state kinetic agent-based model to analyze tax evasion dynamics

    Science.gov (United States)

    Crokidakis, Nuno

    2014-11-01

    In this work we study the problem of tax evasion on a fully-connected population. For this purpose, we consider that the agents may be in three different states, namely honest tax payers, tax evaders and undecided, that are individuals in an intermediate class among honests and evaders. Every individual can change his/her state following a kinetic exchange opinion dynamics, where the agents interact by pairs with competitive negative (with probability q) and positive (with probability 1-q) couplings, representing agreement/disagreement between pairs of agents. In addition, we consider the punishment rules of the Zaklan econophysics model, for which there is a probability pa of an audit each agent is subject to in every period and a length of time k detected tax evaders remain honest. Our results suggest that below the critical point qc=1/4 of the opinion dynamics the compliance is high, and the punishment rules have a small effect in the population. On the other hand, for q>qc the tax evasion can be considerably reduced by the enforcement mechanism. We also discuss the impact of the presence of the undecided agents in the evolution of the system.

  20. Estudo de ligações em estruturas mistas de concreto-madeira

    OpenAIRE

    Elias Antonio Nicolas

    2001-01-01

    Resumo: Esta pesquisa se refere ao estudo do comportamento mecânico de conectores empregados em estruturas mistas de concreto e madeira, estruturas estas normalmente utilizadas em construções civis tais como pontes, pisos e coberturas residenciais. Neste sentido, foi realizado um estudo teórico-experimental sobre os conectores onde se determinou o valor do módulo de deslizamento (K) através de curvas cargas x deslizamentos obtidas a partir ensaios de laboratório. Os corpos-de-prova foram mold...

  1. Agent Programming Languages and Logics in Agent-Based Simulation

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Larsen, John

    2018-01-01

    and social behavior, and work on verification. Agent-based simulation is an approach for simulation that also uses the notion of agents. Although agent programming languages and logics are much less used in agent-based simulation, there are successful examples with agents designed according to the BDI...

  2. Auditoria interna de sistema de gestão ambiental: estudo de caso no Verdegreen Hotel

    OpenAIRE

    Adriano Lucena da Silva; Isaiane Vieira de Melo; Diego Rodrigues de Lucena

    2017-01-01

    Esta pesquisa analisa as contribuições e os desafios associados às auditorias internas no Verdegreen Hotel, empreendimento hoteleiro de grande destaque na cidade de João Pessoa-PB, selecionado como unidade de estudo por dispor de um Sistema de Gestão Ambiental (SGA) ISO 14001 implantado e certificado. Este estudo trata de uma pesquisa descritiva, baseada em um estudo de caso qualitativo. As técnicas utilizadas na metodologia foram: levantamento bibliográfico sobre as normas ISO que abordam as...

  3. MR brain scan tissues and structures segmentation: local cooperative Markovian agents and Bayesian formulation

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Scherrer, B.

    2008-12-01

    Accurate magnetic resonance brain scan segmentation is critical in a number of clinical and neuroscience applications. This task is challenging due to artifacts, low contrast between tissues and inter-individual variability that inhibit the introduction of a priori knowledge. In this thesis, we propose a new MR brain scan segmentation approach. Unique features of this approach include (1) the coupling of tissue segmentation, structure segmentation and prior knowledge construction, and (2) the consideration of local image properties. Locality is modeled through a multi-agent framework: agents are distributed into the volume and perform a local Markovian segmentation. As an initial approach (LOCUS, Local Cooperative Unified Segmentation), intuitive cooperation and coupling mechanisms are proposed to ensure the consistency of local models. Structures are segmented via the introduction of spatial localization constraints based on fuzzy spatial relations between structures. In a second approach, (LOCUS-B, LOCUS in a Bayesian framework) we consider the introduction of a statistical atlas to describe structures. The problem is reformulated in a Bayesian framework, allowing a statistical formalization of coupling and cooperation. Tissue segmentation, local model regularization, structure segmentation and local affine atlas registration are then coupled in an EM framework and mutually improve. The evaluation on simulated and real images shows good results, and in particular, a robustness to non-uniformity and noise with low computational cost. Local distributed and cooperative MRF models then appear as a powerful and promising approach for medical image segmentation. (author)

  4. Mechanical properties of chemically modified Sansevieria trifasciata/natural rubber/high density polyethylene (STF/NR/HDPE) composites: Effect of silane coupling agent

    Science.gov (United States)

    Zakaria, Nurzam Ezdiani; Baharum, Azizah; Ahmad, Ishak

    2018-04-01

    The main objective of this research is to study the effects of chemical modification on the mechanical properties of treated Sansevieria trifasciata fiber/natural rubber/high density polyethylene (TSTF/NR/HDPE) composites. Processing of STF/NR/HDPE composites was done by using an internal mixer. The processing parameters used were 135°C for temperature and a mixing rotor speed of 55 rpm for 15 minutes. Filler loading was varied from 10% to 40% of STF and the fiber size used was 125 µm. The composite blends obtained then were pressed with a hot press machine to get test samples of 1 mm and 3 mm of thickness. Samples were evaluated via tensile tests, Izod impact test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that tensile strength and strain value decreased while tensile modulus increased when filler loading increased. Impact strength increased when filler loading increased and began to decrease after 10% of filler amount for treated composites. For untreated composites, impact strength began to decrease after 20% of filler loading. Chemical modification by using silane coupling agent has improved certain mechanical properties of the composites such as tensile strength, strain value and tensile modulus. Adding more amount of filler will also increase the viscosity and the stiffness of the materials.

  5. Leader-following exponential consensus of fractional order nonlinear multi-agents system with hybrid time-varying delay: A heterogeneous impulsive method

    Science.gov (United States)

    Wang, Fei; Yang, Yongqing

    2017-09-01

    In this paper, we study the leader-following exponential consensus of multi-agent system. Each agent in the system is described by nonlinear fractional order differential equation. Both the internal delay and coupling delay are taken into consideration. The heterogeneous impulsive control is used for ensuring the consensus of all agents. Based on Lyapunov function method and matrix analysis, some sufficient conditions for exponential consensus are obtained. Finally, some illustrative examples are given to show the effectiveness of the obtained results.

  6. Marketing do mercado de luxo: Estudo de caso Victoria's Secret

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ana Francisca Giuliani

    2013-12-01

    Full Text Available Este artigo teve por objetivo identificar quais são as estratégias de marketing utilizadas pela empresa varejista Victoria’s Secret para a fidelização do consumidor de luxo em nível global. O estudo caracterizou-se como uma pesquisa qualitativa, utilizando-se como estratégia de campo o estudo de caso de caráter ilustrativo. Para o alcance do objetivo proposto, dividiu-se o estudo em duas fases. Na primeira, denominada exploratória, buscou-se em dados secundários o embasamento para a construção do referencial teórico. Na segunda, adotou-se a técnica de pesquisa por observação, utilizando-se os sites da Victoria’s Secret, e analisou-se o composto de marketing aplicado ao mercado de luxo com base no modelo proposto por Nahás (2009. Concluiu-se que as estratégias da referida empresa se baseiam no luxo acessível, de modo que, além de conquistar o consumidor, a Victoria’s Secret consegue manter sua fidelidade por apresentar estratégias de forte apelo emocional.

  7. Gadolinium-based Contrast Agent Accumulates in the Brain Even in Subjects without Severe Renal Dysfunction: Evaluation of Autopsy Brain Specimens with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Kanda, Tomonori; Fukusato, Toshio; Matsuda, Megumi; Toyoda, Keiko; Oba, Hiroshi; Kotoku, Jun'ichi; Haruyama, Takahiro; Kitajima, Kazuhiro; Furui, Shigeru

    2015-07-01

    To use inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) to evaluate gadolinium accumulation in brain tissues, including the dentate nucleus (DN) and globus pallidus (GP), in subjects who received a gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA). Institutional review board approval was obtained for this study. Written informed consent for postmortem investigation was obtained either from the subject prior to his or her death or afterward from the subject's relatives. Brain tissues obtained at autopsy in five subjects who received a linear GBCA (GBCA group) and five subjects with no history of GBCA administration (non-GBCA group) were examined with ICP-MS. Formalin-fixed DN tissue, the inner segment of the GP, cerebellar white matter, the frontal lobe cortex, and frontal lobe white matter were obtained, and their gadolinium concentrations were measured. None of the subjects had received a diagnosis of severely compromised renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate brain regions. Gadolinium was detected in all specimens in the GBCA agent group (mean, 0.25 µg per gram of brain tissue ± 0.44 [standard deviation]), with significantly higher concentrations in each region (P = .004 vs the non-GBCA group for all regions). In the GBCA group, the DN and GP showed significantly higher gadolinium concentrations (mean, 0.44 µg/g ± 0.63) than other regions (0.12 µg/g ± 0.16) (P = .029). Even in subjects without severe renal dysfunction, GBCA administration causes gadolinium accumulation in the brain, especially in the DN and GP.

  8. Agents unleashed a public domain look at agent technology

    CERN Document Server

    Wayner, Peter

    1995-01-01

    Agents Unleashed: A Public Domain Look at Agent Technology covers details of building a secure agent realm. The book discusses the technology for creating seamlessly integrated networks that allow programs to move from machine to machine without leaving a trail of havoc; as well as the technical details of how an agent will move through the network, prove its identity, and execute its code without endangering the host. The text also describes the organization of the host's work processing an agent; error messages, bad agent expulsion, and errors in XLISP-agents; and the simulators of errors, f

  9. Casos de Estudo em Estratégia e Marketing - Promovendo o Debate Empresarial

    OpenAIRE

    Au-Yong Oliveira, Manuel; Gonçalves, Ramiro; Martins, José; Moreira, Fernando; Branco, Frederico

    2016-01-01

    Os casos de estudo sobre organizações e empresas são um veículo de comunicação de excelência na área da gestão. Este livro reúne uma série de casos de estudo que abordam a inovação e a diferenciação, a internacionalização, o marketing, a evolução estratégica, os modelos de negócio (e como são afetados pela tecnologia), as aquisições de empresas, e tem ainda um caso de estudo sobre a responsabilidade social (área de crescente importância para todo o tipo de organizações). A estratégia e o mark...

  10. Casos de estudo em estratégia e marketing: promovendo o debate empresarial

    OpenAIRE

    Oliveira, Manuel Au-Yong; Gonçalves, Ramiro; Martins, José; Moreira, Fernando; Branco, Frederico

    2016-01-01

    Os casos de estudo sobre organizações e empresas são um veículo de comunicação de excelência na área da gestão. Este livro reúne uma série de casos de estudo que abordam a inovação e a diferenciação, a internacionalização, o marketing, a evolução estratégica, os modelos de negócio (e como são afetados pela tecnologia), as aquisições de empresas, e tem ainda um caso de estudo sobre a responsabilidade social (área de crescente importância para todo o tipo de organizações). A estratégia e o mark...

  11. Instituições e desenvolvimento territorial: um estudo a partir do caso do arranjo produtivo de petróleo e gás natural localizado em Macaé-Brasil

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Robson Dias

    2013-01-01

    Full Text Available Nos últimos anos a abordagem institucional vem ganhando espaço nos estudos urbanos e regionais defendendo que, as normas, regras e convenções culturais devam ser levadas em conta nas pesquisas e políticas sobre o desenvolvimento territorial. Neste sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho é analisar, empíricamente, algumas implicações geradas pelas instituições na economia do arranjo produtivo de petróleo e gás natural de Macaé-Rio de Janeiro-Brasil. Durante a pesquisa verificouse que as instituições operam em diversas escalas, que na área de estudo podese segmentar em duas: normas de origem externa, que são impostas à escala local por agentes de grande poder de uso do espaço (o Estado e as grandes empresas e as instituições de origem local, formadas a partir de reações dos agentes locais às pressões externas. A principal articulação ocorrida foi a Rede Petro-BC (Bacia de Campos, cuja análise é bastante sugestiva para a compreensão do ambiente institucional local.In recent years the institutional approach has been gaining ground in urban and regional studies, defending that the norms, rules and cultural conventions should be taken into account in research andpolicies on territorial development. In this sense, the objective of this paper is to empirically examine some implications generated by the institutions in the economy of the productive arrangement of oil and natural gas in Macaé, Brazil. During the research it was found that the institutions operate at different scales, which in the study area can be segmented into two: external norms, which are imposed to the local level by agents with great power of usage of the space (the State and large companies and institutions of local origin, formed from the reactions of local agents to external pressures. The main articulation was held by Rede Petro-B C, and its analysis is very suggestive to the understanding of the local institutional environment.

  12. Mobbing: assédio moral em contexto de enfermagem - estudo preliminar

    OpenAIRE

    Carvalho, Guilhermina

    2007-01-01

    A temática abordada neste estudo refere-se a um fenómeno que não é recente, contudo pouco estudado em Portugal: o Mobbing. Após uma pesquisa bibliográfica, verificou-se uma prevalência significativa de mobbing em contexto de trabalho em todo o mundo, nomeadamente na profissão de enfermagem. Este estudo pretende validar uma escala sobre as estratégias de mobbing: o LIPT - 60 (Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terrorization) a uma população portuguesa de enfermeiros, assim como, avaliar a ...

  13. Estilos educativos parentais, valores e autoconceito de adolescentes : um estudo transcultural

    OpenAIRE

    Iglesia, Yara Rodrigues de la

    2017-01-01

    Tese de doutoramento, Educação (Psicologia da Educação), Universidade de Lisboa, Instituto de Educação, 2017 O presente estudo teve como objetivo principal investigar, a partir de uma perspectiva transcultural, como se caracterizam os estilos educativos parentais, o autoconceito e os valores na adolescência, como se relacionam estas variáveis entre si e como se diferenciam, em função de variáveis específicas. Em relação à metodologia, foi realizado um estudo quantitativo, de tipo transvers...

  14. A sociologia funcionalista nos estudos organizacionais: foco em Durkheim

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Augusto Cabral

    Full Text Available O tema que estrutura este ensaio é o da sociologia funcionalista, particularmente em termos de sua influência nos estudos organizacionais. O seu foco de análise é duplo. Em um primeiro momento, as obras de Durkheim. Em um segundo momento, o impacto e a supremacia dos enfoques funcionalistas nos estudos organizacionais. Embora seus segmentos estejam inter-relacionados, ele é composto de quatro partes. Na primeira, é feita uma análise histórica da emergência e sistematização das ciências sociais, de modo a traçar sua evolução até o surgimento dos trabalhos de Durkheim. Na segunda, tomando como referencial a obra de Burrell e Morgan (1979, é estudado o paradigma funcionalista em termos de sua origem e expoentes, com destaque para Comte e Spencer, visando chegar a uma compreensão inicial do pensamento de Durkheim e de sua sociologia. Na terceira, a vida e as principais obras de Durkheim são sumariadas e discutidas. Por fim, o status atual dos estudos organizacionais -vistos como um conjunto impreciso, elástico e eclético de teorias e pesquisas sociais voltados para os problemas das organizações -é analisado em termos de seus pressupostos epistemológicos e ontológicos subjacentes, como meio de explicitar a supremacia dos enfoques positivistas-funcionalistas.

  15. Influence of coupling substances in the measurement of ultrasound velocity in stone materials

    Science.gov (United States)

    Giuzio, Beatrice; Alvarez de Buergo, Monica; Fort, Rafael; Masini, Nicola

    2015-04-01

    Ultrasonic (US) testing is widely applied in many fields (i.e. aviation, petrochemical, power engineering, construction and metallurgical industries). In the field of built cultural heritage and science conservation, US testing can provide the quality of the historic building materials (physic-mechanical properties), their heterogeneity/homogeinity and anisotropy, in terms of materials characterization, but also how deterioration processes can affect their quality (either after natural decay or simulation ageing tests in the laboratory). Moreover, US testing is a useful technique in evaluating the effectiveness of conservation and restoration techniques such as assessing the compatibility among original and restoration materials, identification of original quarries, and the success or not in the increase of a material cohesion when applying consolidating products. In order to obtain precise, real and reliable measurements, coupling substances between the material surface and the ultrasonic sensors are frequently used, to provide a proper contact between the transducer and the material, to assure the perfect transmission of the ultrasonic wave. Various coupling agents can be applied for this purpose. According to Wesolowski (2012), the choice of the coupling agent significantly affects the measurement of propagation velocity in material samples and, as a consequence, the US test results. In this paper, the effect of six coupling agents (medical gel used for ultrasonography, gel + parafilm, plasticine, honey, glicerine and a plastic material provided for ultrasound measurement by Panametrics) on ultrasonic measurements conducted on specific building materials is investigated on two different types of building stones (granite and dolostone from the area of Madrid, traditionally used in the construction of the built heritage, 4 stone specimens for each rock variety, 20 x 6 x 8 cm). Direct and indirect modes measuring were performed, the first one with the transducers

  16. Mobile Agent Data Integrity Using Multi-Agent Architecture

    National Research Council Canada - National Science Library

    McDonald, Jeffrey

    2004-01-01

    .... Security issues for mobile agents continue to produce research interest, particularly in developing mechanisms that guarantee protection of agent data and agent computations in the presence of malicious hosts...

  17. Prazer e sofrimento no trabalho das agentes de segurança penitenciária

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Rubia Minuzzi Tschiedel

    2013-09-01

    Full Text Available Com o intuito de conhecer o trabalho no sistema prisional gaúcho e as implicações deste na saúde mental das agentes de segurança penitenciária, realizou-se um estudo qualitativo com o objetivo de identificar os aspectos da organização do trabalho que produzem prazer e sofrimento no trabalho das agentes de segurança penitenciária e descrever as estratégias defensivas utilizadas por estas trabalhadoras no seu cotidiano laboral. Para a coleta de dados foi utilizada uma entrevista semiestruturada que reuniu oito participantes. Entre os resultados, os achados apontam que cumprir com obrigações, ter gratificação salarial e estabilidade no emprego como vivências de prazer, e a precariedade das condições de trabalho como elemento provocador de sofrimento. As estratégias defensivas que mais se evidenciaram foram a negação e a racionalização. Conclui-se que as profissionais estudadas tentam encontrar caminhos para a manutenção da saúde, ao utilizarem mecanismos que favorecem o enfrentamento do sofrimento e a busca do prazer.

  18. O estudo das fontes estrangeiras na obra de Machado de Assis e o caso italiano

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Eugênio Vinci de Moraes

    2008-04-01

    Full Text Available Os estudos das fontes italianas na obra de Machado de Assis ainda são uma esquecida árvore no meio da floresta dos estudos machadianos. Três aspectos explicam talvez a posição marginal dessas pesquisas: primeiro, o número menor de refer~encias italianas perante as inglesas e francesas, por exemplo; segundo, a ausência de estudos de maior fôlego; por último, por essa fonte não tocar nas questões centrais da obra de Machado. Neste artigo pretende-se mostrar de que forma trabalhar com as fontes em Machado, com base em três modelos de análise, e também de que forma esses estudos podem tocar, sim, em pontos fundamentais da obra de Machado, desde que não se desdenhe a já alentada e qualificada fortuna crítica do escritor fluminense.

  19. A coupled modeling framework for sustainable watershed management in transboundary river basins

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    H. F. Khan

    2017-12-01

    Full Text Available There is a growing recognition among water resource managers that sustainable watershed management needs to not only account for the diverse ways humans benefit from the environment, but also incorporate the impact of human actions on the natural system. Coupled natural–human system modeling through explicit modeling of both natural and human behavior can help reveal the reciprocal interactions and co-evolution of the natural and human systems. This study develops a spatially scalable, generalized agent-based modeling (ABM framework consisting of a process-based semi-distributed hydrologic model (SWAT and a decentralized water system model to simulate the impacts of water resource management decisions that affect the food–water–energy–environment (FWEE nexus at a watershed scale. Agents within a river basin are geographically delineated based on both political and watershed boundaries and represent key stakeholders of ecosystem services. Agents decide about the priority across three primary water uses: food production, hydropower generation and ecosystem health within their geographical domains. Agents interact with the environment (streamflow through the SWAT model and interact with other agents through a parameter representing willingness to cooperate. The innovative two-way coupling between the water system model and SWAT enables this framework to fully explore the feedback of human decisions on the environmental dynamics and vice versa. To support non-technical stakeholder interactions, a web-based user interface has been developed that allows for role-play and participatory modeling. The generalized ABM framework is also tested in two key transboundary river basins, the Mekong River basin in Southeast Asia and the Niger River basin in West Africa, where water uses for ecosystem health compete with growing human demands on food and energy resources. We present modeling results for crop production, energy generation and violation of

  20. A coupled modeling framework for sustainable watershed management in transboundary river basins

    Science.gov (United States)

    Furqan Khan, Hassaan; Yang, Y. C. Ethan; Xie, Hua; Ringler, Claudia

    2017-12-01

    There is a growing recognition among water resource managers that sustainable watershed management needs to not only account for the diverse ways humans benefit from the environment, but also incorporate the impact of human actions on the natural system. Coupled natural-human system modeling through explicit modeling of both natural and human behavior can help reveal the reciprocal interactions and co-evolution of the natural and human systems. This study develops a spatially scalable, generalized agent-based modeling (ABM) framework consisting of a process-based semi-distributed hydrologic model (SWAT) and a decentralized water system model to simulate the impacts of water resource management decisions that affect the food-water-energy-environment (FWEE) nexus at a watershed scale. Agents within a river basin are geographically delineated based on both political and watershed boundaries and represent key stakeholders of ecosystem services. Agents decide about the priority across three primary water uses: food production, hydropower generation and ecosystem health within their geographical domains. Agents interact with the environment (streamflow) through the SWAT model and interact with other agents through a parameter representing willingness to cooperate. The innovative two-way coupling between the water system model and SWAT enables this framework to fully explore the feedback of human decisions on the environmental dynamics and vice versa. To support non-technical stakeholder interactions, a web-based user interface has been developed that allows for role-play and participatory modeling. The generalized ABM framework is also tested in two key transboundary river basins, the Mekong River basin in Southeast Asia and the Niger River basin in West Africa, where water uses for ecosystem health compete with growing human demands on food and energy resources. We present modeling results for crop production, energy generation and violation of eco

  1. Gadolinium-porphyrins: new potential magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents for melanoma detection

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Daryoush Shahbazi-Gahrouei

    2006-11-01

    Full Text Available BACKGROUND: Two new porphyrin-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI contrast agents, Gd-hematoporphyrin (Gd-H and Gd-tetra-carboranylmethoxyphenyl-porphyrin (Gd-TCP were synthesized and tested in nude mice with human melanoma (MM-138 xenografts as new melanoma contrast agents. METHODS: Subcutaneous xenografts of human melanoma cells (MM-138 were studied in 30 (five groups of six nude mice. The effect of different contrast agents (Gd-TCP, Gd-H, GdCl3 and Gd-DTPA on proton relaxation times was measured in tumors and other organs. T1 values, signal enhancement and the Gd concentration for different contrast agent solutions were also investigated. RESULTS: The porphyrin agents showed higher relaxivity compared to the clincal agent, Gd-DTPA. A significant 16% and 21% modification in T1 relaxation time of the water in human melanoma tumors grafted in the nude mice was revealed 24 hours after injection of Gd-TCP and Gd-H, respectively. The percentage of injected Gd localized to the tumor measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES was approximately 21% for Gd-TCP and 28% for Gd-H which were higher than that of Gd-DTPA (10%. CONCLUSIONS: The high concentration of Gd in the tumor is indicative of a selective retention of the compounds and indicates that Gd-TCP and Gd-H are promising MR imaging contrast agents for melanoma detection. Gd-porphyrins have considerable promise for further diagnostic applications in magnetic resonance imaging. KEY WORDS: MRI, porphyrin-based contrast agent, hematoporphyrin, melanoma.

  2. [Alkylating agents].

    Science.gov (United States)

    Pourquier, Philippe

    2011-11-01

    With the approval of mechlorethamine by the FDA in 1949 for the treatment of hematologic malignancies, alkylating agents are the oldest class of anticancer agents. Even though their clinical use is far beyond the use of new targeted therapies, they still occupy a major place in specific indications and sometimes represent the unique option for the treatment of refractory diseases. Here, we are reviewing the major classes of alkylating agents and their mechanism of action, with a particular emphasis for the new generations of alkylating agents. As for most of the chemotherapeutic agents used in the clinic, these compounds are derived from natural sources. With a complex but original mechanism of action, they represent new interesting alternatives for the clinicians, especially for tumors that are resistant to conventional DNA damaging agents. We also briefly describe the different strategies that have been or are currently developed to potentiate the use of classical alkylating agents, especially the inhibition of pathways that are involved in the repair of DNA lesions induced by these agents. In this line, the development of PARP inhibitors is a striking example of the recent regain of interest towards the "old" alkylating agents.

  3. Universidades como agentes iniciais de projetos sociais e o reflexo dessa relação para a comunidade: um estudo de caso

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Suelen Geíse Telocken

    2017-02-01

    Full Text Available Este estudo tem o propósito de demonstrar como um projeto social influencia em uma comunidade. Cada vez mais a competitividade das organizações se dá partir de uma gestão orientada para o desenvolvimento econômico, a preservação ambiental e o bem-estar social. Concomitantemente a isso, a Universidade de Cruz Alta que, como instituição de ensino, preocupa-se em preparar e formar profissionais que sejam capazes de tomar decisões sobre o enfoque da sustentabilidade, criou e desenvolve desde 2010, em parceria com a Petrobras, o projeto Profissão Catador II: entre o viver e sobreviver do lixo. O projeto constituiu-se numa oportunidade de implementar uma tecnologia social para acompanhamento da organização dos catadores de Cruz Alta/RS por meio da extensão universitária

  4. A multi-agent design for a pressurized water reactor (P.W.R.) control system; Modelisation multi-agents pour la conduite d'un reacteur a eau sous pression (REP)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Aimar-Lichtenberger, M. [Paris-11 Univ., 91 - Orsay (France)

    1999-01-01

    This PhD work is in keeping with the complex industrial process control. The starting point is the analysis of control principles in a Pressurized Water Reactor (P.W.R). In order to cope with the limits of the present control procedures, a new control organisation by objectives and means is defined. This functional organisation is based on the state approach and is characterized by the parallel management of control functions to ensure the continuous control of the installation essential variables. With regard to this complex system problematic, we search the most adapted computer modeling. We show that a multi-agent system approach brings an interesting answer to manage the distribution and parallelism of control decisions and tasks. We present a synthetic study of multi-agent systems and their application fields.The choice of a multi-agent approach proceeds with the design of an agent model. This model gains experiences from other applications. This model is implemented in a computer environment which combines the mechanisms of an object language with Prolog. We propose in this frame a multi-agent modeling of the control system where each function is represented by an agent. The agents are structured in a hierarchical organisation and deal with different abstraction levers of the problem. Following a prototype process, the validation is realized by an implementation and by a coupling to a reactor simulator. The essential contributions of an agent approach turn on the mastery of the system complexity, the openness, the robustness and the potentialities of human-machine cooperation. (author)

  5. Coleta Seletiva – Um estudo comparativo em contextos turísticos

    OpenAIRE

    Silva, Ana Flávia da

    2015-01-01

    Anais do IV Encontro de Iniciação Científica da Unila - “UNILA 5 anos: Integração em Ciência, Tecnologia e Cultura na Tríplice Fronteira” - 05 e 06 de novembro de 2015 – Sessão Ciência Política, Sociologia, Filosofia e Antropologia O projeto Coleta Seletiva- um estudo comparativo, traz um debate sobre a eficácia da coleta seletiva em Foz. Propõe, principalmente realizar um estudo etnográfico na cidade de Foz do Iguaçu, com a intenção de identificar aspectos do trabalho na reciclagem ...

  6. A revista Saúde em Debate como fonte e objeto de estudo

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Daniela Carvalho Sophia

    2013-11-01

    Full Text Available A presente nota de pesquisa busca divulgar estudo sobre o Centro Brasileiro de Estudos da Saúde e o movimento de reforma sanitária desenvolvido no âmbito do Programa de História das Ciências e da Saúde Pública da Casa de Oswaldo Cruz. Atém-se à revista Saúde em Debate , periódico do Centro, devido à relevância que teve na área ao longo dos dez anos de publicação. A utilização da revista na pesquisa deu visibilidade a questões pertinentes à participação de seus membros na reforma sanitária. Enfatiza-se o fato de que a utilização do periódico como fonte e objeto de estudo para fomentar a produção de pesquisa na área da saúde merece investigação mais ampla.

  7. Evolution of contrast agents for ultrasound imaging and ultrasound-mediated drug delivery

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Vera ePaefgen

    2015-09-01

    Full Text Available Ultrasound is one of the most frequently used diagnostic methods. It is a non-invasive, comparably inexpensive imaging method with a broad spectrum of applications, which can be increased even more by using bubbles as contrast agents. There are various different types of bubbles: filled with different gases, composed of soft- or hard-shell materials, and ranging in size from nano- to micrometers. These intravascular contrast agents enable functional analyses, e.g. to acquire organ perfusion in real-time. Molecular analyses are achieved by coupling specific ligands to the bubbles’ shell, which bind to marker molecules in the area of interest. Bubbles can also be loaded with or attached to drugs, peptides or genes and can be destroyed by ultrasound pulses to locally release the entrapped agent. Recent studies show that ultrasound contrast agents are also valuable tools in hyperthermia-induced ablation therapy of tumors, or can increase cellular uptake of locally released drugs by enhancing membrane permeability. This review summarizes important steps in the development of ultrasound contrast agents and introduces the current clinical applications of contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Additionally, an overview of the recent developments in ultrasound probe design for functional and molecular diagnosis as well as for drug delivery is given.

  8. A model for ultrasound contrast agent in a phantom vessel

    KAUST Repository

    Qamar, Adnan

    2014-02-01

    A theoretical framework to model the dynamics of Ultrasound Contrast Agent (UCA) inside a phantom vessel is presented. The model is derived from the reduced Navier-Stokes equation and is coupled with the evolving flow field solution inside the vessel by a similarity transformation approach. The results are computed, and compared with experiments available in literature, for the initial UCA radius of Ro=1.5 μm and 2 μm for the vessel diameter of D=12 μm and 200 μm with the acoustic parameters as utilized in the experiments. When compared to other models, better agreement on smaller vessel diameter is obtained with the proposed coupled model. The model also predicts, quite accurately, bubble fragmentation in terms of acoustic and geometric parameters. © 2014 IEEE.

  9. Reinforcement Learning Multi-Agent Modeling of Decision-Making Agents for the Study of Transboundary Surface Water Conflicts with Application to the Syr Darya River Basin

    Science.gov (United States)

    Riegels, N.; Siegfried, T.; Pereira Cardenal, S. J.; Jensen, R. A.; Bauer-Gottwein, P.

    2008-12-01

    In most economics--driven approaches to optimizing water use at the river basin scale, the system is modelled deterministically with the goal of maximizing overall benefits. However, actual operation and allocation decisions must be made under hydrologic and economic uncertainty. In addition, river basins often cross political boundaries, and different states may not be motivated to cooperate so as to maximize basin- scale benefits. Even within states, competing agents such as irrigation districts, municipal water agencies, and large industrial users may not have incentives to cooperate to realize efficiency gains identified in basin- level studies. More traditional simulation--optimization approaches assume pre-commitment by individual agents and stakeholders and unconditional compliance on each side. While this can help determine attainable gains and tradeoffs from efficient management, such hardwired policies do not account for dynamic feedback between agents themselves or between agents and their environments (e.g. due to climate change etc.). In reality however, we are dealing with an out-of-equilibrium multi-agent system, where there is neither global knowledge nor global control, but rather continuous strategic interaction between decision making agents. Based on the theory of stochastic games, we present a computational framework that allows for studying the dynamic feedback between decision--making agents themselves and an inherently uncertain environment in a spatially and temporally distributed manner. Agents with decision-making control over water allocation such as countries, irrigation districts, and municipalities are represented by reinforcement learning agents and coupled to a detailed hydrologic--economic model. This approach emphasizes learning by agents from their continuous interaction with other agents and the environment. It provides a convenient framework for the solution of the problem of dynamic decision-making in a mixed cooperative / non

  10. Photo-assisted cyanation of transition metal nitrates coupled with room temperature C-C bond cleavage of acetonitrile.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Zou, Shihui; Li, Renhong; Kobayashi, Hisayoshi; Liu, Juanjuan; Fan, Jie

    2013-03-07

    It is a challenge to use acetonitrile as a cyanating agent because of the difficulty in cleaving its C-CN bond. Herein, we report a mild photo-assisted route to conduct the cyanation of transition metal nitrates using acetonitrile as the cyanating agent coupled with room-temperature C-C bond cleavage. DFT calculations and experimental observations suggest a radical-involved reaction mechanism, which excludes toxicity from free cyanide ions.

  11. CULTURA ORGANIZACIONAL: UM ESTUDO DE CASO NA EMPRESA MGO

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Vagner Luís Wentz

    2012-07-01

    Full Text Available O tema cultura tem sido objeto de estudo há muitos anos, e as literaturas existentes apontam uma grande diversidade de conceitos, o que torna as organizações grandes fontes de pesquisa. A MGO, uma multinacional fabricante de produtos agrícolas, convive constantemente com mudanças de seus procedimentos, de suas tarefas do cotidiano e de comportamentos por parte de seus colaboradores, uma relação entre “novatos” e “veteranos” que, em alguns casos, é geradora de conflitos, o que pode vir a prejudicar a imagem da companhia. Diante disso, este estudo tem como objetivo geral analisar a cultura organizacional a partir da percepção das lideranças de uma unidade da empresa MGO situada em Montenegro/RS. Esta pesquisa se classifica, quanto aos procedimentos, como bibliográfica e estudo de caso; quanto aos objetivos, como descritiva; e quanto ao problema, esta pesquisa é classificada como qualitativa. A partir da análise dos dados coletados através de entrevistas semiestruturadas com as lideranças de departamentos diferentes, análise de documentos, observação participante e aplicação do teste para identificação da tipologia de cultura, pode-se identificar a cultura da organização e sugerir algumas melhorias que podem ajudar na harmonia do clima da organização. Palavras-chave: Cultura. Clima. Organização.

  12. Exploring complex dynamics in multi agent-based intelligent systems: Theoretical and experimental approaches using the Multi Agent-based Behavioral Economic Landscape (MABEL) model

    Science.gov (United States)

    Alexandridis, Konstantinos T.

    This dissertation adopts a holistic and detailed approach to modeling spatially explicit agent-based artificial intelligent systems, using the Multi Agent-based Behavioral Economic Landscape (MABEL) model. The research questions that addresses stem from the need to understand and analyze the real-world patterns and dynamics of land use change from a coupled human-environmental systems perspective. Describes the systemic, mathematical, statistical, socio-economic and spatial dynamics of the MABEL modeling framework, and provides a wide array of cross-disciplinary modeling applications within the research, decision-making and policy domains. Establishes the symbolic properties of the MABEL model as a Markov decision process, analyzes the decision-theoretic utility and optimization attributes of agents towards comprising statistically and spatially optimal policies and actions, and explores the probabilogic character of the agents' decision-making and inference mechanisms via the use of Bayesian belief and decision networks. Develops and describes a Monte Carlo methodology for experimental replications of agent's decisions regarding complex spatial parcel acquisition and learning. Recognizes the gap on spatially-explicit accuracy assessment techniques for complex spatial models, and proposes an ensemble of statistical tools designed to address this problem. Advanced information assessment techniques such as the Receiver-Operator Characteristic curve, the impurity entropy and Gini functions, and the Bayesian classification functions are proposed. The theoretical foundation for modular Bayesian inference in spatially-explicit multi-agent artificial intelligent systems, and the ensembles of cognitive and scenario assessment modular tools build for the MABEL model are provided. Emphasizes the modularity and robustness as valuable qualitative modeling attributes, and examines the role of robust intelligent modeling as a tool for improving policy-decisions related to land

  13. Análise de Estudos sobre Atenção Publicados em Periódicos Brasileiros

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Patrícia Maria Uchôa Simões

    Full Text Available A atenção esteve presente nos estudos da Psicologia desde os introspeccionistas até a atualidade. Com a hegemonia do behaviorismo os estudos sobre atenção foram abandonados, e só no final da década de 50 e início de 60 houve uma retomada dessas questões, com o surgimento das ciências cognitivas. O presente estudo realizou uma pesquisa bibliográfica sobre o tema em periódicos brasileiros publicados entre 1999 e 2008, encontrados na base de dados do SCIELO. Foram analisados 96 artigos identificados a partir do descritor atenção para palavras-chave. A análise incidiu sobre os aspectos: ano da publicação, área do periódico e palavras-chave. Os resultados mostraram um maior número de artigos na área da Saúde, com foco na hiperatividade infantil. A análise desses resultados propõe uma discussão sobre o papel que a atenção vem ocupando nos estudos em Psicologia e sugere uma agenda de pesquisas que supere a fragmentação das análises nos estudos.

  14. Effect of thickener agents on dental enamel microhardness submitted to at-home bleaching Efeito de agentes espessantes na microdureza do esmalte submetido ao clareamento dental caseiro

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    José Augusto Rodrigues

    2007-06-01

    Full Text Available Dental bleaching occurs due to an oxidation reaction between the bleaching agents and the macromolecules of pigments in the teeth. This reaction is unspecific and the peroxides can also affect the dental matrix causing mineral loss. On the other hand, recent studies have suggested that the thickener agent carbopol can also cause mineral loss. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate in vitro the effect of at-home dental bleaching on dental enamel microhardness after the use of bleaching agents with and without carbopol as a thickener agent. Bovine dental slabs with 3 x 3 x 3 mm were obtained, sequentially polished, and randomly divided into 4 groups according to the experimental treatment: G1: 2% carbopol; G2: 10% carbamide peroxide with carbopol; G3: carbowax; G4: 10% carbamide peroxide with poloxamer. Bleaching was performed daily for 4 weeks, immersed in artificial saliva. Enamel microhardness values were obtained before the treatment (T0 and 7 (T1, 14 (T2, 21 (T3, 28 (T4, and 42 (T5 days after the beginning of the treatment. ANOVA and Tukey's test revealed statistically significant differences only for the factor Time (F = 5.48; p O clareamento dental ocorre devido a uma reação de oxidação entre o agente clareador e as macromoléculas de pigmentos presentes nos dentes. Esta reação é inespecífica e o peróxido pode agir na matriz dental causando perdas de mineral. Por outro lado, estudos recentes sugerem que o agente espessante carbopol também pode causar perda mineral. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar in vitro o efeito do clareamento caseiro sobre a microdureza do esmalte após o uso de agentes clareadores com e sem carbopol como espessante. Fragmentos de esmalte bovino de 3 x 3 x 3 mm foram obtidos, polidos seqüencialmente e aleatoriamente divididos em 4 grupos de acordo com o tratamento experimental: G1: carbopol a 2%; G2: peróxido de carbamida a 10% com carbopol; G3: carbowax; G4: peróxido de carbamida a

  15. Incorporating BDI Agents into Human-Agent Decision Making Research

    Science.gov (United States)

    Kamphorst, Bart; van Wissen, Arlette; Dignum, Virginia

    Artificial agents, people, institutes and societies all have the ability to make decisions. Decision making as a research area therefore involves a broad spectrum of sciences, ranging from Artificial Intelligence to economics to psychology. The Colored Trails (CT) framework is designed to aid researchers in all fields in examining decision making processes. It is developed both to study interaction between multiple actors (humans or software agents) in a dynamic environment, and to study and model the decision making of these actors. However, agents in the current implementation of CT lack the explanatory power to help understand the reasoning processes involved in decision making. The BDI paradigm that has been proposed in the agent research area to describe rational agents, enables the specification of agents that reason in abstract concepts such as beliefs, goals, plans and events. In this paper, we present CTAPL: an extension to CT that allows BDI software agents that are written in the practical agent programming language 2APL to reason about and interact with a CT environment.

  16. Chemical warfare agents.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Kuca, Kamil; Pohanka, Miroslav

    2010-01-01

    Chemical warfare agents are compounds of different chemical structures. Simple molecules such as chlorine as well as complex structures such as ricin belong to this group. Nerve agents, vesicants, incapacitating agents, blood agents, lung-damaging agents, riot-control agents and several toxins are among chemical warfare agents. Although the use of these compounds is strictly prohibited, the possible misuse by terrorist groups is a reality nowadays. Owing to this fact, knowledge of the basic properties of these substances is of a high importance. This chapter briefly introduces the separate groups of chemical warfare agents together with their members and the potential therapy that should be applied in case someone is intoxicated by these agents.

  17. Unidade de Estudos de Mastites em Pequenos Ruminantes - estudos em ovinos de regime extensivo

    OpenAIRE

    Queiroga, Cristina; Potes, Maria Eduarda; Duarte, Elsa Maria; Marinho, Artur; Bettencourt, Carlos Manuel; Matos, Claudino; Belo, Carlos Carmona; Ribeiro, José Manuel; Vilela, Cristina Lobo

    2007-01-01

    A “Unidade de Estudo de Mastites em Pequenos Ruminantes”, formalmente constituída no âmbito do Programa Nacional de Re-equipamento Científico, da Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, vem dar corpo ao trabalho de colaboração de diversas equipas de investigação que se têm debruçado sobre a problemática das infecções intramamárias em pequenos ruminantes, nos seus aspectos de saúde animal, saúde pública veterinária e qualidade e segurança alimentar. Tem como principal objectivo criar condições...

  18. Logics for Intelligent Agents and Multi-Agent Systems

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Meyer, John-Jules Charles

    2014-01-01

    This chapter presents the history of the application of logic in a quite popular paradigm in contemporary computer science and artificial intelligence, viz. the area of intelligent agents and multi-agent systems. In particular we discuss the logics that have been used to specify single agents, the

  19. Uncertainty analysis in agent-based modelling and consequential life cycle assessment coupled models : a critical review

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Baustert, P.M.; Benetto, E.

    2017-01-01

    The evolution of life cycle assessment (LCA) from a merely comparative tool for the assessment of products to a policy analysis tool proceeds by incorporating increasingly complex modelling approaches. In more recent studies of complex systems, such as the agriculture sector or mobility, agent-based

  20. Robust Consensus of Multi-Agent Systems with Uncertain Exogenous Disturbances

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Yang Hong-Yong; Guo Lei; Han Chao

    2011-01-01

    The objective of this paper is to investigate the consensus of the multi-agent systems with nonlinear coupling function and external disturbances. The disturbance includes two parts, one part is supposed to be generated by an exogenous system, which is not required to be neutrally stable as in the output regulation theory, the other part is the modeling uncertainty in the exogenous disturbance system. A novel composite disturbance observer based control (DOBC) and H ∞ control scheme is presented so that the disturbance with the exogenous system can be estimated and compensated and the consensus of the multi-agent systems with fixed and switching graph can be reached by using H ∞ control law. Simulations demonstrate the advantages of the proposed DOBC and H ∞ control scheme. (interdisciplinary physics and related areas of science and technology)

  1. Trends in GPCR drug discovery: new agents, targets and indications

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Hauser, Alexander Sebastian; Gloriam, David E.; Attwood, Misty M.

    2017-01-01

    current trends across molecule types, drug targets and therapeutic indications, including showing that 475 drugs (~34% of all drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)) act at 108 unique GPCRs. Approximately 321 agents are currently in clinical trials, of which ~20% target 66 potentially...... are also highly represented. The 224 (56%) non-olfactory GPCRs that have not yet been explored in clinical trials have broad untapped therapeutic potential, particularly in genetic and immune system disorders. Finally, we provide an interactive online resource to analyse and infer trends in GPCR drug......G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the most intensively studied drug targets, mostly due to their substantial involvement in human pathophysiology and their pharmacological tractability. Here, we report an up-to-date analysis of all GPCR drugs and agents in clinical trials, which reveals...

  2. Psychosocial stress and minor psychiatric disorders among Agentes Socioeducadores Estrés psicosocial y disturbios psíquicos menores en agentes socio-educadores Estresse psicossocial e distúrbios psíquicos menores em agentes socioeducadores

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Patrícia Bitencourt Toscani Greco

    2012-10-01

    necesaria la planificación de acciones de promoción a la salud, a fin de precaver la enfermedad mental de eses trabajadores.OBJETIVO: verificar a associação entre estresse psicossocial e a ocorrência de Distúrbios Psíquicos Menores em agentes socioeducadores. MÉTODO: estudo transversal com 381 agentes socioeducadores dos Centros de Atendimento Socioeducativo do Rio Grande do Sul, em 2011. Utilizaram-se as versões brasileiras da escala de demanda-controle-apoio social no trabalho e do Self-Reporting Questionnaire 20 (SRQ-20. RESULTADOS: a prevalência de distúrbio psíquico menor foi de 50,1%. As chances de ser classificado com tal distúrbio foram maiores no quadrante trabalho em alta exigência (OR=2,05; IC95%=1,03-4,09 e trabalho ativo (OR=1,99; IC95%=1,09-3,63, quando comparados ao de baixa exigência, após ajuste por potenciais fatores de confusão. CONCLUSÃO: há associação positiva entre estresse psicossocial (alta exigência e trabalho ativo e distúrbios psíquicos menores em agentes socioeducadores. Faz-se necessário o planejamento de ações de promoção à saúde, a fim de prevenir o adoecimento mental desses trabalhadores.

  3. Effect of sealant agents on the color stability and surface roughness of nanohybrid composite resins.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Dede, Doğu Ömür; Şahin, Onur; Koroglu, Aysegül; Yilmaz, Burak

    2016-07-01

    The effect of sealant agents on the surface roughness and color stability of nanohybrid composite resins is unknown. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of sealant agents on the surface roughness and color stability of 4 nanohybrid composite resin materials. Forty disks (10×2 mm) were fabricated for each nanohybrid composite resin material (Z-550, Tetric EvoCeram, Clearfill Majesty, Ice) (N=160) and divided into 4 surface treatment groups: 1 conventional polishing (control) and 3 different sealant agent (Palaseal, Optiglaze, BisCover) coupling groups (n=10). The specimens were thermocycled, and surface roughness (Ra) values were obtained with a profilometer. Scanning electron microscope images were also recorded. CIELab color parameters of each specimen were measured with a spectrophotometer before and after 7 days of storage in a coffee solution. Color differences were calculated by the CIEDE 2000 (ΔE00) formula. The data were statistically analyzed by 2-way ANOVA and by the Tukey HSD test (α=.05). The surface treatment technique significantly affected the Ra values of the composite resins tested (Pcomposite resin material was also significant for ΔE00 values (Pcomposite resin groups, significant decreases in Ra were observed only for the Palaseal agent coupled composite resin groups (except Ice) compared with the control groups (Pcomposite resin group, except for BisCover applied Clearfill Majesty (Pcomposite resin groups, significant differences were observed between the color change seen with BisCover and other sealants for Clearfill Majesty composite resin (Pcomposite resins except for Ice produced smoother surfaces. All surface sealant agents provided less discoloration of nanohybrid composite resins after coffee staining compared with conventional polishing except for BisCover applied Clearfill Majesty composite resin. Copyright © 2016 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All

  4. Gestão de pessoas como estratégia: um estudo de caso em uma empresa de telefonia de Juiz de Fora.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Erica Schefer de Almeida

    2013-09-01

    Full Text Available A perspectiva da gestão estratégica de pessoas tem sido apontada por vários autores como fonte de vantagem competitiva empresarial. O presente estudo de caso de abordagem qualitativa, realizado em uma organização prestadora de serviços no ramo de telecomunicações, investigou a área de recursos humanos (RH da empresa, analisando-lhe os papéis adotados e verificando o desempenho de cada papel. Dentre as conclusões, salienta-se que determinadas funções do RH têm contribuído para a realização da estratégia empresarial, mas ainda é necessário maior investimento nos seus papeis enquanto agente facilitador da mudança e enquanto parceiro estratégico.

  5. Tumores de plexo coróide: estudo epidemiológico comparativo de 24 casos

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Torres Luiz Fernando Bleggi

    2004-01-01

    Full Text Available Tumores derivados do plexo coróide são neoplasias raras do sistema nervoso central que acometem principalmente crianças. Este estudo apresenta uma série de 38 pacientes com tumores de origem neuroectodérmica, dentre os quais 24 possuem diagnóstico histológico e/ou imunoistoquímico de Carcinoma do Plexo Coróide (CPC. Destes, 16 eram do gênero masculino. O local predominantemente acometido foi o ventrículo lateral esquerdo. As manifestações clínicas mais freqüentes foram hidrocefalia, hipertensão intracraniana e crises convulsivas. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico. Houve um óbito no per-operatório e outro no pós-operatório imediato. Nove pacientes tiveram recidiva, evoluindo a óbito em tempo médio de 12,3 meses. Sete estão vivos. Os demais casos não apresentavam dados disponíveis. Em Curitiba, o CPC tem uma alta prevalência em relação a outros tumores do plexo coróide, podendo estar relacionado a algum agente patogênico.

  6. Biological Agents

    Science.gov (United States)

    ... E-Tools Safety and Health Topics / Biological Agents Biological Agents This page requires that javascript be enabled ... 202) 693-2300 if additional assistance is required. Biological Agents Menu Overview In Focus: Ebola Frederick A. ...

  7. Os estudos acadêmicos de literatura: uma experiência constitutiva

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Eunice T. Piazza Gai

    2015-07-01

    Full Text Available O artigo apresenta uma reflexão sobre o tema dos estudos acadêmicos de literatura. Embasa-se na leitura de diversos autores, tais como Platão, Vygotsky, Compagnon, Palmer, Bruner, Secchieri, entre outros. Defende a ideia de que é necessário rever as práticas acadêmicas que consideram os textos literários de um ponto de vista exógeno. Em contrapartida, seria preferível que os estudos de literatura se voltassem para as questões da sua natureza intrínseca, ou seja, que ocorressem, a partir da reflexão sobre a especificidade do conhecimento por ela veiculado e sobre as possibilidades de constituição de sentido propiciadas pelo trabalho hermenêutico.

  8. Afetividade, ensino e aprendizagem: um estudo no GT20 da ANPEd

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Elvira Cristina Martins Tassoni

    Full Text Available Este artigo traz um levantamento bibliográfico dos trabalhos apresentados no GT20 - Psicologia da Educação da ANPEd (Associação Nacional de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa em Educação no período de 2000 a 2010. O objetivo foi rastrear as produções científicas mais recentes que discutem a afetividade e sua relação com os processos de ensino e aprendizagem. Apresenta as perspectivas teóricas em que os estudos sobre a afetividade foram abordados e em que medida tais estudos discutem as influências entre os aspectos afetivos e os processos de ensino e aprendizagem. Os trabalhos foram selecionados segundo os procedimentos metodológicos da análise de conteúdo fundamentada em Bardin (1977. Os resultados permitiram a construção de um panorama a respeito dos estudos sobre afetividade, apontando tendências, períodos em que as discussões sobre o tema foram mais intensas e, sobretudo, demonstrando que tal temática vem marcando presença constante nas discussões das Reuniões Anuais da ANPEd.

  9. Agentes de limpeza pública: um estudo sobre a relação prazer/ sofrimento no ambiente laboral

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Claudia da Cruz Gomes

    2013-01-01

    Full Text Available Este artigo relata uma pesquisa quantitativa realizada com uma amostra de 40 participantes de um total de 241 funcionários lotados no serviço de limpeza pública, pertencentes a uma empresa terceirizada prestadora de serviços de limpeza e manutenção junto à Prefeitura do Município de Alagoinhas-BA. A pesquisa teve como finalidade investigar as vivências de prazer/sofrimento no ambiente de trabalho, a partir das dimensões organização de trabalho e relações socioprofissionais. Como instrumento de coleta de dados, foi utilizada a Escala de Avaliação do Contexto de Trabalho (EACT e a Escala de Indicadores de Prazer e Sofrimento no Trabalho (EIPST, cuja análise fora feita através da técnica da estatística descritiva, com o propósito de mensurar as percepções compartilhadas dos agentes de limpeza pública sobre o contexto de trabalho em que estão inseridos e as suas vivências de prazer e sofrimento no trabalho. Para o processamento dos resultados, foi aplicado o pacote estatístico SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science, em que os dados obtidos foram sistematizados através de tabelas e de gráficos. Os resultados indicam que os agentes de limpeza pública estão sujeitos às contradições do contexto de trabalho, que geram prazer e sofrimento ao mesmo tempo, e que favorecem o uso eficaz de estratégias de defesa, evitando, assim, o adoecimento, embora a saúde possa estar sujeita a riscos em caso de falha dessas defesas.

  10. Comportamento do consumidor para a aquisição de produtos licenciados de personagens infantis: um estudo qualitativo

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Luciana Maria Bohn

    2013-05-01

    Full Text Available O mercado de produtos licenciados está presente em vários segmentos, em todas as classes sociais e todas as faixas etárias. Este artigo, elaborado através de pesquisa qualitativa, tem como objetivo analisar o comportamento do consumidor relacionado a produtos licenciados com personagens infantis, consumidos pelas crianças e adquiridos pelos pais. Observou-se que as informações coletadas nos três campos: revisão teórica, pesquisa com agente licenciador e com consumidores, demonstram que os pais são influenciados pelos seus filhos, mesmo que muitas vezes imponham limites em relação ao que poderá ser adquirido, e geralmente estão associadas ao custo x beneficio. Neste estudo fica evidente que, tanto agenciadores como consumidores entendem claramente o papel do produto licenciado, sendo os mais relevantes aqueles que contribuem à criação da fantasia no universo infantil.

  11. Comportamento do consumidor para a aquisição de produtos licenciados de personagens infantis: um estudo qualitativo

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Luciana Maria Boh

    2013-01-01

    Full Text Available O mercado de produtos licenciados está presente em vários segmentos, em todas as classes sociais e todas as faixas etárias. Este artigo, elaborado através de pesquisa qualitativa, tem como objetivo analisar o comportamento do consumidor relacionado a produtos licenciados com personagens infantis, consumidos pelas crianças e adquiridos pelos pais. Observou-se que as informações coletadas nos três campos: revisão teórica, pesquisa com agente licenciador e com consumidores, demonstram que os pais são influenciados pelos seus filhos, mesmo que muitas vezes imponham limites em relação ao que poderá ser adquirido, e geralmente estão associadas ao custo x beneficio. Neste estudo fica evidente que, tanto agenciadores como consumidores entendem claramente o papel do produto licenciado, sendo os mais relevantes aqueles que contribuem à criação da fantasia no universo infantil.

  12. Interfaces entre a Pedagogia do Teatro e os Estudos da Performance

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Luciana Hartmann

    2014-11-01

    Full Text Available http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1984644413816Este texto propõe o debate sobre pontos de contato entre a nova terminologia utilizada nos processos de ensino-aprendizagem em teatro, a Pedagogia do Teatro, e os Estudos da Performance. Partindo de uma análise dos Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais (PCN Arte I e II e das perspectivas histórico-críticas trazidas por alguns dos principais pesquisadores brasileiros que tem se dedicado ao tema, busca-se, ao longo do texto, refletir sobre as contribuições que os Estudos da Performance podem trazer para o desenvolvimento do campo da Pedagogia do Teatro.

  13. Economia do Crime: Uma Análise de Gênero a Partir de um Estudo de Caso na Penitenciária Feminina de Piraquara (PR

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Deisy Cristina Simon

    2011-05-01

    Full Text Available Este trabalho objetivou analisar a criminalidade no Paraná por meio de um estudo de caso na Penitenciária Feminina de Piraquara (PFP, a partir de dados primários obtidos via aplicação de questionário/entrevistas a mulheres já julgadas e condenadas por crimes econômicos. Como principal resultado, confirmou-se, para a detenta feminina, a teoria da escolha racional do agente criminoso, que avalia os custos e benefícios decorrentes de suas atividades ilícitas. Destarte, o ato de delinqüir trata-se de uma decisão individual tomada racionalmente (sem ou com influências de terceiros, nesses casos mormente de “amores bandidos”.

  14. Subcritical wet air oxidation of organic solvents and chelating agents of the nuclear fuel

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Bachir, Souley

    1999-01-01

    This document deals with the environment control, more specially organic solvents and chelating agents destruction, employed in the nuclear industry. This work details the subcritical wet air oxidation process. Another part of the document deals with the possible coupling between this process and the biodegradation technic in the framework of the sewage sludges treatment. (A.L.B.)

  15. Valorization of titanium metal wastes as tanning agent used in leather industry.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Crudu, Marian; Deselnicu, Viorica; Deselnicu, Dana Corina; Albu, Luminita

    2014-10-01

    The development of new tanning agents and new technologies in the leather sector is required to cope with the increasingly higher environmental pressure on the current tanning materials and processes such as tanning with chromium salts. In this paper, the use of titanium wastes (cuttings) resulting from the process of obtaining highly pure titanium (ingots), for the synthesis of new tanning agent and tanning bovine hides with new tanning agent, as alternative to tanning with chromium salts are investigated. For this purpose, Ti waste and Ti-based tanning agent were characterized for metal content by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and chemical analysis; the tanned leather (wet white leather) was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope/Energy Dispersive Using X-ray (Analysis). SEM/EDX analysis for metal content; Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC), Micro-Hot-Table and standard shrinkage temperature showing a hydrothermal stability (ranged from 75.3 to 77°C) and chemical analysis showing the leather is tanned and can be processed through the subsequent mechanical operations (splitting, shaving). On the other hand, an analysis of major minor trace substances from Ti-end waste (especially vanadium content) in new tanning agent and wet white leather (not detected) and residue stream was performed and showed that leachability of vanadium is acceptable. The results obtained show that new tanning agent obtained from Ti end waste can be used for tanning bovine hides, as eco-friendly alternative for chrome tanning. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. Controle ambiental e crises de asma em domicílios- estudo descritivo em residências de 5 unidades do Programa de Saúde da Família no Território 1 - Camaragibe PE

    OpenAIRE

    Maria Ribeiro Costa, Roseane

    2012-01-01

    Realizou-se um estudo transversal, descritivo, exploratório, para avaliar o grau de controle ambiental e crises de asma encontrados em domicílios de crianças e adolescentes, assim como, o conhecimento de mães e agentes comunitários de saúde sobre asma, no município de Camaragibe, localizado na região metropolitana do Recife. Objetivos específicos: 1) Identificar os acessórios presentes no quarto/sala do domicílio que pode3m desencadear crises de asma. 2) Verificar a freqüênc...

  17. Arcabouço teórico para os estudos de governança corporativa: os pressupostos subjacentes à teoria da agência A theoretical framework for corporate governance studies: agency theory assumptions

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Laíse Ferraz Correia

    2008-09-01

    Full Text Available O propósito deste ensaio consiste em fornecer uma contribuição para o desenvolvimento e fundamentação da pesquisa em governança corporativa, mediante a apresentação dos pressupostos subjacentes à Teoria da Agência, que constitui um dos arcabouços teóricos mais utilizados nos estudos sobre o tema, mas que é, muitas vezes, abordado de forma incompleta. Assim, este trabalho buscou preencher um pouco essa lacuna nos estudos de governança, mediante a discussão dos principais pilares da Teoria da Agência, isto é, as suposições acerca do comportamento dos indivíduos nas organizações; a repartição das etapas do processo decisório, que se traduz na delegação de autoridade aos administradores (agentes; a importância do conhecimento específico; os custos de agência oriundos da distribuição do poder de decisão a indívíduos racionais, que detêm o conhecimento requerido pela organização; e os mecanismos de controle do comportamento dos administradores. A partir dos elementos essenciais dessa teoria, são desenvolvidos os mecanismos de governança corporativa, os quais visam melhorar a performance das firmas.The agency theory, an important theoretical framework in the area of corporate governance, was discussed as a contribution for development of this subject. The foundations, assumptions and building blocks of the agency theory, frequently used in research on this subject, are often only partially addressed. An effort was made to bridge this gap in governance studies by discussing pillars of the agency theory, that is to say, assumptions about the nature of human behavior in organizations, the way organizations allocate steps in the decision making process across agents, the relevance of specific knowledge required , the agency costs arising from diffusion of decision functions among rational agents with the specific knowledge required, and decision control mechanisms for opportunistic behavior of agents, were included

  18. One-Dimensional Stationary Mean-Field Games with Local Coupling

    KAUST Repository

    Gomes, Diogo A.; Nurbekyan, Levon; Prazeres, Mariana

    2017-01-01

    A standard assumption in mean-field game (MFG) theory is that the coupling between the Hamilton–Jacobi equation and the transport equation is monotonically non-decreasing in the density of the population. In many cases, this assumption implies the existence and uniqueness of solutions. Here, we drop that assumption and construct explicit solutions for one-dimensional MFGs. These solutions exhibit phenomena not present in monotonically increasing MFGs: low-regularity, non-uniqueness, and the formation of regions with no agents.

  19. One-Dimensional Stationary Mean-Field Games with Local Coupling

    KAUST Repository

    Gomes, Diogo A.

    2017-05-25

    A standard assumption in mean-field game (MFG) theory is that the coupling between the Hamilton–Jacobi equation and the transport equation is monotonically non-decreasing in the density of the population. In many cases, this assumption implies the existence and uniqueness of solutions. Here, we drop that assumption and construct explicit solutions for one-dimensional MFGs. These solutions exhibit phenomena not present in monotonically increasing MFGs: low-regularity, non-uniqueness, and the formation of regions with no agents.

  20. Margem crítica e legitimação nos estudos para a paz

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    José Manuel Pureza

    2012-10-01

    Full Text Available Os Estudos para a Paz, constituídos historicamente como conhecimento crítico e, portanto, alternativo à ciência normal em Relações Internacionais, vieram, nos anos noventa, a ser cooptados pelas estruturas de regulação do sistema internacional como fundamento de muitas das opções postas em prática sobretudo no quadro dos processos de reconstrução pós-bélica. Neste contexto, o resgate da linhagem crítica dos Estudos para a Paz implica hoje duas opções radicais. A primeira é a da qualificação da paz pretendida como paz sustentável. A segunda é a da descolonização epistemológica dos Estudos para a Paz.

  1. Uso do conceito de aprendizagem em estudos relacionados ao trabalho e organizações

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Francisco Antonio Coelho Junior

    2008-01-01

    Full Text Available A literatura em comportamento organizacional apresenta diversos estudos referenciando o conceito aprendizagem aplicado no âmbito das organizações. Porém, verifica-se o uso pouco crítico ou sistemático deste conceito. O objetivo do presente artigo consiste em realizar uma análise conceitual do termo aprendizagem, justificando sua transposição para estudos organizacionais. Aplicaram-se técnicas de análise conceitual propostas por Ryle. Como resultado, verificou-se que a natureza multifacetada do conceito de aprendizagem favorece o advento das diversas definições associadas a ele. Espera-se que haja maior sistematicidade acerca do uso do termo aprendizagem aplicado em estudos organizacionais, considerando seus níveis de análise e as dimensões presentemente discutidas.

  2. From actors to agents in socio-ecological systems models.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Rounsevell, M D A; Robinson, D T; Murray-Rust, D

    2012-01-19

    The ecosystem service concept has emphasized the role of people within socio-ecological systems (SESs). In this paper, we review and discuss alternative ways of representing people, their behaviour and decision-making processes in SES models using an agent-based modelling (ABM) approach. We also explore how ABM can be empirically grounded using information from social survey. The capacity for ABM to be generalized beyond case studies represents a crucial next step in modelling SESs, although this comes with considerable intellectual challenges. We propose the notion of human functional types, as an analogy of plant functional types, to support the expansion (scaling) of ABM to larger areas. The expansion of scope also implies the need to represent institutional agents in SES models in order to account for alternative governance structures and policy feedbacks. Further development in the coupling of human-environment systems would contribute considerably to better application and use of the ecosystem service concept.

  3. Study of the effect of ionizing radiation on composites of wood flour in polypropylene matrix using barium titanate as coupling agent; Estudo do efeito da radiacao ionizante em compositos de polipropileno/po de madeira usando titanato de bario como agente de acoplagem

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ulloa, Maritza Eliza Perez

    2007-07-01

    The purpose of this work was to study the effects of ionizing radiation on the properties of wood flour composites in polypropylene matrix, using barium titanate as a coupling agent and the reactive monomer tripropylene glycol diacrylate (TPDGA). An electron accelerator was used in the study as the radiation source. The physical properties of virgin compounds and of the polypropylene/wood flour composite, with and without barium titanate and TPDGA addition, were investigated. The composites were developed from the load treatment, which first consisted of incorporating additives to the wood flour reinforcement and after that, the fusion process of polypropylene and composite mixing in a 'calander'. Subsequently, the samples to be irradiated and submitted to thermal and mechanical assays were molded by injection. The mechanical properties (hardness, impact resistance and molten fluidity index (MFI)), as well as the thermal properties (HDT and Vicat) of the composites were determined. The investigated compositions consisted of polypropylene/wood flour, polypropylene/wood flour with barium titanate and polypropylene/wood flour with barium titanate and TPDGA, using different wood flour concentrations of 10 por cent, 15 por cent and 20 por cent in the polypropylene matrix. The samples were separated in groups and irradiated to doses of 10 kGy and 20 kGy in the samples of the essays of traction. Besides these doses, it was also used doses of 15 kGy and 25 kGy to be observed the behavior of the sample of the sample due to the increase of the radiation. These doses were chosen to show that with low doses the composite material presents reticulation, what represents a viable commercial option. There was a reduction of the flow rate for the composites containing wood flour, being this reduction more effective in the presence of TiBa. The superficial treatment using TPDGA monomer influence in the composite samples because it acted as a plastic additive becoming the

  4. Os efeitos da idade no sono, estado de alerta e sonolência e fadiga crónica em agentes da polícia de segurança pública na região de Lisboa

    OpenAIRE

    Reis, Rui Miguel Gomes António

    2004-01-01

    Dissertação de Mestrado em Psicologia da Saúde A presente investigação pretende averiguar se a idade dos agentes da P.S.P. que trabalham por turnos têm repercussão na qualidade / quantidade do seu sono e do estado de alerta e sonolência Participaram no estudo 120 Agentes da Policia de Segurança Pública da região de Lisboa. Recorreu-se à utilização dos Questionários de Sono e Fadiga; de Dados Individuais; e a Escala de alerta e sonolência do Standard Shiftwork Index (SSI) - na versão por...

  5. Regulação emocional no trabalho: um estudo de caso após desastre aéreo

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Sonia Maria Guedes Gondim

    Full Text Available Um dos objetivos deste estudo foi analisar as estratégias de regulação emocional dos profissionais de uma empresa aérea brasileira após acidente fatal ocorrido em 2006. Participaram do estudo qualitativo 47 aeroviários: agentes de aeroportos, profissionais de recursos humanos, comandantes, comissários e copilotos. Os dados foram coletados em janeiro de 2007, em entrevistas grupais guiadas por um roteiro semiestruturado. A duração de cada uma delas variou de 1 a 2 horas, e foram realizadas em uma sala no próprio aeroporto ou na sede da empresa. Após esclarecimentos sobre os objetivos da pesquisa e consentimento livre dos participantes, as entrevistas foram gravadas para posterior identificação das demandas de trabalho surgidas após o acidente e das estratégias de regulação emocional usadas. As estratégias de ação profunda (seleção de situação e reavaliação cognitiva se apresentaram centrais nos discursos dos aeroviários, mais do que as estratégias superficiais (supressão de emoções ou manifestações fisiológicas. Os resultados ainda revelaram que a certeza de que a empresa não tinha culpa no acidente contribuiu positivamente. Mesmo diante de muitas e diversificadas demandas de trabalho emocional, os aeroviários relataram menos impactos negativos em seu bem-estar e mais lealdade organizacional e investimento nas mudanças de seus estados internos emocionais.

  6. Estudos quantitativos em educação Quantitative studies in education

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    Bernardete A. Gatti

    2004-04-01

    Full Text Available O artigo trata de estudos em educação, realizados no Brasil nas últimas três décadas, utilizando abordagens quantitativas. Para a seleção dos trabalhos a serem tratados fez-se um levantamento em todos os números publicados de 1970 para cá dos seguintes periódicos: Revista Brasileira de Estudos Pedagógicos (Inep/MEC, Cadernos de Pesquisa (Fundação Carlos Chagas, Educação e Realidade (UFRS, Educação e Sociedade (Cedes/Unicamp, Revista Brasileira de Educação (ANPEd, Estudos em Avaliação Educacional (Fundação Carlos Chagas, Ensaio (Fundação Cesgranrio. Algumas fontes bibliográficas foram consultadas na busca de outros estudos. Ressalta-se a importância de perspectivas teóricas para o delineamento e desenvolvimento dos estudos, que devem ser colocados no contexto de uma reflexão educacional e de problematização, bem como, assinala a necessidade de adequação das escolhas dos tipos de análise a serem empregados. Discute a pouca tradição de realização de trabalhos em educação com as metodologias quantitativas no Brasil e o possível papel da quantificação na pesquisa educacional. Mostra algumas contribuições desses trabalhos à reflexão no campo da Educação, bem como para a fundamentação de algumas perspectivas críticas. Essas contribuições foram tratadas por temas, a saber: analfabetismo, percurso escolar e fracasso escolar; fluxo escolar/análise de coortes; letramento; políticas e educação básica; financiamento da educação/municipalização; fatores sociais e educação; jovens e educação; avaliação educacional; temas variados.The article refers to studies in education carried out in Brazil during the last three decades using quantitative approaches. The selection of the works to be examined was based on a survey of all issues published since 1970 by the following journals: Revista Brasileira de Estudos Pedagógicos (Inep/MEC, Cadernos de Pesquisa (Fundação Carlos Chagas, Educação e

  7. Computations of the chirality-sensitive effect induced by an antisymmetric indirect spin–spin coupling

    Science.gov (United States)

    Garbacz, Piotr

    2018-05-01

    Results of quantum mechanical computations of the antisymmetric part of the indirect spin-spin coupling tensor, ?, performed using the coupled-cluster method, the second-order polarisation propagator approximation, and the density functional theory for 25 molecules and nearly 100 spin-spin couplings are reported. These results are used for an estimation of the magnitude of the recently proposed liquid-state nuclear magnetic resonance chirality-sensitive effect, which allows to determine the molecular chirality directly, i.e. without the need for the application of any chiral agent. The following were found: (i) the antisymmetry J⋆ is usually larger for the coupling between spins separated by two chemical bonds in comparison with the coupling through one bond, (ii) promising samples are those which contain fluorine, and (iii) the antisymmetry of the spin-spin coupling tensor is of the order of a few hertz for commercially available chemical compounds. Therefore, the relevant property of the experiment, the pseudoscalar Jc, for them is of the order of 1 nHz m/V.

  8. Mosaico da linguagem das crianças bilíngues bimodais: estudos experimentais

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ronice Müller de Quadros

    2016-03-01

    Full Text Available Resumo: O presente trabalho apresenta a metodologia utilizada no estudo experimental que investiga o desenvolvimento bilíngue bimodal de crianças surdas com implante coclear (IC e crianças ouvintes filhas de pais surdos (Kodas2, com faixa etária entre 4 e 8 anos. Além desses dois grupos de crianças, participaram da pesquisa crianças surdas filhas de pais surdos ou filhas de pais ouvintes, e adultos ouvintes filhos de pais surdos, com o intuito de constituírem os grupos de controle. Inicialmente, descrevemos o estudo experimental desenvolvido e apresentamos como organizamos as feiras para coleta de dados. E, em seguida, apresentamos os testes utilizados no estudo, que contemplam os aspectos linguísticos da Língua de Sinais Brasileira (Libras e do Português Brasileiro (PB e formam o mosaico da linguagem dessas crianças. Concluímos com os resultados gerais das investigações realizadas até o momento.

  9. Contrast agents for cardiac angiography: effects of a nonionic agent vs. a standard ionic agent

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Bettmann, M.A.; Bourdillon, P.D.; Barry, W.H.; Brush, K.A.; Levin, D.C.

    1984-01-01

    The effects on cardiac hemodynamics and of a standard contrast agent, sodium methylglucamine diatrizoate [Renografin 76] were compared with the effects of a new nonionic agent (iohexol) in a double-blind study in 51 patietns undergoing coronary angiography and left ventriculography. No significant alteration in measured blood parameters occurred with either contrast agent. Hemodynamic changes occurred with both, but were significantly greater with the standard renografin than with the low-osmolality, nonionic iohexol. After left ventriculography, heart rate increased and peripheral arterial pressure fell with both agents, but less with iohexol. It is concluded that iohexol causes less alteration in cardiac function than does the agent currently most widely used. Nonionic contrast material is likely to improve the safety of coronary angiography, particularly in those patients at greatest risk

  10. Treinamento auditivo nas alterações do processamento auditivo: estudo de caso

    OpenAIRE

    Stroiek,Susan; Quevedo,Lenita da Silva; Kieling,Carla Hernandez; Battezini,Ana Carolina Lago

    2015-01-01

    O objetivo deste estudo é verificar a eficácia de um programa de Treinamento Auditivo comparando o desempenho inicial, nos testes de avaliação do processamento auditivo, com o desempenho após o treinamento auditivo. Para este estudo de caso, desenvolvido na clínica de Fonoaudiologia da Universidade de Passo Fundo, foi selecionado um indivíduo que apresentava alterações de linguagem, queixas compatíveis com alterações de processamento auditivo, avaliação audiológica básica normal e avaliação d...

  11. Estudo de mercado: "A satisfação dos franchisados em Portugal"

    OpenAIRE

    Fialho, Maria Cristina Grilo

    2013-01-01

    Este relatório de estágio foi realizado no âmbito do Mestrado em Matemática e Aplicações, com especialização em Estatística e Investigação Operacional, da Universidade de Aveiro, e o estágio foi realizado no GEMEO (Gabinete de Estudos de Mercado e Opinião do IPAM). Foram desenvolvidas várias atividades relacionadas com os Estudos de Mercado, e uma dessas atividades é sobre o Franchising, onde se pretende avaliar o perfil e satisfação do Franchisado em Portugal. Para isso, fo...

  12. UM ESTUDO BIBLIOMÉTRICO SOBRE ALIANÇAS, INOVAÇÃO E DESEMPENHO

    OpenAIRE

    Fábio de Oliveira Paula; Luiz Fernando de Paris Caldas; Jorge Ferreira da Silva

    2016-01-01

    O objetivo deste artigo é analisar os trabalhos mais relevantes para o estudo do impacto das alianças para inovação no desempenho das firmas e identificar os temas mais relevantes que formam o arcabouço teórico dessa área. A pesquisa analisou, a partir de um corte longitudinal compreendendo três períodos de seis anos entre 1997 e 2014, a evolução dos temas e trabalhos, identificando os que mantiveram relevância e em torno de quais temas os estudos convergiram. A pesquisa foi realizada aplican...

  13. Hardwares e sistemas multiagente: um estudo sobre arquiteturas híbridas

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Rafhael Rodrigues Cunha

    2015-05-01

    Full Text Available Este artigo apresenta três estudos de caso sobre a aplicabilidade de arquiteturas de hardware reconfiguráveis, como FPGA, voltadas à utilização em sistemas multiagentes. Feita uma análise visando à elucidação dos resultados e das contribuições que os estudos proporcionaram aos autores, observa-se que o desenvolvimento de sistemas inteligentes depende cada vez mais de uma programação que explore o hardware ao máximo. Esse desfecho torna o uso de hardwares reconfiguráveis o mais aconselhável quando problemas computacionais complexos demandam respostas rápidas e eficientes, como nos casos estudados.

  14. OS SISTEMAS AGROFLORESTAIS COMO ALTERNATIVA ECONÔMICA EM PEQUENAS PROPRIEDADES RURAIS: ESTUDO DE CASO

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Mário Jorge Campos dos Santos

    2002-05-01

    Full Text Available Os Sistemas Agroflorestais (SAFs constituem-se em uma alternativa de uso da terra para aliar a estabilidade do ecossistema visando à eficiência e otimização de recursos naturais na produção de forma integrada e sustentada. O objetivo deste estudo de caso foi avaliar a viabilidade econômica de um sistema agroflorestal localizado na região do Pontal do Paranapanema. O SAF em estudo é formada por espécies agrícolas: milho (Zea maiz, feijão guandu (Cajanus cajan, carioquinha, (Vigna unguiculata, preto (Phaseolus vulgaris e mandioca (Manihot esculenta com espécies florestais: Eucalyptus citriodora e Eucalyptus camaldulensis. A rentabilidade econômica do sistema foi mensurada, utilizando Valor Presente Líquido (VPL, Razão Benefício/Custo (RB/C para as culturas agrícolas anuais e Valor Esperado da terra (VET para os componentes madeireiros. Para tais cálculos foi escolhida uma taxa de desconto de 6%. O estudo demonstrou que o sistema agroflorestal apresentou rentabilidade econômica positiva, e que podem ser adotados por pequenos produtores. Assim, pode-se concluir que os sistemas agroflorestais são economicamente viáveis para pequenos produtores rurais trabalhando nas mesmas condições apresentadas neste estudo.

  15. Susceptibility of Enamel Treated with Bleaching Agents to Mineral Loss after Cariogenic Challenge

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Hüseyin Tezel

    2011-01-01

    Full Text Available Objectives. Controversial reports exist whether bleaching agents cause a susceptibility to demineralization. The aim of this study was to compare the calcium loss of enamel treated with different bleaching agents and activation methods. Method and Materials. The specimens obtained from human premolars were treated in accordance with manufacturer protocols; 10% carbamide peroxide, 38% hydrogen peroxide light-activated, 38% hydrogen peroxide laser-activated, and no treatment (control. After cariogenic challenge calcium concentrations were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Results. No differences were found between the calcium loss of the laser-activated group and 10% carbamide peroxide group (>0.05. However, the differences between laser-activated and control groups were statistically significant (0.05. On the other hand, the light-activated group showed a significantly higher calcium loss compared with the other groups (<0.05. Conclusions. The results show that bleaching agents may cause calcium loss but it seems to be a negligible quantity for clinical aspects.

  16. Valorization of titanium metal wastes as tanning agent used in leather industry

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Crudu, Marian, E-mail: mariancrudu@yahoo.com [The National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather – Division Leather and Footwear Research Institute, 93 Ion Minulescu Str., Bucharest (Romania); Deselnicu, Viorica, E-mail: viorica.deselnicu@icpi.ro [The National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather – Division Leather and Footwear Research Institute, 93 Ion Minulescu Str., Bucharest (Romania); Deselnicu, Dana Corina, E-mail: d_deselnicu@yahoo.com [University Politehnica Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei Nr. 313, Sector 6, RO-060042 Bucharest (Romania); Albu, Luminita, E-mail: luminita.albu@gmail.com [The National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather – Division Leather and Footwear Research Institute, 93 Ion Minulescu Str., Bucharest (Romania)

    2014-10-15

    Highlights: • Valorization of titanium wastes which cannot be recycled in metallurgical industry. • Transferring Ti waste into raw materials for obtaining Ti based tanning agent. • Characterization of new Ti based tanning agents and leather tanned with them. • Characterization of sewage waste water and sludge resulted from leather manufacture. • Analysis of the impact of main metal component of Ti waste. - Abstract: The development of new tanning agents and new technologies in the leather sector is required to cope with the increasingly higher environmental pressure on the current tanning materials and processes such as tanning with chromium salts. In this paper, the use of titanium wastes (cuttings) resulting from the process of obtaining highly pure titanium (ingots), for the synthesis of new tanning agent and tanning bovine hides with new tanning agent, as alternative to tanning with chromium salts are investigated. For this purpose, Ti waste and Ti-based tanning agent were characterized for metal content by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and chemical analysis; the tanned leather (wet white leather) was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope/Energy Dispersive Using X-ray (Analysis). SEM/EDX analysis for metal content; Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC), Micro-Hot-Table and standard shrinkage temperature showing a hydrothermal stability (ranged from 75.3 to 77 °C) and chemical analysis showing the leather is tanned and can be processed through the subsequent mechanical operations (splitting, shaving). On the other hand, an analysis of major minor trace substances from Ti-end waste (especially vanadium content) in new tanning agent and wet white leather (not detected) and residue stream was performed and showed that leachability of vanadium is acceptable. The results obtained show that new tanning agent obtained from Ti end waste can be used for tanning bovine hides, as eco-friendly alternative for chrome tanning.

  17. Valorization of titanium metal wastes as tanning agent used in leather industry

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Crudu, Marian; Deselnicu, Viorica; Deselnicu, Dana Corina; Albu, Luminita

    2014-01-01

    Highlights: • Valorization of titanium wastes which cannot be recycled in metallurgical industry. • Transferring Ti waste into raw materials for obtaining Ti based tanning agent. • Characterization of new Ti based tanning agents and leather tanned with them. • Characterization of sewage waste water and sludge resulted from leather manufacture. • Analysis of the impact of main metal component of Ti waste. - Abstract: The development of new tanning agents and new technologies in the leather sector is required to cope with the increasingly higher environmental pressure on the current tanning materials and processes such as tanning with chromium salts. In this paper, the use of titanium wastes (cuttings) resulting from the process of obtaining highly pure titanium (ingots), for the synthesis of new tanning agent and tanning bovine hides with new tanning agent, as alternative to tanning with chromium salts are investigated. For this purpose, Ti waste and Ti-based tanning agent were characterized for metal content by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and chemical analysis; the tanned leather (wet white leather) was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope/Energy Dispersive Using X-ray (Analysis). SEM/EDX analysis for metal content; Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC), Micro-Hot-Table and standard shrinkage temperature showing a hydrothermal stability (ranged from 75.3 to 77 °C) and chemical analysis showing the leather is tanned and can be processed through the subsequent mechanical operations (splitting, shaving). On the other hand, an analysis of major minor trace substances from Ti-end waste (especially vanadium content) in new tanning agent and wet white leather (not detected) and residue stream was performed and showed that leachability of vanadium is acceptable. The results obtained show that new tanning agent obtained from Ti end waste can be used for tanning bovine hides, as eco-friendly alternative for chrome tanning

  18. Estudo bibliométrico do descritor “Ergonomia” na base LISA

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Eliana Maria dos Santos Bahia

    2011-03-01

    Full Text Available Objetivo: O estudo analisa a produção científica sobre ergonomia utilizando a base de dados Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA. A base de dados LISA, iniciada em 1969, mantém sua cobertura temática na área de Biblioteconomia e Ciência da Informação.Método: No estudo utilizou-se o método da bibliometria aplicada para verificar a produção científica indexada.Resultados: Entre os resultados da busca de termos indexados na base de dados LISA, encontraram-se 503 artigos com o termo “Ergonomic”; 352 artigos, com a expressão “Design”; 111 artigos com o descritor “Systems”; 110 artigos com o termo “Work”; e , 98 artigos com o termo “Evaluation”. Dentre os 34 títulos de periódicos, 4 títulos cobrem 79% dos artigos que tratam sobre Ergonomia na base LISA. Os demais 30 títulos de periódicos cobrem 21% dos artigos indexados sob essa temática.Conclusões: O presente estudo bibliométrico oferece possibilita um panorama de como a ergonomia é percebida na área da Biblioteconomia e Ciência da Informação.

  19. Polymeric nanoparticles – a novel solution for delivery of antimicrobial agents

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Grzegorz Michalak

    2016-04-01

    Full Text Available The increased prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens requires additional efforts to develop new antimicrobial agents and alternative methods to prevent and treat infections. In response to this challenge, a variety of nanotechnology-based tools are currently being designed and thoroughly investigated. To date, a considerable number of studies have reported increased activity of antibiotic-conjugated polymeric nanoparticles against bacteria and fungi associated with various infections, including those caused by drug-resistant pathogens. Importantly, high biocompatibility of these structures coupled with enhanced biological activity and improved pharmacokinetic properties supports the potential of these nanosystems as new tools to treat infections. In this review, we summarize the synthesis of polymer-based nanoparticles and describe their mechanism of action. We also highlight the recent advances in the application of antibiotic-conjugated polymeric nanoparticles as novel antimicrobial agents.

  20. A Composite Agent Architecture for Multi-Agent Simulations

    OpenAIRE

    VanPutte, Michael; Osborn, Brian; Hiles, John

    2002-01-01

    CGF Computer Generated Forces and Behavioral Representation The MOVES Institute’s Computer-Generated Autonomy Group has focused on a research goal of modeling complex and adaptive behavior while at the same time making the behavior easier to create and control. This research has led to several techniques for agent construction, that includes a social and organization relationship management engine, a composite agent architecture, an agent goal apparatus, a structure for capturi...

  1. TACtic- A Multi Behavioral Agent for Trading Agent Competition

    Science.gov (United States)

    Khosravi, Hassan; Shiri, Mohammad E.; Khosravi, Hamid; Iranmanesh, Ehsan; Davoodi, Alireza

    Software agents are increasingly being used to represent humans in online auctions. Such agents have the advantages of being able to systematically monitor a wide variety of auctions and then make rapid decisions about what bids to place in what auctions. They can do this continuously and repetitively without losing concentration. To provide a means of evaluating and comparing (benchmarking) research methods in this area the trading agent competition (TAC) was established. This paper describes the design, of TACtic. Our agent uses multi behavioral techniques at the heart of its decision making to make bidding decisions in the face of uncertainty, to make predictions about the likely outcomes of auctions, and to alter the agent's bidding strategy in response to the prevailing market conditions.

  2. Use of radiolabeled antibodies as diagnostic imaging agents

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Wang, T.S.T.; Seldin, D.; Fawwaz, R.A.; Srivastava, S.; Olvwole, S.

    1989-01-01

    Recent advances in hybridoma technology have led to the development of monoclonal antibodies to a variety of antigens. The high degree of specificity of such reagents coupled with refinements in instrumentation and production of new radionuclides has rekindled interest in the application of radioimmunoscintigraphy in the diagnosis of various diseases. Although much of the work with monoclonal antibodies has been devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of tumors, increasing use is being made of these agents for the study of nontumor related disorders. This chapter focuses on the application of radioimmunoscintigraphy in the diagnosis of malignancies with a discussion on the other uses, notably those related to the vascular system

  3. A multi-agent design for a pressurized water reactor (P.W.R.) control system

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Aimar-Lichtenberger, M.

    1999-01-01

    This PhD work is in keeping with the complex industrial process control. The starting point is the analysis of control principles in a Pressurized Water Reactor (P.W.R). In order to cope with the limits of the present control procedures, a new control organisation by objectives and means is defined. This functional organisation is based on the state approach and is characterized by the parallel management of control functions to ensure the continuous control of the installation essential variables. With regard to this complex system problematic, we search the most adapted computer modeling. We show that a multi-agent system approach brings an interesting answer to manage the distribution and parallelism of control decisions and tasks. We present a synthetic study of multi-agent systems and their application fields.The choice of a multi-agent approach proceeds with the design of an agent model. This model gains experiences from other applications. This model is implemented in a computer environment which combines the mechanisms of an object language with Prolog. We propose in this frame a multi-agent modeling of the control system where each function is represented by an agent. The agents are structured in a hierarchical organisation and deal with different abstraction levers of the problem. Following a prototype process, the validation is realized by an implementation and by a coupling to a reactor simulator. The essential contributions of an agent approach turn on the mastery of the system complexity, the openness, the robustness and the potentialities of human-machine cooperation. (author)

  4. Agravos fonoaudiológicos sob a ótica do agente comunitário de saúde

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Maiara Corrêa de Paula

    Full Text Available RESUMO Objetivo: verificar o conhecimento dos agentes comunitários de saúde quanto aos agravos fonoaudiológicos, investigando orientações realizadas. Métodos: estudo transversal com Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (ACS atuantes nos Centros de Saúde (CS do distrito sanitário Leste do município de Florianópolis, SC. Os ACS responderam a um questionário com caracterização sociodemográfica e conhecimento quanto a agravos fonoaudiológicos, por meio de questionamentos quanto às orientações realizadas em visitas referentes à promoção da saúde nos diferentes ciclos de vida. Foi realizada uma análise estatística descritiva no programa STATA 11.0. Resultados: foram entrevistados 55 ACS, com idade média de 44,56 anos, a maioria do sexo feminino (98,18% e ensino médio (80%. Dentre os principais marcadores de saúde dos CS encontrou-se a Hipertensão arterial e a diabetes caracterizadas como doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. As orientações relacionadas à promoção da saúde materno infantil relatadas pelos ACS envolviam mais conhecimentos quanto aos agravos fonoaudiológicos em comparação com orientações a respeito da promoção da saúde da criança e do idoso. Conclusão: o estudo revelou que existe conhecimento por parte dos ACS com relação aos agravos fonoaudiológicos, já que são incorporados nas orientações realizadas pelos mesmos, porém este pode ser entendido como limitado. Considerando-se que o ACS é o principal elo entre a comunidade e a equipe de saúde torna-se essencial incorporar estes conhecimentos ao saber deste profissional como forma de efetivar as ações promoção e prevenção de saúde, configurando a integralidade do cuidado em saúde.

  5. Estudo das características da oclusão na dentição decídua e na mista e fatores associados

    OpenAIRE

    Costa, Catiara Terra da

    2013-01-01

    Conhecer as características oclusais das dentições decídua e mista, seu desenvolvimento, alterações e possíveis fatores influentes é importante para a prevenção e interceptação das maloclusões, tornando-se de grande valor epidemiológico. Para isto, estudos longitudinais são apropriados, pois observam a mesma população em momentos temporais diferentes. Este estudo foi constituído de duas partes: estudo transversal e estudo longitudinal. O estudo transversal investigou a influência dos fatores ...

  6. Improving anaerobic digestion of pig manure by adding in the same reactor a stabilizing agent formulated with low-grade magnesium oxide

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Romero-Güiza, M.S.; Astals, S.; Chimenos, J.M.; Martínez, M.; Mata-Alvarez, J.

    2014-01-01

    Struvite precipitation and pig manure anaerobic digestion were coupled in the same reactor in order to mitigate the inhibitory effect of free ammonia and avoid precipitator costs. The stabilizing agent used to facilitate struvite precipitation was formulated with low-grade magnesium oxide by-product; an approach that would notably reduce struvite processing costs. The interaction between pig manure and stabilizing agent was analyzed in batch experiments, on a wide range of stabilizing agent additions from 5 to 100 kg m −3 . The monitoring of the pH and ammonia removal during 24 h showed the high capacity of the stabilizing agent to remove ammonia; removal efficiencies above 80% were obtained from 40 kg m −3 . However, a long-term anaerobic digester operation was required to assess the feasibility of the process and to ensure that the stabilizing agent does not introduce any harmful compound for the anaerobic biomass. In this vein, the addition of 5 and 30 kg m −3 of the stabilizing agent in a pig manure continuous digester resulted in a 25% (0.17 m 3  kg −1 ) and a 40% (0.19 m 3  kg −1 ) increase in methane production per mass of volatile solid, respectively, when compared with the reference digester (0.13 m 3  kg −1 ). Moreover, the stability of the process during four hydraulic retention times guarantees that the stabilizing agent did not exert a negative effect on the consortium of microorganisms. Finally, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the presence of struvite as well as two precipitation mechanisms, struvite precipitation on the stabilizing agent surface and in the bulk solution. - Highlights: • Anaerobic digestion and struvite precipitation were satisfactorily coupled. • The stabilizing agent showed high ammonia removals efficiencies. • The stabilizing agent improved the methane production of a pig manure digester. • The stabilizing agent does not introduce harmful compound for the

  7. Unified Generic Geometric-Decompositions for Consensus or Flocking Systems of Cooperative Agents and Fast Recalculations of Decomposed Subsystems Under Topology-Adjustments.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Li, Wei

    2016-06-01

    This paper considers a unified geometric projection approach for: 1) decomposing a general system of cooperative agents coupled via Laplacian matrices or stochastic matrices and 2) deriving a centroid-subsystem and many shape-subsystems, where each shape-subsystem has the distinct properties (e.g., preservation of formation and stability of the original system, sufficiently simple structures and explicit formation evolution of agents, and decoupling from the centroid-subsystem) which will facilitate subsequent analyses. Particularly, this paper provides an additional merit of the approach: considering adjustments of coupling topologies of agents which frequently occur in system design (e.g., to add or remove an edge, to move an edge to a new place, and to change the weight of an edge), the corresponding new shape-subsystems can be derived by a few simple computations merely from the old shape-subsystems and without referring to the original system, which will provide further convenience for analysis and flexibility of choice. Finally, such fast recalculations of new subsystems under topology adjustments are provided with examples.

  8. Enfermeiros e clientela com bulimia e anorexia: estudo de caso

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Claudia Regina Carvalho Martins

    2012-06-01

    Full Text Available Investigação que objetivou identificar a interação de enfermeiros e clientes portadores de bulimia e anorexia. Utilizamos o estudo de caso como recurso, para o qual coletamos dados de prontuários e fizemos entrevistas com oito de quatorze enfermeiros, que foram nossos sujeitos-objeto. De acordo com os enfermeiros, os clientes se isolavam do mundo, vivendo num mundo sem fome e de espelhos que refletiam um corpo sempre acima do "peso ideal"; eram pessoas solitárias, que perderam o brilho pessoal, emitindo sinais de que podiam extinguir a vida deles a qualquer momento. Com o estudo, foi possível identificar a maneira pela qual os enfermeiros interagiam e percebiam os clientes e, em decorrência disso, explicitamos uma prática de cuidar peculiar na enfermagem.

  9. MAPEAMENTO GEOLITERÁRIO: UMA PROPOSTA METODOLÓGICA PARA OS ESTUDOS GEOGRÁFICOS

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Walter Luiz Jardim Rodrigues

    2016-06-01

    Full Text Available Os romances são produções literárias que abrigam em suas páginas, variadas possibilidades de estudos. Embora pouco explorados neste sentido, seus estudos podem ser muito úteis não somente para linha de pesquisa da Geografia e Literatura, mas para diversos ramos do conhecimento como a percepção ambiental, urbanismo, história, economia e entre outros. Neste sentido, procura-se contribuir com uma abordagem metodológica para apreensão do espaço geográfico através de obras literárias, e nesse estudo, a análise do espaço geográfico da cidade de Belém do Pará da década de 1920, descrita no romance “Belém do Grão-Pará” de Dalcídio Jurandir. E assim comparar com a atual organização espacial da cidade a partir do uso das geotecnologias para espacializar, identificar, analisar e representar o espaço através de mapas temáticos gerados a partir do mapeamento geoliterário.

  10. Qualidade de vida em pacientes com endometriose: um estudo de revisão

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Maria Paula Custódio Silva

    2014-09-01

    Full Text Available Objetivo: O presente estudo teve como objetivo mostrar os principais resultados dos estudos que avaliaram qualidade de vida (QV em mulheres com endometriose. Também são apresentadas estratégias para promoção da saúde, visando demonstrar as pacientes com essa condição ginecológica que é possível viver bem mesmo sendo portadora de uma doença crônica. Métodos: Para isso, foi realizada uma pesquisa bibliográfica no PubMed utilizando os descritores quality of life and endometriosis e os seguintes filtros: artigos com abstract disponível, com data de publicação dos últimos 10 anos, em humanos do sexo feminino, idioma inglês/português e cujos termos constavam no título/abstract. A busca foi realizada em dezembro de 2013, resultou em 147 artigos e de acordo com os critérios de inclusão, 12 foram selecionados para leitura. Resultados: Todos os artigos evidenciaram que as mulheres com endometriose apresentaram uma redução na QV e cinco estudos associaram nível socioeconômico, intensidade da dor e hábitos saudáveis como fatores que influenciam a QV dessa população. No entanto, nenhum dos estudos propõe as pacientes com a doença estratégias para a melhora da QV. O presente estudo mostra os benefícios da prática regular de atividade física em elevar a QV e, portanto, estimula sua realização como uma maneira de minimizar os sintomas da endometriose, em especial a dor e os sintomas psicológicos. Conclusão: Considerando que a endometriose é uma doença complexa e prevalente, o ideal seria o fornecimento de um atendimento holístico as pacientes, executado por uma equipe multidisciplinar que atuaria de modo integrado na orientação, acompanhamento e tratamento das mulheres com endometriose.

  11. Multi-Agent Pathfinding with n Agents on Graphs with n Vertices

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Förster, Klaus-Tycho; Groner, Linus; Hoefler, Torsten

    2017-01-01

    We investigate the multi-agent pathfinding (MAPF) problem with $n$ agents on graphs with $n$ vertices: Each agent has a unique start and goal vertex, with the objective of moving all agents in parallel movements to their goal s.t.~each vertex and each edge may only be used by one agent at a time....... We give a combinatorial classification of all graphs where this problem is solvable in general, including cases where the solvability depends on the initial agent placement. Furthermore, we present an algorithm solving the MAPF problem in our setting, requiring O(n²) rounds, or O(n³) moves...... of individual agents. Complementing these results, we show that there are graphs where Omega(n²) rounds and Omega(n³) moves are required for any algorithm....

  12. Comunicação em Parcerias Locais para a Promoção do Emprego – um estudo de caso sobre responsabilidade social dos agentes empresariais

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    CARRILHO, Tiago

    2010-07-01

    Full Text Available In this article we analyse social responsibility of enterprise agents in local projects of employment promotion, on the basis of case study methodology. Partnership constitutes a form of organizational and horizontal communication. This conceptual approach complements network approach due to key principles of actors’ relations reflected in project dynamic. Social responsibilities of enterprise agents are voluntary and aim at social inclusion. In À Medida and Le Cheile projects, enterprise agents’ involvement and partnership dynamic are reflected on key activities of professional training and linkage to employment market, although these agents did not adopted working methods on origin institutions and revealed an isolated debate over project objectives. Vertical communication «top to bottom» corresponds to the operational background of employment public policies in order to implement public programs which finance this kind of projects.

  13. Tendências dos estudos com idosos mais velhos na comunidade: uma revisão sistemática (internacional

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Idiane Rosset

    2011-03-01

    Full Text Available O estudo objetivou identificar e analisar as tendências e tipos de estudos, publicados no país e no exterior, envolvendo idosos >80 anos residentes na comunidade. Realizou-se uma revisão sistemática da literatura nacional nas bases de dados LILACS e SciELO e internacional nas bases PUBMED e EMBASE, nas duas últimas décadas. Selecionaram-se 162 referências internacionais e 12 nacionais. Predominou a área das ciências biológicas, tanto no nível nacional (50% quanto internacional (74,1%. Todos os trabalhos nacionais foram observacionais, sendo 91,7% de estudos transversais. Dentre os internacionais, 93,3% foram observacionais. Destes, 48,1% de estudos transversais e 37,6% de estudos de corte. Os Estados Unidos foram responsáveis por 41,4% do total de publicações internacionais. O Brasil e a China foram os únicos países em desenvolvimento a apresentar produções internacionais. Apesar do significativo aumento no número de produções científicas internacionais a partir de 2005, o mesmo ainda não foi constatado em nível nacional.

  14. APRENDIZAGEM INDIVIDUAL, SUPORTE ORGANIZACIONAL E DESEMPENHO PERCEBIDO: UM ESTUDO COM DOCENTES UNIVERSITÁRIOS

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Pérola Cavalcante Dourado

    2018-03-01

    Full Text Available Resumo: O estudo analisou as relações entre a percepção de aprendizagem de competências e de desempenho de docentes de nível superior. Além disso, testou o papel moderador do suporte organizacional na relação entre a aprendizagem individual e desempenho docente. Participaram do estudo 275 docentes de uma universidade pública federal, que responderam ao inventário de percepção de aprendizagem de competências, suporte à transferência e desempenho docente (ASOD. Foram realizadas análises confirmatórias e testados os modelos de predição e moderação. Uma das conclusões do estudo foi que a aprendizagem docente nas atividades de ensino, pesquisa, extensão e gestão predizem a percepção de desempenho em cada uma das atividades respectivamente. Não foram encontradas evidências de que o suporte modera as relações entre as aprendizagens e a percepção de desempenho docente.

  15. Estudo de conforto em espaços abertos em região de clima temperado: o caso de Glasgow, Reino Unido

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Eduardo Leite Krüger

    Full Text Available O estudo da sensação de conforto térmico em espaços abertos deve ser entendido como primordial para o planejamento climaticamente adequado de áreas urbanas. Através do aumento da atratividade das àreas abertas e do incentivo às atividades ao ar livre, o planejamento urbano norteado do pelas preferências térmicas da população torna-se um agente facilitador do uso desses espaços. O presente trabalho analisa a sensação térmica de moradores de Glasgow, Reino Unido, localizada em região temperada, comparando respostas obtidas por meio de entrevistas estruturadas a índices utilizados pela meteorologia (Wind Chill e THSW e em estudos de conforto (PET e PMV. Os dados foram coletados em 19 campanhas de monitoramento, no período do inverno ao verão de 2011. Para a coleta de dados, foi utilizada uma estação Davis Vantage Pro2, contendo sensores de temperatura e umidade relativa, anemômetro e piranômetro. Foi confeccionado um termômetro de globo, utilizado para obtenção da temperatura radiante média (TRM, equipado com um data logger (Tinytag-TGP-4500. Os resultados indicam que os índices THSW e PET foram os que mais se aproximaram da resposta térmica dos entrevistados, podendo ser aplicados no entendimento das condições do clima na cidade e entorno de Glasgow.

  16. Gestão em Alimentos e Bebidas: Indicadores para um Novo Campo de Estudos no Brasil

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Carlos Eduardo de Mattos

    2016-10-01

    Full Text Available A partir de dezembro de 2015 a CAPES reconheceu formalmente a proposta de abertura de um novo curso em Mestrado Profissional em Administração com foco na Gestão em Alimentos e Bebidas. Ainda que no exterior este campo de pesquisa (Food and Beverage Management já esteja consolidado, no Brasil ele é formalmente inédito. Este estudo tem o propósito de identificar, por meio de pesquisa bibliográfica nas bases de dados EBSCO e Food and Beverage Management Commons, as áreas de estudo de alimentos e bebidas no campo da administração de empresas. A pesquisa também possui o objetivo de quantificar, de forma longitudinal, o número de estudos por área. Os resultados identificaram 18 áreas da administração de empresas em que existem pesquisas sobre alimentos e bebidas. Os resultados, também, quantificaram o número de publicações e demonstraram, ao longo do tempo, a partir da década de 1960, o progresso e os turns (períodos de grandes evoluções na produção dos estudos em alimentos e bebidas em cada década. Este artigo contribuiu, de forma seminal, para mapear a área e fornecer indicadores de sua produção científica. O estudo contribuiu, também, para direcionar investigações futuras.

  17. 9th KES Conference on Agent and Multi-Agent Systems : Technologies and Applications

    CERN Document Server

    Howlett, Robert; Jain, Lakhmi

    2015-01-01

    Agents and multi-agent systems are related to a modern software paradigm which has long been recognized as a promising technology for constructing autonomous, complex and intelligent systems. The topics covered in this volume include agent-oriented software engineering, agent co-operation, co-ordination, negotiation, organization and communication, distributed problem solving, specification of agent communication languages, agent privacy, safety and security, formalization of ontologies and conversational agents. The volume highlights new trends and challenges in agent and multi-agent research and includes 38 papers classified in the following specific topics: learning paradigms, agent-based modeling and simulation, business model innovation and disruptive technologies, anthropic-oriented computing, serious games and business intelligence, design and implementation of intelligent agents and multi-agent systems, digital economy, and advances in networked virtual enterprises. Published p...

  18. Novas Modulações do Controle Organizacional: um Estudo de Caso

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Cláudia Maria Perrone

    Full Text Available Resumo O poder nas organizações não se manifesta apenas por vias coercitivas na atualidade. Ele atua por meio de dispositivos de poder, nos quais são incluídos os métodos disciplinares, que operam diretamente na subjetividade do sujeito. Esses mecanismos tornam os trabalhadores reconhecíveis, identificáveis e comparáveis entre si. Este estudo objetivou explicitar parte dos resultados de uma pesquisa sobre controle organizacional e subjetividade no contemporâneo. A pesquisa referida investigou a lógica pós-disciplinar presente nos mecanismos de controle organizacional por meio da problematização do nexo entre tecnologia e subjetivação. Os resultados apresentados neste trabalho são relativos a uma parte da amostra total, composta de trinta sujeitos. Foi escolhido o caso de uma mulher, funcionária de uma instituição financeira transnacional, configurando este artigo como um estudo de caso. Os resultados do estudo de caso apontaram que a lógica vigente da organização do trabalho obriga que o trabalhador assuma para si as flutuações da demanda, bem como a responsabilidade dos resultados. Dessa forma, há indicativos que as novas formas de organização do trabalho possibilitam a autorresponsabilização do sujeito.

  19. 10th International Conference on Practical Applications of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems

    CERN Document Server

    Pérez, Javier; Golinska, Paulina; Giroux, Sylvain; Corchuelo, Rafael; Trends in Practical Applications of Agents and Multiagent Systems

    2012-01-01

    PAAMS, the International Conference on Practical Applications of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems is an evolution of the International Workshop on Practical Applications of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems. PAAMS is an international yearly tribune to present, to discuss, and to disseminate the latest developments and the most important outcomes related to real-world applications. It provides a unique opportunity to bring multi-disciplinary experts, academics and practitioners together to exchange their experience in the development of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems.   This volume presents the papers that have been accepted for the 2012 in the workshops: Workshop on Agents for Ambient Assisted Living, Workshop on Agent-Based Solutions for Manufacturing and Supply Chain and Workshop on Agents and Multi-agent systems for Enterprise Integration.

  20. Riot Control Agents

    Science.gov (United States)

    ... Submit What's this? Submit Button Facts About Riot Control Agents Interim document Recommend on Facebook Tweet Share Compartir What riot control agents are Riot control agents (sometimes referred to ...

  1. Study on the uptake and distribution of gadolinium based contrast agents in biological samples using laser ablation with inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy; Untersuchungen zur Aufnahme und Verteilung von gadoliniumbasierten Kontrastmitteln in biologischen Proben mittels Laserablation mit induktiv gekoppelter Plasma-Massenspektrometrie

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Lingott, Jana

    2016-01-05

    Gadolinium based contrast agents are used for magnetic resonance imaging. After their excretion by medicated patients they reach surface water passing waste water treatment plants where they are not removed sufficiently. The behavior of the contrast agents in the environment and the interaction with organisms was investigated in this work due to the toxicity of the free Gd{sup 3+} ion and the associated risks, such as accumulation in the human food chain. In this work, the two elemental analytical imaging methods laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence analysis (SRXRF) have been used to investigate the uptake, distribution, and excretion of Gd-based contrast agents by various biological systems. Both methods were analytically characterized and compared for this application. The detection limits of gadolinium were determined under optimized conditions by LA-ICP-MS and SRXRF. With calibration by remains of dried elemental standard droplets detection limits of 0.78 pg absolute amount of gadolinium (LA-ICP-MS), respectively 89 pg (SRXRF) were reached. Based on filamentous algae as water plants the uptake and the excretion of Gd-based contrast agents were revealed. The dependence on concentration of the contrast agent in the exposition solution and the independence of temporal uptake within one to seven days were studied for duckweed. By LA-ICP-MS gadolinium was quantified in a leaf of cress plant. The verification of the results was performed by SRXRF and ICP-MS after digestion. Furthermore, the uptake and distribution of Gd-based contrast agents in higher organisms (water flea) were observed. The exact location of gadolinium was resolved by three-dimensional μ-computed tomography by the comparison of an exposed with a Gd-free water flea. In all studies, gadolinium was detected in the investigated exposed model organisms. It can be concluded that the contrast agents were taken from the

  2. Art collection preservation: gamma radiation application for decontaminating objects in the Instituto de Estudos Brasileiros from Universidade de Sao Paulo (USP), SP, Brazil

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Rela, Paulo Roberto; Gomes, Fatima Faria; Thome, Lucia Elena; Kodama, Yasko

    2008-01-01

    The Instituto de Estudos Brasileiros (IEB) from the University of Sao Paulo received the charge from Sao Paulo's Federal Justice to take care of part of the collection from Banco Santos that was severely attacked by insects and micro-organisms (moulds) when stored in a warehouse that was flooded by intense rainfall. A chemical treatment to eliminate the biodeterioration agents was tried but it was not effective. As the heap has a large amount of Xylograph wood dye, printings and manuscripts from cordel literature an urgent way to treat was searched and after the study and previous experience on wood irradiation process it was decided to submit promptly the heap to gamma irradiation. After the treatment the art pieces were restored by IEB staff and now is being part of IEB collection and available for the scientific research community (author)

  3. Estudo de filmes de Langmuir e Langmuir-Blodgett de aminas anfifílicas utilizando a espectroscopia SFG

    OpenAIRE

    Thiers Massami Uehara

    2010-01-01

    O estudo da interação de moléculas orgânicas com a água é de grande importância para diversas áreas das ciências, como por exemplo, na compreensão de sistemas biológicos. Uma elevada diversidade de estudos nesta área já foram realizados, no entanto, alguns aspectos do estudo de filmes finos de aminas anfifílicas não foram satisfatoriamente esclarecidos. Este trabalho aborda filmes de Langmuir de octadecilamina em função do pH e da força iônica de subfases aquosas, investigando a estrutura d...

  4. GESTÃO DO VOLUNTARIADO: Um Panorama dos Estudos Realizados no Brasil.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Sheila Patrícia Ramos

    2016-08-01

    Full Text Available Um novo padrão de voluntariado iniciou a partir de 1990 no Brasil, foram criados centros de referência que tinham por objetivo organizar, capacitar e direcionar o trabalho voluntário. A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar os estudos publicados no Brasil sobre o tema gestão do voluntariado e com isso pretende-se mapear estudos teóricos e empíricos nacionais. Para tanto, foi realizada uma pesquisa bibliométrica, de caráter exploratório-descritiva, em dados secundários. Os resultados foram dispostos em forma de tabela. A amostra foi composta por quinze estudos, sendo artigos científicos publicados em revistas e eventos. A média de autores identificados nos artigos foram de 2,4. Predominam as pesquisas práticas e qualitativas com uso da técnica de entrevista apoiado pelo uso de documentos e/ou observação.  80% das pesquisas são qualitativas e 20% de natureza quali/quanti. 80% dos estudos identificados são práticos, 60% foram publicados em fontes classificadas pela CAPES como “B” e 40% “A”.    A new voluntary standard started from 1990 in Brazil, the reference centers have been created that aimed to organize, train and direct volunteer work. This research aims to analyze the studies published in Brazil the problem of volunteer management and aims to map theoretical and empirical national. For this, a bibliometric, descriptive and exploratory research was conducted on secondary data. The results were arranged in a table. The sample consisted of fifteen scientific studies and articles published in magazines and events. The average number of authors identified in Articles 2.4. Predominance of practice and qualitative research using the interview technique with the support of the use of documents and / or observation. 80% of research is qualitative and 20% qualitative / quantitative nature. 80% of the identified studies are practical, 60% were published in classified by CAPES as "B" and 40% "A" sources.

  5. Constructing Secure Mobile Agent Systems Using the Agent Operating System

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    van t Noordende, G.J.; Overeinder, B.J.; Timmer, R.J.; Brazier, F.M.; Tanenbaum, A.S.

    2009-01-01

    Designing a secure and reliable mobile agent system is a difficult task. The agent operating system (AOS) is a building block that simplifies this task. AOS provides common primitives required by most mobile agent middleware systems, such as primitives for secure communication, secure and

  6. Nondestructive Intervention to Multi-Agent Systems through an Intelligent Agent

    Science.gov (United States)

    Han, Jing; Wang, Lin

    2013-01-01

    For a given multi-agent system where the local interaction rule of the existing agents can not be re-designed, one way to intervene the collective behavior of the system is to add one or a few special agents into the group which are still treated as normal agents by the existing ones. We study how to lead a Vicsek-like flocking model to reach synchronization by adding special agents. A popular method is to add some simple leaders (fixed-headings agents). However, we add one intelligent agent, called ‘shill’, which uses online feedback information of the group to decide the shill's moving direction at each step. A novel strategy for the shill to coordinate the group is proposed. It is strictly proved that a shill with this strategy and a limited speed can synchronize every agent in the group. The computer simulations show the effectiveness of this strategy in different scenarios, including different group sizes, shill speed, and with or without noise. Compared to the method of adding some fixed-heading leaders, our method can guarantee synchronization for any initial configuration in the deterministic scenario and improve the synchronization level significantly in low density groups, or model with noise. This suggests the advantage and power of feedback information in intervention of collective behavior. PMID:23658695

  7. Nondestructive intervention to multi-agent systems through an intelligent agent.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Jing Han

    Full Text Available For a given multi-agent system where the local interaction rule of the existing agents can not be re-designed, one way to intervene the collective behavior of the system is to add one or a few special agents into the group which are still treated as normal agents by the existing ones. We study how to lead a Vicsek-like flocking model to reach synchronization by adding special agents. A popular method is to add some simple leaders (fixed-headings agents. However, we add one intelligent agent, called 'shill', which uses online feedback information of the group to decide the shill's moving direction at each step. A novel strategy for the shill to coordinate the group is proposed. It is strictly proved that a shill with this strategy and a limited speed can synchronize every agent in the group. The computer simulations show the effectiveness of this strategy in different scenarios, including different group sizes, shill speed, and with or without noise. Compared to the method of adding some fixed-heading leaders, our method can guarantee synchronization for any initial configuration in the deterministic scenario and improve the synchronization level significantly in low density groups, or model with noise. This suggests the advantage and power of feedback information in intervention of collective behavior.

  8. Os sistemas agroflorestais como alternativa econômica em pequenas propriedades rurais: estudo de caso.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Mário Jorge Campos dos Santos

    2010-08-01

    Full Text Available Os Sistemas Agroflorestais (SAFs constituem-se em uma alternativa de uso da terra para aliar a estabilidade do ecossistema visando à eficiência e otimização de recursos naturais na produção de forma integrada e sustentada. O objetivo deste estudo de caso foi avaliar a viabilidade econômica de um sistema agroflorestal localizado na região do Pontal do Paranapanema. O SAF em estudo é formada por espécies agrícolas: milho (Zea maiz, feijão guandu (Cajanus cajan, carioquinha, (Vigna unguiculata, preto (Phaseolus vulgaris e mandioca (Manihot esculenta com espécies florestais: Eucalyptus citriodora e Eucalyptus camaldulensis. A rentabilidade econômica do sistema foi mensurada, utilizando Valor Presente Líquido (VPL, Razão Benefício/Custo (RB/C para as culturas agrícolas anuais e Valor Esperado da terra (VET para os componentes madeireiros. Para tais cálculos foi escolhida uma taxa de desconto de 6%. O estudo demonstrou que o sistema agroflorestal apresentou rentabilidade econômica positiva, e que podem ser adotados por pequenos produtores. Assim, pode-se concluir que os sistemas agroflorestais são economicamente viáveis para pequenos produtores rurais trabalhando nas mesmas condições apresentadas neste estudo.

  9. Práticas avaliativas na gestão da Atenção Básica à Saúde: estudo de caso em Camaquã e Canguçu (RS

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Juliana Maciel Pinto

    2013-04-01

    Full Text Available O artigo aborda a gestão municipal do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS a partir das práticas avaliativas realizadas em Camaquã e Canguçu (RS. Apresenta estudo de casos múltiplos, qualitativo, com análise de dados de observação participante, entrevistas semiestruturadas e documentos locais. Foram considerados os tipos de práticas avaliativas (cotidiana, normativa, pontual, de monitoramento ou investigação avaliativa e a origem dos avaliadores (internos ou externos. Identificaram-se o predomínio de práticas avaliativas cotidianas exercidas por agentes internos e a presença de práticas normativas induzidas por agentes externos. Conclui-se que a mediação sociopolítica é a principal estratégia gestora para considerar a diversidade de atores e suas avaliações sobre um sistema de saúde que pretende atuar em rede e que tem a participação como diretriz constitucional.

  10. Organizations as Socially Constructed Agents in the Agent Oriented Paradigm

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    G. Boella (Guido); L.W.N. van der Torre (Leon)

    2005-01-01

    htmlabstractIn this paper we propose a new role for the agent metaphor in the definition of the organizational structure of multiagent systems. The agent metaphor is extended to consider as agents also social entities like organizations, groups and normative systems, so that mental attitudes can

  11. A educação matemática e os estudos históricos comparativos A educação matemática e os estudos históricos comparativos Mathematics education and comparative historical studies

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Wagner RODRIGUES VALENTE

    2013-07-01

    Full Text Available Este texto tem por objetivos: caracterizar a área de pesquisa denominada «história da educação matemática» e defender a idéia de que a educação matemática constitui tema privilegiado de pesquisa no âmbito dos estudos históricos comparativos. Utiliza-se para isso uma revisão da literatura sobre estudos comparativos, a análise de dois momentos fundamentais ocorridos no século XX onde intenta-se internacionalizar um currículo de matemática para as escolas de diferentes países e um estudo de caso trazido por projeto de cooperação internacional entre Brasil e Portugal.Este texto tem por objetivos: caracterizar a área de pesquisa denominada «história da educação matemática» e defender a idéia de que a educação matemática constitui tema privilegiado de pesquisa no âmbito dos estudos históricos comparativos. Utiliza-se para isso uma revisão da literatura sobre estudos comparativos, a análise de dois momentos fundamentais ocorridos no século XX onde intenta-se internacionalizar um currículo de matemática para as escolas de diferentes países e um estudo de caso trazido por projeto de cooperação internacional entre Brasil e Portugal.This paper has as its aims: to characterize the area of research «history of mathematics education» and to defend the idea that mathematics education has constituted a privileged research theme within the field of comparative historical studies. To achieve these aims, the text includes references to a review of the literature concerning comparative studies, the analysis of two fundamental moments focused on attempts to internationalize the mathematics curriculum, both of which occurred during the 20th century, and, to end, a case study emanating from an international cooperation between researchers in Brazil and Portugal.

  12. Neuroprotective "agents" in surgery. Secret "agent" man, or common "agent" machine?

    Science.gov (United States)

    Andrews, R. J.

    1999-01-01

    The search for clinically-effective neuroprotective agents has received enormous support in recent years--an estimated $200 million by pharmaceutical companies on clinical trials for traumatic brain injury alone. At the same time, the pathophysiology of brain injury has proved increasingly complex, rendering the likelihood of a single agent "magic bullet" even more remote. On the other hand, great progress continues with technology that makes surgery less invasive and less risky. One example is the application of endovascular techniques to treat coronary artery stenosis, where both the invasiveness of sternotomy and the significant neurological complication rate (due to microemboli showering the cerebral vasculature) can be eliminated. In this paper we review aspects of intraoperative neuroprotection both present and future. Explanations for the slow progress on pharmacologic neuroprotection during surgery are presented. Examples of technical advances that have had great impact on neuroprotection during surgery are given both from coronary artery stenosis surgery and from surgery for Parkinson's disease. To date, the progress in neuroprotection resulting from such technical advances is an order of magnitude greater than that resulting from pharmacologic agents used during surgery. The progress over the last 20 years in guidance during surgery (CT and MRI image-guidance) and in surgical access (endoscopic and endovascular techniques) will soon be complemented by advances in our ability to evaluate biological tissue intraoperatively in real-time. As an example of such technology, the NASA Smart Probe project is considered. In the long run (i.e., in 10 years or more), pharmacologic "agents" aimed at the complex pathophysiology of nervous system injury in man will be the key to true intraoperative neuroprotection. In the near term, however, it is more likely that mundane "agents" based on computers, microsensors, and microeffectors will be the major impetus to improved

  13. Redes Sociais de Informação: uma história e um estudo de caso

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Gonçalo Costa Ferreira

    Full Text Available Vivemos em um mundo fluido e caracterizado pela complexidade. Dinamismo da relação entre as partes, sistemas abertos, imprevisibilidade, não-linearidade, auto-organização, adaptabilidade, criatividade, instabilidade, emergência, incerteza, conectividade e fluxo são algumas das marcas da contemporaneidade, na qual a informação e as redes emergem como elementos catalisadores da realidade. Em um contexto social, o intercâmbio de recursos informacionais dá-se por meio das relações que os agentes sociais estabelecem entre si. Os entrelaçados de relações que assim se formam, constituem as redes sociais, através das quais flui a informação. Com esta perspectiva, importa tentar responder à pergunta: "como se relacionam fluxos sociais de Informação com topologias e dinâmicas das Redes Sociais?" Neste trabalho, procurou-se dar um panorama histórico dos conceitos de redes e redes sociais, descrever sinteticamente o método de Análise de Redes Sociais (ARS e ilustrar o comportamento informacional em contexto organizacional, com um estudo de caso de Redes Sociais de Informação.

  14. Azobenzene dye-coupled quadruply hydrogen-bonding modules as colorimetric indicators for supramolecular interactions

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Yagang Zhang

    2012-04-01

    Full Text Available The facile coupling of azobenzene dyes to the quadruply hydrogen-bonding modules 2,7-diamido-1,8-naphthyridine (DAN and 7-deazaguanine urea (DeUG is described. The coupling of azobenzene dye 2 to mono-amido DAN units 4, 7, and 9 was effected by classic 4-(dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP-catalyzed peptide synthesis with N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl-N’-ethyl carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC as activating agent, affording the respective amide products 5, 8, and 10 in 60–71% yield. The amide linkage was formed through either the aliphatic or aromatic ester group of 2, allowing both the flexibility and absorption maximum to be tuned. Azobenzene dye 1 was coupled to the DeUG unit 11 by Steglich esterification to afford the product amide 12 in 35% yield. Alternatively, azobenzene dye 16 underwent a room-temperature copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne Huisgen cycloaddition with DeUG alkyne 17 to give triazole 18 in 71% yield. Azobenzene coupled DAN modules 5, 8, and 10 are bright orange–red in color, and azobenzene coupled DeUG modules 12 and 18 are orange–yellow in color. Azobenzene coupled DAN and DeUG modules were successfully used as colorimetric indicators for specific DAN–DeUG and DAN–UPy (2-ureido-4(1H-pyrimidone quadruply hydrogen-bonding interactions.

  15. Estudos de avaliação do conhecimento nutricional de adultos: uma revisão sistemática

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Lídia Bezerra Barbosa

    2016-02-01

    Full Text Available Resumo O objetivo deste estudo é revisar de forma sistematizada a literatura relativa a estudos que avaliaram o nível de conhecimento em nutrição de indivíduos adultos, com ênfase aos aspectos metodológicos e de conteúdo. Foi realizada busca de artigos na base de dados Medline, Lilacs e Scielo. Limitou-se a busca aos limites de espécie “humanos”, aos idiomas inglês, português e espanhol e idade (19 acima. Os critérios de inclusão foram: estudos transversais, com indivíduos >18 anos e que avaliaram o nível de conhecimento sobre nutrição em aspectos gerais. A qualidade metodológica dos artigos foi avaliada usando-se o Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE. Foram encontrados 3.623 artigos na busca inicial. Após leitura de títulos, resumos e aplicação de critérios de exclusão, 25 artigos selecionados. Os resultados mostraram que o conhecimento nutricional na maioria dos estudos esteve associado a variáveis socioeconômicas e ao comportamento alimentar. A maioria dos estudos pertenciam à classe B (92%, na qual atendiam 50% a 80% dos critérios do STROBE. Os estudos revelaram a existência de uma maior tendência de avaliar a relação do conhecimento em nutrição com variáveis sociodemográficas e econômicas.

  16. Análise da rugosidade superficial de materiais restauradores estéticos: efeito de agentes clareadores e tempo = Analysis of roughness surface of aesthetic restoring materials: effect of bleaching agentes and time

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Pozzobon, Roselaine Terezinha

    2005-01-01

    Full Text Available Este estudo in vitro avaliou o efeito de agentes clareadores na rugosidade superficial (Ra de materiais restauradores estéticos, com o passar do tempo. Foram utilizadas duas resinas compostas, Z100 (M1 e Silux-Plus (M2, um compômero, Dyract (M3 e um ionômero de vidro modificado por resina, Vitremer (M4, que foram expostos a dois agentes clareadores: Opalescence (C1, peróxido de carbamida 10%, e Hi-Lite (C2, peróxido de hidrogênio 35% e como meio de imersão foi utilizada saliva artificial (Co. Foram confeccionados 120 corpos de prova, sendo a Ra avaliada após 1 hora de confecção; e antes da imersão em saliva artificial (T0, após 1dia (T1, 7 (T2, 15 (T3 e 30 (T4 dias de exposição aos agentes clareadores. No grupo controle, os corpos-de-prova ficaram somente imersos em saliva artificial. Após análise estatística de variância ANOVA (a = 5%, teste de Tukey, e método da decomposição da soma de quadrados, foi possível concluir que: 1 – a Ra dos materiais restauradores estéticos, de forma geral, alterou-se após exposição aos diferentes agentes clareadores e ao longo do tempo; 2 – em função do material restaurador, M2 apresentou a maior média de Ra, seguido em ordem decrescente por M4, M3 e M1; 3 – C1 e C2 exerceram ação sobre a superfície dos materiais restauradores aumentando a Ra para todos os materiais avaliados, principalmente em M2 e M4; 4 – em função do fator tempo, observou-se influência estatisticamente significativa sobre a Ra, pois quanto maior o tempo de exposição ao agente clareador, maiores os valores médios de Ra

  17. Nature of the bifunctional chelating agent used for radioimmunotherapy with yttrium-88 monoclonal antibodies: critical factors in determining in vivo survival and organ toxicity

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kozak, R.W.; Raubitschek, A.; Mirzadeh, S.; Brechbiel, M.W.; Junghaus, R.; Gansow, O.A.; Waldmann, T.A. (Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, FDA, Bethesda, MD (USA))

    1989-05-15

    One factor that is critical to the potential effectiveness of radioimmunotherapy is the design of radiometal-chelated antibodies that will be stable in vivo. Stability in vivo depends on the condition that both the chelate linkage and radiolabeling procedures not alter antibody specificity and biodistribution. In addition, synthesis and selection of the chelating agent is critical for each radiometal in order to prevent inappropriate release of the radiometal in vivo. In the present study, we compare the in vivo stability of seven radioimmunoconjugates that use different polyaminocarboxylate chelating agents to complex yttrium-88 to the mouse anti-human interleukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibody, anti-Tac. Chelate linkage and radiolabeling procedures did not alter the immunospecificity of anti-Tac. In order to assess whether yttrium was inappropriately released from the chelate-coupled antibody in vivo, iodine-131-labeled and yttrium-88 chelate-coupled antibodies were simultaneously administered to the same animals to correlate the decline in yttrium and radioiodinated antibody activity. The four stable yttrium-88 chelate-coupled antibodies studied displayed similar iodine-131 and yttrium-88 activity, indicating minimal elution of yttrium-88 from the complex. In contrast, the unstable yttrium-88 chelate-coupled antibodies had serum yttrium-88 activities that declined much more rapidly than their iodine-131 activities, suggesting loss of the radiolabel yttrium-88 from the chelate. Furthermore, high rates of yttrium-88 elution correlated with deposition in bone. Four chelating agents emerged as promising immunotherapeutic reagents: isothiocyanate benzyl DTPA and its derivatives 1B3M, MX, and 1M3B.

  18. O uso da eletroglotografia, eletromiografia, espectografia e ultrassom nos estudos de fala - revisão teórica

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Fernanda Wiethan

    2015-03-01

    Full Text Available O emprego de novas tecnologias na avaliação e terapia de fala a partir de uma revisão de artigos publicados nos últimos 5 anos é o tema deste estudo, que tem por objetivo realizar uma revisão bibliográfica dos estudos nacionais e internacionais que utilizaram os recursos: eletroglotografia, espectrografia, ultrassonografia e eletromiografia na avaliação e terapia das alterações de fala. Existe um crescente interesse da inserção desses recursos nos estudos de fala, contudo, os trabalhos existentes que os correlacionam ainda são escassos.

  19. Advances on Practical Applications of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems 10th International Conference on Practical Applications of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems

    CERN Document Server

    Müller, Jörg; Rodríguez, Juan; Pérez, Javier

    2012-01-01

    Research on Agents and Multi-Agent Systems has matured during the last decade and many effective applications of this technology are now deployed. PAAMS provides an international forum to present and discuss the latest scientific developments and their effective applications, to assess the impact of the approach, and to facilitate technology transfer. PAAMS started as a local initiative, but has since grown to become THE international yearly platform to present, to discuss, and to disseminate the latest developments and the most important outcomes related to real-world applications. It provides a unique opportunity to bring multi-disciplinary experts, academics and practitioners together to exchange their experience in the development and deployment of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems. PAAMS intends to bring together researchers and developers from industry and the academic world to report on the latest scientific and technical advances on the application of multi-agent systems, to discuss and debate the major ...

  20. Highlights on Practical Applications of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems 10th International Conference on Practical Applications of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems

    CERN Document Server

    Sánchez, Miguel; Mathieu, Philippe; Rodríguez, Juan; Adam, Emmanuel; Ortega, Alfonso; Moreno, María; Navarro, Elena; Hirsch, Benjamin; Lopes-Cardoso, Henrique; Julián, Vicente

    2012-01-01

    Research on Agents and Multi-Agent Systems has matured during the last decade and many effective applications of this technology are now deployed. PAAMS provides an international forum to present and discuss the latest scientific developments and their effective applications, to assess the impact of the approach, and to facilitate technology transfer. PAAMS started as a local initiative, but has since grown to become THE international yearly platform to present, to discuss, and to disseminate the latest developments and the most important outcomes related to real-world applications. It provides a unique opportunity to bring multi-disciplinary experts, academics and practitioners together to exchange their experience in the development and deployment of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems. PAAMS intends to bring together researchers and developers from industry and the academic world to report on the latest scientific and technical advances on the application of multi-agent systems, to discuss and debate the major ...

  1. Effect of Different Nucleating Agents on the Crystallization of Ziegler-Natta Isotactic Polypropylene

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Felipe Avalos-Belmontes

    2016-01-01

    Full Text Available Ziegler-Natta isotactic polypropylene (iPP was melt mixed with four different nucleating agents (carbon nanotubes (CNT, carbon nanofibers (CNF, lithium benzoate (LiBe, and a sorbitol derivative (Millad in order to study their effect on the crystallization of iPP. It was found that the four different nucleating agents promote the alpha crystalline form. At 0.01 wt%, the carbon nanoparticles produced the higher crystallization temperature “Tc” (~119°C, whereas, at 0.10 wt%, LiBe and Millad produced a markedly higher Tc (~125°C. Tc of pure iPP was 111°C. With 0.1 wt% nucleating agent, at 120°C, the crystallization half-life time of PP, when using LiBe or Millad, was 15 times faster than for pure PP, whereas, when using carbon nanoparticles, it was 20–25 times faster. At 135°C, with 0.01 wt% nucleating agent, the isothermal crystallization process of iPP was completed after 25 min, as well as with Millad. With LiBe, it was completed after just 15 min and, with any of the carbon nanoparticles, it was practically over after only a couple of minutes.

  2. Radiographic scanning agent

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Bevan, J.A.

    1983-01-01

    This invention relates to radiodiagnostic agents and more particularly to a composition and method for preparing a highly effective technetium-99m-based bone scanning agent. One deficiency of x-ray examination is the inability of that technique to detect skeletal metastases in their incipient stages. It has been discovered that the methanehydroxydiphosphonate bone mineral-seeking agent is unique in that it provides the dual benefits of sharp radiographic imaging and excellent lesion detection when used with technetium-99m. This agent can also be used with technetium-99m for detecting soft tissue calcification in the manner of the inorganic phosphate radiodiagnostic agents

  3. A VISUALIDADE URBANA CONTEMPORÂNEA COMO CAMPO DE ESTUDOS INTERDISCIPLINARES

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Francisco Antônio Zorzo

    2017-02-01

    Full Text Available O artigo traz uma discussão sobre o estudo da visualidade urbana segundo uma abordagem interdisciplinar. Segundo a proposta aqui indicada, parece útil entender os fenômenos urbanos sob um outro olhar. Torna-se muito conveniente considerar a interação entre tecnologia, arte e ciência na constituição dos estudos sobre o ambiente urbano e sobre a produção da imagen. Tendo em mente tal concepção, pode-se partir de uma referência mais concreta para estudar a cidade e a visualidade, como um campo de múltiplas produções em abordagem interdisciplinar. Para isso foi selecionada a produção do grafite nas metrópoles brasileiras. Nos muros de Salvador há uma série de grafites que merecem a reflexão e um acolhimento crítico por tratarem exatamente de problematizar o olho e o olhar no ambiente da cidade.

  4. Validity of microporous polysaccharide hemispheres as a hemostatic agent in hepatic injuries: an experimental study in rats Validade de hemosferas microporosas de polissacarídeos como agente hemostático em ferimentos hepáticos: estudo experimental em ratos

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Maria de Lourdes Pessole Biondo-Simões

    2007-01-01

    riscos de sangramento. Daí a necessidade de se procurar substâncias capazes de promover a hemostasia de forma rápida e efetiva. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi reconhecer a validade do uso de hemosferas microporosas de polissacarídeos (MPH como agente hemostático para lesões hepáticas. MÉTODOS: Utilizaram-se 30 ratos Wistar distribuídos em três grupos. Sob anestesia, fez-se uma laparotomia e produziu-se um ferimento hepático padrão que foi tratado no grupo A com MPH, no grupo B, com n-butil-2-cianoacrilato e no grupo C com adesivo de fibrina. Cronometrou-se o tempo para a obtenção da hemostasia imediata, a existência de sangramento tardio e a evolução histológica. RESULTADOS: O MPH levou, em média, seis minutos para promover a hemostasia e apresentou re-sangramento exigindo reaplicação, o n-butil-2-cianoacrlato, 20 segundos e o adesivo de fibrina, um minuto. O cianoacrilato promoveu aderências mais intensas. Os três adesivos determinaram principalmente reação inflamatória do tipo crônico. As feridas tratadas com cianoacrilato apresentaram maior área de lesão (p=0,0164. A densidade do colágeno foi semelhante entre os grupos. CONCLUSÃO: O MPH, embora tenha conseguido hemostasia, não se mostrou mais favorável do que o n-butil-2-cianoacrilato e o adesivo de fibrina sendo que este último promoveu a menor reação tecidual.

  5. Can agent based models effectively reduce fisheries management implementation uncertainty?

    Science.gov (United States)

    Drexler, M.

    2016-02-01

    Uncertainty is an inherent feature of fisheries management. Implementation uncertainty remains a challenge to quantify often due to unintended responses of users to management interventions. This problem will continue to plague both single species and ecosystem based fisheries management advice unless the mechanisms driving these behaviors are properly understood. Equilibrium models, where each actor in the system is treated as uniform and predictable, are not well suited to forecast the unintended behaviors of individual fishers. Alternatively, agent based models (AMBs) can simulate the behaviors of each individual actor driven by differing incentives and constraints. This study evaluated the feasibility of using AMBs to capture macro scale behaviors of the US West Coast Groundfish fleet. Agent behavior was specified at the vessel level. Agents made daily fishing decisions using knowledge of their own cost structure, catch history, and the histories of catch and quota markets. By adding only a relatively small number of incentives, the model was able to reproduce highly realistic macro patterns of expected outcomes in response to management policies (catch restrictions, MPAs, ITQs) while preserving vessel heterogeneity. These simulations indicate that agent based modeling approaches hold much promise for simulating fisher behaviors and reducing implementation uncertainty. Additional processes affecting behavior, informed by surveys, are continually being added to the fisher behavior model. Further coupling of the fisher behavior model to a spatial ecosystem model will provide a fully integrated social, ecological, and economic model capable of performing management strategy evaluations to properly consider implementation uncertainty in fisheries management.

  6. Prevalência dos sintomas otológicos na desordem temperomandibular: estudo de 126 casos

    OpenAIRE

    Pascoal Maria I. N.; Rapoport Abrão; Chagas José F. S.; Pascoal Maria B.N.; Costa Claudiney C.; Magna Luis Antonio

    2001-01-01

    Introdução: A presença de sintomas otológicos associados à desordem temporomandibular (DTM) é discutida há seis décadas; entretanto, sua etiologia ainda permanece obscura. Forma de estudo: Prospectivo clínico randomizado. Objetivo: Neste estudo foram avaliadas a prevalência de sintomas otológicos na DTM, sua correlação com a dor muscular e a ausência de dentes posteriores. Material e Método: Foram avaliados 126 pacientes portadores de DTM, através de questionário subjetivo dos sintomas, palpa...

  7. Estudo da sintomatologia depressiva e ansiosa em crianças com e sem obesidade

    OpenAIRE

    Morgado, Joana Alexandra da Silva

    2013-01-01

    A obesidade infantil constitui um problema de saúde pública, o que motivou a sua classificação pela WHO como “epidemia do seculo XXI”. Como se não bastasse, surge sempre associada ao aumento quer da mortalidade, quer da morbilidade. Este estudo procura perceber em que medida as crianças com obesidade infantil diferem das crianças sem obesidade em termos de sintomatologia depressiva e ansiosa. O desenho do estudo é de natureza transversal e comparativa. A amostra é composta por 85 crianças, co...

  8. Psicoterapia de grupo de criança : aspectos clinicos de um estudo de caso

    OpenAIRE

    Regina Celia Ciriano Calil

    2001-01-01

    Resumo: Essa tese de doutorado tem o objetivo de efetuar um estudo de caso referente ao atendimento de um grupo de psicoterapia realizado com crianças em idade escolar, no contexto institucional do Ambulatório de Saúde Mental Infantil do Hospital das Clínicas da Unicamp. Para o atendimento do grupo estudado, utilizou-se a técnica de psicoterapia infantil de abordagem psicodinâmica, adaptada à condição de trabalho grupal e às circunstâncias institucionais. Nesse estudo de caso, foram analisad...

  9. Revista Estudos Feministas Is Ten Years Old - A Brief History of Feminism in Brazil

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Mirian Pillar Grossi

    2004-01-01

    Full Text Available This article is a report on the activities of Revista Estudos Feministas during its first phase at UFSC (1999-2002. It is divided into three parts: the first presents a brief review of literature about feminism and gender studies in Brazil; the second covers the move of Estudos Feministas from Rio de Janeiro to Santa Catarina, and the third presents some considerations on the role of this periodical in relation to the movement and to the field of gender, feminist and women’s studies in Brazil.

  10. Revisão da Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek, Celastraceae. Contribuição ao estudo das propriedades farmacológicas

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ralph Santos-Oliveira

    Full Text Available A Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek, Celastraceae, vem sendo utilizada à muitos anos na terapêutica clínica, contudo suas propriedades farmacológicas continuam sob estudo. O objetivo desse trabalho é fornecer subsídios teóricos para o aprimoramento dos estudos, em especial os estudos clínicos, e assim estabelecer definitivamente as propriedades reais da Maytenus ilicifolia.

  11. Pattern-oriented Agent-based Monte Carlo simulation of Cellular Redox Environment

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Tang, Jiaowei; Holcombe, Mike; Boonen, Harrie C.M.

    /CYSS) and mitochondrial redox couples. Evidence suggests that both intracellular and extracellular redox can affect overall cell redox state. How redox is communicated between extracellular and intracellular environments is still a matter of debate. Some researchers conclude based on experimental data...... cells. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta-General Subjects, 2008. 1780(11): p. 1271-1290. 5. Jones, D.P., Redox sensing: orthogonal control in cell cycle and apoptosis signalling. J Intern Med, 2010. 268(5): p. 432-48. 6. Pogson, M., et al., Formal agent-based modelling of intracellular chemical interactions...

  12. A propósito da “síntese brasileira” nos estudos de gêneros

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Benedito Gomes Bezerra

    2016-03-01

    Full Text Available Em publicações recentes, pesquisadores estrangeiros têm mencionado a existência de uma “síntese brasileira” nos estudos de gêneros (textuais/discursivos, a qual teria sido impulsionada pelos Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais (PCN e pelo Simpósio Internacional de Estudos de Gêneros Textuais (SIGET, configurando-se como um modelo teórico alternativo, uma quarta ou quinta grande tendência mundial de estudos de gêneros, capaz de conciliar abordagens linguísticas, retóricas, sociológicas e pedagógicas. O aludido modelo brasileiro encontraria suas bases teóricas e metodológicas na Escola de Genebra e no interacionismo sociodiscursivo. Este trabalho tem como objetivo discutir o estatuto da “síntese brasileira” conforme defendida principalmente por Bawarshi e Reiff ([2010] 2013, mas também por Swales (2012, a partir de um levantamento panorâmico das abordagens teóricas correntes no país, incluindo uma discussão das principais influências que marcam a pesquisa brasileira no campo dos gêneros. Para isso, uma atenção especial é dedicada a estudos que buscam mapear abordagens teóricas, bem como combinações entre abordagens, nos trabalhos de pesquisadores brasileiros, além de se realizar um exame crítico de publicações que contribuíram para a divulgação dos estudos brasileiros de gêneros no exterior e fundamentaram a hipótese da síntese. Os resultados indicam a existência de uma significativa complexidade e ecletismo nas abordagens de gêneros por autores brasileiros, ao lado da adesão a perspectivas específicas e diferenciadas, o que problematiza em muito a possibilidade de uma síntese entendida como uma perspectiva única e unificada.

  13. Estudo de vocábulos para avaliação de crianças com deficiência sem linguagem oral

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Andréa Carla Paura

    2014-03-01

    Full Text Available Pesquisadores da área de comunicação suplementar e alternativa consideram a falta de instrumentos para avaliar crianças e jovens com necessidade complexa de comunicação. Este trabalho objetivou selecionar vocábulos para um instrumento de avaliação do repertório de vocabulário de crianças não-oralizadas com idade de dois a 11 anos e 11 meses. Para a seleção dos vocábulos foram realizados três estudos. O primeiro estudo identificou e descreveu instrumentos disponíveis para avaliação do vocabulário receptivo e suas listas de vocábulos. O segundo estudo identificou e descreveu pesquisas que apresentaram inventários ou listas de vocábulos empregados por crianças e seus parceiros de comunicação. O terceiro estudo identificou o vocabulário relatado por pais e professores. Os vocábulos identificados nos três estudos foram analisados de acordo com: o número de ocorrência dos vocábulos; a classificação do sistema Picture Communication Symbols e uma classificação semântica e sintática. A partir dos estudos foram estabelecidos como critérios para a seleção dos vocábulos: os 45 vocábulos presentes nos três estudos; os vocábulos que tiveram ocorrência maior ou igual a cinco, considerando os três estudos, representando 167 (14,14% vocábulos; os vocábulos que estiveram presentes no estudo 1 ou 2, mas que foram citados pelas famílias, 183 (19,37% de 945 vocábulos ou pelas professoras 108 (11,43% de 945 vocábulos. A lista de vocábulos apresentou 269 itens, classificadas em 18 temas semânticos e sintático e representa um instrumento inicial para profissionais da saúde e educação estabelecerem metas para a avaliação inicial de crianças e jovens usuários de sistemas de comunicação suplementar e alternativa.

  14. Peroxide bleaching agent effects on enamel surface microhardness, roughness and morphology Efeitos de agentes clareadores à base de peróxidos na microdureza, rugosidade e morfologia superficial do esmalte

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Cristiane Franco Pinto

    2004-12-01

    Full Text Available The aim of this study was to evaluate the surface roughness, microhardness and morphology of human enamel exposed to six bleaching agents (at baseline and post-treatment. Human dental enamel samples were obtained from human third molars and randomly divided into seven groups (n = 11: control, Whiteness Perfect - 10% carbamide peroxide (10% CP, Colgate Platinum - 10% CP, Day White 2Z - 7.5% hydrogen peroxide (7.5% HP, Whiteness Super - 37% CP, Opalescence Quick - 35% CP and Whiteness HP - 35% HP. Bleaching agents were applied according to manufacturers' instructions. The control group remained not treated and stored in artificial saliva. Microhardness testing was performed with a Knoop indentor and surface roughness was analyzed with a profilometer. Morphologic observations were carried out with scanning electron microscopy (SEM. Results were statistically analyzed by two-way analysis of variance and Tukey's test (5%, and revealed a significant decrease in microhardness values and a significant increase in surface roughness post-bleaching. Changes in enamel morphology after bleaching were observed under SEM. It was concluded that bleaching agents can alter the microhardness, roughness and morphology of dental enamel surface.O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a rugosidade, microdureza e morfologia superficial do esmalte dental humano tratado com seis agentes clareadores (antes e depois do tratamento. Amostras de esmalte dental humano foram obtidas de terceiros molares e aleatoriamente distribuídas em sete grupos (n = 11: controle, Whiteness Perfect - peróxido de carbamida a 10% (PC 10%, Colgate Platinum - PC 10%, Day White 2Z - peróxido de hidrogênio a 7,5% (PH 7,5%, Whiteness Super - PC 37%, Opalescence Quick - PC 35% e Whiteness HP - PH 35%. Os agentes clareadores foram aplicados de acordo com as instruções dos fabricantes. O grupo controle permaneceu sem tratamento e armazenado em saliva artificial. O teste de microdureza foi realizado

  15. Estudos sobre a toxicologia da ε-caprolactama

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Marcus Vinicius Justo Bomfim

    2009-03-01

    Full Text Available A ε-caprolactama (CAP é um monômero precursor de polímeros denominados nylon 6. Esses polímeros destinam-se à produção de tapetes, vestuário e materiais plásticos tais como equipamentos, sistemas e componentes automotivos, conectores, além de embalagens plásticas. Resíduos de CAP podem migrar de embalagens plásticas de nylon 6 para os alimentos. Diante disso, foi de interesse realizar uma revisão dos efeitos relativos à exposição à CAP e o seu impacto sobre a saúde humana. Estudos epidemiológicos indicam a possibilidade da CAP causar inflamações oculares e cutâneas, além de irritações no sistema respiratório. Pode ocorrer ainda hipotensão, taquicardia, palpitações, rinorréia, ressecamento nasal, efeitos geniturinários e sobre a reprodução como distúrbios nas funções menstrual e ovariana, e complicações no parto; além de problemas neurológicos e hematológicos. Estudos com animais são consistentes com tais relatos. Os estudos de genotoxicidade in vitro e in vivo por via oral e intraperitoneal mostram em sua grande maioria, resultados negativos, bem como ausência de efeitos carcinogênicos em ratos e camundongos e sobre o desenvolvimento e reprodução em ratos e coelhos.ε -Caprolactam (CAP is a precursor monomer of nylon 6 polymers. Nylon 6 is used in the manufacture of carpets, clothes and plastic materials, such as equipment, systems and automotive components, connectors and plastic packaging. CAP residues can migrate from nylon 6 plastic packaging to foods. Given this fact, this review was realized concerning the effects of CAP exposure and its impact on human health. Epidemiological studies indicate that CAP could cause ocular, cutaneous and respiratory irritations, as well as hypotension, tachycardia, palpitations, rhinorrhea, nose dryness, neurological and blood problems, and genitourinary and reproductive effects, such as alterations in ovarian-menstrual functions and pregnancy

  16. O estudo da cultura organizacional por meio das práticas: uma proposta à luz do legado de Bourdieu

    OpenAIRE

    Souza, Eda Castro Lucas de; Fenili, Renato Ribeiro

    2016-01-01

    Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é propor o estudo da cultura organizacional por meio das práticas de gestão, à luz do quadro teórico de Bourdieu. Para tanto, apresenta-se como objetivo secundário analisar o estado da arte dos estudos organizacionais que empregam esse quadro teórico. Inicialmente, é apresentada uma categorização das tendências predominantes no estudo da cultura e discorre-se sobre esse conceito, salientando sua abordagem como diretamente relacionada às práticas. O foco do estud...

  17. RELAÇÕES DE GÊNERO NO COMPORTAMENTO DE COMPRA PELA INTERNET: ESTUDO DAS DIMENSÕES DO RISCO PERCEBIDO

    OpenAIRE

    Carvalho, Juliana Del Secchi Dias de; Silva, Wesley Vieira da; Del Corso, Jansen Maia; Tortato, Ubiratã

    2012-01-01

    O risco percebido é considerado como um dos grandes entraves para o crescimento da Internet como canal de compras. A inovação que este artigo propõe para os estudos desta temática é a avaliação do risco percebido nas compras pela Internet sob uma perspectiva de gênero, motivada por estudos precedentes que revelaram uma significativa maior adesão a este comércio por parte dos homens, que seriam também mais propensos a assumir riscos. Para tanto, foi realizado uma estudo quantitativo, com corte...

  18. Smart Agents and Sentiment in the Heterogeneous Agent Model

    Czech Academy of Sciences Publication Activity Database

    Vácha, Lukáš; Baruník, Jozef; Vošvrda, Miloslav

    2009-01-01

    Roč. 18, č. 3 (2009), s. 209-219 ISSN 1210-0455 R&D Projects: GA MŠk(CZ) LC06075; GA ČR GP402/08/P207; GA ČR(CZ) GA402/09/0965 Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z10750506 Keywords : heterogeneous agent model * market structure * smart traders * Hurst exponent Subject RIV: AH - Economics http://library.utia.cas.cz/separaty/2009/E/vacha- smart agent s and sentiment in the heterogeneous agent model.pdf

  19. Estudos pré-clínicos e clínicos de espécies vegetais selecionadas de países pertencentes ao Mercosul e aspectos toxicológicos

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Camile Cecconi CECHINEL-ZANCHETT

    2017-12-01

    Full Text Available As plantas medicinais são utilizadas para a prevenção e tratamento de doenças, sendo usada por cerca de 80% da população para o cuidado primário à saúde. A rica biodiversidade do Brasil e países vizinhos oferece um potencial único e incomparável para a descoberta e desenvolvimento de agentes bioativos. O objetivo desse trabalho foi fazer uma revisão sobre estudos pré-clínicos e clínicos de espécies vegetais selecionadas dos países do Mercosul e aspectos toxicológicos. Com base em trabalho publicado anteriormente pelo autor, foram selecionadas as espécies com maior número de registro na Anvisa no Brasil (Aesculus hippocastanum - Castanha da Índia e Mikania glomerata- Guaco; as mais utilizadas como medicamentos fitoterápicos simples na Argentina (Cynara scolymus L. - Alcachofra e Solanum dulcamara - Dulcamara; as plantas medicinais mais vendidas no Paraguai (Peumus boldus Mol. - Boldo e Borago officinalis - Borragem; as mais consumidas no norte do Uruguai (Aloe vera – Aloe e Passiflora edulis - Maracujá e da Venezuela a Hedera helix (Hera por ser muito popular no país seu consumo. Foram realizadas pesquisas nas bases de dados Google Acadêmico, PubMed e Science Direct no mês de abril de 2016, sobre ensaios pré-clínicos e clínicos dessas espécies vegetais, em português e inglês, sendo selecionados os artigos mais relevantes, com uso de animais (ratos, coelhos ou camundongos, linhagens celulares ou bacterianas, ou estudos clínicos. Em relação aos estudos pré-clínicos e clínicos, Aloe e Alcachofra, foram as que apresentaram maior número de publicações.

  20. Effect of Group Cognitive Behavioral Couples Therapy on Couple Burnout and Divorce Tendency in Couples

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    M Mohammadi

    2017-02-01

    Full Text Available Background & aim: Couple burnout is one of the phenomena which involve many couples, it is among the main causes of emotional divorce, and without proper management and treatment, and it can lay the ground for formal divorce among couples. Cognitive behavioral couple therapy is one of the existing approaches in the couple therapy field, the efficiency of which has been established for resolving many marital problems. The present study was designed by the aim of investigating the effect of group cognitive behavioral couple therapy on couple burnout and divorce tendency in couples.   Methods: The present research was of applied research type. The research method was semi-empirical with a pretest-posttest with control group design. The research population included all the couples with marital conflict and problems who, after a recall announcement of the researcher, visited the counseling and psychological services center located in Gorgan city in 2014. By using the available sampling method, 20 couples were selected among the volunteer and qualified couples for the research, and they were assigned into experiment and control groups (10 couples per group by random assignment. In the present research, the Pines burnout questionnaire (1996 and divorce tendency scale of Rouswelt, Johnson, and Mouro (1986 were used for gathering the data. After taking the pretest, the group cognitive behavioral couple therapy based on the couple therapy model of Baucom  and colleagues (2008 was held in 10 2-hour weekly sessions for the experiment group couples, while the control group couples received no intervention. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics method and multivariate covariance analysis (MANCOVA in SPSS v.20. Results: The multivariate covariance analysis results for couple burnout (F= 28.80 and divorce tendency (F= 51.25 suggested that there was a significant difference between the couples of experiment and control groups (P< 0

  1. Estado nutricional de pré-escolares de creche pública: um estudo longitudinal

    OpenAIRE

    Pereira,Alessandra da Silva; Peixoto,Natasha Gabrielle de Araújo; Nogueira Neto,José Firmino; Lanzillotti,Haydée Serrão; Soares,Eliane de Abreu

    2013-01-01

    O objetivo do estudo foi monitorar o estado nutricional de pré-escolares de uma creche pública. Trata-se de um estudo longitudinal, antes (t0) e depois (t1), com 51 crianças de 2 a 4 anos de idade. Os procedimentos foram: avaliação antropométrica (P/I, P/E e E/I - OMS 2006, classificação SISVAN-2008); avaliação bioquímica (colesterol total, HDLc, LDLc, triglicerídeos e glicose); avaliação hematológica (hemoglobina); avaliação dietética (pesagem direta dos alimentos e registro alimentar). Para...

  2. APLICAÇÃO DA FERRAMENTA FMEA: ESTUDO DE CASO EM UMA EMPRESA DO SETOR DE

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Leandro Cantorski da Rosa

    2007-06-01

    Full Text Available Este trabalho apresenta um estudo de caso em que se implantou a ferramenta Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA emuma empresa atuante no segmento de transporte terrestre e aéreo de passageiros e cargas. O objetivo deste estudo de caso foideterminar, com a ferramenta FMEA, ações que minimizem ou eliminem modos de falha em potencial em um dos desdobramentos deserviços prestados pela empresa. O ponto específico onde se implantou a ferramenta foi na gestão dos pneus dos veículos de transporteterrestre de passageiros, pois falhas relacionadas a este componente aumentam os custos de manutenção da empresa e tendem a gerarinsatisfações aos clientes. Também foram utilizadas, incorporadas à ferramenta FMEA, outras ferramentas da qualidade como oBrainstorming, Diagrama de Ishikawa e Gráfico de Pareto. Os resultados do trabalho foram alcançados ao se determinar ações quetrazem consigo o objetivo principal deste estudo, isto é, o aumento de confiabilidade e qualidade do serviço prestado. Deste modo, arealização do presente estudo de caso proporcionou um maior entendimento acerca da temática proposta, além de mostrar aimportância da gestão da qualidade nos dias atuais e frente as crescentes exigências dos clientes.

  3. Auditoria interna de sistema de gestão ambiental: estudo de caso no Verdegreen Hotel

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Adriano Lucena da Silva

    2017-06-01

    Full Text Available Esta pesquisa analisa as contribuições e os desafios associados às auditorias internas no Verdegreen Hotel, empreendimento hoteleiro de grande destaque na cidade de João Pessoa-PB, selecionado como unidade de estudo por dispor de um Sistema de Gestão Ambiental (SGA ISO 14001 implantado e certificado. Este estudo trata de uma pesquisa descritiva, baseada em um estudo de caso qualitativo. As técnicas utilizadas na metodologia foram: levantamento bibliográfico sobre as normas ISO que abordam as temáticas SGA e auditoria; questionários aplicados aos membros do comitê verde; e análise documental do manual do SGA. Para este estudo, três categorias foram selecionadas: i instrumentos, ii procedimentos e iii recursos humanos. A partir da análise de conteúdo das respostas dos questionários aplicados e do manual do SGA, foi constatado que as auditorias internas do Verdegreen Hotel ocorrem baseadas em métodos bem definidos de coleta e tratamento de informações e que o hotel mantém programas de capacitação para seus colaboradores. Com base nos resultados da pesquisa, tornou-se possível compreender como as questões relacionadas à aplicação da auditoria interna são oportunidades de aprimoramento do SGA implantado.

  4. An integrative assessment of the commercial air transportation system via adaptive agents

    Science.gov (United States)

    Lim, Choon Giap

    The overarching research objective is to address the tightly-coupled interactions between the demand-side and supply-side components of the United States Commercial Air Transportation System (CATS) in a time-variant environment. A system-of-system perspective is adopted, where the scope is extended beyond the National Airspace System (NAS) level to the National Transportation System (NTS) level to capture the intermodal and multimodal relationships between the NTS stakeholders. The Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation technique is employed where the NTS/NAS is treated as an integrated Multi-Agent System comprising of consumer and service provider agents, representing the demand-side and supply-side components respectively. Successful calibration and validation of both model components against the observable real world data resulted in a CATS simulation tool where the aviation demand is estimated from socioeconomic and demographic properties of the population instead of merely based on enplanement growth multipliers. This valuable achievement enabled a 20-year outlook simulation study to investigate the implications of a global fuel price hike on the airline industry and the U.S. CATS at large. Simulation outcomes revealed insights into the airline competitive behaviors and the subsequent responses from transportation consumers.

  5. Antecedentes do Conflito Intragrupal: Um Estudo Comparativo

    OpenAIRE

    XAVIER, Tércio Antonio de Souza

    2002-01-01

    No campo do comportamento organizacional vem crescendo a importância dos grupos para as organizações, também têm crescido os problemas relacionados à motivação, à coordenação e aos conflitos. Nesse sentido, este estudo visa estudar e entender o conflito intragrupal em situações de trabalho e seus antecedentes na ótica dos funcionários. Buscam-se os prováveis determinantes das diferenças significativas nos graus de conflito de unidades organizacionais, a fim de subsidiar program...

  6. Habilidades auditivas e afasia: um estudo comparativo

    OpenAIRE

    Nascimento, Maria da Soledade Rolim do

    2012-01-01

    A compreensão da informação recebida pela modalidade auditiva é um requisito importante para a efetividade da comunicação, especialmente na linguagem expressiva. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a relação das habilidades auditivas com o processo de compreensão da linguagem em pacientes com afasia. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, transversal, comparativo, com 32 sujeitos, distribuídos em dois grupos: Grupo com afasia (n=16) e Grupo controle (n=16). Os indivíduos foram ...

  7. Influência dos agentes clareadores e um refrigerante a base de cola na microdureza do esmalte dental e a ação da saliva na superfície tratada = Influence of bleaching agents and a carbonated soft drink on dental enamel microhardness as well as the artificial saliva effect on the treated surface

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Araújo, Rodrigo Maximo de

    2006-01-01

    Full Text Available O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos de três agentes clareadores e uma bebida carbonatada, à base de cola, sobre a microdureza do esmalte dental, assim como os efeitos da saliva artificial sobre o esmalte tratado com estes agentes. Foram utilizados quarenta dentes incisivos bovinos embutidos em resina acrílica. As amostras foram avaliadas em microdurômetro (Future Tech FM 700 após a divisão em quatro grupos, uma leitura inicial da microdureza serviu como controle do experimento: Grupo 1: peróxido de carbamida a 10% (Whiteness Perfect – FGM; Grupo 2: refrigerante Coca-Cola; Grupo 3: peróxido de carbamida a 37% (Whiteness Super – FGM; Grupo 4: peróxido de hidrogênio a 35% (Whiteness HP – FGM. Os dados foram submetidos aos testes estatísticos ANOVA e Tukey. Conclui-se que os agentes clareadores não diminuíram a microdureza do esmalte; a exposição à Coca-Cola diminuiu significantemente a microdureza do esmalte; o tempo de exposição aos agentes foi significante apenas para a Coca- Cola; o armazenamento em saliva aumentou a microdureza do esmalte exposto ao peróxido de carbamida a 37%; à Coca-Cola e ao peróxido de hidrogênio à 35%

  8. A identidade profissional do professor: um estudo de revisão sistemática

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Patrícia Maria Silva Gomes

    2013-06-01

    Full Text Available O presente estudo é uma revisão sistemática da literatura cujo objetivo foi cartografar a tipologia de estudos empíricos realizados acerca da Identidade Profissional do professor. A pesquisa foi efetuada nas bases de dados eletrônicas ISI Web of Knowledge, ERIC, SPORTDiscus e SCOPUS entre 2001 e 2012. As equações de pesquisa foram "Professional Identity" AND "Teacher", no campo título e "Professional Identity" AND "Teacher" AND "Physical Education", no campo "Abstract", tendo sido integrados 42 artigos. A análise de conteúdo, com categorias definidas "a priori", foi a técnica utilizada: a foco do estudo; b ano e local de publicação; c objetivos; d participantes; e instrumentos e f principais conclusões. Os resultados evidenciaram um aumento da pesquisa na área e nas metodologias qualitativas. Estas colocam o desenvolvimento profissional como elemento central no processo de (reconstrução da Identidade Profissional, sendo que ao nível do professor de Educação Física a pesquisa ainda é escassa.

  9. Asymptotically Optimal Agents

    OpenAIRE

    Lattimore, Tor; Hutter, Marcus

    2011-01-01

    Artificial general intelligence aims to create agents capable of learning to solve arbitrary interesting problems. We define two versions of asymptotic optimality and prove that no agent can satisfy the strong version while in some cases, depending on discounting, there does exist a non-computable weak asymptotically optimal agent.

  10. Traitement de l'hétérogénéité sémantique dans les interactions humain-agent et agent-agent

    OpenAIRE

    Mazuel , Laurent

    2008-01-01

    The main purpose of this thesis is the management of semantic heterogeneity in human-agent and agent-agent interaction. We especially focus on the situation where a software agent, supplied with a knowledge representation model, has to understand requests coming from different interlocutors; either it is a human user or another software agent.Most work in this domain either focus on human-agent interaction or agent-agent interaction. On the contrary, we suggest that it is possible to use a co...

  11. Estudo comparativo dos meios de contraste baritado e iodado-iônico e não-iônico no trato respiratório de ratos Comparative study of barium and iodine agents - ionic and nonionic on the respiratory tract of the rats

    OpenAIRE

    Maria de Lourdes Pessole Biondo-Simões; Fernando Hintz Greca; Maurizzio Pedrazzani; Heraldo O. Mello Jr; Sérgio Ossamu Ioshii; Maria Francisca Kaizu Cavalcanti; Débora R. Voltarelli de Souza; Letícia Yurie Kimura

    2003-01-01

    OBJETIVO: Durante estudos radiológicos pode ocorrer a passagem do meio de contraste para a árvore traqueo-brônquica, determinando reações adversas e até fatais. O objetivo deste estudo é conhecer as alterações desencadeadas no trato respiratório pela presença do meio de contraste. MÉTODOS: Utilizaram-se 91 ratos divididos, aleatoriamente, em 4 grupos. Um grupo de controle não manipulado com 7 animais e os demais grupos com 21 ratos. O grupo controle manipulado recebeu solução fisiológica e os...

  12. Relay tracking control for second-order multi-agent systems with damaged agents.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Dong, Lijing; Li, Jing; Liu, Qin

    2017-11-01

    This paper investigates a situation where smart agents capable of sensory and mobility are deployed to monitor a designated area. A preset number of agents start tracking when a target intrudes this area. Some of the tracking agents are possible to be out of order over the tracking course. Thus, we propose a cooperative relay tracking strategy to ensure the successful tracking with existence of damaged agents. Relay means that, when a tracking agent quits tracking due to malfunction, one of the near deployed agents replaces it to continue the tracking task. This results in jump of tracking errors and dynamic switching of topology of the multi-agent system. Switched system technique is employed to solve this specific problem. Finally, the effectiveness of proposed tracking strategy and validity of the theoretical results are verified by conducting a numerical simulation. Copyright © 2017 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Percurso histórico-epistemológico dos estudos de citação no Brasil

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Murilo Artur Araújo da SILVEIRA

    Full Text Available Resumo Este artigo apresenta a trajetória histórica e epistemológica dos estudos de citação no Brasil por meio dos artigos de periódicos nacionais. Tem como justificativa a ausência de pesquisas que apontem o estado da arte dos estudos de citação no Brasil, bem como a importância dos seus resultados para a compreensão da dinâmica dos contextos de produção e comunicação da ciência. O objetivo da pesquisa é identificar e discutir os elementos que configuram a trajetória histórica e epistemológica dos estudos de citação no Brasil presentes nos artigos indexados na Base de Dados Referencial de Artigos de Periódicos em Ciência da Informação, de 1972 a 2014. A pesquisa, de natureza descritiva, utilizou a técnica de análise de conteúdo para sistematização temporal e teórico-metodológica dos elementos constantes dos artigos publicados ao longo de quarenta anos. Discute as características e as configurações dos estudos de citação com base: (a nos dois períodos: embrionário e emergente; e (b nos enfoques teóricos: normativo, construtivista e sociocultural. Sinaliza o estágio do percurso histórico e epistemológico dos estudos de citação e lança perspectivas para os próximos trabalhos relacionados à temática.

  14. Agentes Comunitários de Saúde e os sentidos de "ser agente" Community Health Agents and the meanings of "being an agent"

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Viviane Milan Pupin

    2008-08-01

    Full Text Available O Programa Saúde da Família constitui-se enquanto estratégia de mudança do modelo assistencial. O artigo apresenta os resultados de uma pesquisa qualitativa sobre os sentidos de "ser agente" produzidos, por meio de entrevistas abertas, com Agentes Comunitários de Saúde que trabalham nos cinco Núcleos de Saúde da Família da cidade de Ribeirão Preto - São Paulo, vinculados à Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto - USP. As entrevistas foram gravadas e transcritas na íntegra e analisadas segundo princípios da análise de conteúdo. A análise permitiu a descrição de sentidos acerca de ser agente subdivididos em: Sentidos produzidos na relação com a comunidade e Sentidos produzidos na relação com a equipe. A análise dos sentidos de ser agente possibilitou construir um diálogo sobre as tensões relacionadas a um fazer em saúde ora permeado por concepções atreladas ao modelo biomédico, ora atrelado aos novos paradigmas em saúde.The Family Health Program consists of a strategy to change the health care model. This article presents the results from a qualitative study about the meanings of "being an agent" obtained through open interviews with Community Health Agents who work in five Family Health Centers of the Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine (University of São Paulo, located in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. Interviews were tape recorded, fully transcribed, and then content analyzed. The analysis allowed for descriptions of meanings toward "being an agent", subdivided into: Meanings produced by relationships with the community, and Meanings produced by relationships with the team. Analyzing the meanings of being an agent provided the establishment of a dialogue about the tensions related to a health practice that is at times influenced by conceptions associated with the biomedical method, and at other times with the new health paradigm.

  15. Epidemic spreading between two coupled subpopulations with inner structures

    Science.gov (United States)

    Ruan, Zhongyuan; Tang, Ming; Gu, Changgui; Xu, Jinshan

    2017-10-01

    The structure of underlying contact network and the mobility of agents are two decisive factors for epidemic spreading in reality. Here, we study a model consisting of two coupled subpopulations with intra-structures that emphasizes both the contact structure and the recurrent mobility pattern of individuals simultaneously. We show that the coupling of the two subpopulations (via interconnections between them and round trips of individuals) makes the epidemic threshold in each subnetwork to be the same. Moreover, we find that the interconnection probability between two subpopulations and the travel rate are important factors for spreading dynamics. In particular, as a function of interconnection probability, the epidemic threshold in each subpopulation decreases monotonously, which enhances the risks of an epidemic. While the epidemic threshold displays a non-monotonic variation as travel rate increases. Moreover, the asymptotic infected density as a function of travel rate in each subpopulation behaves differently depending on the interconnection probability.

  16. An Agent-Based Model of Farmer Decision Making in Jordan

    Science.gov (United States)

    Selby, Philip; Medellin-Azuara, Josue; Harou, Julien; Klassert, Christian; Yoon, Jim

    2016-04-01

    We describe an agent based hydro-economic model of groundwater irrigated agriculture in the Jordan Highlands. The model employs a Multi-Agent-Simulation (MAS) framework and is designed to evaluate direct and indirect outcomes of climate change scenarios and policy interventions on farmer decision making, including annual land use, groundwater use for irrigation, and water sales to a water tanker market. Land use and water use decisions are simulated for groups of farms grouped by location and their behavioural and economic similarities. Decreasing groundwater levels, and the associated increase in pumping costs, are important drivers for change within Jordan'S agricultural sector. We describe how this is considered by coupling of agricultural and groundwater models. The agricultural production model employs Positive Mathematical Programming (PMP), a method for calibrating agricultural production functions to observed planted areas. PMP has successfully been used with disaggregate models for policy analysis. We adapt the PMP approach to allow explicit evaluation of the impact of pumping costs, groundwater purchase fees and a water tanker market. The work demonstrates the applicability of agent-based agricultural decision making assessment in the Jordan Highlands and its integration with agricultural model calibration methods. The proposed approach is designed and implemented with software such that it could be used to evaluate a variety of physical and human influences on decision making in agricultural water management.

  17. ABORDAGENS SOCIOTÉCNICAS E OS ESTUDOS EM TECNOLOGIA SOCIAL

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    José de Arimatéia Dias Valadão

    2014-05-01

    Full Text Available Este ensaio procura discutir as perspectivas sociotécnicas como base para o desenvolvimento teórico em tecnologia social (TS. Para subsidiar essa discussão foram analisadas a abordagem dos sistemas sociotécnicos elaborada inicialmente por Trist, Emery e colaboradores do Instituto Tavistock; a abordagem da adequação sociotécnica oriunda da perspectiva construtivista da tecnologia e a abordagem dos híbridos sociotécnicos proposta por Latour. O argumento central é que o desenvolvimento de TS deve considerar as tramas de relações, em que tanto os aspectos sociais como técnicos estão imbricados nas organizações, evitando as ênfases de cada corrente e considerando a mediação sociotécnica como principal unidade de análise nos estudos em TS. A motivação dessa discussão é que a aplicação das abordagens sociotécnicas, sem o equilíbrio aparente das mediações sociotécnicas, parece fazer das TS somente mais uma dentre muitas outras abordagens “alternativas”, como os próprios estudos na área têm criticado.

  18. Microstructure and properties of FeSiCr/PA6 composites by injection molding using FeSiCr powders by phosphating and coupling treatment

    Science.gov (United States)

    Wang, Lulu; Qiao, Liang; Zheng, Jingwu; Cai, Wei; Ying, Yao; Li, Wangchang; Che, Shenglei; Yu, Jing

    2018-04-01

    FeSiCr/PA6 composites were prepared by injection molding using the FeSiCr powders modified by different phosphating agents and KH550 coupling agent. The resistivity, impact strength, magnetic permeability and magnetic loss of the FeSiCr/PA6 composites were measured. The morphologies of different FeSiCr powders and the FeSiCr/PA6 composites were also observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, phytic acid and H3PO4 could improve the electrical resistivity of FeSiCr powders by forming the dense phosphating layer except diphenylphosphinic acid. However, the resistivity of FeSiCr/PA6 composites using the FeSiCr powders treated by all the four phosphating agents had no obvious increase though the phosphating layer on the surface of FeSiCr powder came into being. The nylon insulation layer had much stronger influence than the phosphating layer on electrical resistivity of the composites. After adding appropriate KH550 coupling agent, the impact strengths of FeSiCr/PA6 composites were significantly improved, which may be associated with the tiny gap between FeSiCr powder and PA6 matrix. The effects of the phosphating agents on the magnetic permeability and loss of the FeSiCr/PA6 were small and the mechanism were also discussed.

  19. Biological warfare agents

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Duraipandian Thavaselvam

    2010-01-01

    Full Text Available The recent bioterrorist attacks using anthrax spores have emphasized the need to detect and decontaminate critical facilities in the shortest possible time. There has been a remarkable progress in the detection, protection and decontamination of biological warfare agents as many instrumentation platforms and detection methodologies are developed and commissioned. Even then the threat of biological warfare agents and their use in bioterrorist attacks still remain a leading cause of global concern. Furthermore in the past decade there have been threats due to the emerging new diseases and also the re-emergence of old diseases and development of antimicrobial resistance and spread to new geographical regions. The preparedness against these agents need complete knowledge about the disease, better research and training facilities, diagnostic facilities and improved public health system. This review on the biological warfare agents will provide information on the biological warfare agents, their mode of transmission and spread and also the detection systems available to detect them. In addition the current information on the availability of commercially available and developing technologies against biological warfare agents has also been discussed. The risk that arise due to the use of these agents in warfare or bioterrorism related scenario can be mitigated with the availability of improved detection technologies.

  20. Biological warfare agents

    Science.gov (United States)

    Thavaselvam, Duraipandian; Vijayaraghavan, Rajagopalan

    2010-01-01

    The recent bioterrorist attacks using anthrax spores have emphasized the need to detect and decontaminate critical facilities in the shortest possible time. There has been a remarkable progress in the detection, protection and decontamination of biological warfare agents as many instrumentation platforms and detection methodologies are developed and commissioned. Even then the threat of biological warfare agents and their use in bioterrorist attacks still remain a leading cause of global concern. Furthermore in the past decade there have been threats due to the emerging new diseases and also the re-emergence of old diseases and development of antimicrobial resistance and spread to new geographical regions. The preparedness against these agents need complete knowledge about the disease, better research and training facilities, diagnostic facilities and improved public health system. This review on the biological warfare agents will provide information on the biological warfare agents, their mode of transmission and spread and also the detection systems available to detect them. In addition the current information on the availability of commercially available and developing technologies against biological warfare agents has also been discussed. The risk that arise due to the use of these agents in warfare or bioterrorism related scenario can be mitigated with the availability of improved detection technologies. PMID:21829313

  1. Prêmio de liquidez de ações : um estudo para o mercado brasileiro

    OpenAIRE

    Chiara, Marco

    2014-01-01

    Existe uma divergência nos estudos de mercados emergentes sobre a relação entre retorno e liquidez. Enquanto nos mercados desenvolvidos é consenso que o retorno cresce com a falta de liquidez, em mercados como o Brasil concorda-se com a sua influência, mas não é unânime o crescimento da rentabilidade diante da iliquidez. Assim, este estudo busca definir as variáveis que representam o conceito de liquidez e se elas possuem influência no retorno das ações brasileiras, além de entender se existe...

  2. Path coupling and aggregate path coupling

    CERN Document Server

    Kovchegov, Yevgeniy

    2018-01-01

    This book describes and characterizes an extension to the classical path coupling method applied to statistical mechanical models, referred to as aggregate path coupling. In conjunction with large deviations estimates, the aggregate path coupling method is used to prove rapid mixing of Glauber dynamics for a large class of statistical mechanical models, including models that exhibit discontinuous phase transitions which have traditionally been more difficult to analyze rigorously. The book shows how the parameter regions for rapid mixing for several classes of statistical mechanical models are derived using the aggregate path coupling method.

  3. Nanofluidic structures for coupled sensing and remediation of toxins

    Science.gov (United States)

    Shaw, K.; Contento, N. M.; Xu, Wei; Bohn, P. W.

    2014-05-01

    One foundational motivation for chemical sensing is that knowledge of the presence and level of a chemical agent informs decisions about treatment of the agent, for example by sequestration, separation or chemical conversion to a less harmful substance. Commonly the sensing and treatment steps are separate. However, the disjoint detection/treatment approach is neither optimal, nor required. Thus, we are investigating how nanostructured architectures can be constructed so that molecular transport (analyte/reagent delivery), chemical sensing (optical or electrochemical) and subsequent treatment can all be coupled in the same physical space during the same translocation event. Chemical sensors that are uniquely well-poised for integration into 3-D micro-/nanofluidic architectures include those based on plasmonics and impedance. Following detection, treatment can be substantially enhanced if mass transport limitations can be overcome. In this context, in situ generation of reactive species within confined geometries, such as nanopores or nanochannels, is of significant interest, because of its potential utility in overcoming mass transport limitations in chemical reactivity. Solvent electrolysis in electrochemically coupled nanochannels supporting electrokinetic flow for the generation of reactive species, can produce arbitrarily tunable quantities of reagents, such as O2 or H2, in situ in close proximity to the site of a hydrogenation catalyst, for example. Semi-quantitative estimates of the local H2 concentration are obtained by comparing the spatiotemporal fluorescence behavior and current measurements with finite element simulations accounting for electrolysis and subsequent convection and diffusion within the confined geometry. H2 saturation can easily be achieved at modest overpotentials.

  4. Analisando conhecimentos e práticas de agentes educacionais e professoras relacionados à alimentação infantil Analyzing knowledge and practices of educational agents and teachers regarding to feeding children up to 3 years-old

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Andréia Cristina de Almeida Silva

    2010-01-01

    Full Text Available Objetivou-se identificar os conhecimentos e as práticas relacionados à alimentação de crianças entre zero e três anos, a fim de complementar a formação das profissionais que trabalham com crianças, na área da educação nutricional. O procedimento metodológico seguiu as orientações do estudo de caso, com abordagem qualitativa. Os saberes e as práticas das participantes do estudo foram analisados por meio de questões abertas e fechadas e das observações dos tópicos relacionados à nutrição infantil, juntamente com os dados sobre a formação dessas profissionais. Pode-se concluir que tanto as agentes educacionais quanto as professoras de Ensino Infantil são detentoras de um conhecimento sobre Nutrição Infantil, porém a preocupação maior destas foi atender as necessidades nutricionais das crianças por meio de uma boa alimentação, deixando, em segundo plano, as atividades pedagógicas, as quais poderiam ser realizadas em um programa de educação nutricional, construído coletivamente e inserido no projeto político-pedagógico da escola.This study aimed to identify the knowledge and practices that people have regarding 0 to 3 year-old children in order to add information for professionals who work with this age group of children in the Nutrition Education field. The methodological procedure followed a case study, with a qualitative approach. The sample studied was analyzed through questions and observations of topics related to infantile nutrition along with data about these professionals' educational degrees. The results show that both, educational agents and infant education teachers have a significant knowledge about infant nutrition. However their biggest concern was to supply the children's nutritional necessities through a healthy meal, leaving in a second place the activities that could be accomplished by a Nutritional Education Program, built collectively and introduced into the school.

  5. Trends in GPCR drug discovery: new agents, targets and indications.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hauser, Alexander S; Attwood, Misty M; Rask-Andersen, Mathias; Schiöth, Helgi B; Gloriam, David E

    2017-12-01

    G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the most intensively studied drug targets, mostly due to their substantial involvement in human pathophysiology and their pharmacological tractability. Here, we report an up-to-date analysis of all GPCR drugs and agents in clinical trials, which reveals current trends across molecule types, drug targets and therapeutic indications, including showing that 475 drugs (~34% of all drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)) act at 108 unique GPCRs. Approximately 321 agents are currently in clinical trials, of which ~20% target 66 potentially novel GPCR targets without an approved drug, and the number of biological drugs, allosteric modulators and biased agonists has increased. The major disease indications for GPCR modulators show a shift towards diabetes, obesity and Alzheimer disease, although several central nervous system disorders are also highly represented. The 224 (56%) non-olfactory GPCRs that have not yet been explored in clinical trials have broad untapped therapeutic potential, particularly in genetic and immune system disorders. Finally, we provide an interactive online resource to analyse and infer trends in GPCR drug discovery.

  6. Hiperglicinemia não cetótica: estudo de um caso

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    M.V. Moura-Ribeiro

    1987-03-01

    Full Text Available A hiperglicinemia não cetótica é erro inato do metabolismo que se manifesta por crises epilépticas de difícil controle desde os primeiros dias de vida, em recém-nascido hipotônico. A falta do enzima que catalisa a conversão de glicina em ácido hidroximetiltetra-hidrofólico, dióxido de carbono e amônia, no fígado e no cérebro, resulta em aumento da concentração de glicina no sangue. Neste estudo é relatado caso de hiperglicinemia diagnosticado no período neonatal e caracterizado por hipotonia e múltiplas convulsões não controláveis. Os achados clínicos e eletrencefalográficos, aspectos do tratamento e do estudo anátomo-patológico são comentados.

  7. A resposta broncodilatadora em doentes com DPOC (dados do estudo UPLIFT

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    D. Tashkin

    2008-07-01

    Full Text Available Resumo: No início do estudo, foi realizada espirometria antes e depois de 80 μg de ipratrópio e 400 μg de salbutamol, administrados 90 e 30 minutos antes, respectivamente. A administração de dois broncodilatadores e a sua temporalidade teve como objectivo atingir a broncodilatação máxima ou quase máxima. O FEV1 basal após esta broncodilatação, no estudo UPLIFT, permitiu: - examinar a resposta broncodilatadora aguda numa grande coorte de doentes com DPOC moderada a muito grave; - determinar o que pode ser considerado critério de resposta usando vários critérios de reversibilidade; - avaliar as características dos doentes com e sem reversibilidade.

  8. Exacerbated vulnerability of coupled socio-economic risk in complex networks

    Science.gov (United States)

    Zhang, Xin; Feng, Ling; Berman, Yonatan; Hu, Ning; Stanley, H. Eugene

    2016-10-01

    The study of risk contagion in economic networks has most often focused on the financial liquidities of institutions and assets. In practice the agents in a network affect each other through social contagion, i.e., through herd behavior and the tendency to follow leaders. We study the coupled risk between social and economic contagion and find it significantly more severe than when economic risk is considered alone. Using the empirical network from the China venture capital market we find that the system exhibits an extreme risk of abrupt phase transition and large-scale damage, which is in clear contrast to the smooth phase transition traditionally observed in economic contagion alone. We also find that network structure impacts market resilience and that the randomization of the social network of the market participants can reduce system fragility when there is herd behavior. Our work indicates that under coupled contagion mechanisms network resilience can exhibit a fundamentally different behavior, i.e., an abrupt transition. It also reveals the extreme risk when a system has coupled socio-economic risks, and this could be of interest to both policy makers and market practitioners.

  9. O papel dos antipsicóticos atípicos no tratamento do transtorno bipolar: revisão da literatura The role of atypical antipsychotic agents in the treatment of bipolar disorder: a literature review

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Acioly LT Lacerda

    2002-03-01

    Full Text Available Estudos recentes têm demonstrado que a eficácia do lítio é significativamente inferior à descrita pelos primeiros trabalhos, embora ainda seja a medicação de referência no tratamento do transtorno afetivo bipolar. Apesar de um perfil de segurança desfavorável, os antipsicóticos clássicos sempre apresentaram um papel importante no tratamento desse transtorno psiquiátrico, especialmente como coadjuvante em sua fase maníaca aguda. Os autores, utilizando informação obtida no Medline, fizeram uma revisão acerca do papel dos antipsicóticos atípicos no tratamento dos pacientes bipolares. Baseado nos dados da literatura, a olanzapina mostrou-se bastante eficaz no manejo da mania aguda, quando uma média de 63,5% dos pacientes apresentaram melhora significativa em estudos duplo-cego controlados, apresentando ganho de peso como único efeito colateral relevante. A clozapina e, mais ainda, a risperidona apresentaram dados menos consistentes, grande parte em função de deficiências metodológicas dos poucos estudos conduzidos até o presente estudo. Os dados preliminares relativos à eficácia desse grupo farmacológico nos quadros refratários e nos sintomas depressivos são promissores, mas ainda não definitivos. Em relação a seus efeitos potenciais como estabilizadores do humor, não existem evidências conclusivas oriundas de estudos controlados, mas há interesse considerável para realização de investigações em pacientes bipolares tratados com antipsicóticos atípicos por períodos de tempo mais prolongados. Pesquisas futuras poderão tornar mais claras essas possíveis características terapêuticas.Even though lithium is still the choice drug in the treatment of bipolar disorder, recent studies have shown that it has a significant lower efficacy than previously described in earlier studies. Despite its adverse side effects, typical antipsychotic agents have often had a prominent role in the treatment of this psychiatric

  10. 14th International Conference on Practical Applications of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems : Special Sessions

    CERN Document Server

    Escalona, María; Corchuelo, Rafael; Mathieu, Philippe; Vale, Zita; Campbell, Andrew; Rossi, Silvia; Adam, Emmanuel; Jiménez-López, María; Navarro, Elena; Moreno, María

    2016-01-01

    PAAMS, the International Conference on Practical Applications of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems is an evolution of the International Workshop on Practical Applications of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems. PAAMS is an international yearly tribune to present, to discuss, and to disseminate the latest developments and the most important outcomes related to real-world applications. It provides a unique opportunity to bring multi-disciplinary experts, academics and practitioners together to exchange their experience in the development of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems. This volume presents the papers that have been accepted for the 2016 in the special sessions: Agents Behaviours and Artificial Markets (ABAM); Advances on Demand Response and Renewable Energy Sources in Agent Based Smart Grids (ADRESS); Agents and Mobile Devices (AM); Agent Methodologies for Intelligent Robotics Applications (AMIRA); Learning, Agents and Formal Languages (LAFLang); Multi-Agent Systems and Ambient Intelligence (MASMAI); Web Mining and ...

  11. Estudos de Comunidade e ciências sociais no Brasil

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Nemuel da Silva Oliveira

    2011-12-01

    Full Text Available O objetivo deste artigo é fazer um balanço da literatura sobre os Estudos de Comunidade (EC no Brasil, destacando o contexto intelectual em que foram produzidos e os debates que suscitaram, especialmente entre as décadas de 1940 e 1960. Método de pesquisa em comunidades, oriundo da Antropologia, em investigações sobre o processo de mudança social, os EC estiveram em voga nos Estados Unidos entre os anos 1920 e 1950, tendo papel fundamental na institucionalização das Ciências Sociais no Brasil. Destacamos três aspectos na produção desses estudos no país, iniciando com uma abordagem conceitual: definições, origem e sua relação com temáticas marcantes nos anos 1950. Em seguida, privilegiamos os aspectos relacionados ao papel dos EC na história das Ciências Sociais no Brasil, com destaque para o processo de institucionalização das Ciências Sociais. Por fim, revisitamos os debates que tais estudos geraram entre os cientistas sociais quanto ao padrão de trabalho sociológico a ser desenvolvido naquele momento.The purpose of this article is to examine the literature about Community Studies(CS in Brazil, highlighting their intellectual context of production and the debates evoked by them, especially between the 1940's and 1960's. As a research method arising from Anthropology on communities in social change process, CS was used in United States between 1920's and 1950's, and played a fundamental role in the institutionalization of Social Sciences in Brazil. Three aspects are highlighted on CS production: first, in a conceptual approach, we discuss their definitions, origins and relation to main topics in the 1950's. The second aspect is related to the role of CS in the history of Social Sciences, especially their institutionalization process. By the end, we revisit the debates between social scientists about the sociological work standard to be developed at that time.

  12. Alteração de contratos administrativos: estudo sobre vícios nos aditamentos aos contratos administrativos

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Eber dos Santos Chaves

    2013-06-01

    Full Text Available Alteração de contratos administrativos: estudo sobre vícios nos aditamentos aos contratos administrativos Eber dos Santos Chaves1 Resumo A alteração do contrato representa uma das prerrogativas atribuídas à Administração Pública, nos termos dos artigos 58, I e 65 da Lei n.º 8.666/93. Tal prerrogativa se justifica pelo dever atribuído a esta de bem tutelar o interesse público, cabendo-lhe, pois, em face de determinadas circunstâncias, realizar as necessárias adequações do contrato firmado. Todavia, essas alterações não se constituem em regra, nem tampouco algo ilimitado, mas devem ser exceções, cuja ocorrência pressupõe as devidas justificativas legais que devem ser formalizadas por meio de instrumento usualmente denominado termo de aditamento, comumente denominado termo aditivo. Ocorre que, em algumas situações, quando da formalização das alterações dos contratos administrativos, por meio de termo de aditamento, alguns aspectos legais são deixados de lado, tornando esse ato administrativo em um ato vicioso. Esse artigo tem como objetivo discutir e analisar a legalidade nos aditamentos de contratos administrativos, buscando compreender os principais problemas (vícios encontrados nas alterações de contratos administrativos. Para isso, realizouse uma análise comparativa entre algumas práticas em confronto com os ditames da Lei nº 8.666/93, contribuindo desta maneira para o aprimoramento profissional dos gestores públicos e servidores da área administrativa responsável pela contratação de fornecedores e/ou prestadores de serviço. Neste estudo, concluímos que as alterações contratuais constituem, na maioria das vezes, fruto da má especificação do objeto do contrato ou da falta de planejamento dos agentes públicos.

  13. Estudo bacteriológico de lesões periapicais

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    ROCHA Márcia Maria de Negreiros Pinto

    1998-01-01

    Full Text Available O tecido perirradicular de 30 casos cirúrgicos foi submetido a exame microbiológico e histopatológico. Foram isoladas 137 cepas bacterianas das 30 lesões periapicais estudadas. Do total de bactérias isoladas, 90 (65,7% foram caracterizadas como anaeróbias estritas, 40 (29,2% como anaeróbias facultativas e 7 (5,1% como aeróbias estritas. Fusobacterium nucleatum, bacilos Gram-negativos pigmentados anaeróbios estritos, Peptostreptococcus sp, Streptococcus mitis e bacilos Gram-positivos não esporulados anaeróbios estritos foram, em ordem decrescente de freqüência, as bactérias mais comumente isoladas das lesões periapicais. A análise histopatológica demonstrou prevalência de granuloma periapical. O estudo de sensibilidade a antimicrobianos foi realizado em 16 cepas de Fusobacterium nucleatum. Os antimicrobianos utilizados foram penicilina, cefoxitina, eritromicina, metronidazol e tetraciclina. Todas as amostras apresentaram suscetibilidade à cefoxitina, tetraciclina e metronidazol; os percentuais de resistência à penicilina e à eritromicina foram 12,5 e 68,8, respectivamente. Os percentuais de resistência de Fusobacterium nucleatum, uma espécie bacteriana importante na patogênese das lesões periapicais, à penicilina e à eritromicina, enfatizam a necessidade de outros estudos de resistência a antimicrobianos de bactérias isoladas em infecções odontogênicas.

  14. Developing Agent-Oriented Video Surveillance System through Agent-Oriented Methodology (AOM

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Cheah Wai Shiang

    2016-12-01

    Full Text Available Agent-oriented methodology (AOM is a comprehensive and unified agent methodology for agent-oriented software development. Although AOM is claimed to be able to cope with a complex system development, it is still not yet determined up to what extent this may be true. Therefore, it is vital to conduct an investigation to validate this methodology. This paper presents the adoption of AOM in developing an agent-oriented video surveillance system (VSS. An intruder handling scenario is designed and implemented through AOM. AOM provides an alternative method to engineer a distributed security system in a systematic manner. It presents the security system at a holistic view; provides a better conceptualization of agent-oriented security system and supports rapid prototyping as well as simulation of video surveillance system.

  15. Gestão de marcas por meio das redes sociais: um estudo sobre a utilização do facebook

    OpenAIRE

    Flávia Preuss Siqueira Batista

    2011-01-01

    Este estudo aborda a utilização das mídias sociais como ferramenta para gestão de marcas. O tema se demonstra relevante por tratar de três assuntos considerados importantes na atualidade: gestão de marcas, marketing de relacionamento e redes sociais no ambiente virtual. A proposta do estudo é explorar se as organizações estão estabelecendo um relacionamento com seus clientes de forma que este promova o brand equity por meio do uso das redes sociais. Para se atingir os objetivos do estudo, foi...

  16. Retardo estatural em menores de cinco anos: um estudo "baseline" Linear growth retardation in children under five years of age: a baseline study

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Anete Rissin

    2011-10-01

    Full Text Available OBJETIVO: Descrever a prevalência e analisar fatores associados ao retardo estatural em menores de cinco anos. MÉTODOS: Estudo "baseline", que analisou 2.040 crianças, verificando possíveis associações entre o retardo estatural (índice altura/idade The scope of this study was to describe the prevalence of, and analyze factors associated with, linear growth retardation in children. The baseline study analyzed 2040 children under the age of five, establishing a possible association between growth delay (height/age index < 2 scores Z and variables in six hierarchical blocks: socio-economic, residence, sanitary, maternal, biological and healthcare access. Multivariate analysis was performed using Poisson regression with the robust standard error option, obtaining adjusted prevalence ratios with a CI of 95% and the respective significant probability values. Among non-binary variables, there was a positive association with roof type and number of inhabitants per room and a negative association with income per capita, mother's schooling and birth weight. The adjusted analysis also indicated water supply, visit from the community health agent, birth delivery location, internment for diarrhea, or for pneumonia and birth weight as significant variables. Several risk factors were identified for linear growth retardation pointing to the multi-causal aspects of the problem and highlighting the need for control measures by the various hierarchical government agents.

  17. Construindo pontes: a prática da interdisciplinaridade. Estudo PopTrans: um estudo com travestis e mulheres transexuais em Salvador, Bahia, Brasil

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ines Dourado

    Full Text Available Resumo: Pessoas trans, incluindo travestis, mulheres transexuais, apresentam taxas desproporcionalmente elevadas de HIV/AIDS em comparação com o restante da população. Entretanto, são poucos os estudos quantitativos/qualitativos com pessoas trans no Brasil. Assim, uma equipe de pesquisadores de diferentes áreas desenvolve um projeto de pesquisa interdisciplinar com o objetivo de conhecer as condições e os modos de vida, e ao mesmo tempo investigar fatores determinantes da infecção pelo HIV, sífilis e hepatites B e C entre travestis e mulheres transexuais. Neste artigo, pretende-se descrever a experiência de implantação e desenvolvimento do estudo com uma abordagem etnoepidemiológica em Salvador, Bahia, Brasil. O mapeamento da população começou com uma pesquisa formativa que foi crucial para orientar o inquérito epidemiológico. A produção de dados etnoepidemiológicos é um desafio cotidiano para os pesquisadores, produzindo uma série de reflexões sobre os limites de nossos conceitos e categorias para traduzir a diversidade de práticas e experiências das participantes da pesquisa.

  18. Diastereoisomers of 2-benzyl-2, 3-dihydro-2-(1H-inden-2-yl)-1H-inden-1-ol: potential anti-inflammatory agents.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Sheridan, Helen; Walsh, John J; Cogan, Carina; Jordan, Michael; McCabe, Tom; Passante, Egle; Frankish, Neil H

    2009-10-15

    The synthesis and biological activity of the novel diastereoisomers of 2-benzyl-2,3-dihydro-2-(1H-inden-2-yl)-1H-inden-1-ol is reported. The 2,2-coupled indane dimers were synthesised by coupling of the silyl enol ether of 1-indanone with the dimethyl ketal of 2-indanone. The coupled product was directly alkylated to give the racemic ketone which was reduced to the diastereoisomeric alcohols. The alcohols were separated and their relative stereochemistry was established by X-ray crystallography. These molecules demonstrate significant anti-inflammatory activity in vivo and in vitro and may represent a new class of anti-inflammatory agent.

  19. O artista e sua arte: um estudo fenomenológico

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Giuliana Gnatos Lima Bilbao

    2006-04-01

    Full Text Available Este estudo tem por objetivo apreender a estrutura do vivido do artista e sua arte e as decorrências para a Psicologia. Foram gravados 9 (nove depoimentos de artistas de diferentes áreas, posteriormente submetidos aos passos do método fenomenológico, incluindo leitura inicial para apreensão do todo, releituras para apreensão de unidades de significado, compreensão psicológica das unidades de significado, síntese específica de cada depoimento e, por fim, síntese geral dos depoimentos. A síntese geral, abarcando as vivências de todos os participantes, delineou aspectos positivos da arte: auto-conhecimento; integração da personalidade; transformação de valores e afetos; transcendência da realidade cotidiana. Os resultados apontam para uma consideração da criatividade como componente da saúde e da prática de uma atividade artística como facilitadora do desenvolvimento psicológico, abrindo perspectivas para novos estudos sobre arte, que vem sendo associada a processos psicoterapêuticos na atualidade.

  20. Revisão sistemática e meta-análise de estudos observacionais em Psicologia

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Gabriela Andrade da Silva

    2015-04-01

    Full Text Available O objetivo do presente trabalho foi levantar e sumarizar informações sobre metodologias para a realização de revisões sistemáticas e meta-análises de estudos observacionais, com considerações sobre o seu emprego e relevância na área da Psicologia. Revisão sistemática é uma revisão de literatura com base em uma pergunta de pesquisa, que usa métodos sistemáticos para a busca, seleção e avaliação crítica de estudos, resultando em uma sumarização. Meta-análise é um conjunto de técnicas estatísticas para combinar e sintetizar os resultados de dois ou mais estudos realizados de forma independente e selecionados em uma revisão sistemática. Essas metodologias têm elevada relevância na construção do conhecimento, por sintetizar informações de estudos publicados em diferentes fontes; diminuir o atraso entre as descobertas científicas e suas aplicações à prática profissional; e permitir testar novas hipóteses a partir dos dados já coletados. Foram descritas as etapas para realização de revisão sistemática. Os desafios específicos relacionados com a inclusão de estudos observacionais, bem como a aplicação desta técnica para o campo da Psicologia, foram abordados a fim de orientar os pesquisadores interessados em realizar revisões sistemáticas e meta-análises, bem como psicólogos, outros profissionais de saúde e gestores que buscam informações em evidências científicas para apoiar as suas práticas.

  1. Propriedades dos estudos de teoria da contabilidade em um periódico científico brasileiro

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Sidnei Celerino da Silva

    2014-09-01

    Full Text Available Este estudo bibliométrico tem como objetivo avaliar a produção científica na área de teoria da Contabilidade, publicada na Revista de Contabilidade e Finanças (RCF, da Faculdade de Economia e Administração da Universidade de São Paulo (FEA/USP, no período de 2001 a 2010. Por meio de uma pesquisa descritiva com delineamento documental, foram identificados e analisados 27 artigos relacionados à área selecionada. O estudo analisou as características das autorias e formação de redes de pesquisa, predominando autoria e redes vinculadas a FEA/USP. Em relação ao enfoque, abordagem e tipologia metodológica, o estudo identificou que a maioria dos artigos adotou o enfoque da racionalidade econômica. Cresceram a quantidade de artigos com abordagem positiva nos últimos anos, mas prevalecem estudos normativos no período. Constatou ainda, que os autores privilegiaram os estudos empíricos, com uso acentuado de ferramental estatístico e prevalece a discussão do tema conservadorismo. Ademais, os autores privilegiaram a consulta aos periódicos internacionais, livros nacionais e internacionais e pesquisas em dissertações e teses nacionais, sendo que James Ohlson e Eliseu Martins foram os autores mais citados. Por fim, constatou-se que é imprescindível a vinculação dos autores da área a pesquisadores de instituições internacionais e de outras áreas do conhecimento para mitigar a endogenia da produção científica, o viés contábil e aprimorar a reflexão sobre o direcionamento da pesquisa contábil na área.

  2. Agent Architectures for Compliance

    Science.gov (United States)

    Burgemeestre, Brigitte; Hulstijn, Joris; Tan, Yao-Hua

    A Normative Multi-Agent System consists of autonomous agents who must comply with social norms. Different kinds of norms make different assumptions about the cognitive architecture of the agents. For example, a principle-based norm assumes that agents can reflect upon the consequences of their actions; a rule-based formulation only assumes that agents can avoid violations. In this paper we present several cognitive agent architectures for self-monitoring and compliance. We show how different assumptions about the cognitive architecture lead to different information needs when assessing compliance. The approach is validated with a case study of horizontal monitoring, an approach to corporate tax auditing recently introduced by the Dutch Customs and Tax Authority.

  3. Fobia específica: um estudo transversal com 103 pacientes tratados em ambulatório

    OpenAIRE

    Terra,Mauro Barbosa; Garcez,Joana Presser; Noll,Betina

    2007-01-01

    OBJETIVOS: Este estudo tem por objetivo investigar a presença de fobia específica (FE) entre pacientes atendidos em um ambulatório de psiquiatria. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo transversal, no qual foi aplicado o SCID-I em 103 pacientes, para se examinar a ocorrência de fobia específica. Os dados foram analisados por meio de medidas descritivas e mediante os testes de independência baseados na estatística qui-quadrado de Pearson ou no teste exato de Fisher. RESULTADOS: Foi verificada FE em...

  4. Craniostenose em gêmeos: estudo genético

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Walter Carlos Pereira

    1968-09-01

    Full Text Available É relatada a ocorrência de formas clínicas diversas de craniostenose em gêmeos de sexo diferente. A menina apresentava obliteração completa da sutura coronaria e dos dois terços anteriores da sutura sagital; no menino a sutura sagital era a única afetada. O estudo genético mostrou que a craniostenose independe de aberrações cromossômicas, indicando ser transmitida por gens recessivos raros de natureza autossômica.

  5. Synthesis of novel 11-desmethyl analogues of laulimalide by Nozaki-Kishi coupling.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Paterson, Ian; Bergmann, Hermann; Menche, Dirk; Berkessel, Albrecht

    2004-04-15

    As a first entry into structurally simplified analogues of the anticancer agent laulimalide, 11-desmethyl compounds 2 and 3 were selected by molecular modeling. The unfavorable diastereoselectivity in the key synthetic step, a Nozaki-Kishi coupling between macrocyclic aldehyde 4 and vinyl iodide 5, was overcome either by use of catalytic amounts of DIANANE-type ligands or L-Selectride reduction of the derived enone. This methodology should allow modular introduction of other, unnatural, side chains. [reaction: see text

  6. A Secure Protocol Based on a Sedentary Agent for Mobile Agent Environments

    OpenAIRE

    Abdelmorhit E. Rhazi; Samuel Pierre; Hanifa Boucheneb

    2007-01-01

    The main challenge when deploying mobile agent environments pertains to security issues concerning mobile agents and their executive platform. This paper proposes a secure protocol which protects mobile agents against attacks from malicious hosts in these environments. Protection is based on the perfect cooperation of a sedentary agent running inside a trusted third host. Results show that the protocol detects several attacks, such as denial of service, incorrect execution and re-execution of...

  7. Literacia fiscal : um estudo empírico

    OpenAIRE

    Pereira, Ana Isabel Teixeira Duarte

    2014-01-01

    O objetivo desta dissertação prende-se com o estudo da literacia fiscal numa zona rural de Portugal. Aqui se aborda a importância da perceção fiscal que o contribuinte deveria possuir para uma melhor atuação perante situações fiscais com que se depara no seu quotidiano, em seu benefício. O presente trabalho versa também sobre fatores que influenciam o (in)cumprimento fiscal por parte do cidadão contribuinte. A educação fiscal tem impacto no cumprimento fiscal no sentido de que transmite o ...

  8. Inteligência emocional: estudo exploratório

    OpenAIRE

    Seabra, Diana Catarina Lopes

    2013-01-01

    A presente dissertação tem como objetivo esclarecer e refletir sobre a inteligência emocional e explorar se existe uma influência entre a atividade que o grupo exerce, o tempo de pertença e o tempo de vida do mesmo, ao nível da inteligência emocional grupal e das suas dimensões. Para tal, foi desenvolvido um estudo exploratório. A recolha dos dados realizou-se através do Questionário de Inteligência Emocional Grupal traduzido e adaptado por Correia (2010) do Group Emotional Intelligence Quest...

  9. Moral actor, selfish agent.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Frimer, Jeremy A; Schaefer, Nicola K; Oakes, Harrison

    2014-05-01

    People are motivated to behave selfishly while appearing moral. This tension gives rise to 2 divergently motivated selves. The actor-the watched self-tends to be moral; the agent-the self as executor-tends to be selfish. Three studies present direct evidence of the actor's and agent's distinct motives. To recruit the self-as-actor, we asked people to rate the importance of various goals. To recruit the self-as-agent, we asked people to describe their goals verbally. In Study 1, actors claimed their goals were equally about helping the self and others (viz., moral); agents claimed their goals were primarily about helping the self (viz., selfish). This disparity was evident in both individualist and collectivist cultures, attesting to the universality of the selfish agent. Study 2 compared actors' and agents' motives to those of people role-playing highly prosocial or selfish exemplars. In content (Study 2a) and in the impressions they made on an outside observer (Study 2b), actors' motives were similar to those of the prosocial role-players, whereas agents' motives were similar to those of the selfish role-players. Study 3 accounted for the difference between the actor and agent: Participants claimed that their agent's motives were the more realistic and that their actor's motives were the more idealistic. The selfish agent/moral actor duality may account for why implicit and explicit measures of the same construct diverge, and why feeling watched brings out the better angels of human nature.

  10. The Agent of Change: The Agent of Conflict.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hatfield, C. R., Jr.

    This speech examines the role of change agents in third world societies and indicates that the change agent must, to some extent, manipulate the social situation, even if his view of society is a more optimistic one than he finds in reality. If he considers strains and stresses to be the lubricants of change, then his focus on conflict as a…

  11. Agent-based modeling and simulation of clean heating system adoption in Norway

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sopha, Bertha Maya

    2011-03-15

    at revealing potential interventions toward wood pellet heating in Norway. A methodological approach of coupling ABM with empirical research is introduced to develop a conceptual model capturing households' adoption-decision processes which is parameterized with empirical data. Simulation results demonstrate that the generated data from simulation is reasonably able to generate independent historical data at both macro- and micro-levels. It indicates that the proposed methodology is promising. As a whole, this thesis integrally addresses the study case using interdisciplinary perspective. The major contributions of the thesis lie in the inclusion of psychological factors, in addition to socio-demographic and technological factors, in adoption-decision, and the methodological proposal of coupling agent-based modeling (ABM) with empirical research and its application in the studied case. (Author)

  12. Future Oil Spills and Possibilities for Intervention: A Model for the Coupled Human-Environmental Resource Extraction System

    Science.gov (United States)

    Shughrue, C. M.; Werner, B.; Nugnug, P. T.

    2010-12-01

    The catastrophic Deepwater Horizon oil spill highlights the risks for widespread environmental damage resulting from petroleum resource extraction. Possibilities for amelioration of these risks depend critically on understanding the dynamics and nonlinear interactions between various components of the coupled human-environmental resource extraction system. We use a complexity analysis to identify the levels of description and time scales at which these interactions are strongest, and then use the analysis as the basis for an agent-based numerical model with which decadal trends can be analyzed. Oil industry economic and technological activity and associated oil spills are components of a complex system that is coupled to natural environment, legislation, regulation, media, and resistance systems over annual to decadal time scales. In the model, oil spills are produced stochastically with a range of magnitudes depending on a reliability-engineering-based assessment of failure for the technology employed, human factors including compliance with operating procedures, and risks associated with the drilling environment. Oil industry agents determine drilling location and technological investment using a cost-benefit analysis relating projected revenue from added production to technology cost and government regulation. Media outlet agents reporting on the oil industry and environmental damage from oil spills assess the impacts of aggressively covering a story on circulation increases, advertiser concerns and potential loss of information sources. Environmental advocacy group agents increase public awareness of environmental damage (through media and public contact), solicit memberships and donations, and apply direct pressure on legislators for policy change. Heterogeneous general public agents adjust their desire for change in the level of regulation, contact their representatives or participate in resistance via protest by considering media sources, personal

  13. Basic study for development of new tumor specific agents for neutron capture therapy

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Matsumura, Akira; Nakagawa, Kunio; Yoshii, Yoshihiko; Nose, Tadao

    1994-01-01

    New tissue specific agents for neutron capture therapy was studied. Monoclonal labeled gadolinium-DTPA (Gd-MoAb) and porphyrin (ATN-10)-Gd-DTPA (Gd-ATN10) were studied as possible agents by using 9-L experimental brain tumor model. The tissue concentration were analyzed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analyzer. Gd-MoAb showed persistent retention in the tumor on MRI, but tissue gadolinium concentration was not detectable in the tumor by ICP analyzer, while there was high accumulation of Gd-MoAb in the liver. Gd-ATN10 showed prolonged and high accumulation in the tumor up to 48 hours on MRI. Gadolinium concentration reached up to 9 ppm in the tumor by 0.02 mmol/kg administration, but it disappeared within 6 hours after administration. This dissociation between MRI and ICP analysis was due to separation of ATN-10 and Gd-DTPA. As conclusions, the porphyrin compounds are potential agents for delivering gadolinium or boron specific to the tumor tissue, thus further improvement such as more stable conjugation between porphyrinfic to the tumor tissue, thus further improvement such as more stable conjugation between porphyrin and Gd-DTPA is needed. (author)

  14. Interactions of ionic and nonionic contrast agents with thrombolytic agents

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Fareed, J.; Moncada, R.; Scanlon, P.; Hoppensteadt, D.; Huan, X.; Walenga, J.M.

    1987-01-01

    Both the ionic and nonionic intravascular contrast media have been used before and after the administration of thrombolytic agents to evaluate clot lysis during angioplasty and the treatment of myocardial infarction. In experimental animal models, the authors found that the clot lytic efficacy of streptokinase, streptokinase-plasminogen complex, and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) is markedly augmented if these agents are administered within 1 hour after the angiographic producers. Furthermore, contrast agents injected after the administration of t-Pa exhibit a synergistic action. In stimulated models administration of one ionic contrast medium (Angiovist, Berlex, Wayne, NJ) and two nonionic contrast agents (Isovue-370, Squibb Diagnostics, New Brunswick, NJ; Omnipaque-350, Winthrop, NY) 15 minutes before the administration of t-PA resulted in marked enhancement of the lytic activity. Although the mechanism of this interaction is unknown at this time, it should be taken into consideration in the treatment of patients with myocardial infarction, in whom contrast agents are continually used to evaluate the therapeutic lysis. Furthermore, this interaction may be partly related to the therapeutic efficacy and/or hemorrhagic actions observed

  15. A resposta broncodilatadora em doentes com DPOC (dados do estudo UPLIFT

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    D. Tashkin

    2008-07-01

    Full Text Available Resumo: No início do estudo, foi realizada espirometria antes e depois de 80 μg de ipratrópio e 400 μg de salbutamol, administrados 90 e 30 minutos antes, respectivamente. A administração de dois broncodilatadores e a sua temporalidade teve como objectivo atingir a broncodilatação máxima ou quase máxima. O FEV1 basal após esta broncodilatação, no estudo UPLIFT, permitiu: – examinar a resposta broncodilatadora aguda numa grande coorte de doentes com DPOC moderada a muito grave; – determinar o que pode ser considerado critério de resposta usando vários critérios de reversibilidade; – avaliar as características dos doentes com e sem reversibilidade.

  16. Validação do teste Need For Cognition: um estudo em contabilidade comportamental

    OpenAIRE

    Lima Filho, Raimundo Nonato; Bruni, Adriano Leal; Menezes, Igor Gomes

    2013-01-01

    Este estudo teve como objetivo validar a escala Need For Cognition (NFC) em estudos em Contabilidade comportamental. Ademais, buscou-se medir possíveis correlações entre o nível de necessidade de cognição e a existência de vieses cognitivos em decisões contábeis e financeiras. Para efetivar o processo de validação completo, foram realizadas duas validações - critério e construto. A análise foi feita mediante a apreciação de uma amostra formada por 128 estudantes de pós-graduação. A técnica es...

  17. Survey of agent for intelligent information retrieval; Chiteki kensaku no tame no agent no chosa

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Yazawa, T [Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Tokyo (Japan)

    1996-09-01

    Development of agent systems has been surveyed, to classify and arrange characteristic functions of the agents, and to grasp the realization situation of these agents in their development. In addition, prospective functions of information retrieval systems using the agents at maximum and functions to be developed among these in the future are clarified. The agents are characterized by the expression function, communication function, planning function, adaptive function, and learning function. The agents are desired to be classified into interface agents whose works are to respond to individual workers, coordinator agents which conduct works with high pervasion, such as assignment of works and their control, and task agents which conduct specialized works for individual examples. Thus, design and configuration of the agent system, and improvement and expansion of system functions can be effectively and easily conducted. 52 refs., 5 figs., 3 tabs.

  18. Agent and multi-Agent systems in distributed systems digital economy and e-commerce

    CERN Document Server

    Hartung, Ronald

    2013-01-01

    Information and communication technology, in particular artificial intelligence, can be used to support economy and commerce using digital means. This book is about agents and multi-agent distributed systems applied to digital economy and e-commerce to meet, improve, and overcome challenges in the digital economy and e-commerce sphere. Agent and multi-agent solutions are applied in implementing real-life, exciting developments associated with the need to eliminate problems of distributed systems.   The book presents solutions for both technology and applications, illustrating the possible uses of agents in the enterprise domain, covering design and analytic methods, needed to provide a solid foundation required for practical systems. More specifically, the book provides solutions for the digital economy, e-sourcing clusters in network economy, and knowledge exchange between agents applicable to online trading agents, and security solutions to both digital economy and e-commerce. Furthermore, it offers soluti...

  19. Vivências de pais diante da Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal: um estudo de caso

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Suzane Pereira Busatta

    2011-01-01

    Full Text Available http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2178-4582.2011v45n1p135 O presente estudo buscou investigar a percepção dos pais sobre a internação de um filho internado em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal (UTIN. Foi utilizada a metodologia qualitativa, por meio de um estudo de caso e como instrumento de coleta de dados a entrevista semi-estruturada com um pai e uma mãe de um bebê prematuro internado em UTIN. O conteúdo das entrevistas foi analisado por meio da metodologia de análise de conteúdo, constituindo duas categorias e quatro subcategorias, que possibilitaram a compreensão de que o casal deste estudo vivenciou momentos de ambiva- lência de sentimentos, de uma rotina modificada pela hospitalização, bem como a busca de apoio para enfrentar estas situações. Percebeu-se a impor- tância do psicólogo no sentido de auxiliar os pais neste momento de sofri- mento psicológico.

  20. Reasoning about emotional agents

    OpenAIRE

    Meyer, J.-J.

    2004-01-01

    In this paper we discuss the role of emotions in artificial agent design, and the use of logic in reasoning about the emotional or affective states an agent can reside in. We do so by extending the KARO framework for reasoning about rational agents appropriately. In particular we formalize in this framework how emotions are related to the action monitoring capabilities of an agent.

  1. MODOS DE SER JOVEM NA ESCOLA: um estudo de caso etnográfico

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Livian Lino Netto

    2016-08-01

    Full Text Available O artigo apresenta um recorte de pesquisa realizada com estudantes do Instituto Federal Sul-rio-grandense, que teve por objetivo descrever imagens da juventude com foco na percepção que os jovens têm sobre si mesmos na escola. A partir de princípios qualitativos, o estudo caracterizou-se como estudo de caso de inspiração etnográfica. A coleta foi realizada através da filmagem de documentários pelos estudantes sobre o que é ser jovem na escola e qual o sentido da mesma em suas vidas. Como resultado, afirma-se que o principal sentido atribuído pelos jovens à escola é o estar junto com o outro.

  2. Double agents and secret agents: the emerging fields of exogenous chemical exchange saturation transfer and T2-exchange magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents for molecular imaging.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Daryaei, Iman; Pagel, Mark D

    2015-01-01

    Two relatively new types of exogenous magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents may provide greater impact for molecular imaging by providing greater specificity for detecting molecular imaging biomarkers. Exogenous chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) agents rely on the selective saturation of the magnetization of a proton on an agent, followed by chemical exchange of a proton from the agent to water. The selective detection of a biomarker-responsive CEST signal and an unresponsive CEST signal, followed by the ratiometric comparison of these signals, can improve biomarker specificity. We refer to this improvement as a "double-agent" approach to molecular imaging. Exogenous T 2 -exchange agents also rely on chemical exchange of protons between the agent and water, especially with an intermediate rate that lies between the slow exchange rates of CEST agents and the fast exchange rates of traditional T 1 and T 2 agents. Because of this intermediate exchange rate, these agents have been relatively unknown and have acted as "secret agents" in the contrast agent research field. This review exposes these secret agents and describes the merits of double agents through examples of exogenous agents that detect enzyme activity, nucleic acids and gene expression, metabolites, ions, redox state, temperature, and pH. Future directions are also provided for improving both types of contrast agents for improved molecular imaging and clinical translation. Therefore, this review provides an overview of two new types of exogenous contrast agents that are becoming useful tools within the armamentarium of molecular imaging.

  3. Relação universidade-empresa: um estudo no setor de T.I. do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul

    OpenAIRE

    Zanluchi, João Batista

    2015-01-01

    A relação Universidade-Empresa é um tema em constante debate na esfera nacional, sendo que vários estudos buscam avaliar esta relação sob diversos ângulos e focos de pesquisa. O referencial teórico sobre o tema apresenta uma carência de estudos com foco na empresa. Com base nesta premissa este estudo investigou a relação Universidade-Empresa no setor de T.I. do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul com o objetivo de avaliar como é o relacionamento das empresas com as universidades. A metodologia adotad...

  4. A CSP-Based Agent Modeling Framework for the Cougaar Agent-Based Architecture

    Science.gov (United States)

    Gracanin, Denis; Singh, H. Lally; Eltoweissy, Mohamed; Hinchey, Michael G.; Bohner, Shawn A.

    2005-01-01

    Cognitive Agent Architecture (Cougaar) is a Java-based architecture for large-scale distributed agent-based applications. A Cougaar agent is an autonomous software entity with behaviors that represent a real-world entity (e.g., a business process). A Cougaar-based Model Driven Architecture approach, currently under development, uses a description of system's functionality (requirements) to automatically implement the system in Cougaar. The Communicating Sequential Processes (CSP) formalism is used for the formal validation of the generated system. Two main agent components, a blackboard and a plugin, are modeled as CSP processes. A set of channels represents communications between the blackboard and individual plugins. The blackboard is represented as a CSP process that communicates with every agent in the collection. The developed CSP-based Cougaar modeling framework provides a starting point for a more complete formal verification of the automatically generated Cougaar code. Currently it is used to verify the behavior of an individual agent in terms of CSP properties and to analyze the corresponding Cougaar society.

  5. Ecotoxicity and fungal deterioration of recycled polypropylene/wood composites: effect of wood content and coupling.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Sudár, András; López, María J; Keledi, Gergely; Vargas-García, M Carmen; Suárez-Estrella, Francisca; Moreno, Joaquín; Burgstaller, Christoph; Pukánszky, Béla

    2013-09-01

    Recycled polypropylene (rPP) was recovered from an industrial shredder and composites were prepared with a relatively wide range of wood content and with two coupling agents, a maleated PP (MAPP) and a maleated ethylene-propylene-diene elastomer (MAEPDM). The mechanical properties of the composites showed that the coupling agents change structure only slightly, but interfacial adhesion quite drastically. The durability of the materials was determined by exposing them to a range of fungi and, ecotoxicity was studied on the aquatic organism Vibrio fischeri. The composites generally exhibit low acute toxicity, with values below the levels considered to have direct ecotoxic effect on aquatic ecosystems (deterioration proved that wood facilitates fungal colonization. Fungi caused slight mass loss (below 3%) but it was not correlated with substantial deterioration in material properties. MAPP seems to be beneficial in the retention of mechanical properties during fungal attack. rPP/wood composites can be considered non-ecotoxic and quite durable, but the influence of wood content on resistance to fungal attack must be taken into account for materials intended for applications requiring long-term outdoor exposure. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. Perspectivas psicossociais para o estudo do cotidiano de trabalho

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Fábio de Oliveira

    2014-04-01

    Full Text Available Este estudo teve por objetivo analisar o debate e o aprofundamento teórico e metodológico desenvolvido nos estudos sobre a vida cotidiana no trabalho. A investigação partiu do diálogo interdisciplinar entre a antropologia do trabalho, a ergologia e a psicologia social do trabalho e sistematizou as contribuições mútuas entre esses campos científicos, suas aproximações e seus afastamentos da tematização e da apropriação da atividade humana no trabalho sob a perspectiva do cotidiano. A análise comparativa destacou eixos que diferenciam as formas de aproximação ao objeto, que se referem às relações estabelecidas entre saberes práticos e técnico-científicos e aos modos de intervenção sobre as situações de trabalho. As abordagens comparativas compartilham o interesse em conhecer o trabalho real, o valor conferido aos conhecimentos dos trabalhadores e a sensibilidade às dimensões micropolíticas do cotidiano. Conclui-se que a localização em cada um desses eixos depende da maior ou menor filiação às tradições da antropologia ou da ergonomia.

  7. GESTÃO DE MARCAS: UM ESTUDO SOBRE A UNIMED

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Hellen Taís Zanóbio

    2018-03-01

    Full Text Available O crescimento da demanda por serviços de saúde suplementar somado às mudanças da relação marca versus consumidor tornam esse mercado cada vez mais competitivo. Esses fatores implicam na movimentação das prestadoras deste tipo de serviço em relação à necessidade de identificar e implantar a melhor forma de gestão de marca, com o objetivo de torná-la conhecida e diferenciada. A empresa estudada foi a Unimed, a maior Cooperativa de Trabalho Médico do Brasil, onde se aplica o seguinte problema de pesquisa: quais as estratégias utilizadas pela Unimed na gestão de sua marca? Este estudo tem o objetivo de estudar as estratégias aplicadas pela Unimed em estudos que as exploram utilizando a metodologia de pesquisa de Revisão Bibliográfica. Os resultados obtidos foram o destaque da importância dada pela Unimed à gestão de sua marca onde a centraliza como diferencial competitivo, e o sucesso do uso das estratégias de gestão de marca como a identidade, imagem, personalidade, arquitetura e valor, tornando-a uma marca forte e consolidada no mercado.

  8. Estudo de caso controle para avaliar o impacto do abuso sexual infantil nos transtornos alimentares

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Felipe Paraventi

    2011-01-01

    Full Text Available CONTEXTO: O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar se antecedente de abuso sexual na infância (ASI está associado com transtornos alimentares na vida adulta. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se um estudo de caso controle (N = 120 comparando mulheres com transtornos alimentares tratadas em ambulatório universitário especializado com um grupo controle de pacientes de clínica não psiquiátrica (ambulatório de oftalmologia. RESULTADOS: Este estudo encontrou maior prevalência de ASI na anorexia nervosa (AN comparada ao grupo controle (50% versus 14,8%; OR = 5,8 IC 95% = 1,3-25,6; p < 0,05, entretanto não identificou diferença estatística entre os grupos comparando com casos de bulimia nervosa (BN (26,7% versus 27% no grupo controle; OR = 0,99; IC 95% = 0,24-4,1 e com transtorno de compulsão alimentar periódica (TCAP, apesar da maior prevalência de ASI observada neste último em relação ao grupo controle (43,7% versus 27,3%; OR = 2,1 IC 95% = 0,5- 8,1. Considerando-se a presença de dois ou mais episódios de ASI, observou-se também maior prevalência em AN (35,7% versus 3,7% nos controles; OR = 14,4 IC 95% = 1,5-140,8; p < 0,05. CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo mostrou forte associação da anorexia nervosa com antecedentes de abuso sexual na infância.

  9. Contribuições das teorias institucionais para o estudo de subsidiárias de corporações multinacionais

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Takeyoshi Imasato

    Full Text Available Este ensaio destaca, inicialmente, as contribuições dos Estudos Organizacionais para o entendimento das corporações multinacionais. Em decorrência da capacidade de influenciar os demais atores nos âmbitos local, nacional, regional, internacional e transnacional, as multinacionais desafiam as abordagens tradicionais de estudos organizacionais seguidas por pesquisadores da área de Gestão Internacional. A seguir, o ensaio explora as possibilidades e os limites das abordagens de teoria institucional para o entendimento das subsidiárias de corporações multinacionais. Esse aporte teórico pode auxiliar tanto no estudo dessas empresas quanto da natureza das diferenças entre as instituições nos diversos países de operação, por possibilitarem a análise simultânea de múltiplos contextos institucionais simultaneamente. Como resultado, o ensaio contribui para o desenvolvimento teórico das interfaces entre as áreas de Estudos Organizacionais e de Gestão Internacional, principalmente, no que se refere às investigações que enfatizem o papel estratégico das subsidiárias.

  10. Fundamental studies of oral contrast agents for MR. Comparison of manganese agent and iron agent

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Fujita, Osamu; Hiraishi, Kumiko; Suginobu, Yoshito; Takeuchi, Masayasu; Narabayashi, Isamu

    1996-01-01

    We investigated and compared signal intensity and the effect of imaging the upper abdomen with blueberry juice (B.J.), a Mn agent utilizing the properties of paramagnetic metals, and FerriSeltz (F.S.), an iron agent. Since the relaxation effect was much stronger with B.J. than with F.S., the signal intensity required of a peroral contrast agent was able to be obtained at a much lower concentration of B.J. In imaging the upper abdomen, B.J. had a positive effect on imaging in T1-weighted images, and a negative effect in T2-weighted images. F.S. had a positive imaging effect in both, and because it showed extremely high signals in T2-weighted images, motion artifact arose. (author)

  11. Stabilization of business cycles of finance agents using nonlinear optimal control

    Science.gov (United States)

    Rigatos, G.; Siano, P.; Ghosh, T.; Sarno, D.

    2017-11-01

    Stabilization of the business cycles of interconnected finance agents is performed with the use of a new nonlinear optimal control method. First, the dynamics of the interacting finance agents and of the associated business cycles is described by a modeled of coupled nonlinear oscillators. Next, this dynamic model undergoes approximate linearization round a temporary operating point which is defined by the present value of the system's state vector and the last value of the control inputs vector that was exerted on it. The linearization procedure is based on Taylor series expansion of the dynamic model and on the computation of Jacobian matrices. The modelling error, which is due to the truncation of higher-order terms in the Taylor series expansion is considered as a disturbance which is compensated by the robustness of the control loop. Next, for the linearized model of the interacting finance agents, an H-infinity feedback controller is designed. The computation of the feedback control gain requires the solution of an algebraic Riccati equation at each iteration of the control algorithm. Through Lyapunov stability analysis it is proven that the control scheme satisfies an H-infinity tracking performance criterion, which signifies elevated robustness against modelling uncertainty and external perturbations. Moreover, under moderate conditions the global asymptotic stability features of the control loop are proven.

  12. Topical antifungal agents: an update.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Diehl, K B

    1996-10-01

    So many topical antifungal agents have been introduced that it has become very difficult to select the proper agent for a given infection. Nonspecific agents have been available for many years, and they are still effective in many situations. These agents include Whitfield's ointment, Castellani paint, gentian violet, potassium permanganate, undecylenic acid and selenium sulfide. Specific antifungal agents include, among others, the polyenes (nystatin, amphotericin B), the imidazoles (metronidazole, clotrimazole) and the allylamines (terbinafine, naftifine). Although the choice of an antifungal agent should be based on an accurate diagnosis, many clinicians believe that topical miconazole is a relatively effective agent for the treatment of most mycotic infections. Terbinafine and other newer drugs have primary fungicidal effects. Compared with older antifungal agents, these newer drugs can be used in lower concentrations and shorter therapeutic courses. Studies are needed to evaluate the clinical efficacies and cost advantages of both newer and traditional agents.

  13. Degradation of Akt using protein-catalyzed capture agents.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Henning, Ryan K; Varghese, Joseph O; Das, Samir; Nag, Arundhati; Tang, Grace; Tang, Kevin; Sutherland, Alexander M; Heath, James R

    2016-04-01

    Abnormal signaling of the protein kinase Akt has been shown to contribute to human diseases such as diabetes and cancer, but Akt has proven to be a challenging target for drugging. Using iterative in situ click chemistry, we recently developed multiple protein-catalyzed capture (PCC) agents that allosterically modulate Akt enzymatic activity in a protein-based assay. Here, we utilize similar PCCs to exploit endogenous protein degradation pathways. We use the modularity of the anti-Akt PCCs to prepare proteolysis targeting chimeric molecules that are shown to promote the rapid degradation of Akt in live cancer cells. These novel proteolysis targeting chimeric molecules demonstrate that the epitope targeting selectivity of PCCs can be coupled with non-traditional drugging moieties to inhibit challenging targets. Copyright © 2016 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  14. A prática de alfabetização em Informação e Comunicação em Saúde: o olhar dos agentes comunitários de Saúde sobre o projeto de Inclusão Digital em Sergipe, Brasil

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Pablo Boaventura Sales Paixão

    Full Text Available Apresentam-se os resultados iniciais do projeto de Inclusão Digital de agentes comunitários de Saúde (ACS de Sergipe, Brasil, quando da realização das práticas de alfabetização em Informação e Comunicação (ALFIN, por meio de Oficinas desenvolvidas como estratégia de aproximação entre os ACS de Sergipe e as Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC. Identificam-se caminhos efetivos de infoinclusão social, fundamentando-se na Teoria da Ação Comunicativa de Habermas e nos estudos de Paulo Freire. Utiliza-se a abordagem de pesquisa qualitativa e a tipologia do Estudo de Caso e do Grupo Focal para o esquadrinhamento das práticas de ALFIN a distância.

  15. A prática de alfabetização em Informação e Comunicação em Saúde: o olhar dos agentes comunitários de Saúde sobre o projeto de Inclusão Digital em Sergipe, Brasil

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Pablo Boaventura Sales Paixão

    2011-09-01

    Full Text Available Apresentam-se os resultados iniciais do projeto de Inclusão Digital de agentes comunitários de Saúde (ACS de Sergipe, Brasil, quando da realização das práticas de alfabetização em Informação e Comunicação (ALFIN, por meio de Oficinas desenvolvidas como estratégia de aproximação entre os ACS de Sergipe e as Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC. Identificam-se caminhos efetivos de infoinclusão social, fundamentando-se na Teoria da Ação Comunicativa de Habermas e nos estudos de Paulo Freire. Utiliza-se a abordagem de pesquisa qualitativa e a tipologia do Estudo de Caso e do Grupo Focal para o esquadrinhamento das práticas de ALFIN a distância.

  16. Interacting agents in finance

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Hommes, C.; Durlauf, S.N.; Blume, L.E.

    2008-01-01

    Interacting agents in finance represent a behavioural, agent-based approach in which financial markets are viewed as complex adaptive systems consisting of many boundedly rational agents interacting through simple heterogeneous investment strategies, constantly adapting their behaviour in response

  17. PERCEÇÕES SOBRE AS ABORDAGENS À APRENDIZAGEM – ESTUDO DE VARIÁVEIS PSICOLÓGICAS

    OpenAIRE

    Lourenço, Abílio Afonso; Nogueira, Carla Maria Leite

    2014-01-01

    Esta investigação, realizada numa escola básica no norte de Portugal, tem como objetivo analisar as perceções que os alunos apresentam sobre algumas variáveis relativas à forma como desenvolvem a sua aprendizagem, nomeadamente: a autorregulação para a aprendizagem; os processos de estudo utilizados; o controlo volitivo; a planificação da gestão do tempo; e a procrastinação. Outra finalidade deste estudo éverificar se existe uma relação significativa entre estas variáveis e a perceção de autoe...

  18. Estudo paramétrico para um muro de gravidade submetido a carregamentos sísmicos.

    OpenAIRE

    Tatiana Galvão Kurz

    2014-01-01

    A presente dissertação apresenta um estudo do comportamento de um muro de gravidade flexível submetido a carregamentos sísmicos. A influência do carregamento sísmico, e mais precisamente da variação da aceleração horizontal de pico é avaliada num estudo paramétrico, através da análise dos resultados obtidos para os deslocamentos e acelerações horizontais que ocorreram no paramento do muro de gravidade. Optou-se pela análise ao longo do tempo, introduzindo o carregamento sísmico ao modelo numé...

  19. Sindrome de Landau Kleffner aspectos clinicos, eletrencefalograficos e psicossociais : estudo de seguimento a longo prazo

    OpenAIRE

    Marcos Henrique Coelho Duran

    2008-01-01

    Resumo: Objetivos: A Síndrome de Landau-Kleffner (SLK) é uma entidade rara, caracterizada por epilepsia e afasia. Ocorre em crianças com aquisição normal da linguagem, geralmente, entre 3 e 7 anos de idade. A evolução a longo prazo é controversa e pouco estudada. O presente estudo tem como objetivo verificar a evolução em uma série de sujeitos com diagnóstico de SLK, enfocando os aspectos clínicos, eletrencefalográficos, psicossociais e da qualidade de vida. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo tra...

  20. Síndrome icterícia em gatos: revisão de literatura e estudo retrospectivo

    OpenAIRE

    OLIVEIRA, Roberta Alencar de; DANIEL, Alexandre Gonçalves Teixeira; RECHE JUNIOR, Archivaldo

    2008-01-01

    Icterícia é uma alteração clínica comumente encontrada nos felinos, causada por níveis excessivos de bilirrubina na circulação e nos tecidos, indicando hemólise grave ou doença hepatobiliar. Este trabalho é composto por uma revisão da literatura e um estudo retrospectivo sobre a síndrome icterícia em felinos e suas principais causas: lipidose hepática, colângio-hepatite, tríade felina e micoplasmose felina. O estudo retrospectivo foi realizado utilizando-se das informações contidas nos prontu...

  1. História e oralidade nos estudos comunicacionais

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Juniele Rabêlo Almeida

    2016-05-01

    Full Text Available Concepções, métodos e formas do conhecimento histórico são expressos em diversos estudos na área de comunicação social. Buscamos analisar, na interface história e narrativa oral, aspectos da chamada mediação cultural, na qual a comunicação está para além da condição de canal. Acreditamos que os estudos comunicacionais não recaem, necessariamente, sobre especificidades técnicas, mas sobre a posição que a comunicação assume no campo histórico-cultural. Interações, expressas nos trabalhos de história oral, se configuram (e resultam em processos comunicacionais que indicam construções sócio históricas e diferentes referenciais de pertencimento. Palavras-chave: Estudos comunicacionais, História, Narrativas Orais.   Abstract: Conceptions, methods and historical knowledge forms are expressed in several studies in the area of social communication. We analyze, history and oral narrative interface, called aspects of cultural mediation, in which the communication is in addition to the channel condition. We believe that communication studies do not fall necessarily on technicalities, but on the position that the communication is in the historical-cultural field. Interactions, expressed in the works of oral history, are configured (and result in communication processes that indicate historical social constructions and different frames of belonging. Keywords: communication Studies, History, Oral Narratives.   Resumen: Conceptos, métodos y formas de conocimiento histórico se expresan en varios estudios en el área de la comunicación social. Analizamos, la historia y la interfaz de la narrativa oral, llamados aspectos de mediación cultural, en el que la comunicación es, además de la condición de canal. Creemos que los estudios de comunicación no caen necesariamente en técnicos, sino a la posición de que la comunicación es en el campo histórico-cultural. Interacciones, expresados en las obras de la historia oral, est

  2. Agent-based enterprise integration

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    N. M. Berry; C. M. Pancerella

    1998-12-01

    The authors are developing and deploying software agents in an enterprise information architecture such that the agents manage enterprise resources and facilitate user interaction with these resources. The enterprise agents are built on top of a robust software architecture for data exchange and tool integration across heterogeneous hardware and software. The resulting distributed multi-agent system serves as a method of enhancing enterprises in the following ways: providing users with knowledge about enterprise resources and applications; accessing the dynamically changing enterprise; locating enterprise applications and services; and improving search capabilities for applications and data. Furthermore, agents can access non-agents (i.e., databases and tools) through the enterprise framework. The ultimate target of the effort is the user; they are attempting to increase user productivity in the enterprise. This paper describes their design and early implementation and discusses the planned future work.

  3. Radiopharmaceutical scanning agents

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    1976-01-01

    This invention is directed to dispersions useful in preparing radiopharmaceutical scanning agents, to technetium labelled dispersions, to methods for preparing such dispersions and to their use as scanning agents

  4. Agente adaptable y aprendizaje

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Arturo Angel Lara Rivero

    2013-05-01

    Full Text Available En este trabajo se contrasta el concepto de agente programado con el de agente complejo adaptable, se presenta una nueva visión ligada al aprendizaje y la estructura del agente. La imagen del agente se analiza considerando los modelos internos, la práctica, el concepto de rutina y la influencia en su comportamiento, y la importancia del aprendizaje ex ante y ex post. Por último se muestra que la resolución de problemas está sujeta a restricciones del agente y se describen las formas de explorar el espacio de soluciones mediante tres tipos de exploración: exhaustiva, aleatoria y selectiva.

  5. Estra: um corpus para o estudo do estilo da tradução

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Célia Magalhães

    2014-12-01

    Full Text Available Este artigo apresenta a evolução e as contribuições da pesquisa em estudos da tradução orientados para corpora no Brasil. Faz-se uma revisão dos trabalhos iniciais desenvolvidos no Laboratório Experimental de Tradução (LETRA, mostrando que a maioria deles adotava uma abordagem de linguística contrastiva da tradução e que as pesquisas, gradualmente, foram evoluindo para uma preocupação com a estilística tradutória e o estilo do tradutor literário. Também se relata a compilação de um corpus para o estudo do estilo da tradução, o ESTRA, projetado exclusivamente para esse fim. Mostra-se como a pesquisa de corpora do ESTRA promove a interdisciplinaridade nos estudos da tradução e introduz a triangulação de resultados de análises realizadas com procedimentos metodológicos das diferentes abordagens usadas para estudar o estilo. Descrevem-se procedimentos metodológicos novos, em especial a etiquetagem do corpus para algumas das categorias de estilo. Termina-se o artigo com uma visão crítica sobre o que tem sido feito até o presente, apresentando perspectivas futuras de pesquisa em estilística tradutória no LETRA.

  6. Three-agent Peer Evaluation

    OpenAIRE

    Vicki Knoblauch

    2008-01-01

    I show that every rule for dividing a dollar among three agents impartially (so that each agent's share depends only on her evaluation by her associates) underpays some agent by at least one-third of a dollar for some consistent profile of evaluations. I then produce an impartial division rule that never underpays or overpays any agent by more than one-third of a dollar, and for most consistent evaluation profiles does much better.

  7. GESTÃO DO PROCESSO DE PROJETO DE INSTALAÇÕES ELÉTRICAS EM EMPREENDIMENTOS HOSPITALARES: ESTUDO DE CASO

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Breno de Assis Oliveira

    2015-11-01

    Full Text Available O presente trabalho apresenta um estudo exploratório sobre a gestão do processo de projeto de instalações elétricas em estabelecimentos hospitalares complexos. A pesquisa realizou-se por meio de dois estudos de caso. As fontes de evidências envolveram a documentação de projeto, atas de reuniões, procedimentos, assistência a reuniões de coordenação, entrevistas e acompanhamento de rotinas de trabalho. Dessa forma, foi possível mapear o processo de projeto, identificando problemas, dificuldades e desafios. Os casos, explorados a partir de um referencial teórico que abordou a situação da gestão de projetos e suas diversas disciplinas envolvidas, apresentam um extenso quadro das dificuldades encontradas na elaboração de projetos de instalações elétricas em empreendimentos hospitalares, suas causas e possíveis ações visando minimizar os riscos inerentes a empreendimentos que, por sua natureza, oferecem elevado grau de complexidade e exigem interação completa entre os diversos agentes envolvidos. A ausência de um adequado programa de necessidades, a utilização de técnicas de gestão de projetos ultrapassadas e o desconhecimento técnico das particularidades expostas pelas instalações hospitalares provocam relações tensas entre as partes e, por consequência, o descumprimento dos prazos e a extrapolação dos orçamentos previstos, além de lacunas no atendimento às expectativas de investidores, contratantes e de usuários desses empreendimentos. Por fim, este trabalho aponta a utilização de duas importantes ferramentas com o objetivo de minimizar os riscos apresentados: o programa de necessidades para a elaboração de projetos de instalações elétricas em empreendimentos hospitalares, além de uma sequência proposta para a elaboração dos referidos projetos, fundamentada nos conceitos de gestão do processo de projeto.

  8. Estudo sobre reciclagem de lâmpadas fluorescentes

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Danniele Miranda Bacila

    2014-01-01

    Full Text Available Lâmpadas fluorescentes (LF contêm mercúrio em sua composição, um metal pesado que pode causar danos à saúde e ao meio ambiente. As LF são amplamente consumidas no Brasil, porém o descarte correto de LF usadas não é amplamente divulgado e os índices de reciclagem são baixos. O objetivo deste estudo foi demonstrar a relevância do descarte adequado, avaliar as tecnologias de reciclagem e a destinação dos materiais, por meio de estudo comparativo entre Brasil e Alemanha. Através de visitas a recicladoras e análise das tecnologias adotadas nos dois países, foi verificado que no Brasil o vidro é destinado à indústria de cerâmica, enquanto que na Alemanha é destinado à fabricação de tubos para LF. Além disso, foi observado que o mercúrio apresenta diversas possibilidades de uso. Um ponto a ser explorado nos dois países, e de grande potencial para reciclagem, é a recuperação de terras raras do pó fosfórico presente nas LF. Tanto Brasil como Alemanha possuem oportunidades de melhoria na logística reversa de LF, por meio da qual se torna possível elevar os índices de reciclagem e reduzir os impactos ambientais causados pelo descarte inadequado de LF usadas.

  9. A microneedle biosensor for minimally-invasive transdermal detection of nerve agents.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Mishra, Rupesh K; Vinu Mohan, A M; Soto, Fernando; Chrostowski, Robert; Wang, Joseph

    2017-03-13

    A microneedle electrochemical biosensor for the minimally invasive detection of organophosphate (OP) chemical agents is described. The new sensor relies on the coupling of the effective biocatalytic action of organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) with a hollow-microneedle modified carbon-paste array electrode transducer, and involves rapid square-wave voltammetric (SWV) measurements of the p-nitrophenol product of the OPH enzymatic reaction in the presence of the OP substrate. The scanning-potential SWV transduction mode offers an additional dimension of selectivity compared to common fixed-potential OPH-amperometric biosensors. The microneedle device offers a highly linear response for methyl paraoxon (MPOx) over the range of 20-180 μM, high selectivity in the presence of excess co-existing ascorbic acid and uric acid and a high stability sensor upon exposure to the interstitial fluid (ISF). The OPH microneedle sensor was successfully tested ex vivo using mice skin samples exposed to MPOx, demonstrating its promise for minimally-invasive monitoring of OP agents and pesticides and as a wearable sensor for detecting toxic compounds, in general.

  10. Estudos epidemiológicos sobre Demodex canis em Londrina, PR

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Marco Antonio Rocha

    1985-11-01

    Full Text Available Three hundred and forty dog skin scrapings were examined in the Parasitology Laboratory of the veterinary medicine department at the University, of Londrina Paraná, to study the epidemiology of Demodex canist The specimens were obtained from the University Veterinary Hospital and other private clinics in the region from January 1980 to December 1983. Demodex canis was present in 96 scrapings (28,26% in variable quantities showing clinical relation of the disease. The demodectic mange diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical symptoms and the presence of etiological agent by direct microscopic examination of scrapings in a 10% Potassium hydroxide solution, The following conclusions were made from this study: the dogs between o to 12 months of age were more susceptible; the breed seemed to have an influence on the appearance of demodectic mange; the sex had no influence on the ocurrance of the disease; no variations in the seasonal distribution of the demodectic mange were noticed.Foram estudados 340 exames de raspado de pele de cães, no Laboratório de Parasitologia do Departamento de Medicina Veterinária da Universidade Estadual de Londrina, PR. Este material, foi colhido de cães com afecções de pele, atendidos no Hospital Veterinário desta Universidade e em clínicas particulares da região, e chegou ao laboratório para pesquisar presença de ectoparasitas, durante o período de janeiro de 1980 a dezembro de 1983. Do total de raspados (340 estudados, 96 (28,24% apresentaram Oemodex canis , em quantidades e formas variáveis, apresentando relação clínica com a doença. O diagnóstico de sarna demodécica foi baseado na sintomatologia clínica e na presença do agente etiológico no raspado de pele, detectado através de microscopia direta em solução de hidróxido de Potássio (KOH a 10%. Nas condições em. que foi realizado o presente estudo e baseado nos seus resultados, pode-se concluir que animais entre zero e doze meses de

  11. Agentes comunitárias de saúde e a atenção à saúde sexual e reprodutiva de jovens na estratégia saúde da família Community health agents and care provided for youths' sexual and reproductive health in the family health strategy

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Renata Bellenzani

    2012-09-01

    Full Text Available As DST/HIV e a gestação não-planejada entre jovens têm exigido o incremento da atenção em saúde sexual e reprodutiva, desafiando a formação profissional tradicional, os processos de trabalho e gestão na atenção primária. Este estudo etnográfico (observação e entrevistas foi realizado em duas unidades básicas de município turístico do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, focalizando o trabalho das agentes comunitárias de saúde. As agentes abordavam a sexualidade jovem, principalmente das garotas; orientavam o fluxo de ações e influenciavam as estratégias de prevenção e cuidado, enfatizando "gravidez precoce" e "promiscuidade sexual". A saúde de jovens não era considerada integralmente, embora o trabalho das agentes constituísse uma tecnologia de processo com grande potencial na atenção à saúde sexual de jovens. A juventude se beneficia da atuação dessas profissionais, que podem ter seu saber prático mais valorizado. Sugere-se a formação em abordagens baseadas nos direitos humanos e na construção social da sexualidade.Unwanted pregnancies and STD/AIDS among young girls and boys have demanded the enhancement of reproductive and sexual health care, challenging the traditional professional education, the working processes and the management of primary care. METHODS: Ethnographic study (observation and interviews conducted in two primary health care units of a touristic city in the State of Rio de Janeiro, focusing on the work of the Community Health Agents. RESULTS: The Agents did approach youth sexuality, mainly the girls'; they guided the actions flow and influenced the prevention and care strategies , emphasizing "early pregnancies" and "sexual promiscuity". Young people's health was not approached comprehensively, although the Agents' work constitutes a process technology with great potential for youths' sexual health care. CONCLUSION: Young people benefit from the Agents' professional practices; the Agents' practical

  12. Caracterização geoecológica como subsídio para estudos ambientais em RPPNs: estudos de casos no Paraná

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    Maristela Moresco Mezzomo

    2014-10-01

    Full Text Available A caracterização do meio físico de unidades de conservação apresenta-se como importante aspecto para o planejamento de ações de gestão ambiental, devendo, inclusive, constar no plano de manejo. Porém, muitas unidades de conservação não contam com esse plano. Nessa perspectiva, este artigo apresenta a técnica de caracterização geoecológica, por meio da construção de perfis geoecológicos, como método para o levantamento e reconhecimento do meio físico de unidade de conservação, em especial para Reservas Particulares do Patrimônio Natural (RPPNs. Este estudo foi aplicado nas RPPNs Artur Cesar Vigilato/Fazenda Santa Terezinha e Artur Cesar Vigilato/Fazenda Mangueira, localizadas, respectivamente, nos Municípios de Luiziana e Campo Mourão, Estado do Paraná. Os resultados possibilitaram reconhecer como é a organização vertical e horizontal dos elementos da paisagem das áreas, os quais foram representados visualmente nos perfis geoecológicos. Além disso, foi possível compreender a dinâmica das RPPNs, no que tange aos riscos ambientais, possibilitando a organização de informações e dados que poderão subsidiar outros estudos ambientais.

  13. ESTRESSE NO TRABALHO: ESTUDO COM GESTORES PÚBLICOS DO ESTADO DE MINAS GERAIS

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    Lyovan Neves Maffia

    Full Text Available O objetivo deste trabalho consistiu em analisar o estresse no trabalho de gestores públicos que atuam nas secretarias de estado de Minas Gerais. A base teórica relacionada ao estresse ocupacional foi fundamentada em Zille (2005, Chanlat (2005, Cooper et al. (2002, 1988, Couto (1987 e Selye (1959. Em relação à gestão, baseou-se em OCDE (2010, Bresser-Pereira (2009, Madureira e Rodrigues (2006 e Davel e Melo (2005; Rezende (2002 e Marini (2002. Este trabalho pode ser classificado como um estudo descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa. Foram analisados 181 gestores das secretarias de estado de Minas Gerais, sendo que o Modelo Teórico de Explicação do Estresse Ocupacional em Gerentes (MTEG, desenvolvido por Zille (2005, foi a referência principal. Os softwares Excel e SPSS - Statistical Package for the Social Sciences foram utilizados para a análise dos dados. Os resultados evidenciaram que 26,0% dos gestores pesquisados apresentaram ausência de estresse ocupacional; 26,0%, nível de estresse leve a moderado; 43,0%, nível de estresse intenso; e 5,0% nível de estresse muito intenso. Foram identificadas as principais fontes de tensão excessivas existentes no ambiente de trabalho, os mecanismos de regulação mais utilizados pelos gestores públicos estaduais para enfrentar as situações tensionantes e os indicadores de impacto do estresse na produtividade dos gestores. Este estudo mostrou-se oportuno uma vez que há estudos sobre o estresse ocupacional em gestores da iniciativa privada, mas pouco se sabe sobre o impacto das reformas administrativas do serviço público na saúde laboral dos gestores. Os resultados deste trabalho apresentaram relação direta com outros estudos e espera-se que possa contribuir com o balizamento de projetos institucionais do estado de Minas Gerais para redução ou controle dos níveis de estresse ocupacional dos gestores.

  14. Oxygen-saving effect of a new cardiotonic agent, MCI-154, in diseased human hearts.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Mori, M; Takeuchi, M; Takaoka, H; Hata, K; Hayashi, Y; Yamakawa, H; Yokoyama, M

    1997-03-01

    The aim of this study was to examine the left ventricular mechanoenergetic effects of a novel Ca2+ sensitizing agent, MCI-154, on diseased human hearts compared with dobutamine. Unlike conventional cardiotonic agents, a Ca2+ sensitizer that could produce a positive inotropic action by altering the responsiveness of myofilament to Ca2+ could generate force with smaller amounts of Ca2+; thus, it may potentially save energy expenditure. The left ventricular pressure-volume relation and myocardial oxygen consumption per beat (Vo2) were measured by a conductance (volume) catheter and a Webster catheter. Left ventricular contractility (Emax), systolic pressure-volume area (PVA [index of left ventricular total mechanical energy]) and Vo2 were assessed before and after infusion of MCI-154 or dobut-amine. The PVA-independent Vo2 (Vo2 mainly for excitation-contraction coupling) was assessed as the Vo2 at zero PVA. Both agents increased Emax comparably (dobutamine: from 3.55 +/- 1.10 [mean +/- SD] to 5.04 +/- 1.16 mm Hg/ml per m2, p delta PVA-independent Vo2/delta Emax) was less with MCI-154 than with dobutamine (0.14 +/- 0.18 vs. 1.10 +/- 0.80 J/mm Hg per ml per m2, p action mediated by MCI-154 could provide an energetic advantage over the conventional cardiotonic action with currently used inotropic agents.

  15. Encefalopatia hepática: estudo de 50 casos

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    Luiz Antonio de Lima Resende

    1984-12-01

    Full Text Available Os autores apresentam estudo retrospectivo de 50 pacientes com encefalopatia hepática atendidos no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto a partir de 1959 e discutem os aspectos clínicos, laboratoriais e anátomo-patológicos. Expõem os diagnósticos das hepatopatias, os fatores precipitantes dos episódios de coma e pré-coma hepático e enfatizam o papel da gasometria arterial no estabelecimento do diagnóstico.

  16. Bruxas da Serra: Estudo numa comunidade beirã

    OpenAIRE

    Carvalho, Clara

    1984-01-01

    O tema deste trabalho é o estudo das manifestações do discurso da bruxaria numa pequena comunidade beirã situada nas faldas da serra do Caramulo. Nesta aldeia trabalham como "bruxas" cinco dos seus habitantes. Com este trabalho pretendi descrever os métodos utilizados por essas cinco pessoas e os mecanismos que levam a restante população a utilizar esse discurso. Não se trata aqui de um levantamento e análise das diversas figuras designadas pelo termo "bruxa" , tal como foi realizado por Lisó...

  17. OS ESTUDOS SOBRE A CULTURA DA ESCOLA: FORMA, TRADIÇÕES, COMUNIDADE, CLIMA, PARTICIPAÇÃO, PODER

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ana Maria Falsarella

    2018-04-01

    Full Text Available RESUMO: Este trabalho versa sobre temas relacionados à cultura de instituições escolares em seu funcionamento cotidiano: tradição escolar, clima organizacional, participação e partilha do poder, conceito de comunidade. Trata-se de uma exploração teórica, sem pretensão de esgotar a literatura a respeito dos assuntos. Situa-se no campo de estudos da Sociologia da Educação. Visa contribuir para clarear conceitos significativos relacionados aos estudos sobre a escola, levantar pontos para reflexão e sugerir subsídios para análises de pesquisas empíricas desenvolvidas na área da educação. Destaca que estudar a escola em seu funcionamento cotidiano é desafio difícil para o pesquisador, mas que traz ricas contribuições para a escola e para os estudos acadêmicos.

  18. Profissional de Secretariado Empreendedor: Um Agente de Mudança.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Katia Denise Moreira

    2015-04-01

    Full Text Available Tendo como foco o cenário corporativo contemporâneo, ambiente no qual é imprescindível que o indivíduo esteja preparado para subtrair adversidades e multiplicar oportunidades, esse estudo tem por objetivo refletir, a partir da história, formação e busca por aprimoramento do secretário, a possibilidade de atuação desse profissional, na função de agente de mudança do ambiente organizacional, utilizando para tal fim, as práticas do empreendedorismo, no sentido de identificar oportunidades permanentemente, inovar e mudar sempre. A metodologia é de natureza aplicada e abordagem qualitativa.  Em relação aos objetivos é descritiva, com base na análise bibliográfica, periódicos e revistas especializadas. O resultado, além de pontuar a importância da formação profissional identificou que o profissional da área de secretariado agregou ao seu perfil de trabalho ferramentas que lhe permitem empreender. Tal fato é evidenciado quando comparado o processo do empreendedor e o secretário empreendedor, como também, as características do profissional de secretariado conservador versus empreendedor.

  19. Estudo da aderência de arames da armadura de tração em conectores de dutos flexíveis

    OpenAIRE

    Marcelo Badini Daflon

    2010-01-01

    Este projeto tem o objetivo de apresentar o estudo dos arames da armadura de tração que são empregados no transporte de óleo, gás e umbilicais hidráulicos na indústria petrolífera. Este estudo foi desenvolvido sob a necessidade de melhor ancoragem dos arames da armadura de tração de modo a garantir que, mesmo após a ruptura do arame dentro do conector não haverá o escorregamento do mesmo provocando a queda do duto flexível. Assim sendo, foi estabelecido o estudo de aderência da interface dos ...

  20. Diversity-oriented synthesis-facilitated medicinal chemistry: toward the development of novel antimalarial agents.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Comer, Eamon; Beaudoin, Jennifer A; Kato, Nobutaka; Fitzgerald, Mark E; Heidebrecht, Richard W; Lee, Maurice duPont; Masi, Daniela; Mercier, Marion; Mulrooney, Carol; Muncipinto, Giovanni; Rowley, Ann; Crespo-Llado, Keila; Serrano, Adelfa E; Lukens, Amanda K; Wiegand, Roger C; Wirth, Dyann F; Palmer, Michelle A; Foley, Michael A; Munoz, Benito; Scherer, Christina A; Duvall, Jeremy R; Schreiber, Stuart L

    2014-10-23

    Here, we describe medicinal chemistry that was accelerated by a diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS) pathway, and in vivo studies of our previously reported macrocyclic antimalarial agent that derived from the synthetic pathway. Structure-activity relationships that focused on both appendage and skeletal features yielded a nanomolar inhibitor of P. falciparum asexual blood-stage growth with improved solubility and microsomal stability and reduced hERG binding. The build/couple/pair (B/C/P) synthetic strategy, used in the preparation of the original screening library, facilitated medicinal chemistry optimization of the antimalarial lead.

  1. Coupled Immunological and Biomechanical Model of Emphysema Progression

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    Mario Ceresa

    2018-04-01

    Full Text Available Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD is a disabling respiratory pathology, with a high prevalence and a significant economic and social cost. It is characterized by different clinical phenotypes with different risk profiles. Detecting the correct phenotype, especially for the emphysema subtype, and predicting the risk of major exacerbations are key elements in order to deliver more effective treatments. However, emphysema onset and progression are influenced by a complex interaction between the immune system and the mechanical properties of biological tissue. The former causes chronic inflammation and tissue remodeling. The latter influences the effective resistance or appropriate mechanical response of the lung tissue to repeated breathing cycles. In this work we present a multi-scale model of both aspects, coupling Finite Element (FE and Agent Based (AB techniques that we would like to use to predict the onset and progression of emphysema in patients. The AB part is based on existing biological models of inflammation and immunological response as a set of coupled non-linear differential equations. The FE part simulates the biomechanical effects of repeated strain on the biological tissue. We devise a strategy to couple the discrete biological model at the molecular /cellular level and the biomechanical finite element simulations at the tissue level. We tested our implementation on a public emphysema image database and found that it can indeed simulate the evolution of clinical image biomarkers during disease progression.

  2. Um projeto de intervenção social visto pelos seus agentes: estudo psicossocial do Programa de Saúde da Família

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ana Maria Blanques

    2010-01-01

    Full Text Available O Programa de Saúde da Família (PSF foi escolhido como objeto deste estudo por ser um projeto de intervenção social que pretende promover maior autonomia da população para resolver problemas relativos à saúde no território. O material obtido em entrevistas com os profissionais foi analisado por meio de categorias agrupadas em dois blocos temáticos: concepção do trabalho - aquelas que se referem às atividades, e de sujeito - em que se reúnem as ideias sobre as pessoas envolvidas. Os conteúdos revelam que o programa não atinge as mudanças previstas. O conceito de território é incipiente, a participação é precária e as doenças se mantêm em lugar privilegiado. As pessoas da população são referidas num conjunto que é caracterizado por faltas, carências, necessidades e, em muitos casos, são identificadas aos próprios entrevistados. A ajuda mobiliza as ações e é o eixo a partir do qual os atores compreendem sua própria atuação.

  3. A Verification Logic for GOAL Agents

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hindriks, K. V.

    Although there has been a growing body of literature on verification of agents programs, it has been difficult to design a verification logic for agent programs that fully characterizes such programs and to connect agent programs to agent theory. The challenge is to define an agent programming language that defines a computational framework but also allows for a logical characterization useful for verification. The agent programming language GOAL has been originally designed to connect agent programming to agent theory and we present additional results here that GOAL agents can be fully represented by a logical theory. GOAL agents can thus be said to execute the corresponding logical theory.

  4. Marketing interno e cultura organizacional: um estudo de caso em empresa de multi marcas.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Antonio Carlos Giuliani

    2005-04-01

    Full Text Available Não há planejamento que sobreviva, dentro das organizações, a um organismo social sem espírito de equipe, iniciativa, ou atuando sem a definição de valores por seus dirigentes. Em suma, sem diretrizes que componham a sua cultura organizacional. A análise da cultura organizacional permite a identificação de disfunção nos fatores culturais que estão interferindo no clima organizacional e, por conseqüência, no relacionamento entre as pessoas, prejudicando sua produtividade e o bom andamento dos trabalhos. Este estudo objetivou examinar a contribuição da cultura organizacional ao desenvolvimento de programas de marketing interno, filosofia empresarial da área de marketing, buscando o comprometimento dos funcionários com as metas da organização. Como referencial da prática, baseou-se em estudo de caso realizado na Comercial Importadora Ltda., empresa de multimarcas, com 35 funcionários, localizada em Piracicaba – São Paulo. Como resultados, o estudo possibilitou uma análise de como a cultura organizacional contribui para o uso de técnicas de marketing interno, mostrando a aplicabilidade prática dos dois conceitos.

  5. Variations on agent-oriented programming

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Dalia Baziukė

    2017-12-01

    Full Text Available Occurrence of the agent paradigm and its further applications have stimulated the emergence of new concepts and methodologies in computer science. Today terms like multi-agent system, agent-oriented methodology, and agent-oriented programming (AOP are widely used. The aim of this paper is to clarify the validity of usage of the terms AOP and AOP language. This is disclosed in two phases of an analysis process. Determining to which concepts, terms like agent, programming, object-oriented analysis and design, object-oriented programming, and agent-oriented analysis and design correspond is accomplished in the first phase. Analysis of several known agent system engineering methodologies in terms of key concepts used, final resulting artifacts, and their relationship with known programming paradigms and modern tools for agent system development is performed in the second phase. The research shows that in most cases in the final phase of agent system design and in the coding stage, the main artifact is an object, defined according to the rules of the object-oriented paradigm. Hence, we say that the computing society still does not have AOP owing to the lack of an AOP language. Thus, the term AOP is very often incorrectly assigned to agent system development frameworks that in most cases, transform agents into objects.DOI: 10.15181/csat.v5i1.1361

  6. Users, Bystanders and Agents

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Krummheuer, Antonia Lina

    2015-01-01

    Human-agent interaction (HAI), especially in the field of embodied conversational agents (ECA), is mainly construed as dyadic communication between a human user and a virtual agent. This is despite the fact that many application scenarios for future ECAs involve the presence of others. This paper...

  7. Efficacy of reducing agent and surfactant contacting pattern on the performance characteristics of nickel electroless plating baths coupled with and without ultrasound.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Agarwal, Amrita; Pujari, Murali; Uppaluri, Ramgopal; Verma, Anil

    2014-07-01

    This article addresses furthering the role of sonication for the optimal fabrication of nickel ceramic composite membranes using electroless plating. Deliberating upon process modifications for surfactant induced electroless plating (SIEP) and combined surfactant and sonication induced electroless plating (SSOEP), this article highlights a novel method of contacting of the reducing agent and surfactant to the conventional electroless nickel plating baths. Rigorous experimental investigations indicated that the combination of ultrasound (in degas mode), surfactant and reducing agent pattern had a profound influence in altering the combinatorial plating characteristics. For comparison purpose, purely surfactant induced nickel ELP baths have also been investigated. These novel insights consolidate newer research horizons for the role of ultrasound to achieve dense metal ceramic composite membranes in a shorter span of total plating time. Surface and physical characterizations were carried out using BET, FTIR, XRD, FESEM and nitrogen permeation experiments. It has been analyzed that the SSOEP baths provided maximum ratio of percent pore densification per unit metal film thickness (PPDδ) and hold the key for further fine tuning of the associated degrees of freedom. On the other hand SIEP baths provided lower (PPDδ) ratio but higher PPD. For SSOEP baths with dropwise reducing agent and bulk surfactant, the PPD and metal film thickness values were 73.4% and 8.4 μm which varied to 66.9% and 13.3 μm for dropwise reducing agent and drop surfactant case. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Estudo da prevalência de mastite bovina

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ernst Eckehardt Muller

    1978-11-01

    Full Text Available Prevalence of the bovine mastitis in "DAIRY BELT" of Londrina, PR, Bra-sü. 235 lactating cows from 9 properties in Londrina, PR, were examined 102 (43.4% reacted positively to the "VIAMÄO MASTITE TESTE". From the reacting cows the pathogenic agent was isolated in 85 (83.3%, what leads to the conclusion that 36.2% of the examinated animals were infected. The etiological agentes isolated were: Staphylococcus aureus (18.3% Streptococcus sp. (12.8%, Corynebacterium pyogenes (1.3% Escherichia coli (0.8% and association of Staphylococcus aureus andExaminaram-se 235 vacas em lactação procedentes de 9 propriedades do município de Londrina, Pr., Brasil, das quais 102 (43.4% apresentaram reação positiva ao Viamão Mastite Teste. Do leite destas 102 vacas isolou-se agentes patógenos em 85 (83,3% o que nos dá uma prevalência de mastite de 36,2% sobre o total dos animais examinados. Encontrou-se os seguintes agentes etiológicos: Staphylococcus aureus (18,3%, Streptococcus sp (12,8%, Corynebacte-rium pyogenes (1,3%, Escherichia coli (0,8% e mistas por Staphylococcus aureus e Streptococcus (3%.

  9. Hyperthermia and chemotherapy agent

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Roizin-Towle, L.; Hall, E.J.

    1981-01-01

    The use of chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer dates back to the late 19th century, but the modern era of chemotherapy drugs was ushered in during the 1940's with the development of the polyfunctional alkylating agent. Since then, numerous classes of drugs have evolved and the combined use of antineoplastic agents with other treatment modalities such as radiation or heat, remains a large relatively unexplored area. This approach, combining local hyperthermia with chemotherapy agents affords a measure of targeting and selective toxicity not previously available for drugs. In this paper, the effects of adriamycin, bleomycin and cis-platinum are examined. The adjuvant use of heat may also reverse the resistance of hypoxic cells noted for some chemotherapy agents

  10. IMPLEMENTAÇÃO DO PLANEJAMENTO ESTRÁTEGICO FUNCIONAL: ESTUDO DE CASO EM UMA INDÚSTRIA DE BEBIDAS

    OpenAIRE

    Breno Antonio Jacobi

    2006-01-01

    Este trabalho visa, através de um estudo de caso, em uma indústria de bebidas de Santa Maria-RS, analisar e integrar o Planejamento Estratégico Corporativo ao nível tático e operacional. A empresa, objeto deste estudo, CVI Refrigerantes Ltda, fabricante do sistema Coca-Cola Brasil, fabrica bebidas carbonatadas e revende bebidas não carbonatadas e alcoólicas. Apresenta, em seu organograma, seis departamentos distintos: Sistemas, Marketing, Administrativo-Financeiro, Comercial, Industrial...

  11. Educação permanente com agentes comunitários de saúde: uma proposta de cuidado com crianças asmáticas Continuing education with community health agents: a proposal for care of asthmatic children

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Maria Wanderleya de Lavor Coriolano

    2012-06-01

    Full Text Available O uso de metodologias ativas nos processos de formação dos trabalhadores de saúde é uma diretriz recomendada na Política Nacional de Educação Permanente em Saúde (PNEPS para trabalhadores do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS. Neste estudo, formulou-se uma intervenção educativa para agentes comunitários de saúde (ACS sobre cuidados dirigidos a crianças/famílias com asma. O objetivo é descrever uma ação educativa com agentes comunitários de saúde sobre conhecimentos relacionados à asma, adotando as diretrizes da PNEPS no contexto da atenção primária. Tratase de estudo 'quantiqualitativo', com avaliação préteste e pósteste autopreenchida pelos agentes comunitários de saúde, além de metodologias ativas em três grupos focais vivenciais, que tiveram sua trajetória gravada e transcrita para posterior análise de dados, com uso da técnica análise de conteúdo na modalidade temática proposta por Bardin. Os conhecimentos dos ACS sobre mitos relacionados à asma apontaram acréscimo após a ação educativa. Dos grupos focais emergiram as temáticas: Educação em saúde para prevenção das doenças respiratórias; Significado atribuído à asma; Bombinhas: desmistificando conceitos; Fatores desencadeantes para asma; Adaptando cuidados preventivos; Avaliando os conhecimentos construídos. A utilização de metodologias ativas favoreceu o desenvolvimento de competências por parte dos ACS, despertando motivação na abordagem educativa junto às crianças/famílias com asma.The use of active methods in the health worker training process is a guideline that is recommended under the National Continuing Education in Health Policy (PNEPS for National Health System (SUS employees. In this study, the authors created an educational intervention for community health agents (CHA regarding care aimed at children/families with asthma. The aim is to describe an educational action involving community health workers about asthmarelated

  12. A evolução da teoria institucional nos estudos organizacionais: um campo de pesquisa a ser explorado

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Fernando Antonio de Melo Pereira

    2012-11-01

    Full Text Available A teoria institucional vem sendo aplicada nas organizações como elemento central na criação e perpetuação de grupos sociais duradouros no ambiente de trabalho. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho é identificar nos principais periódicos internacionais as pesquisas mais relevantes no período de 2006 a 2012 no âmbito de formas inovadoras da abordagem institucionalista. A pesquisa é baseada em um estudo bibliometrico. O artigo apresenta um mapeamento dos estudos em teoria institucional focando nos elementos: caracterização geral dos trabalhos, avaliação do conteúdo e avaliação de referências. Os resultados indicam que a teoria institucional vem sendo estudada no âmbito teórico e prático e, vem sendo utilizada em diversos contextos organizacionais, demonstrando que as organizações sentem a necessidade de padronizar comportamentos e de disseminar a identidade organizacional entre os funcionários. Esses resultados podem ser generalizados para toda a comunidade cientifica. O estudo oferece um guia de avaliação e identificação de tendências de estudos futuros sobre o tema no cenário mundial. 

  13. Reasoning about emotional agents

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Meyer, J.-J.

    In this paper we discuss the role of emotions in artificial agent design, and the use of logic in reasoning about the emotional or affective states an agent can reside in. We do so by extending the KARO framework for reasoning about rational agents appropriately. In particular we formalize in

  14. Estudo de Caso: Análise de um Relatório de Controle Ambiental (RCA Referente à Atividade de Levantamento Sísmico

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Igor Leonardo Morais Nascimento

    2010-01-01

    Full Text Available Este trabalho aborda a análise de um Relatório de Controle Ambiental (RCA, da atividade de sísmica, submetido à obtenção de licenciamento ambiental junto ao Instituto de Defesa do Meio Ambiente – IDEMA. Realiza uma comparação dos itens exigidos no Termo de Referência (TR do IDEMA com o Estudo ambiental citado, a fim de identificar se todos os itens exigidos legalmente foram contemplados no RCA e se os mesmos estão em conformidade com o Termo. Utiliza a técnica de estudo de impacto ambiental baseado em um contexto legal que estabelece requisitos a serem observados e procedimentos a serem cumpridos, tal técnica é a análise formal da qualidade de um estudo ambiental. Verifica, também, a repetição ou não das principais deficiências apontadas no elemento Mitigação e compensação de impactos com base no estudo do Ministério Público Federal - MPF, a partir da técnica de análise de conteúdo de estudo ambiental.

  15. Estudo sobre o trabalho do policial e suas implicações na saúde mental

    OpenAIRE

    Joana Helena Rodrigues da Silva

    2009-01-01

    Sendo a violência e a preocupação com a segurança temas amplamente discutidos atualmente, seja por meio da imprensa ou de produção científica, a atuação profissional de policiais militares torna-se fator de preocupação e estudo, quer no âmbito da prevenção e repressão aos crimes, quer pelos desdobramentos que suas ações são capazes de provocar. Dentro deste contexto, de violência e risco, o presente estudo pretende traçar algumas considerações acerca da atuação do policial militar, que desemp...

  16. Prediction of partial synchronization in delay-coupled nonlinear oscillators, with application to Hindmarsh–Rose neurons

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Ünal, Hakkı Ulaş; Michiels, Wim

    2013-01-01

    The full synchronization of coupled nonlinear oscillators has been widely studied. In this paper we investigate conditions for which partial synchronization of time-delayed diffusively coupled systems arises. The coupling configuration of the systems is described by a directed graph. As a novel quantitative result we first give necessary and sufficient conditions for the presence of forward invariant sets characterized by partially synchronous motion. These conditions can easily be checked from the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the graph Laplacian. Second, we perform stability analysis of the synchronized equilibria in a (gain,delay) parameter space. For this analysis the coupled nonlinear systems are linearized around the synchronized equilibria and then the resulting characteristic function is factorized. By such a factorization, it is shown that the relation between the behaviour of different agents at the zero of the characteristic function depends on the structure of the eigenvectors of the weighted Laplacian matrix. By determining the structure of the solutions in the unstable manifold, combined with the characterization of invariant sets, we predict which partially synchronous regimes occur and estimate the corresponding coupling gain and delay values. We apply the obtained results to networks of coupled Hindmarsh–Rose neurons and verify the occurrence of the expected partially synchronous regimes by using a numerical simulation. We also make a comparison with an existing approach based on Lyapunov functionals. (paper)

  17. Clustering recommendations to compute agent reputation

    Science.gov (United States)

    Bedi, Punam; Kaur, Harmeet

    2005-03-01

    Traditional centralized approaches to security are difficult to apply to multi-agent systems which are used nowadays in e-commerce applications. Developing a notion of trust that is based on the reputation of an agent can provide a softer notion of security that is sufficient for many multi-agent applications. Our paper proposes a mechanism for computing reputation of the trustee agent for use by the trustier agent. The trustier agent computes the reputation based on its own experience as well as the experience the peer agents have with the trustee agents. The trustier agents intentionally interact with the peer agents to get their experience information in the form of recommendations. We have also considered the case of unintentional encounters between the referee agents and the trustee agent, which can be directly between them or indirectly through a set of interacting agents. The clustering is done to filter off the noise in the recommendations in the form of outliers. The trustier agent clusters the recommendations received from referee agents on the basis of the distances between recommendations using the hierarchical agglomerative method. The dendogram hence obtained is cut at the required similarity level which restricts the maximum distance between any two recommendations within a cluster. The cluster with maximum number of elements denotes the views of the majority of recommenders. The center of this cluster represents the reputation of the trustee agent which can be computed using c-means algorithm.

  18. Avaliação de um programa de capacitação de agentes comunitários de saúde

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Luiz Kleber Marconi Luz

    2015-12-01

    Full Text Available Introdução: os processos de educação continuada que utilizam métodos ativos de aprendizagem necessitam de processos avaliativos coerentes para um novo perfil profissional. Objetivos: este estudo quali-quantitativo teve como objetivo geral capacitar e avaliar os agentes comunitários de saúde para auxiliar na condução do Programa de Educação em Saúde Bucal e, como objetivos específicos, analisar, utilizando uma metodologia de análise quantitativa, os resultados obtidos na ação dos agentes comunitários de saúde, capacitados no Programa de Educação em Saúde Bucal. Método: baseado nos níveis de avaliação da Pirâmide de Miller foi realizada a capacitação dos oito agentes comunitários de saúde. Nas ações práticas utilizou-se o escore do Índice de Placa Visual de Turesky, que possibilitou a obtenção de dados quantitativos antes e depois da ação realizada pelos agentes comunitários de saúde. Participaram do projeto 413 alunos que representaram a totalidade dos alunos matriculados nas unidades escolares municipais e estaduais, na faixa etária de 6 a 19 anos. Posteriormente foi aplicado aos agentes comunitários de saúde um questionário semiestruturado, com um roteiro de entrevista pré-estabelecido. Resultados: pode-se observar através da evidenciação da placa bacteriana antes e após e orientação e escovação supervisionada pelos agentes comunitários de saúde que os alunos apropriaram-se do ensinamento proposto, resultando em considerável melhora na escovação e redução das placas bacterianas e, consequentemente, prevenção e promoção em saúde bucal. O projeto também proporcionou aos agentes comunitários o desenvolvimento profissional com mudanças na visão e nos processos de trabalho, permitindo, ainda, maior integração com a equipe de saúde bucal, tornando- os agentes de educação em saúde.

  19. Agents Play Mix-game

    Science.gov (United States)

    Gou, Chengling

    In recent years, economics and finance see the shift of paradigm from representative agent models to heterogeneous agent models [1, 2]. More and more economists and physicists made efforts in research on heterogeneous agent models for financial markets. Minority game (MG) proposed by D. Challet, and Y. C. Zhang [3] is an example among such efforts. Challet and Zhang's MG model, together with the original bar model of Arthur, attracts a lot of following studies [4-6]. Given MG's richness and yet underlying simplicity, MG has also received much attention as a financial market model [4]. MG comprises an odd number of agents choosing repeatedly between the options of buying (1) and selling (0) a quantity of a risky asset. The agents continually try to make the minority decision, i.e. buy assets when the majority of other agents are selling, and sell when the majority of other agents are buying. Neil F. Johnson [4, 5] and coworkers extended MG by allowing a variable number of active traders at each timestep— they called their modified game as the Grand Canonical Minority Game (GCMG). GCMG, and to a lesser extent the basic MG itself, can reproduce the stylized facts of financial markets, such as volatility clustering and fat-tail distributions.

  20. Agent planning in AgScala

    Science.gov (United States)

    Tošić, Saša; Mitrović, Dejan; Ivanović, Mirjana

    2013-10-01

    Agent-oriented programming languages are designed to simplify the development of software agents, especially those that exhibit complex, intelligent behavior. This paper presents recent improvements of AgScala, an agent-oriented programming language based on Scala. AgScala includes declarative constructs for managing beliefs, actions and goals of intelligent agents. Combined with object-oriented and functional programming paradigms offered by Scala, it aims to be an efficient framework for developing both purely reactive, and more complex, deliberate agents. Instead of the Prolog back-end used initially, the new version of AgScala relies on Agent Planning Package, a more advanced system for automated planning and reasoning.