GESTÃO E PLANEJAMENTO DE CURSOS A DISTÂNCIA (EAD) NO BRASIL: UM ESTUDO DE CASOS MÚLTIPLOS EM TRÊS INSTITUIÇÕES DE ENSINO SUPERIOR

Esta pesquisa buscou compreender e analisar a gestão e o planejamento de cursos em instituições de educação a distância no Brasil. O objetivo geral foi analisar se, nas instituições de ensino, o trabalho de gestão dos cursos de Educação a Distância (EAD) é realizado sob o modelo de gestão por processos e como essas instituições organizam e planejam seus cursos a distância. Para realização da pesquisa, optou-se por um estudo de casos comparativos. Foram selecionadas três instituições de ensino com experiência em EAD e a coleta de dados foi feita por meio de entrevistas em profundidade, bem como de documentos e arquivos. Os resultados do estudo evidenciaram em primeiro lugar que, dada a natureza do trabalho em EAD, as instituições vêm procurando adotar um modelo de gestão por processos, embora ainda de forma incipiente. Verificou-se, também, que, em linhas gerais, nem sempre essas instituições planejam seus cursos de forma idêntica. Fatores como estratégias organizacionais, estratégias gerenciais, capacitação pedagógica e tecnológica do corpo docente e estrutura tecnológica disponível influenciam de maneira direta o processo de planejamento e desenvolvimento de cursos em EAD. Palavras-chave: Gestão de educação a distância; Planejamento de cursos a distância; Gestão por processos

Influência do ponto de contato proximal na crista óssea alveolar em dentes movidos pala locais de extrações dentárias: um estudo piloto

Introduction: The opening of the contact point can happen after orthodontic closure of the site of dental extraction and opened interproximal contacts are considered potential factors for periodontal diseases. Objective: To evaluate the condition of the alveolar bone crest of the interdental site between canines and upper premolars with or without contact points in individuals submitted to orthodontics associated with the extraction of the first premolars. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study selected upper canines and premolars of individuals undergoing orthodontic treatment without extractions (12 hemiarches – control group), or with extraction of the upper first premolars and whose canines and second premolars had interproximal contact (11 hemiarches – group 1) or diastema (15 hemiarches – group 2). The height and the presence of lamina dura in the interproximal bone crest of the distal surfaces of canines and mesial surfaces of premolars were evaluated. Results: Groups 1 and 2 demonstrated the higher and smallest prevailing of the presence of lamina dura, respectively. The control group presented the bone crest positioned more crownly in relation to the others groups. Experimental groups did not present significant differences to the height of bone crest. Conclusion: The orthodontic allocation of teeth to extraction sites was associated with the significant reduction of the height of the marginal bone crest, regardless of the presence or absence of contact point between the teeth. The lack of contact point resulted in a minor prevalence of the continuity of the lamina dura of the alveolar bone crest in these regions.Introdução: A abertura do ponto de contato pode ocorrer após o fechamento ortodôntico do sítio de extração dentária e os contatos interproximais abertos são considerados fatores potenciais para as doenças periodontais. Objetivo: Avaliar a condição da crista óssea alveolar do espaço interdentário entre caninos e pré-molares superiores com ou sem pontos de contato em indivíduos submetidos a tratamento ortodôntico associado à exodontia dos primeiros pré-molares. Material e Métodos: Este estudo transversal observacional selecionou caninos e pré-molares superiores de indivíduos submetidos a tratamento ortodôntico sem extrações (12 hemiarcos – grupo controle), ou com exodontia dos primeiros pré-molares superiores e cujos caninos e segundos pré-molares tiveram contato interproximal (11 hemiarcos – grupo 1) ou diastemas (15 hemiarcos – grupo 2). Foram avaliadas a altura e a presença da lâmina dura na crista óssea interproximal das superfícies distais dos caninos e mesiais dos pré-molares. Resultados: Os grupos 1 e 2 demonstraram a maior e a menor prevalência da presença de lâmina dura, respectivamente. O grupo controle apresentou a crista óssea posicionada mais coronalmente em relação aos demais grupos. Entre os grupos experimentais, não houve diferença significativa para a altura da crista óssea. Conclusão: Neste estudo preliminar, a movimentação ortodôntica dos dentes para os locais de exodontia foi associada à redução significativa da altura da crista óssea marginal, independentemente da presença ou ausência de ponto de contato entre os dentes. A falta de ponto de contato resultou em menor prevalência de continuidade da lâmina dura da crista óssea alveolar nessas regiões

Optical mouse acting as biospeckle sensor

In this work we propose some experiments with the use of optical computer mouse, associated to low cost lasers that can be used to perform several measurements with applications in industry and in human health monitoring. The mouse was used to grab the movements produced by speckle pattern changes and to get information through the adaptation of its structure. We measured displacements in wood samples under strain, variations of the diameter of an artery due to heart beat and, through a hardware simulation, the movement of an eye, an experiment that could be of low cost help for communication to severely handicapped motor patients. Those measurements were done in spite of the fact that the CCD sensor of the mice is monolithically included into an integrated circuit so that the raw image cannot be accessed. If, as was the case with primitive optical mouse, that signal could be accessed, the quality and usefulness of the measurements could be significantly increased. As it was not possible, a webcam sensor was used for measuring the drying of paint, a standard phenomenon for testing biospeckle techniques, in order to prove the usefulness of the mouse design. The results showed that the use of the mouse associated to a laser pointer could be the way to get metrological information from many phenomena involving the whole field spatial displacement, as well as the use of the mouse as in its prime version allowed to get images of the speckle patterns and to analyze them.Centro de Investigaciones Óptica

Heterologous expression and functional characterization of a GH10 endoxylanase from \u3ci\u3eAspergillus fumigatus\u3c/i\u3e var. \u3ci\u3eniveus\u3c/i\u3e with potential biotechnological application

Xylanases decrease the xylan content in pretreated biomass releasing it from hemicellulose, thus improving the accessibility of cellulose for cellulases. In this work, an endo-β-1,4-xylanase from Aspergillus fumigatus var. niveus (AFUMN-GH10) was successfully expressed. The structural analysis and biochemical characterization showed this AFUMN-GH10 does not contain a carbohydrate-binding module. The enzyme retained its activity in a pH range from 4.5 to 7.0, with an optimal temperature at 60°C. AFUMN-GH10 showed the highest activity in beechwood xylan. The mode of action of AFUMNGH10 was investigated by hydrolysis of APTS-labeled xylohexaose, which resulted in xylotriose and xylobiose as the main products. AFUMN-GH10 released 27% of residual xylan from hydrothermally-pretreated corn stover and 14% of residual xylan from hydrothermally-pretreated sugarcane bagasse. The results showed that environmentally friendly pretreatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis with AFUMN-GH10 in low concentration is a suitable method to remove part of residual and recalcitrant hemicellulose from biomass

Optical mouse acting as biospeckle sensor

In this work we propose some experiments with the use of optical computer mouse, associated to low cost lasers that can be used to perform several measurements with applications in industry and in human health monitoring. The mouse was used to grab the movements produced by speckle pattern changes and to get information through the adaptation of its structure. We measured displacements in wood samples under strain, variations of the diameter of an artery due to heart beat and, through a hardware simulation, the movement of an eye, an experiment that could be of low cost help for communication to severely handicapped motor patients. Those measurements were done in spite of the fact that the CCD sensor of the mice is monolithically included into an integrated circuit so that the raw image cannot be accessed. If, as was the case with primitive optical mouse, that signal could be accessed, the quality and usefulness of the measurements could be significantly increased. As it was not possible, a webcam sensor was used for measuring the drying of paint, a standard phenomenon for testing biospeckle techniques, in order to prove the usefulness of the mouse design. The results showed that the use of the mouse associated to a laser pointer could be the way to get metrological information from many phenomena involving the whole field spatial displacement, as well as the use of the mouse as in its prime version allowed to get images of the speckle patterns and to analyze them.Centro de Investigaciones Óptica

Correlation between avascular necrosis and early stabilization of proximal femoral fractures in childhood

OBJETIVE: This study was developed with the main purpose of evaluating treatment results of proximal femoral fractures in a series of cases. We sought to observe the influence of the most frequent complications on the final results after a minimum follow-up of 2 years. We have especially considered the relationship between development of avascular necrosis and time between the accident and therapeutic intervention. METHOD: We retrospectively studied proximal femoral fractures in 29 patients under 14 years of age from 1988 to 2007. The following parameters were analyzed: sex, age, mechanism of injury, fracture classification (Delbet), treatment, complications (pseudoarthrosis, coxa vara, leg length discrepancy and avascular necrosis), time for surgery, and results (Ratliff). Statistical analysis was performed according to the descriptive evaluation of each parameter by using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Five (17.2%) patients had avascular necrosis, 3 of whom (60.0%) were older than 10 years of age. Seventy-three point three percent of patients treated in the first 24 hours showed good results. The most common cause of fracture was traffic accident (44.8%). The best results were observed in patients who were treated surgically; 41.4% developed some type of complication. CONCLUSIONS: Among the 29 patients treated, 58.6% had good, 27.6% had regular and 13.8% had poor results according to Ratliff criteria. When conservative treatment was applied, only 17.0% had good results, while surgical intervention results were 69.3% good. In addition, we obtained 73.3% good results when surgery was performed within the first 24 hours and only 42.8% good results in patients submitted to surgery after this period. Patients operated in the first 24 hours developed avascular necrosis in 13.3% of cases, while 21.4% of those operated after that period developed this complication.OBJETIVO: Desenvolvemos este trabalho, com o intuito de avaliar o resultado do tratamento de pacientes portadores de fraturas do fêmur proximal, em uma série de casos. Procuramos observar a influência das complicações mais prevalentes nos resultados finais após o mínimo de dois anos de seguimento. Correlacionamos especialmente a instalação da necrose avascular e o tempo entre o acidente e a instituição da terapêutica. MÉTODOS: Estudamos, retrospectivamente, 29 pacientes com fraturas da extremidade proximal do fêmur, com idade inferior a 14 anos entre 1988 e 2007. Analisamos as seguintes variáveis: sexo, idade, mecanismo de trauma, classificação da fratura (Delbet), tratamento realizado, complicações (pseudartrose, deformidade em varo, anisomelia e necrose avascular), tempo para cirurgia e resultado (Ratliff). Obtivemos uma análise descritiva individual de cada variável. Os testes foram utilizados de acordo com a adequação das premissas de normalidade e para avaliação utilizamos o teste exato de Fisher. RESULTADOS: Obtivemos cinco (17,2%) pacientes com necrose avascular sendo três (60,0%) com idade superior a 10 anos; 73,3% dos pacientes tratados nas primeiras 24 horas apresentaram bons resultados; a causa mais comum de fratura foi acidente automobilístico (44,8%); os melhores resultados foram observados nos pacientes tratados cirurgicamente; 41,4% evoluíram com algum tipo de complicação. CONCLUSÕES: Entre os 29 pacientes tratados, segundo os critérios de Ratliff, obtivemos 58,6% de bons, 27,6% de regulares e 13,8% de maus resultados. Quando aplicado o tratamento incruento, obtivemos apenas 17,0% de bons resultados, enquanto que após o tratamento cirúrgico obtivemos 69,3%. Da mesma forma, observamos que houve 73,3% de bons resultados quando a cirurgia foi realizada nas primeiras 24 horas e apenas 42,8% nos pacientes submetidos à intervenção terapêutica após este período. Pacientes submetidos à cirurgia nas primeiras 24 horas evoluíram com necrose da cabeça do fêmur em 13,3%, enquanto os que foram operados após este período tiveram esta complicação em 21,4% dos casos.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Ortopedia e TraumatologiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia Clínica da Disciplina de Ortopedia PediátricaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia Disciplina de Ortopedia PediátricaUNIFESP, Depto. de Ortopedia e TraumatologiaUNIFESP, EPMUNIFESP, Depto. de Ortopedia e Traumatologia Clínica da Disciplina de Ortopedia PediátricaUNIFESP, Depto. de Ortopedia e Traumatologia Disciplina de Ortopedia PediátricaSciEL

Thermal characteristics analysis of an IGBT using a fiber Bragg grating

This paper proposes a new method to develop a thermal model of an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) employing an optical fiber sensor mounted on the chip structure. Some features of the sensor such as electromagnetic immunity, small size and fast response time, allow the identification of temperature changes generated by the energy loss during device operation through direct measurement. In fact, this measurement method is considered impossible with conventional sensors. The online monitoring of the junction temperature enables identify the thermal characteristics of the IGBT. The results are used to develop an accurate model to simulate the heat generated during the device conduction and switching processes. The model showed a difference of only 0.3% between the measured and simulated results, besides allowing evaluate separately the heat generated by each turn-ON/OFF process