A importância da participação dos consumidores no processo de design

A tese é acompanhada por dois DVD com videos e anexos que, apenas, poderão ser consultados na Biblioteca da FBAUL, com a cota CDA 174(1); CDA 174(2)Design has evolved over the years, increasingly and improving our approach and process. The products come accompanied the evolution of design in a world that technology controls everything that involves a consumer, changing their way of living. It is essential to return to a base where the feelings and emotions are important. With the emergence of Design Thinking and Human-Centered Design processes have featured post these emotions and feelings; through these the consumers’ needs are at the center of the development of products and services. In this way, design is an innovation being used as a tool to differentiate, innovate and provide experiences through more functional products that match with consumer’s needs. The products begin to bring more meaning to consumers lives and match with them expectations. The development of many Design methodologies contributed to the improvement of consumer understanding, of what they truly want and need deciphering his behavior and emotions. This dissertation propose an understanding of the role of consumers in design, comprising all the mental aspects of processing feelings and emotions, such as through these aspects we can improve the entire design process. The designer has the opportunity to understand better for those who project, making it analyze an innovative opportunity, becoming the driving force to develop functional products and satisfying consumers and their needs. Conducting a study case that will put into practice the design process and analyze the interaction between designers and non-designer (ordinary people), for the understanding how design method can improve. Through several areas, method approach, evaluating processes and conducting a study case, will analyze the complex human mind, thus we will study and understand how you can unravel the mind of a consumer and understand their emotion

Atividade inseticida do óleo essencial de pimenta longa (Piper hispidinervum C. DC.) sobre lagarta-do-cartucho do milho Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Insecticidal Activity of Long-pepper essential oil (Piper hispidinervum C. DC.) on fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Os objetivos desta pesquisa foram a obtenção e caracterização do óleo essencial de folhas de pimenta longa Piper hispidinervum, e avaliação de seu efeito no comportamento e/ou mortalidade da lagarta-do-cartucho do milho Spodoptera frugiperda. O óleo essencial foi obtido pela técnica "arraste a vapor d'água", utilizando-se de um aparelho de Clevenger modificado, e posteriormente submetido, à análise por CG-EM e CG. Foram realizados testes de ingestão e contato tópico em lagartas de 1º e 3º ínstar. Os resultados constataram que o óleo essencial de pimenta-longa possui atividade inseticida sobre S. frugiperda, causando redução alimentar e mortalidade, sendo o safrol (82%) seu constituinte majoritário. Verificou-se mortalidade no teste de ingestão em lagartas de 1º ínstar com CL50 = 16,2 mg/mL e para lagartas de 3º ínstar a CL50 = 9,4 mg/mL com redução alimentar CD50 = 0,72 mg/mL; e de toxicidade aguda no teste de contato tópico com DL50 = 277,91 μg/lagarta, após o intervalo de tempo de 96 horas, sendo também observados sintomas de neurotoxicidade, como o efeito knock-down.The objectives of this research were to evaluate the chemical composition and bioactivity of the essential oil from the long-pepper leaves (Piper hispidinervum) and its effect on the comportment and/or mortality of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). The essential oil was obtained by steam stream distillation, using the modified Clevenger apparatus, the chemical composition was analyzed by GC-MS and GC. Tests of ingestion and topical application in fall armyworm of 1 st and 3 rd ínstar were made. The results showed that the long-pepper essential oil has insecticide activity on S. frugiperda, causing mortality and food reduction, and safrole (82%) as its majority constituent. Mortality was found in the ingestion test in larvae of 1 st ínstar LC50 = 16.2 mg/mL for larvae of 3 rd ínstar LC50 = 9.4 mg/mL, with reduced food CD50 = 0.72 mg/mL; and acute toxicity test of the contact topic with LD50 = 277.91 μg/larvae, after an interval of 96 hours, neurotoxicity symptoms were also observed, as knock-down effect

Screening of elite and local taro (Colocasia esculenta) cultivars for drought tolerance

Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) is a vegetative propagated tropical root occupying the 9th position among world food crops. Taro is an important staple food for many local populations of Asia and Africa. The crop is dependent of wet and highly irrigated growth conditions. Under the scenario of undergoing climatic changes, is estimated that taro production could decrease in the next 30 years as result of drought constraints. The project EU Aid Taro, DCI-Food/2009/45 “adapting propagated crops to climatic and commercial changes” aims to study ways to adapt this clonally propagated root to these climatic changes. A set of drought stress assays were realized at ISOPlexis Genebank (Madeira University), using local taro cultivars (Macaronesian taro genepool) and elite cultivars and seedlings provided by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). The 1st pilot assay was realized in a small greenhouse, included 3 local cultivars and aimed to modelate the wattering regimes and their influence on crop growth. The 2nd full assay was realized in two greenhouses, during a full plant growth cycle. Thirty four taro cultivars, 15 elite lines provided by SPC, and 19 local cultivars, from Madeira (10), Canary Islands (6), Azores (2), and Cyprus (1) were screened. Plants were individually cultivated in pots under 2 contrasting wattering regimes, high (0,36 liters/day) and low (0,18 liters/day ). Data for 14 morpho-agronomic traits, biomass and yield parameters were collected from 5 plants for each cultivar, per treatment.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Trichomonicidal activity of Maytenus imbricata (Celastraceae).

Trichomoniasis, most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection worldwide, is produced by protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis. The therapy of choice is metronidazole (MTZ). The drug has undesirable side effects, which may result in treatment discontinuation, leading to further spread of infection and emergence of resistant strains. This feature highlights the importance of studying new trichomonicidal substances. In this context, the importance of plants in relation to the research of new drugs is undeniable. The genus Maytenus, distributed throughout Brazil, is the largest of family Celastraceae, including about 80 recognized species with different biological activities. Therefore, the trichomonicidal activity of MTZ and extracts obtained from Maytenus robusta leaves and Maytenus imbricata roots on the JT strain of T. vaginalis, sensitive (JT) and resistant (JTR) to MTZ was investigated. Sample of T. vaginalis trophozoites were associated with extracts in 6 increasing concentrations ranging from 0.43 to 13.76 μg/ml. The solid that precipitated from the hexane/ethyl ether - 1:1 extract (SEH), obtained from M. imbricata roots proved to be active. This extract also impacted the viability of trophozoites of both strains, with IC50 value surprisingly low (1.09 μg/ml for JT and 1.57 μg/ml for JTR) signaling towards a promising candidate for phytotherapy or for isolation of substance with trichomonicidal activity

Salacia crassifolia (Celastraceae) : chemical constituents and antimicrobial activity.

The phytochemical study of hexane extract from leaves of Salacia crassifolia resulted in the isolation of 3β-palmitoxy-urs-12-ene, 3-oxofriedelane, 3β-hydroxyfriedelane, 3-oxo-28-hydroxyfriedelane, 3-oxo-29-hydroxyfriedelane, 28,29-dihydroxyfriedelan-3-one, 3,4-seco-friedelan-3-oic acid, 3β-hydroxy-olean-9(11):12-diene and the mixture of α-amirin and β-amirin. β-sitosterol, the polymer gutta-percha, squalene and eicosanoic acid were also isolated. The chemical structures of these constituents were established by IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectral data. Crude extracts and the triterpenes were tested against Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis and no activity was observed under the in vitro assay conditions. The hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanol crude extracts, and the constituent 3,4-seco-friedelan-3-oic acid and 28,29-dihydroxyfriedelan-3-one showed in vitro antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus sanguinis and Candida albicans

Angiotensin-(1–7) Promotes Resolution of Eosinophilic Inflammation in an Experimental Model of Asthma

Defective apoptosis of eosinophils, the main leukocyte in the pathogenesis of asthma, and delay in its removal lead to lung damage and loss of pulmonary function due to failure in the resolution of inflammation. Here, we investigated the ability of angiotensin-(1–7) [Ang-(1–7)], a pivotal peptide of the renin–angiotensin system, to promote resolution of an allergic lung inflammatory response. Balb/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin and treated with Ang-(1–7) at the peak of the inflammatory process. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lungs were collected 24 h after treatment. Different lung lobes were processed for histology to evaluate inflammatory cell infiltration, airway and pulmonary remodeling, total collagen staining, and measurements of (i) collagen I and III mRNA expression by qRT-PCR; (ii) ERK1/2, IκB-α, and GATA3 protein levels by Western blotting; and (iii) eosinophilic peroxidase activity. Total number of inflammatory cells, proportion of apoptotic eosinophils and immunofluorescence for caspase 3 and NF-κB in leukocytes were evaluated in the BAL. Mas receptor immunostaining was evaluated in mouse and human eosinophils. Engulfment of human polimorphonuclear cells by macrophages, efferocytosis, was evaluated in vivo. Ang-(1–7) reduced eosinophils in the lung and in the BAL, increased the number of apoptotic eosinophils, shown by histology criteria and by increase in caspase 3 immunostaining. Furthermore, Ang-(1–7) decreased NF-kB immunostaining in eosinophils, reduced GATA3, ERK1/2, and IκB-α expression in the lung and decreased pulmonary remodeling and collagen deposition. Importantly, Ang-(1–7) increased efferocytosis. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, Ang-(1–7) activates events that are crucial for resolution of the inflammatory process of asthma and promotion of the return of lung homeostasis, indicating Ang-(1–7) as novel endogenous inflammation-resolving mediator