Cultura Organizacional: Um Estudo de Caso a partir da Perspectiva dos Gestores da Empresa EQS Engenharia

A pesquisa contemplou a percepção dos gestores de uma empresa localizada em São José – SC, a partir das respectivas manifestações, envolvendo valores, aspectos comportamentais, simbólicos e culturais. Este estudo de caso foi realizado na Empresa EQS Engenharia, no período de 2010/2011, com o objetivo de identificar como esses gestores percebem as diferenças culturais na empresa em que desempenham atividades profissionais. O procedimento metodológico adotado foi o estudo de caso com pesquisa bibliográfica e entrevistas baseadas em roteiros semiestruturados. Os resultados do estudo apontam a perspectiva da diversidade quando se fala de como as pessoas veem a empresa e de como a empresa percebe seus funcionários

ESTRUTURA DE RELACIONAMENTOS INTERORGANIZACIONAIS: UM ESTUDO DE CASO NO BALNEÁRIO AÇORES – SANTA CATARINA

Os relacionamentos interorganizacionais têm sido tema de diversos estudos e hipóteses que demonstram sua importância para o desempenho das organizações. A pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar as relações interorganizacionais e como ocorrem no setor da construção civil do Balneário Açores situado no Estado de Santa Catarina. Neste sentido esta pesquisa analisa como ocorrem as relações interorganizacionais no setor imobiliário na Praia dos Açores em Florianópolis-SC e como ocorrem esses relacionamentos a partir da confi ança, da troca de informação detalhada e da resolução conjunta de problemas nesse cenário. Para atingir tais objetivos a pesquisa apresenta um estudo de caso descritivo com abordagem qualitativa, bem como a aplicação de entrevistas semi-estruturadas com os proprietários das organizações do ramo da construção civil que atuam no mercado do Balneário Açores. A análise dos dados. Por sua vez, foi feita através da análise do conteúdo (categorial)

Automated Decision Support IoT Framework

During the past few years, with the fast development and proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT), many application areas have started to exploit this new computing paradigm. The number of active computing devices has been growing at a rapid pace in IoT environments around the world. Consequently, a mechanism to deal with this different devices has become necessary. Middleware systems solutions for IoT have been developed in both research and industrial environments to supply this need. However, decision analytics remain a critical challenge. In this work we present the Decision Support IoT Framework composed of COBASEN, an IoT search engine to address the research challenge regarding the discovery and selection of IoT devices when large number of devices with overlapping and sometimes redundant functionality are available in IoT middleware systems, and DMS, a rule-based reasoner engine allowing to set up computational analytics on device data when it is still in motion, extracting valuable information from it for automated decision making. DMS uses Complex Event Processing to analyze and react over streaming data, allowing for example, to trigger an actuator when a specific error or condition appears in the stream. The main goal of this work is to highlight the importance of a decision support system for decision analytics in the IoT paradigm. We developed a system which implements DMS concepts. However, for preliminarily tests, we made a functional evaluation of both systems in terms of performance. Our initial findings suggest that the Decision Support IoT Framework provides important approaches that facilitate the development of IoT applications, and provides a new way to see how the business rules and decision-making will be made towards the Internet of Things

Comparação entre métodos para o cálculo de avanço da tuberosidade tibial em cães: estudo em 80 joelhos

Uma das técnicas cirúrgicas atuais mais populares para o tratamento da ruptura do ligamento cruzado cranial é o avanço da tuberosidade tibial (TTA). Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo comparar cinco métodos de cálculo desse avanço descritos por Dennler et al. (2006), Hoffmann et al. (2006), Vezzoni (2010), Ness (2011) e Koch (2016), verificando entre os dois joelhos do mesmo animal, se a quantidade de avanço necessária seria a mesma. Para isso os dois joelhos de 40 cães foram radiografados. No presente estudo observou-se que não há diferença significante entre os métodos de Hoffmann, de Ness e de Koch, porém há diferença entre tais métodos e os métodos de Dennler e de Vezzoni pré estabelecidas. Houve também índice de confiança moderado ao comparar o método do quadro pré definido com todos os outros métodos, assim como o da tangente comum com todos os outros métodos, exceto o do platô tibial, que demonstrou um índice de confiabilidade bom. Tal resultado positivo também foi observado ao comparar os demais métodos entre si. Quanto ao lado, não foi observada diferença significante entre membros direito e esquerdo, exceto no método descrito por Ness (2011) (p = 0,038)

Comparison between two cancer registry quality check systems: functional features and differences in an Italian network of cancer registries dataset

PurposeThe aim of this study was to compare the functional characteristics of two computer-based systems for quality control of cancer registry data through analysis of their output differences. MethodsThe study used cancer incidence data from 22 of the 49 registries of the Italian Network of Cancer Registries registered between 1986 and 2017. Two different data checking systems developed by the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Joint Research Center (JRC) with the European Network of Cancer Registries (ENCR) and routinely used by registrars were used to check the quality of the data. The outputs generated by the two systems on the same dataset of each registry were analyzed and compared. ResultsThe study included a total of 1,305,689 cancer cases. The overall quality of the dataset was high, with 86% (81.7-94.1) microscopically verified cases and only 1.3% (0.03-3.06) cases with a diagnosis by death certificate only. The two check systems identified a low percentage of errors (JRC-ENCR 0.17% and IARC 0.003%) and about the same proportion of warnings (JRC-ENCR 2.79% and IARC 2.42%) in the dataset. Forty-two cases (2% of errors) and 7067 cases (11.5% of warnings) were identified by both systems in equivalent categories. 11.7% of warnings related to TNM staging were identified by the JRC-ENCR system only. The IARC system identified mainly incorrect combination of tumor grade and morphology (72.5% of warnings). ConclusionBoth systems apply checks on a common set of variables, but some variables are checked by only one of the systems (for example, checks on patient follow-up and tumor stage at diagnosis are included by the JRC-ENCR system only). Most errors and warnings were categorized differently by the two systems, but usually described the same issues, with warnings related to "morphology" (JRC-ENCR) and "histology" (IARC) being the most frequent. It is important to find the right balance between the need to maintain high standards of data quality and the workability of such systems in the daily routine of the cancer registry

Tau mutations serve as a novel risk factor for cancer

In addition to its well-recognized role in neurodegeneration, tau participates in maintenance of genome stability and chromosome integrity. In particular, peripheral cells from patients affected by frontotemporal lobar degeneration carrying a mutation in tau gene (genetic tauopathies), as well as cells from animal models, show chromosome numerical and structural aberrations, chromatin anomalies, and a propensity toward abnormal recombination. As genome instability is tightly linked to cancer development, we hypothesized that mutated tau may be a susceptibility factor for cancer. Here we conducted a retrospective cohort study comparing cancer incidence in families affected by genetic tauopathies to control families. Additionally, we carried out a bioinformatics analysis to highlight pathways associated with the tau protein interactome. We report that the risk of developing cancer is significantly higher in families affected by genetic tauopathies, and a high proportion of tau protein interactors are involved in cellular processes particularly relevant to cancer. These findings disclose a novel role of tau as a risk factor for cancer, providing new insights in the various pathological roles of mutated tau

Assessment of Renal Functions and Lesions in Dogs with Serological Diagnosis of Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis is a complex vector-borne disease caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum. In urban centers of South America, where this zoonotic cycle occurs, dogs seem to be the main reservoirs and infection sources. Animals with canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) may have a wide clinical spectrum, and dogs are usually classified as asymptomatic, oligosymptomatic, and symptomatic. Several organs are affected in canine CVL, and renal involvement is often a determining factor in dog prognosis. Nevertheless, serum markers are slow to indicate loss of renal function. The aim of this studywas to evaluate kidney impairment in dogs diagnosed with CVL.Material, Methods & Results: Blood and urine samples were collected from 45 dogs from Barra Mansa-RJ, and used for urinalysis, urine protein/creatinine (UPC) ratio, and serum concentrations of urea and creatinine. The animals were classified as symptomatic (42.2%), oligosymptomatic (37.8%), and asymptomatic (20.0%). Some alterations were found in the urine samples; pale-yellow color in 17.8%, low specific gravity in 6.7%, turbidity in 51.1%, proteinuria in 80%, occult blood in 46.7%, bilirubin in 8.89%, and glucose in 6.7% of the samples. According to the UPC ratio, 60% of dogs were proteinuric, and UPC > 2.0 was high in symptomatic dogs. Azotemia was observed only in three dogs with CVL.Discussion: The majority of dogs presented one or more symptoms of CVL, as expected in an endemic area from Brazil. Pale-yellow urine was observed in some samples, and this change, when accompanied by the decreased urine specific gravity in dogs with CVL, suggests some degree of kidney disease. The presence of epithelial and red blood cells, leukocytes, bacteria, suspended mucus, and phosphate crystals that precipitate in alkaline urines could be associated, to some degree, with the urine turbidity found in the present study. The alkaline urine identified in some dogs could be related to the animals’ diet, but renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is another possible cause when referring to animals with CVL. The abnormal presence of bilirubin and glycosuria can be justified by liver damage and glomerular and tubular damage, respectively. Occult blood was found in the urine of almost half of the tested dogs, which occurred because of the presence of red blood cells in the urine sediment and hematuria in some animals, could be caused by tubular and glomerular lesions. The presence of granular and hyaline casts found in the samples reinforce the possibility of tubular injury. We found different levels of proteinuria; it was an important result, possibly caused by immune complex deposition in addition to tubular disease. Most tested dogs, including animals without clinical manifestation, were classified as proteinuric or borderline proteinuric, showing that the renal disease could be the only clinical manifestation of CVL and that it could progress from slight proteinuria to end-stage renal disease, resulting in chronic renal failure, which is the main cause of death. The UPC ratio > 2.0 was significantly the more frequent finding in this study, mainly in symptomatic dogs. This result indicates a glomerular disease in these animals, reinforcing that the progression of renal disease follows the clinical progression of CVL. A few serum samples showed increased urea and creatinine levels, proving that azotemia is an uncommon finding in CVL-infected dogs. In conclusion, urinalysis helped in the early identification of renal injury in CVL-infected dogs, highlighting elements that reinforce the presence of tubular or glomerular lesions, or both, even in non-azotemic dogs. The high frequency of symptomatic dogs with UPC ratio > 2.0 suggests a relationship between the progression of renal disease and the clinical progression of CVL

Clinical expression of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy in carriers of 1-3 D4Z4 reduced alleles: Experience of the FSHD Italian National Registry

OBJECTIVES: Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 (FSHD1) has been genetically linked to reduced numbers ( 64 8) of D4Z4 repeats at 4q35. Particularly severe FSHD cases, characterised by an infantile onset and presence of additional extra-muscular features, have been associated with the shortest D4Z4 reduced alleles with 1-3 repeats (1-3 DRA). We searched for signs of perinatal onset and evaluated disease outcome through the systematic collection of clinical and anamnestic records of de novo and familial index cases and their relatives, carrying 1-3 DRA. SETTING: Italy. PARTICIPANTS: 66 index cases and 33 relatives carrying 1-3 DRA. OUTCOMES: The clinical examination was performed using the standardised FSHD evaluation form with validated inter-rater reliability. To investigate the earliest signs of disease, we designed the Infantile Anamnestic Questionnaire (IAQ). Comparison of age at onset was performed using the non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum or Kruskal-Wallis test. Comparison of the FSHD score was performed using a general linear model and Wald test. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate the age-specific cumulative motor impairment risk. RESULTS: No patients had perinatal onset. Among index cases, 36 (54.5%) showed the first signs by 10 years of age. The large majority of patients with early disease onset (26 out of 36, 72.2%) were de novo; whereas the majority of patients with disease onset after 10 years of age were familial (16, 53.3%). Comparison of the disease severity outcome between index cases with age at onset before and over 10 years of age, failed to detect statistical significance (Wald test p value=0.064). Of 61 index cases, only 17 (27.9%) presented extra-muscular conditions. Relatives carrying 1-3 DRA showed a large clinical variability ranging from healthy subjects, to patients with severe motor impairment. CONCLUSIONS: The size of the D4Z4 allele is not always predictive of severe clinical outcome. The high degree of clinical variability suggests that additional factors contribute to the phenotype complexity

Nerve growth factor neutralization promotes oligodendrogenesis by increasing miR-219a-5p levels

In the brain, the neurotrophin Nerve growth factor (NGF) regulates not only neuronal survival and differentiation, but also glial and microglial functions and neuroinflammation. NGF is known to regulate oligodendrogenesis, reducing myelination in the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, we found that NGF controls oligodendrogenesis by modulating the levels of miR-219a-5p, a well-known positive regulator of oligodendrocyte differentiation. We exploited an NGF-deprivation mouse model, the AD11 mice, in which the postnatal expression of an anti-NGF antibody leads to NGF neutralization and progressive neurodegeneration. Notably, we found that these mice also display increased myelination. A microRNA profiling of AD11 brain samples and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that NGF deprivation leads to an increase of miR-219a-5p levels in hippocampus and cortex and a corresponding down-regulation of its predicted targets. Neurospheres isolated from the hippocampus of AD11 mice give rise to more oligodendrocytes and this process is dependent on miR-219a-5p, as shown by decoy-mediated inhibition of this microRNA. Moreover, treatment of AD11 neurospheres with NGF inhibits miR-219a-5p up-regulation and, consequently, oligodendrocyte differentiation, while anti-NGF treatment of wild type (WT) oligodendrocyte progenitors increases miR-219a-5p expression and the number of mature cells. Overall, this study indicates that NGF inhibits oligodendrogenesis and myelination by down-regulating miR-219a-5p levels, suggesting a novel molecular circuitry that can be exploited for the discovery of new effectors for remyelination in human demyelinating diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis

QUEM SÃO OS ESTUDANTES DA ULBRA CANOAS E COMO ELES AVALIAM SEUS CURSOS

Para conhecer o perfil dos estudantes da ULBRA/Canoas e o que eles pensam sobre seus cursos, foram compilados os resultados do questionário ENADE dos anos de 2009 a 2011, analisados por meio de estatísticas descritivas. O perfil é de um indivíduo solteiro, branco, que reside com a família e trabalha, porém não é financeiramente independente. Seus pais possuem ensino fundamental incompleto ou médio, é proveniente de ensino médio tradicional, lê 1 ou 2 livros não obrigatórios ao ano, estuda entre 1 e 3 horas semanais além do horário de aulas e cursa disciplinas predominantemente no período noturno.  Avalia positivamente seu curso, apontando vulnerabilidades como baixa indicação de leitura de artigos e pouca exigência de domínio de língua estrangeira