Electrocortical Correlates of Temperament

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between three temperament dimensions: strength of excitation, strength of inhibition and mobility measured by Pavlov’s Temperament Survey (PTS), and amplitudes and latencies of evoked brain potentials (N1, P2, N2, P3 & SW) measured by a visual oddball paradigm in two blocks. The participants were female psychology students (N=54) with mean age of 20. Significant positive correlations were determined between amplitudes of N1-P2-N2-P3 components and strength of excitation and mobility in the first and second block, mostly on parietal electrodes, as well as significant negative correlations of amplitudes of N1-P2-N2-P3 components and strength of inhibition. Considering measurement limitations important future study directions have been give

O inteligencji cz\u142owieka

S\u142owa kluczowe: inteligencja cz\u142owieka; badania nad inteligencj\u105; psychologia umys\u142u ludzkiego, w tym psychologia r\uf3\u17cnic indywidualnych; psychologia poznania i zachowania cz\u142owiek

Badania nad temperamentem: teoria, diagnoza, zastosowania

S\u142owa kluczowe: teoria osobowo\u15bci; psychologia zachowania; badania temperamentu; kwestionariuszowe badanie podstawowych cech uk\u142adu nerwowego; regulacyjna teoria temperament

Temperament i typ uk\u142adu nerwowego

S\u142owa kluczowe: temperament; psychologia osobowo\u15bci; Paw\u142owska teoria zachowania si\u119; typy uk\u142adu nerwowego; genetyka zachowani

An advanced glioma cell invasion assay based on organotypic brain slice cultures

Background: The poor prognosis for glioblastoma patients is caused by the diffuse infiltrative growth pattern of the tumor. Therefore, the molecular and cellular processes underlying cell migration continue to be a major focus of glioblastoma research. Emerging evidence supports the concept that the tumor microenvironment has a profound influence on the functional properties of tumor cells. Accordingly, substantial effort must be devoted to move from traditional two-dimensional migration assays to three-dimensional systems that more faithfully recapitulate the complex in vivo tumor microenvironment. Methods: In order to mimic the tumor microenvironment of adult gliomas, we used adult organotypic brain slices as an invasion matrix for implanted, fluorescently labeled tumor spheroids. Cell invasion was imaged by confocal or epi-fluorescence microscopy and quantified by determining the average cumulative sprout length per spheroid. The tumor microenvironment was manipulated by treatment of the slice with small molecule inhibitors or using different genetically engineered mouse models as donors. Results: Both epi-fluorescence and confocal microscopy were applied to precisely quantify cell invasion in this ex vivo approach. Usage of a red-emitting membrane dye in addition to tissue clearing drastically improved epi-fluorescence imaging. Preparation of brain slices from of a genetically engineered mouse with a loss of a specific cell surface protein resulted in significantly impaired tumor cell invasion. Furthermore, jasplakinolide treatment of either tumor cells or brain slice significantly reduced tumor cell invasion. Conclusion: We present an optimized invasion assay that closely reflects in vivo invasion by the implantation of glioma cells into organotypic adult brain slice cultures with a preserved cytoarchitecture. The diversity of applications including manipulation of the tumor cells as well as the microenvironment, permits the investigation of rate limiting factors of cell migration in a reliable context. This model will be a valuable tool for the discovery of the molecular mechanisms underlying glioma cell invasion and, ultimately, the development of novel therapeutic strategies

Metodologia para determinação de agrotóxicos por GC/MS em pluma e tecido de algodão

Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Química, Florianópolis, 2013.Na área têxtil os padrões de qualidade dos produtos passam a ser cada vez mais abrangentes. O controle de resíduos químicos no produto final, especialmente resíduos de agrotóxicos no algodão é um dos quesitos já exigido no mercado internacional. Neste trabalho foi desenvolvida e testada uma metodologia adequada à determinação de multirresíduos de agrotóxicos em fibra de algodão, cujo diferencial em relação aos métodos tradicionais, além de ser um método multirresíduos, no qual, em uma só análise são determinados múltiplos compostos em um GC/MS, é aplicado ultrassom como método de extração e o método QuEChERS como um método de limpeza. Foram selecionados 30 agrotóxicos para validação da metodologia desenvolvida, sendo os seguintes grupos: organofosforados, organoclorados, piretróides, ciclodienoclorados, carbamatos e dinitroanilinas. Foram testadas as metodologias soxhlet e ultrassom com solventes de polaridades variadas. Para a limpeza do extrato foram testados os adsorventes florisil®, alumina, zeólita, sílica e o método QuEChERS. Para a validação do método analítico foi testado à seletividade, linearidade, exatidão, precisão, robustez, limite de detecção (LD) e limite de quantificação (LQ). As fortificações das amostras foram realizadas em 3 níveis de concentração, 30 ng/mL, 100 ng/mL e 200 ng/mL. Dos 30 agrotóxicos 24 apresentaram recuperação de 70% a 120%, com coeficiente de variação percentual (CV) inferior a 3%. A metodologia desenvolvida foi utilizada para análise dos mesmos agrotóxicos em 6 amostras de pluma de algodão, procedente dos EUA, Argentina, Regiões Sul e Nordeste do Matogrosso, Piauí, Bahia e amostras de tecidos procedentes da indústria têxtil dos setores de matéria-prima crua, estamparia, tingimento e acabamento. Em 03 (três) amostras analisadas, foi encontrado resíduo acima dos limites estabelecidos pela Norma Eco Tex 100. Devido ao efeito matriz (contaminação) nenhum dos métodos apresentados na literatura foi eficiente na análise de agrotóxicos em pluma de algodão, já o método desenvolvido demonstra ser rápido, eficiente e robusto para ser aplicado na determinação de resíduos de agrotóxicos em pluma de algodão.Abstract : In the textile quality standards of products become increasingly comprehensive. The control of chemical residues in the final product, especially for pesticide residues in cotton is one of the requirements already required in the International market. We have developed and tested a methodology suitable for multiresidue determination of pesticides in cotton fiber, which differentiates from traditional methods, besides being a multiresidue method, in which, in one analysis are determined multiple compounds in a GC/MS/SIS. Ultrasound is used as an extraction method and QuEChERS method as a procedure of cleaning and not as an extraction method. We selected thirty (30) pesticides the following groups to validate the methodology: organophosphates, organochlorines, pyrethroids, ciclodienoclorados, carbamates and dinitroanilines. Were tested methodologies and Soxhlet, Ultrasound with varying polarity solvents. For cleaning of the extract was tested adsorbents Florisil®, Alumina, Zeolite, Silica and QuEChERS method. The analytical parameters for validation of the method were: selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, robustness, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ). Samples were fortified at 3 levels of concentration: 30 ng/mL, 100 ng/mL and 200 ng/mL. Of the 30 pesticides 24 showed recovery 70% - 120%, with a coefficient of variation (CV) less than 3%. The methodology was used for analysis of these pesticides in samples of 6 raw cotton coming from the USA, Argentina, region south end northeast Mato Grosso, Piauí, Bahia. Textile Fabrics samples coming from the sectors of textile industry raw material, stamping, dyeing and finishing. Four samples showed concentrations of residues above the limits established by the Eco Tex Standard 100. Due to matrix effects (contamination) none of the methods presented in the literature was efficient for the analysis of pesticides in cotton plume, as the developed method proves to be faster, less expensive and efficient for application in the determination of pesticide residues in cotton plume

Estudo comparativo de métodos de extração para determinação de compostos orgânicos em lixiviados de aterros sanitários por cromatografia gasosa acoplada a especttometria de massas (GC/MS)

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológco. Programa de Pos-Graduação em Engenharia Ambiental.Um dos grandes desafios da atualidade é a problemática da geração, tratamento e disposição final dos resíduos sólidos urbanos. O crescimento populacional e a intensidade da industrialização são fatores que contribuem para o aumento da produção de resíduos sólidos. A disposição final dos resíduos sólidos urbanos consiste em uma das preocupações dos administradores municipais, pois mesmo com o tratamento e/ou aproveitamento, ainda observa-se a geração de rejeitos. No caso específico dos resíduos urbanos, em função da fração orgânica presente, ocorre o aparecimento de um lixiviado com elevada concentração em compostos orgânicos. Esses compostos são formados a partir da decomposição da matéria orgânica dos resíduos urbanos, material que percola pelas camadas do aterro sanitário formando os lixiviados. Como são pouco conhecidas as identidades dos compostos presentes nos lixiviados de aterros sanitários, não há como prever se os tratamentos utilizados são efetivos. Portanto, a identificação destes compostos orgânicos é uma preocupação que vem motivando a pesquisa científica em nível mundial. Normalmente a extração dos compostos orgânicos de matrizes ambientais é realizada empregando-se solventes com diferentes polaridades, fluído supercrítico, hidrólise enzimática e básica, ou agentes complexantes. As metodologias usuais são: extração líquido-líquido(ELL), extração em fase sólida (SPE), microextração em fase sólida (SPME), resinas trocadoras iônicas ou catiônicas, entre outras, juntamente com as técnicas de cromatografia e espectrometria de massas. No presente trabalho foram avaliados diferentes métodos de extração de compostos orgânicos presentes em seis aterros sanitários localizados em diferentes regiões de Santa Catarina (Joinville, Timbó, Brusque, Curitibanos, Chapecó e Biguaçú). Após o uso das metodologias de extrações, SPME, ELL, Ultra-som/Liofilização e Resina Catiônica XAD- 4, utilizando vários solventes tais como acetona, metanol, hexano, diclorometano e acetato de etila, foram determinados diversos compostos com variadas funções químicas nos lixiviados. Esses compostos foram tentativamente identificados através da utilização da biblioteca da NIST e da biblioteca do espectrômetro de massas Polaris Q da Finnigan; os mesmos estão citados neste trabalho conforme metodologia da IUPAC. Com base nos resultados obtidos, podese concluir que a metodologia mais adequada para a extração de compostos orgânicos de lixiviados de aterro sanitário foi a extração líquido-líquido (ELL) utilizando o solvente acetato de etila. As demais metodologias ficaram aquém do esperado

Intersection Complexity and Its Influence on Human Drivers

As mixed traffic between automated vehicles and human drivers in inner city becomes more prevalent in the near future understanding and predicting drivers’ behavior is important. Additionally, there is a wide variety of inner city intersections. They can differ greatly in traffic density, visibility, number of objects and many more aspects. This difference in complexity has an influence on the behavior of human drivers at intersections. To further understand the effect of complexity we conducted a naturalistic driving field study in inner city traffic with 34 participants. We focused on unsignalized intersections because there is a greater range of possibly ambiguous situations at such intersections than compared to e.g. an intersection regulated by traffic lights. Features describing the behavior (commit distance, drop in velocity and the minimal velocity) are extracted from the driven trajectories. Additionally, we define intersection complexity by several features describing an intersection. These features include both the static (street, visible and driveable width, the visibility of the other streets and the number of trees) and the dynamic environment (entry location and turning direction, numbers of vehicles, vehicles with interaction, vehicles with priority, vehicles having to yield and pedestrians). Based on those we show that the entry location and the turning direction have a significant effect on the behavior features. Additionally, we show that the typical behavior of human drivers can be predicted by the features describing an intersection’s complexity. Finally, the feature set is reduced in dimensionality for a more condensed intersection description. For that we test reduced feature sets as well as feature sets from an autoencoder and show that prediction is feasible with them as well

Temperamental correlates of trauma symptoms in firemen, policemen and soldiers

Objectives: The main goal of the research was to assess temperamental determinants of trauma symptoms in firemen, policemen and soldiers. The temperament traits which were considered were those postulated by the Regulative Theory of Temperament (briskness, perseveration, sensory sensitivity, emotional reactivity, endurance and activity). Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was run on non-clinical samples. The participants were 417 men, White-Caucasian only: 284 firemen (aged 21–55), 58 policemen (aged 22–45), and 75 soldiers (aged 21–42). Temperament was assessed using the Formal Characteristics of Behavior – Temperament Inventory. Intensity of trauma symptoms was assessed with the PTSD-Factorial Version Inventory, a quantitative measure of trauma-related symptoms. The respondents were examined in their place of work. The study included only men reporting at least 1 traumatic event during the year before the trauma diagnosis. Results: Emotional reactivity had a significant positive effect on the intensity of trauma symptoms only in the group of firemen. Emotional reactivity accounted for 16% of the variance of trauma intensity symptoms in this occupational group. Negative significant effect on trauma symptoms was found for briskness only in the soldiers group (briskness explained 20% trauma intensity variance in this group). Conclusions: Emotional reactivity was conducive to the increased trauma symptoms intensity in firemen, whereas briskness tended to reduce symptoms intensity only in the group of soldiers