Abstract Background: Defects in DNA methylation have been shown to be associated with metabolic diseases such as obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypercholesterolemia. To analyze the methylation profile of the ADRB3 gene and correlate it with lipid profile, lipid intake, and oxidative stress based on malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), homocysteine and folic acid levels, nutritional status, lifestyle, and socioeconomic variables in an adult population. A cross-sectional epidemiological study representative of the East and West regions of the municipality of João Pessoa, Paraíba state, Brazil, enrolled 265 adults of both genders. Demographic, lifestyle, and socioeconomic questionnaires and a 24-h recall questionnaire were applied by trained interviewers' home. Nutritional and biochemical evaluation (DNA methylation, lipid profile, MDA, TAC, homocysteine and folic acid levels) was performed. Results: DNA hypermethylation of the ADRB3 gene, analyzed in leukocytes, was present in 50% of subjects and was associated with a higher risk of being overweight (OR 3.28; p = 0.008) or obese (OR 3.06; p = 0.017), a higher waist–hip ratio in males (OR 1.17; p = 0.000), greater intake of trans fats (OR 1.94; p = 0.032), higher LDL (OR 2.64; p = 0.003) and triglycerides (OR 1.81; p = 0.031), and higher folic acid levels (OR 1.85; p = 0.022). Conclusions: These results suggest that epigenetic changes in the ADRB3 gene locus may explain the development of obesity and non-communicable diseases associated with trans-fat intake, altered lipid profile, and elevated folic acid. Because of its persistence, DNA methylation may have an impact in adults, in association with the development of non-communicable diseases. This study is the first population-based study of the ADRB3 gene, and the data further support evaluation of ADRB3 DNA methylation as an effective biomarker.

RESUMO O abastecimento de água e o saneamento são dois serviços essenciais para a sociedade, ainda mais no Brasil, onde há, historicamente, um déficit desses serviços básicos. Além disso, também se sabe que tais serviços envolvem muitos atores, que muitas vezes possuem perspectivas conflitantes, características de problemas multicriteriais. Diante disso, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o serviço de abastecimento de água de oito municípios do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (RN). Para tanto, foram selecionados 11 critérios, levando-se em consideração aspectos operacionais, financeiros e de qualidade da água, e foi adotado o método de apoio multicritério à decisão TOPSIS. Também foi utilizado o procedimento da entropia para a obtenção dos pesos de cada critério. Os resultados apontaram o município de Lagoa Nova como a alternativa com melhor serviço de abastecimento de água entre as opções estudadas. Em contrapartida, Santana do Matos foi o município com a pior avaliação do conjunto de alternativas estudadas.

ABSTRACT Water supply and sewage are two essential services to society, especially in Brazil, where historically there has been a deficit of these crucial services. Moreover, it is also known that such services involve many actors who often have conflicting perspectives, characteristics of multicriteria problems. Thus, this paper aimed to evaluate the water supply service in eight cities of Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. Eleven criteria were selected, considering operational, financial and water quality aspects. We adopted the TOPSIS method to support the multicriteria decision. In addition, the entropy method was used to obtain the weights for each criterion. The results showed the city of Lagoa Nova as the alternative with the best water supply service of the alternatives studied. In contrast, Santana do Matos was the city with the worst water supply assessment of all the studied alternatives.

Apresenta os resultados do mapeamento das práticas para a promoção da aprendizagem organizacional. Registra a possibilidade de originar o processo de aprendizagem com as próprias experiências e as dos outros, ao adotar-se a técnica de grupo focal, facilitadora da formação de "comunidades de prática". Caracteriza-se como estudo de caso múltiplo em unidades de informação, instrumentalizado pela entrevista e observação, tendo como sujeitos os bibliotecários. Conclui que a partilha de experiências possibilita a construção de um conhecimento coletivo de aprendizagem e identidade.

This work shows the results of mapping of some practices applied for the promotion of organizational learning. It registers the possibility of originating the process of learning from one's own experiences as well as from others' when the focus group technique is adopted to facilitate the formation of "communities of practice". It is characterized as a multiple case study in information units, based on interviews and observation of librarians. It was concluded that shared experiences can build collective learning knowledge and identity.

Com base em resultado de pesquisa que investigou, nas bibliotecas universitárias, entre outras questões, a dimensão tecnologia proposta pelo modelo de Organizações do Conhecimento apresentado por Angeloni, percebe-se que a tecnologia aplicada restringe-se ao uso das ferramentas Internet e Intranet para possibilitar a comunicação em redes. Identificou-se, portanto, o desconhecimento teórico das ferramentas data warehouse, groupware, workflow e gerenciamento eletrônico de documentos. Assim, busca-se destacar, no artigo, o papel da rede de computador - Internet, Intranet, Extranet, Data Warehouse, Groupware, Workflow e gerenciamento eletrônico de documentos - a fim de promover a aprendizagem, visando ao conhecimento conceitual de sua prática, rumo às organizações do conhecimento. Os bibliotecários, assim como outros profissionais da informação, atuam como gestores do conhecimento. Nesse sentido, devem adotar o uso da tecnologia da informação e suas ferramentas para facilitar o processo de criação, armazenamento e disseminação do conhecimento.

Based upon research findings developed at University Libraries that he investigated, among others issues, the Dimension Technology proposed by the Knowledge Organizations model presented by Angeloni, it should be noted that the applied technology is limited to the use of Internet and Intranet tools to enable net communication. A theoretical unacquaintance of data, warehouse, groupware, workflow and electronic document management tools was therefore identified. In this article, the role of the Net, Internet, Intranet, Extranet, Data Warehouse, Groupware, Workflow, electronic document management is emphasized, in order to promote learning, aiming at the conceptual knowledge of its practice, heading to knowledge organizations. Librarians, as well as other information professionals, act as managers of knowledge. Consequently, they must adopt the use of information technology and its tools to facilitate the creation process, storage and dissemination of the knowledge.