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Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and are abundant in fish oil. These n-3 PUFAs have been reported to improve the lower gastrointestinal (LGI) disorders such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease through their anti-inflammatory effects. However, there are few studies on the effect of n-3 PUFAs on motility of the LGI tract, such as the ileum and colon, the parts frequently affected by these inflammatory disorders. To elucidate the effects of DHA and EPA on the LGI tract motility, we performed comparative evaluation of their effects and linoleic acid (LA), an n-6 PUFA, on contractions in the ileal and colonic longitudinal smooth muscles (LSMs) isolated from guinea pigs. In the ileal and colonic LSMs, DHA and EPA (3 × 10-5 M each) significantly inhibited contractions induced by acetylcholine (ACh), histamine, and prostaglandin (PG) F2α (vs. control), and these effects are stronger than that of LA (3 × 10-5 M). In the colonic LSMs, DHA and EPA also significantly inhibited contractions induced by PGD2 (vs. control). In addition, DHA and EPA significantly inhibited CaCl2-induced ileal and colonic LSM contractions in Ca2+-free 80 mM-KCl solution (vs. control). Any ileal and colonic LSM contractions induced by ACh, histamine, PGF2α, and CaCl2 were completely suppressed by verapamil (10-5 M), a voltage-gated/dependent Ca2+ channel (VGCC/VDCC) inhibitor. These findings suggest that DHA and EPA could improve the abnormal contractile functions of the LGI tract associated with inflammatory diseases, partly through inhibition of VGCC/VDCC-dependent ileal and colonic LSM contractions.

The clinical applications of antipsychotics for symptoms unrelated to schizophrenia, such as behavioral and psychological symptoms, in patients with Alzheimer's disease, and the likelihood of doctors prescribing antipsychotics for elderly people are increasing. In elderly people, drug-induced and aging-associated urinary disorders are likely to occur. The most significant factor causing drug-induced urinary disorders is a decrease in urinary bladder smooth muscle (UBSM) contraction induced by the anticholinergic action of therapeutics. However, the anticholinergic action-associated inhibitory effects of antipsychotics on UBSM contraction have not been sufficiently assessed. In this study, we examined 26 clinically available antipsychotics to determine the extent to which they inhibit acetylcholine (ACh)-induced contraction in rat UBSM to predict the drugs that should not be used by elderly people to avoid urinary disorders. Of the 26 antipsychotics, six (chlorpromazine, levomepromazine (phenothiazines), zotepine (a thiepine), olanzapine, quetiapine, clozapine (multi-acting receptor targeted antipsychotics (MARTAs))) competitively inhibited ACh-induced contractions at concentrations corresponding to clinically significant doses. Further, 11 antipsychotics (perphenazine, fluphenazine, prochlorperazine (phenothiazines), haloperidol, bromperidol, timiperone, spiperone (butyrophenones), pimozide (a diphenylbutylpiperidine), perospirone, blonanserin (serotonin-dopamine antagonists; SDAs), and asenapine (a MARTA)) significantly suppressed ACh-induced contraction; however, suppression occurred at concentrations substantially exceeding clinically achievable blood levels. The remaining nine antipsychotics (pipamperone (a butyrophenone), sulpiride, sultopride, tiapride, nemonapride (benzamides), risperidone, paliperidone (SDAs), aripiprazole, and brexpiprazole (dopamine partial agonists)) did not inhibit ACh-induced contractions at concentrations up to 10-5 M. These findings suggest that chlorpromazine, levomepromazine, zotepine, olanzapine, quetiapine, and clozapine should be avoided by elderly people with urinary disorders.

Summary Aim Previous experiments using our in vivo tissue engineering chamber (TEC) model demonstrated that adipose flap was spontaneously generated without the need for adipocyte or stem cell implantation. The purposes of the present study are to clarify 1) the reproducibility of this method to create adipose flaps, 2) the time-course of adipogenesis, and 3) the long-term stability of the adipose flap generated. Methods The chambers that afforded a protected space for tissue growth were implanted into the groins of rabbits. A vascular pedicle as the vascular source of newly formed tissue, a collagen sponge as a scaffold, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) as growth factors were contained within the chamber. There were three experimental groups according to the implantation period of the chamber; Group 4 w, Group 8 w, and Group 12 w (n = 5 in each group). Results The percent volumes of the combined adipose/pedicle tissue compared with the total volume of the generated tissue were 14.8% (0.437 cm3/2.96 cm3), 47% (0.87 cm3/1.85 cm3) and 80% (1.82 cm3/2.27 cm3) in Groups 4 w, 8 w, and 12 w, respectively. When a 12-week adipose flap was transferred outside the chamber on its vascular pedicle and retained for a further five months, it became more like mature adipose tissue and had increased fat density. Conclusion Adipose flaps were spontaneously generated in vivo in TECs at 12 weeks with reproducibility and showed long-term stability outside the chamber following pedicle transfer. The tissue-engineered adipose flap will contribute to breast reconstruction and augmentation without donor-site morbidity.

Capacity and queue management are currently used in financial institutions. With decreasing bank units due to internet services, research in this field has focused on improving to utilize their employees efficiently and achieve service excellence. In developing countries like Brazil, the customer has become more bank-accounted due to government and labor requirements, such as the wage credit became mandatory in the wage account. The paper's aim is motivated by a real-life case study to simulate discrete events to improve queue management at a Brazilian bank branch with the Arena software simulation environment. The simulation model was designed, tested, and applied considering the Discrete Event Simulation (DES) replication for queuing strategies on a real-world banking scenario. The arrival and service times were collected from 115 customers in Ferraz de Vasconcelos/SP city. It was performed in version 15.10 (2018) of the Arena software, with processor Intel core i3 CPU dual-core 3.07 GHz and 8GB of RAM. The results indicate that the bank agency should consider providing 9 to 11 operators to attend customers considering the arrival and service rate.

This study was performed to elucidate whether eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) suppresses spasm-prone blood vessel contractions induced by a thromboxane mimetic (U46619) and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and determine whether the primary target of EPA is the prostanoid TP receptor. Accordingly, we assessed: (1) the tension changes in porcine basilar and coronary arteries, and (2) changes in the Fura-2 (an intracellular Ca2+ indicator) fluorescence intensity ratio at 510 nm elicited by 340/380 nm excitation (F340/380) in 293T cells expressing the human TP receptor (TP-293T cells) and those expressing the human prostanoid FP receptor (FP-293T cells). EPA inhibited both porcine basilar and coronary artery contractions induced by U46619 and PGF2α in a concentration-dependent manner, but it did not affect the contractions induced by 80 mM KCl. EPA also inhibited the increase in F340/380 induced by U46619 and PGF2α in TP-293T cells. In contrast, EPA showed only a marginal effect on the increase in F340/380 induced by PGF2α in FP-293T cells. These findings indicate that EPA strongly suppresses the porcine basilar and coronary artery contractions mediated by TP receptor and that inhibition of TP receptors partly underlies the EPA-induced inhibitory effects on these arterial contractions.

Cooperative manipulation through dual-arm robots is widely implemented to perform precise and dexterous tasks to ensure automation; however, the implementation of cooperative micromanipulation through dual-arm optical tweezers is relatively rare in biomedical laboratories. To enable the bimanual and dexterous cooperative handling of a nonspherical object in microscopic workspaces, we present a dual-arm visuo-haptic optical tweezer system with two trapped microspheres, which are commercially available end-effectors, to realize indirect micromanipulation. By combining the precise correction technique of distortions in scanning optical tweezers and computer vision techniques, our dual-arm system allows a user to perceive the real contact forces during the cooperative manipulation of an object. The system enhances the dexterity of bimanual micromanipulation by employing the real-time representation of the forces and their directions. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate the cooperative indirect micromanipulation of single nonspherical objects, specifically, a glass fragment and a large diatom. Moreover, the precise correction method of the scanning optical tweezers is described. The unique capabilities offered by the proposed dual-arm visuo-haptic system can facilitate research on biomedical materials and single-cells under an optical microscope.

We examined the potential stimulatory effects of U46619 (a prostanoid TP receptor agonist) and five prostanoids on the contractile activities of urinary bladder smooth muscle (UBSM), focusing on the role of the TP receptor and its associated CaChanges in the basal tone and spontaneous contractile activity (amplitude and frequency) of isolated guinea pig UBSM were measured isotonically. The presence of TP receptors in UBSM was examined by RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence.U46619, prostaglandin (PG) EProstanoids can enhance UBSM contractile activities and thus may be endogenous candidates for induction of detrusor overactivity. The TP receptor and TP-receptor-activated VDCCs/SOCCs are key molecules responsible for these effects.

Distigmine bromide (distigmine) is a reversible carbamate cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitor that is used to treat myasthenia gravis. In Japan, it is also used as a remedy for urination disorder (underactive bladder). The most distinctive pharmacological feature of distigmine is its long-lasting action compared to that of other ChE inhibitors. In animals and humans, distigmine was reported to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and improve myasthenia gravis for an extended period. Few studies have examined the sustainability of this enhancing effect on the contractile function of urinary bladder smooth muscle. In addition, the cause of this long-lasting feature remains unclear. In this review, we present our findings for the long-lasting feature of distigmine on isolated urinary bladder contraction and in vivo urinary function of guinea pig. We also present our results on the mechanism of its long-lasting sustainability using recombinant human AChE.

Antipsychotics are often the first-line treatment for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. However, the potential anticholinergic effects of antipsychotics could counteract the therapeutic effects of cholinesterase inhibitors used to treat dementia. We investigated the inhibitory effects of 26 antipsychotics on [N-Methyl-3H]scopolamine specific binding in mouse cerebral cortex. At 10−5 M, chlorpromazine, levomepromazine, prochlorperazine, timiperone, zotepine, pimozide, blonanserin, olanzapine, quetiapine, and clozapine inhibited [N-Methyl-3H]scopolamine binding by > 45%. Furthermore, the pKi values of chlorpromazine, levomepromazine, zotepine, olanzapine, and clozapine overlapped with their clinically achievable blood concentrations. Therefore, the anticholinergic properties of these antipsychotics could attenuate the effects of cholinesterase inhibitors. Keywords: Antipsychotics, Anticholinergic effect, Mouse cerebral cortex

β-Adrenoceptors are subclassified into 3 subtypes (β1-β3). Among these, β3-adrenoceptors are present in various types of smooth muscle and are believed to play a role in relaxation responses of these muscles. β3-Adrenoceptors are also present in urinary bladder smooth muscle (UBSM), although their expression varies depending on the animal species. To date, there has been little information available about the endogenous ligand that stimulates β3-adrenoceptors to produce relaxation responses in UBSM. In this study, to determine whether noradrenaline is a ligand of UBSM β3-adrenoceptors, noradrenaline-induced relaxation was analyzed pharmacologically using rat UBSM. We also assessed whether noradrenaline metabolites were ligands in UBSM. In isolated rat urinary bladder tissues, mRNAs for β1-, β2-, and β3-adrenoceptors were detected using RT-PCR. In UBSM preparations contracted with methacholine (3 × 10-5 M), noradrenaline-induced relaxation was not inhibited by the following antagonists: atenolol (10-6 M; selective β1-adrenoceptor antagonist), ICI-118,551 (3 × 10-8 M; selective β2-adrenoceptor antagonist), propranolol (10-7 M; non-selective β-adrenoceptor antagonist), and bupranolol (10-7 M; non-selective β-adrenoceptor antagonist). In the presence of propranolol (10-6 M), noradrenaline-induced relaxation was competitively inhibited by bupranolol (3 × 10-7-3 × 10-6 M) or SR59230A (10-7-10-6 M; selective β3-adrenoceptor antagonist), with their pA2 values calculated to be 6.64 and 7.27, respectively. None of the six noradrenaline metabolites produced significant relaxation of methacholine-contracted UBSM. These findings suggest that noradrenaline, but not its metabolites, is a ligand for β3-adrenoceptors to produce relaxation responses of UBSM in rats.

O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar as competencias de gerentes de projetos que foram determinantes para a alternância de resultados, positivo e negativo (e o inverso), em uma construtora da cidade de Sao Paulo. Por meio de um estudo de caso com entrevistas aos gerentes e seus subordinados, foi possivel identificar as principais competencias comportamentais que influenciaram o resultado dos projetos. O estudo permitiu contribuir com a tematica dos determinantes comportamentais do desempenho de projetos possibilitando que gerentes possam antever os requisitos comportamentais para o sucesso em projetos.

The present study aimed to investigate the potential inhibitory effects of 21 clinically available hypnotics on acetylcholine (ACh)-induced contractions in rat urinary bladder smooth muscle (UBSM) in order to predict whether these hypnotics could induce voiding impairment. ACh-induced contraction in rat UBSM was inhibited only by diphenhydramine (a histamine H1 receptor antagonist) at a concentration that was clinically relevant. ACh-induced contraction was also significantly inhibited by flurazepam (a benzodiazepine hypnotic) and suvorexant (an orexin receptor antagonist), albeit at concentrations that substantially exceeded clinically achievable blood levels. These three drugs (at 10-5 M) also inhibited high-KCl (80 mM) Locke-Ringer solution-induced contractions. In contrast to the effects of the abovementioned hypnotics, ACh-induced contractions were not significantly affected by triazolam, etizolam, brotizolam, lormetazepam, estazolam, flunitrazepam, nitrazepam (benzodiazepine hypnotics), thiopental, thiamylal, pentobarbital, amobarbital, secobarbital, phenobarbital (barbiturate hypnotics), zolpidem (an imidazopyridine hypnotic), zopiclone (a cyclopyrrolone hypnotic), ramelteon (a melatonin receptor agonist), bromovalerylurea, and chloral hydrate. These findings suggest that most clinically used hypnotics are not likely to result in anticholinergic-induced dysuria within their clinically achievable blood concentration ranges. Diphenhydramine may, however, induce voiding impairment, an action attributable to diminished UBSM contractility within its clinical dose range.

Background: A report examining whether clinically available antidepressants increase urethral smooth muscle contraction via antagonistic effects on the α2-adrenoceptor (α2-AR) is lacking. Objectives: The present study was performed to evaluate the potential of clinically available antidepressants to reverse α2-AR-mediated contractile inhibition in rat vas deferens, in order to predict whether they can induce voiding impairment. Method: The effects of 18 antidepressants of different classes on electrical field stimulation (EFS)-induced contractions suppressed by 10–8 mol/L clonidine (a selective α2-AR agonist) in isolated rat vas deferens were investigated and related to their respective clinical blood concentrations. Results: The EFS-induced contractions suppressed by clonidine were recovered by amitriptyline (a tricyclic antidepressant), mirtazapine (a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant), and trazodone (a serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist) at concentrations close to the clinical blood levels. EFS-induced contractions were also recovered by trimipramine, clomipramine (tricyclic antidepressants), mianserin (a tetracyclic antidepressant), sertraline (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor [SSRI]), and sulpiride (a dopamine D2-receptor antagonist), albeit at concentrations that substantially exceeded their clinically-achievable blood levels. EFS-induced contractions were not significantly affected by imipramine, nortriptyline, amoxapine (tricyclic antidepressants), maprotiline (a tetracyclic antidepressant), fluvoxamine, paroxetine, escitalopram (SSRIs), milnacipran, duloxetine (serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors), and aripiprazole (a dopamine partial agonist). Conclusions: These findings suggest that amitriptyline, mirtazapine, and trazodone induce voiding impairment caused by increased urethral resistance by enhancing sympathetic nerve activities attributed to α2-AR antagonism.

Actually with globalization and increased competitiveness, the success achieved in the projects becomes essential for business performance. All projects have risks, some smaller than others, but all can compromise the execution of a project. In this context, this research seeks to use the risk management methodology described in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK), to identify the main risks associated with a project to modify the flexible paving structure to that of reinforced concrete at Avenue Presidente Wilson, by means of an exploratory research, case study method. The research demonstrated the identification of the degree of severity in the various risks involved in the project and proposed solutions to avoid them and minimize them. It could be observed that the use of the tool for risk management provides greater savings in the progress of the project, because with it is possible to predict possible unpleasant surprises that can often delay or increase the budget of the work.

Double-arm manipulators are unfamiliar as equipment used in microscopic work in biomedical laboratories, whereas they are prevalent in factory automation and humanoids. For non-contact micromanipulation in three-dimensional (3D) workspaces, we propose and design a double-arm optical tweezer system that can easily exchange two types of end-effectors (i.e., optical landscapes for laser trapping) with a focus tunable lens and a microlens array. With a time-shared scanning approach under interactive personal computer (PC) mouse controls, the system can perform the precise and dexterous handling of micro-objects in a 3D workspace. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate the two-dimensional (2D) and 3D dexterous handling of microbeads in the motions of solving puzzle rings. We also demonstrate the precise and periodic patterning of microbeads for massive dynamic arrays. This double-arm system can be applied with versatile tools used for various non-contact micromanipulations in the biomedical field and for dynamic arrays in single cell and 3D biology.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid) inhibits U46619 (a TP receptor agonist)- and prostaglandin F

Distigmine bromide (distigmine) is a carbamate cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitor, which is mainly used for the treatment of myasthenia gravis. Distigmine is also used in Japan for the treatment for underactive bladder and glaucoma. The effectiveness of distigmine for underactive bladder treatment has been confirmed by many clinical reports, and this effect is thought to be caused by potentiating urinary bladder smooth muscle contraction due to inhibition of acetylcholine degradation during micturition. However, the pharmacological effects of distigmine on urinary bladder smooth muscle have not been well studied. The most distinctive pharmacological feature of distigmine is that it shows long-lasting effects than other ChE inhibitors; however, few studies have investigated the persistence of the enhancing effect of distigmine on the contractile function of urinary bladder smooth muscle. Moreover, this mechanism remains unclear. In this review, we present our findings on the mechanism of the potentiating effect of distigmine on isolated guinea pig urinary bladder smooth muscle contraction. We also discuss the long-lasting potentiating effect of distigmine on urinary bladder motility and the mechanism of these effects using guinea pig urinary bladder smooth muscle in vivo and in vitro. In addition, we present our investigations on the long-lasting mechanism of distigmine using recombinant human acetylcholinesterase.

The β-adrenoceptor (β-AR)-mediated pharmacological effects of catecholamine (CA) metabolites are not well known. We examined the effects of seven CA metabolites on smooth muscle relaxation in mouse and guinea pig (GP) tracheas and rat thoracic aorta. Among them, metadrenaline (MA) significantly relaxed GP trachea (β2-AR dominant), even in the presence of clorgiline, a monoamine oxidase-A inhibitor. In mouse trachea (β1-AR dominant), normetadrenaline (NMA) and MA (10-4 M each) apparently did not affect isoprenaline (ISO)-induced relaxation, but significantly inhibited it in the presence of clorgiline. ISO-induced relaxation was also unaffected by 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG) (10-4 M), but significant suppression was observed with the addition of 3,5-dinitrocatechol, a catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor. In GP trachea, NMA, MA, 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid (DOMA), and DHPG (10-4 M each) significantly augmented ISO-induced relaxation. However, in the presence of clorgiline plus 3,5-dinitrocatechol, both NMA and MA (10-4 M) significantly suppressed ISO-induced relaxation. DHPG (10-4 M) also significantly suppressed ISO-induced relaxation in the presence of 3,5-dinitrocatechol. In rat thoracic aorta, DHPG (10-4 M) significantly suppressed relaxation induced by CGP-12177 A (a β3-AR partial agonist) in the presence of 3,5-dinitrocatechol plus propranolol. Our findings indicate that 1) MA may possess β2-AR agonistic action; 2) NMA and MA augment β2-AR-mediated tracheal relaxation in the absence of CA metabolic inhibitors, though themselves possessing β1-, β2-AR antagonistic action (β2 > β1); 3) DHPG exhibits β1-, β2-, β3-AR antagonistic action, and this is particularly marked for β3-AR. Our observations may help explain some of the pathologies associated with pheochromocytoma, which is characterized by increased CA metabolite levels.

Objective: To investigate the impact of epinephrine on prehospital rearrest and re-attainment of prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Methods: Data for 9,292 (≥ 8 years) out-of-hos...

A classificação de qualidade de frutas e vegetais é utilizada para selecionar produtos seguros para o consumo humano. Assim, este trabalho tem como objetivo investigar o sistema de classificação da qualidade da cadeia produtiva da banana no varejo e no atacado da região do Alto Tietê, Brasil. Foi coletado 239 bananas dos 12 principais varejo-atacadistas e aplicado os Critérios de Classificação da Banana, do Programa Brasileiro de Modernização da Horticultura e Produção Integrada de Frutas. Portanto, foram considerados os critérios de qualidade: peso bruto e líquido, comprimento, calibre, grau de maturação e número de defeitos. Observou-se que a banana apresentou uma boa classificação com média de peso bruto e líquido respectivamente 156,49 ± 39,62 e 98,93 ± 30,11, comprimento 21,11 ± 2,35, calibre 37,06 ± 3,08. Ainda, notou-se associação entre os critérios de qualidade e a classificação das bananas (teste de Dunn, p < 0,05), bem como, entre os tipos de defeitos e lotes analisados (χ² = 98,11; p < 0,05). Do total de bananas analisadas, 38% estavam isentas de defeitos, mas 62% apresentaram algum tipo de defeito. Além disso, foi proposto uma estrutura estratégica para a destinação correta de bananas, como: 44% das bananas devem ser enviadas para a produção de compostagem, 17% para a indústria de ração animal, 1% para a produção de alimentos processados e 38% para a comercialização no mercado para consumo humano. Concluiu-se que o processo de classificação auxilia na transparência da cadeia produtiva de alimento, e que o monitoramento e controle da qualidade devem ser contínuos durante a exposição dos frutos para venda ao consumidor, garantindo a segurança alimentar, redução do desperdício e destinação correta das bananas não aptas para comercialização.

Em ambientes empresariais altamente competitivos é primordial a busca constante pela melhoria dos processos visando a redução dos custos. O dimensionamento adequado dos recursos, como máquinas e mão de obra, impacta diretamente o resultado das empresas. O objetivo deste estudo foi propor a quantidade adequada de operadores de empilhadeira em um operador logístico por meio de um estudo de caso descritivo. Os resultados evidenciaram a potencial redução de custos que a empresa teria se adotasse a solução indicada permitindo gerar um nível menor de custo de mão de obra e como consequência aumento da sua utilização e eficiência.

Purpose: This study aims to clarify whether normobaric oxygen therapy improves the survival of auricular composite grafts in rats. Methods: For 10 male SD rats, 1.5 cm2 composite grafts were harvested from bilateral ear regions including whole auricles. The harvested grafts were transferred caudally and sutured there. The 10 rats were randomly divided into two groups and kept for 21 days in two different circumstances. The first group (Control group: five rats carrying 10 grafts) was kept in room air (20% oxygen) throughout the 21 days, and the second group―named NBO (normobaric oxygen) group (five rats carrying 10 grafts)―was kept in normobaric 60% oxygen for 3 days and then in room air for 18 days. All the 10 rats were sacrificed on the 21st day. Surviving areas of the grafts and the height of the surviving auricular cartilage were examined for statistical comparison of the two groups. Furthermore, the conditions of chondrogenesis occurring around the perichondrium were compared between the two groups. Results: Surviving areas did not present statistically significant differences between the two groups. The height of surviving cartilage was significantly greater for the NBO group (2610 ± 170 SD µm) than that for the Control group (1720 ± 190 SD µm). Chondrogenesis occurred at positions more distant from the recipient bed in the NBO group than that in the Control group. Conclusion: Normobaric oxygen therapy increases the thickness of surviving cartilage in auricular composite grafting in rats, thus suggesting that NBO therapy may also be effective in composite grafting for humans. Keywords: Composite graft, Oxygen, Blood, Cartilage, Ear, Auricle

Entrepreneurship is hard work, especially when it comes to the creation of an innovative, ecologically correct and sustainable project, and the small entrepreneur, in addition to facing bureaucratic and fiscal obstacles, has great difficulty in running his business, planning and optimizing his production for lack structured management knowledge. This is what happens with the company studied, where the construction of an educational centre, thought to be a model of ecological and sustainable building, did not have a schedule of execution, thus becoming dependent on very short term planning, accomplished at each step, rather than a structured action as a whole. In this sense, the Critical Path Method (CPM), which uses simple estimates for the duration of the building stages and the PERT technique, was implemented among a variety of schedules and methods for planning and control of works execution. This method is suitable and simple to use by small businesses. This methodology, easy to be understood and implemented, generated benefit to the company, allowing planning, predictability and control of the works.