A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. / Genetic association studies simplify genotype‐phenotype relationship investigation by considering only the presence of a given polymorphism and the presence or absence of a given downstream phenotype. Although such associations do not indicate causation, collections of phenotypes sharing association with a single genetic polymorphism may provide valuable mechanistic insights. In this thesis we explore such genetic pleiotropy with Deep Phenotype Association Studies (DeePAS) using data from the Age‐Related Eye Study 2 (AREDS2). We also employ a novel text mining approach to extract pleiotropic associations from the published literature as a hypothesis generation mechanism. Is it possible to identify pleiotropic genetic associations across multiple published abstracts and validate these in data from AREDS2? Data from the AREDS2 trial includes 123 phenotypes including AMD features, other ocular conditions, cognitive function and cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal and endocrine disease. A previously validated relationship extraction algorithm was used to isolate descriptions of genetic associations with these phenotypes in MEDLINE abstracts. Results were filtered to exclude negated findings and normalize variant mentions. Genotype data was available for 1826 AREDS2 participants. A DeePAS was performed by evaluating the association between selected SNPs and all available phenotypes. Associations that remained significant after Bonferroni‐correction were replicated in AREDS. LitWAS analysis identified 9372 SNPs with literature support for at least two distinct phenotypes, with an average of 3.1 phenotypes/SNP. PheWAS analyses revealed that two variants of the ARMS2‐HTRA1 locus at 10q26, rs10490924 and rs3750846, were significantly associated with sub‐retinal hemorrhage in AMD (rs3750846 OR 1.79 (1.41‐2.27), p=1.17*10‐7). This associated remained significant even in populations of participants with neovascular AMD. Furthermore, odds ratios for the development of sub‐retinal hemorrhage in the presence of the rs3750846 SNP were similar between incident and prevalent AREDS2 sub‐populations (OR: 1.94 vs 1.75). This association was also replicated in data from the AREDS trial. No literature‐defined pleiotropic associations tested remained significant after multiple‐testing correction. The rs3750846 variant of the ARMS2‐HTRA1 locus is associated with sub‐retinal hemorrhage. Automatic literature mining, when paired with clinical data, is a promising method for exploring genotype‐phenotype relationships.

O presente trabalho mostra os resultados obtidos no estudo da utilização do rejeito bruto da extração de carvão mineral como agregado miúdo na produção de blocos de concreto para pavimentação de vias públicas. Neste trabalho os blocos de concreto foram produzidos na fábrica da prefeitura de Criciúma, que está situada nas dependências do Presídio Municipal Santa Augusta. Esta fábrica proporciona uma opção de trabalho aos apenados que adquiriram o direito de cumprirem suas penas em regime semiaberto, cumprindo assim, um importante papel social na ressocialização destas pessoas, além de produzir o material de revestimento, que é aplicado nas vias públicas do município, a um custo bastante atraente. Durante a produção das amostras dos blocos de concreto com o rejeito de carvão, procurou-se ao máximo não alterar o processo desenvolvido na fábrica onde são produzidos os blocos de concreto empregados na pavimentação das vias públicas de Criciúma. Sendo assim, a única alteração imposta às amostras foi a substituição proporcional do agregado miúdo natural, areia lavada, pelo agregado de rejeito de carvão mineral, nas proporções de 25%, 50%, 75% e 100% O lote de estudo contou ainda com a produção de blocos de concreto sem adição de rejeito de carvão, que teve como função servir de base comparativa para as análises de compressão, abrasão e absorção de água. Posteriormente foi realizado um estudo para avaliar a possibilidade de geração, pelos blocos de concreto, de drenagem ácida de mina (DAM), que é a principal fonte de poluição do solo e dos corpos d’agua dos municípios pertencentes à AMREC – Associação dos Municípios da Região Carbonífera. Como resultado, aponta-se a viabilidade de utilização de rejeito de carvão nas proporções de 25% e 50% em substituição ao agregado miúdo natural (areia), criando assim, uma nova perspectiva às mineradoras de carvão da AMREC, que poderão dar um fim nobre ao rejeito de carvão, proporcionando uma produção mais limpa e sustentável, além de poderem contar com uma nova fonte de receita proporcionada pela comercialização do rejeito de carvão produzido na sua principal atividade comercial. / This document presents the results obtained in the study of using raw waste of coal extraction. In this work the concrete block for public roads paving were produced in a factory owned by Criciuma city hall, which is situated at the municipal Penitentiary Santa Augusta. During the concrete samples blocks production with the coal waste, it was tried its best in the way of not changing the process developed at the concrete blocks production site used in the paving of Criciuma´s streets. Thus, the only change that was proportionally imposed in the sample was the replacement of fine natural aggregate, washed sand, for the coal tailings aggregate in the proportions of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. The batch study also included the production of concrete blocks without adding coal tailing, which was to form the basis of comparative function for the compression tests, abrasion and water absorption. Afterwards, it was done a study to assess the possibility of generating, by concrete blocks, acid mine drainage (AMD), which is the main source of soil and water pollution in the municipalities belonging from AMREC - Association of Municipalities of the Coal Region. As a result, it points feasibility of using waste coal in the proportions of 25% and 50% to replace the natural aggregate (sand), thus creating a new perspective to AMREC coal mining companies, which may give a noble and to reject coal, providing a cleaner and sustainable production, besides being able to count on a new source of revenue provided by the commercialization of coal waste produced in its main commercial activity.

Submitted by Secretaria Pós de Produção (tpp@vm.uff.br) on 2017-07-27T18:37:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 D2014 - Roberta Braga Neves.pdf: 4743527 bytes, checksum: caa5fccbd161f89db27e21cfa1d76477 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-27T18:37:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 D2014 - Roberta Braga Neves.pdf: 4743527 bytes, checksum: caa5fccbd161f89db27e21cfa1d76477 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Objetivo Este estudo tem o objetivo de propor uma modelagem para identificar a postura estratégica a ser adotada por uma Instituição de Ensino Superior (IES), considerando a geração de patente, através da integração do ELECTRE TRI original e variações (ELECTRE TRI ME e CPP-TRI), métodos de Auxílio Multicritério à Decisão (AMD), à Análise SWOT, ferramenta de Diagnóstico Estratégico. Metodologia/Abordagem A visão macro da metodologia de pesquisa divide-a em quatro momentos. Primeiro, foi realizada uma revisão da literatura, concentrada em quatro eixos: métodos de AMD aplicados a patente; ferramentas de Diagnóstico Estratégico aplicadas a patente; integração de métodos de AMD e ferramentas de Diagnóstico Estratégico; e fatores influenciadores na geração de patente na Universidade. Em seguida, com base no levantamento na literatura dos fatores influenciadores na produção de patente; na aplicação de questionário e pesquisa com docentes da Escola de Engenharia da Universidade Federal Fluminense; e na análise do conteúdo textual dos fatores relacionados, por meio da aplicação das ferramentas Many Eyes e Wordle, foi proposto o conjunto de 24 critérios para avaliação. Em um terceiro momento foi elaborado o questionário para a coleta da percepções dos dirigentes da Escola. Por fim, foi efetuada a aplicação da modelagem proposta e, consequentemente, identificada a postura estratégica a ser adotada pela Instituição. Resultados O método ELECTRE TRI ME demonstrou-se o mais adequado, uma vez que foi desenvolvido para ser utilizado em problemas de decisão envolvendo múltiplos avaliadores e por permitir atribuir a cada avaliador, para cada critério, um peso próprio. A análise dos resultados indicou que, para quaisquer planos de corte λ ϵ [0,5; 1,0], o decisor deverá optar pelo procedimento menos exigente ou mais exigente. Na aplicação do método ELECTRE TRI original, para realizar uma única classificação, fez-se necessária a utilização da frequência dos resultados, não demonstrando ser eficiente, uma vez que, ao se realizar a análise de sensibilidade com a variação do plano de corte, evidenciou-se o problema de redistribuição desproporcional para outras classes. O método CPP-TRI demonstrou-se robusto e estável ao se variar o plano de corte, indicando, para todos os planos de corte analisados e para ambos os procedimentos de classificação, que a Instituição deverá adotar estratégias de Crescimento. A pesquisa também permitiu identificar os critérios mais favoráveis e menos favoráveis para a geração de patente na IES avaliada. Assim sendo, considerando as variáveis internas, para os procedimentos benevolente e exigente, foram identificados como pontos fracos: Cultura de patente , Infraestrutura , Normas institucionais , Disciplina na grade curricular e/ou divulgação (palestras) e Progressão na carreira . Já para as variáveis externas, em ambos os procedimentos de classificação, os critérios Sistema de avaliação de pós-graduação , Área de atividade de pesquisa , Premiação , Reconhecimento profissional , Bolsa de pesquisa , Financiamento pela indústria , Financiamento por agências de fomento à pesquisa , Mercado de Consultoria , Desenvolvimento colaborativo de projetos de P&D e Retorno sobre o investimento foram considerados oportunidades. Limitações da Pesquisa O estudo não considera a percepção de grupos da Escola de Engenharia como: alunos, corpo docente, ex-alunos e profissionais da indústria. Contribuições Práticas Espera-se que a pesquisa seja aplicada em outras IES e auxilie os gestores na tomada de decisão. Originalidade A originalidade da pesquisa está pautada no exercício sistematizado para construção do conjunto inédito de critérios para avaliação de IES; na ausência, constatada pela revisão da literatura, de publicações que abordem a integração de métodos da família ELECTRE à Análise SWOT; e na lacuna de estudos que realizem aplicação de métodos de AMD ou ferramentas de Diagnóstico Estratégico ao tema patente no âmbito de IES. / Purpose This study aims to propose a model to identify the strategic posture to be adopted by an Higher Education Institution (HEI), considering the generation of patent, by integrating the original ELECTRE TRI and variations (ELECTRE TRI ME and CPP - TRI) , methods of Multicriteria Decision Aid (MCDA) , the SWOT Analysis, Strategic Diagnostic tool. Methodology/Approach The macro view of research methodology is divided into four stages. First, a literature review focused on four areas has been implemented: MCDA methods applied to patent; Strategic Diagnostic tools applied to patent; Integration MCDA methods and Strategic Diagnostic tools; and influencers factors in generating patent in the University. After, based on the literature survey of influencers factors in the production of patent; a questionnaire and interview with teachers from the Escola de Engenharia of the Universidade Federal Fluminense, and the analysis of textual content of the related factors, through the application of tools Many Eyes and Wordle, a set of 24 evaluation criteria was proposed. In a third step, the questionnaire to collect the perceptions of Escola leaders was prepared. Finally, the application of the proposed modeling was effected and, consequently, identified the strategic posture to be adopted by the institution. Findings The ELECTRE TRI ME method proved to be the most appropriate, since it was developed to be used in decision problems involving multiple evaluators and it permits assign each appraiser, for each criterion, a weight. The analysis of the results indicated that, for any cutting plane λ ϵ [0,5; 1,0], the decision maker must choose the pessimistic or optimistic procedure. In the application of original ELECTRE TRI method, to achieve a single classification, it was necessary to use the frequency of results, which proved not to be efficient, since, when achievement sensitivity analysis by varying the cutting plane, became evident the problem of disproportionate redistribution to other classes. The CPP - TRI method has proven to be robust and stable when varying the cutting plane. Therefore, for all cutting planes analyzed and for both classification procedures, the Institution should adopt improvement strategies. The research identified the most favorable and least favorable evaluation criteria for the generation of patent in HEI. So, given the internal variables for the pessimistic procedure, were identified as weaknesses: "Patent culture ", "Infrastructure", "Institutional norms", "Discipline in the curriculum and/or disclosure (lectures)" and "Career Progression". For the external variables in both classification procedures, the criteria "Evaluation System Graduate", "Award", "Professional recognition", "Search grant", "Funding by industry", "Funding by agencies fostering research", "Consulting market", "Collaborative development of projects in R&D" and "Return on investment" were considered opportunities. Research Limitations - The study does not consider the perception of groups as alumni, teachers, graduates and industry professionals. Practical Implications It is expected that research is applied in other HEI and aid managers in decision making. Originality The originality of the research is guided in the systematic exercise of construction of the unprecedented set of evaluation criteria of HEI; in the absence, evidenced by the literature review of publications that address the integration of ELECTRE methods to the SWOT Analysis, and the gap of studies which realize application of MCDA methods or of Strategic Diagnostic tools to the patent topic within HEI.

Le sujet de cette thèse concerne l'élaboration de vecteurs fonctionnels de transfert de gènes destinés à la thérapie génique de tumeurs.<br />Deux familles de vecteurs synthétiques fonctionnels ont été synthétisées afin d'améliorer d'une part la biodisponibilité des vecteurs dans les applications in vivo et d'autre part leur spécificité de ciblage des tissus tumoraux. <br />La première famille de composés est constituée de télomères et de cotélomères « furtifs » issus des réactions de (co)télomérisation. Le design des télomères est basé sur un squelette « diblock » composé d'une partie polyaminée de degré de télomérisation aléatoire et d'une partie hydrophile (polyéthylène glycol). Le design des cotélomères est basé sur un squelette aléatoire de motifs aminés et de structures hydrophiles (tétraéthylène glycol et trishydroxyméthyl). La deuxième famille de vecteurs synthétiques est issue de la synthèse de lipides et polymères cationiques conjugués à un ligand dérivé de l'antagoniste des récepteurs à chimiokines CXCR-4, l'AMD3100 ou bicyclame.<br />Le potentiel des (co)télomères « furtifs » en tant qu'agents de condensation et de transfert de gènes a été évalué in vitro sur des cellules de carcinome pulmonaire humain A549.<br />Le potentiel des conjugués ciblés lipidiques et polymériques à compacter l'ADN et à transfecter de manière spécifique des cellules par la voie récepteur médiée a été évalué à la fois sur des cellules n'exprimant pas le récepteur CXCR-4 (A549, T98G) et sur des cellules l'exprimant (Jurkat).<br />Certains des (co)télomères « furtifs » testés (PEG2000-[NH2]n) ont démontré des efficacités de transfection comparables à des formulations lipidiques de référence (pcTG90/DOPE) tout en étant moins toxiques. Parmi les conjugués ciblés, le cotélomère iBu-[NH]80-[AMD]4 s'est révélé être un agent de transfert de gènes spécifique sur les cellules Jurkat sous certaines conditions de formulations, par rapport aux lipides et polymères conventionnels.<br />Mots clés : thérapie génique, transfert de gènes, lipoplexes, polyplexes, polyéthylène glycol, biodisponibilité, AMD-3100, ciblage, transfection.<br />Discipline : Chimie.

Η υψηλή συχνότητα εμφάνισης της ηλικιακής εκφύλισης της ωχράς κηλίδας σε συνδυασμό με τις σοβαρές επιπτώσεις της στην υγεία των ασθενών και την αδυναμία πλήρους θεραπευτικής αποκατάστασης της όρασης, καθιστά αναγκαία την διερεύνηση των παθογενετικών μηχανισμών της με στόχο την ανάπτυξη νέων προληπτικών και θεραπευτικών προσσεγγίσεων. Είναι ευρέως αποδεκτό ότι η ηλιακή εκφύλιση της ωχράς κηλίδας είναι μια πολυπαραγοντική ασθένεια στην εμφάνιση της οποίας ενέχονται τόσο αλληλεπιδράσεις περιβάλλοντος-γονιδίων όσο και αλληλεπιδράσεις γονιδίων-γονιδίων. Η αναγνώριση γονιδίων και γενετικών πολυμορφισμών που συμβάλλουν στην επιδεκτικότητα για την εμφάνιση της ασθένειας μπορούν αφενός να συμβάλλουν στην διαλεύκανση της μοριακής παθογένειας αφετέρου να χρησιμοποιηθούν ως γενετικοί δείκτες αυξημένου κινδύνου εμφάνισης οδηγώντας σε νέες προληπτικές και θεραπευτικές προσεγγίσεις. Στόχος της παρούσας εργασίας είναι να διαπιστωθεί εάν οι πολυμορφισμοί Y402H του γονιδίου CFH και A69S του γονιδίου LOC387715 είναι μοριακοί δείκτες επιδεκτικότητας για την ηλικιακή εκφύλιση της ωχράς κηλίδας στον Ελληνικό πληθυσμό της Νοτιοδυτικής Ελλάδας. Η κλινική μελέτη συσχέτισης στην οποία περιλαμβάνει 100 ασθενείς με προχωρημένη AMD και 115 μάρτυρες από τον γενικό πληθυσμό. / -

No description available.

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a public health concern in an aging society. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layer of the eye is a principal site of pathogenesis for AMD. Morphological characteristics of the cells in the RPE layer can be used to discriminate age and disease status of individuals. In this thesis three genotypes of mice of various ages are used to study the predictive abilities of these characteristics. The disease state is represented by two mutant genotypes and the healthy state by the wild-type. Classification analysis is applied to the RPE morphology from the different spatial regions of the RPE layer. Variable reduction is accomplished by principal component analysis (PCA) and classification analysis by the k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) algorithm. In this way the differential ability of the spatial regions to predict age and disease status by cellular variables is explored.

This research was designed to address important issues for the effective prescription of, and training in the use of, magnifiers for reading patients with visual impairment. The emphasis was on the development of simple methods of assessment and training that could be easily implemented, at no great cost, by low vision practitioners in clinical practice. To ensure that the results would be widely applicable, the research focused on subjects with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using stand magnifiers (being the most common cause of low vision and the most commonly prescribed magnifiers respectively). From this research, modifications to the current methods of reading rehabilitation are suggested to more effectively improve low vision reading for the millions of people with low vision around the world. The magnification and reading performance achieved with the magnifier determined by the fixed acuity reserve method was as valid as that achieved with the magnifier determined by the individual acuity reserve method. The fixed acuity reserve is a simpler method to calculate the required magnification, as it requires only near visual acuity and the patient's goal reading task. This method was primarily used to select the appropriate illuminated stand magnifiers for the subjects participating in the subsequent studies and is recommended for use as the starting point in clinical low vision practice. The main study of this thesis was a longitudinal investigation of the benefit of large print reading practice on reading performance with stand magnifiers. Instead of the intensive training programs on magnifier use which have been suggested by previous studies, this study aimed to investigate the effect of simple large print reading practice, under either full or restricted field of view (the latter simulated by a practice stand), on reading rate with stand magnifiers for subjects with AMD. The experimental hypothesis was that reading practice prior to the prescription of stand magnifiers would improve reading performance with the stand magnifiers for subjects with AMD. As previous studies have shown, reading rate reduced when a stand magnifier was first introduced. One week of reading practice on large print, with or without a reduced field of view, gave an improvement in reading rate with the stand magnifier for passages of text (such that the reading rates with and without magnifiers were not significantly different). There was a suggestion that this practice may give a more rapid improvement in reading rate than that achieved by the control subjects who did not do any large print reading practice, but this did not reach statistical significance. Even very brief reading with the stand magnifiers by the control subjects gave some improvement in reading rate. Therefore, home or in-office reading practice on large print or with magnifiers is recommended for patients with AMD before magnifiers are prescribed. Subjects who had neither reading practice nor exposure to the magnifier prior to its prescription required two weeks practice using their stand magnifiers to achieve their maximum reading rate. This suggests that home practice in using stand magnifiers is beneficial and a follow up visit is recommended two weeks after the provision of a magnifier to assess any change in reading rate. If no improvement in the magnifier reading rate is found or the rate is less than the reading rate on large print without a magnifier, further investigations of the patients' vision and/or their magnifier manipulation strategy are necessary. In the last study, a simple method aimed at alleviating difficulties with magnifier manipulation and navigation, the attachment of a line guide to the base of the stand magnifier, was investigated using both objective methods (recording magnifier movements and reading rate measures) and subjective methods (simple questionnaire). Although there was no improvement in the objective measures of reading or navigation performance with the line guide, more than half of the subjects with low vision preferred to have the line guide on their stand magnifiers. This suggests that the objective measures might not be sensitive enough to predict the subjective response, or that other factors that were not measured in this study influenced subjects' preferences in selecting the line guide (e.g., psychological support provided by the line guide in reading orientation). Clinically, the subjective response of patients to the use of low vision aids as well as their motivation are important criteria for success in low vision rehabilitation. There was a tendency for less experienced users to prefer the line guide to assist their use of the stand magnifier for reading. Therefore, a line guide could be offered as a preliminary training aid when stand magnifiers are first prescribed for AMD patients. Possible improvements to the design of the line guide were identified. Further research is required to assess the benefits of this or similar devices for new magnifier users and to understand the difficulties that people with visual impairment have with page navigation in order to determine improved methods of training navigation strategies. The unique contribution of this study to the field of low vision rehabilitation is that the benefit of short-term reading practice, on large print or with magnifiers, as simple, cheap methods of enhancing reading performance with stand magnifiers was demonstrated. The results of this study have led to the development of recommendations for assessing and training AMD patients who are prescribed stand magnifiers.

Objetivos: comparar o telescópio com lente de contato (TLC) com o telescópio convencional (TC) em pacientes com degeneração macular relacionada à idade (DMRI) e baixa visão, com respeito a: acuidade visual (AV), campo de visão (CV), satisfação do paciente com a visão oferecida pelo telescópio (SV), dificuldade de uso do telescópio (DU) e satisfação do paciente com o aspecto estético do telescópio (SE). Materiais e Métodos: Em ensaio clínico randomizado mascarado, foram incluídos 12 pacientes com DMRI e baixa visão, formando 2 grupos de 6 pacientes cada: grupo 1 (uso de TLC) e grupo 2 (uso de TC). Os telescópios usados no estudo foram padronizados para que tivessem a mesma magnificação (2,8x). A AV e o CV foram aferidos antes e durante o uso do telescópio, enquanto a SV, a DU e a SE foram obtidas após a intervenção. Resultados: Não houve diferenças entre os grupos na linha de base. Os dois telescópios demonstraram melhora da AV em relação à linha de base (P=0,002 com o TLC e P<0,001 com o TC) e não houve diferença entre os grupos a este respeito. O CV foi reduzido em 15° com o TLC (P<0.001) e em 54.3° com o TC (P<0.001), em comparação com a linha de base, e tais diferenças também foram significativas entre os grupos durante a intervenção (P<0.001). Os escores de SV foram semelhantes entre os grupos testados. Já os escores de SE, foram maiores com o TLC (P<0.001), assim como os de DU (P=0.003), em relação ao TC. Conclusões: Os dois telescópios promoveram melhora semelhante da AV em pacientes com DMRI e baixa visão, mas o TLC acarretou menor perda de CV em relação ao TC. A SE foi maior com o TLC, mas a DU também foi maior com o TLC, em relação ao TC. / Purpose: To compare the conventional telescope (CT) with the contact lens telescope (CLT) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and low-vision, with respect to visual acuity (VA), visual field (VF), patient satisfaction with the vision provided by the telescope (VS), telescope use difficulties (UD) and patient satisfaction with the cosmetic appearance of the telescope (CS). Methods: In a masked randomized clinical trial, 12 patients with AMD and low-vision were enrolled in 2 groups with 6 patients each: group 1 (CLT use) and group 2. (CT use) The telescopes used in this study were standardized to have the same magnification power. (2.8x) Visual field and VA were obtained before and during the telescope use, while VS, UD and CS were obtained after the telescope use. Results: There were no significant differences between groups at baseline. Both groups achieved VA improvement with telescopes compared to baseline (P=0.002 in CLT group and P<0.001 in CT group) and there were no significant differences between groups in this regard. Visual field was reduced by 15° in CLT group (P<0.001) and by 54.3° in CT group (P<0.001) compared to baseline, and VF differences between groups were also significant during telescope use. (P<0.001) Scores observed in both groups were similar in regard to VS. Telescope use difficulties were significant higher in CLT group (P=0.003) as well as CS scores (P<0.001) compared to CT group. Conclusions: Both telescopes provide similar improvement in VA in AMD patients with low-vision, but CLT caused less VF reduction than CT use. Patient satisfaction with the cosmetic appearance of the telescope was higher in CLT group, but UD was also higher in this group compared to CT group.

O presente trabalho mostra os resultados obtidos no estudo da utilização do rejeito bruto da extração de carvão mineral como agregado miúdo na produção de blocos de concreto para pavimentação de vias públicas. Neste trabalho os blocos de concreto foram produzidos na fábrica da prefeitura de Criciúma, que está situada nas dependências do Presídio Municipal Santa Augusta. Esta fábrica proporciona uma opção de trabalho aos apenados que adquiriram o direito de cumprirem suas penas em regime semiaberto, cumprindo assim, um importante papel social na ressocialização destas pessoas, além de produzir o material de revestimento, que é aplicado nas vias públicas do município, a um custo bastante atraente. Durante a produção das amostras dos blocos de concreto com o rejeito de carvão, procurou-se ao máximo não alterar o processo desenvolvido na fábrica onde são produzidos os blocos de concreto empregados na pavimentação das vias públicas de Criciúma. Sendo assim, a única alteração imposta às amostras foi a substituição proporcional do agregado miúdo natural, areia lavada, pelo agregado de rejeito de carvão mineral, nas proporções de 25%, 50%, 75% e 100% O lote de estudo contou ainda com a produção de blocos de concreto sem adição de rejeito de carvão, que teve como função servir de base comparativa para as análises de compressão, abrasão e absorção de água. Posteriormente foi realizado um estudo para avaliar a possibilidade de geração, pelos blocos de concreto, de drenagem ácida de mina (DAM), que é a principal fonte de poluição do solo e dos corpos d’agua dos municípios pertencentes à AMREC – Associação dos Municípios da Região Carbonífera. Como resultado, aponta-se a viabilidade de utilização de rejeito de carvão nas proporções de 25% e 50% em substituição ao agregado miúdo natural (areia), criando assim, uma nova perspectiva às mineradoras de carvão da AMREC, que poderão dar um fim nobre ao rejeito de carvão, proporcionando uma produção mais limpa e sustentável, além de poderem contar com uma nova fonte de receita proporcionada pela comercialização do rejeito de carvão produzido na sua principal atividade comercial. / This document presents the results obtained in the study of using raw waste of coal extraction. In this work the concrete block for public roads paving were produced in a factory owned by Criciuma city hall, which is situated at the municipal Penitentiary Santa Augusta. During the concrete samples blocks production with the coal waste, it was tried its best in the way of not changing the process developed at the concrete blocks production site used in the paving of Criciuma´s streets. Thus, the only change that was proportionally imposed in the sample was the replacement of fine natural aggregate, washed sand, for the coal tailings aggregate in the proportions of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. The batch study also included the production of concrete blocks without adding coal tailing, which was to form the basis of comparative function for the compression tests, abrasion and water absorption. Afterwards, it was done a study to assess the possibility of generating, by concrete blocks, acid mine drainage (AMD), which is the main source of soil and water pollution in the municipalities belonging from AMREC - Association of Municipalities of the Coal Region. As a result, it points feasibility of using waste coal in the proportions of 25% and 50% to replace the natural aggregate (sand), thus creating a new perspective to AMREC coal mining companies, which may give a noble and to reject coal, providing a cleaner and sustainable production, besides being able to count on a new source of revenue provided by the commercialization of coal waste produced in its main commercial activity.