Um modelo analítico da qualidade da dieta de adolescentes estudantes da rede publica de ensino de Natal, Brasil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Análise estatística de padrões sísmicos: decomposição em multiescala

O processamento de registros sísmicos é uma tarefa muito importante dentro da Geofísica e que representa um desafio permanente na exploração de petróleo. Embora esses sinais forneçam uma imagem adequada da estrutura geológica do subsolo, eles são contaminados por ruídos e, o ground roll é a componente principal. Este fato exige um esforço grande para o desenvolvimento de metodologias para filtragem, Dentro desse contexto, este trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar um método de remoção do ruído ground roll fazendo uso de ferramentas da Física Estatística. No método, a Análise em Ondeletas é combinada com a Transformada de Karhunen-Loève para a remoção em uma região bem localizada. O processo de filtragem começa com a Decomposição em Multiescala. Essa técnica permite uma representação em tempo-escala fazendo uso das ondeletas discretas implementadas a filtros de reconstrução perfeita. O padrão sísmico original fica representado em multipadrões: um por escala. Assim, pode-se atenuar o ground roll como uma operação cirúrgica em cada escala, somente na região onde sua presença é forte, permitindo preservar o máximo de informações relevantes. A atenuação é realizada pela definição de um fator de atenuação Af. Sua escolha é feita pelo comportamento dos modos de energia da Transformada de Karhunen-Loève. O ponto correspondendo a um mínimo de energia do primeiro modo é identificado como um fator de atenuação ótimo

Ecomorfologia de dez espécies de peixes marinhos mais abundantes de Galinhos/RN

Ecomorphology is a science based on the idea that morphological differences among species could be associated with distinct biological and environmental pressures suffered by them. These differences can be studied employing morphological and biometric indexes denominated Ecomorphological attributes , representing standards that express characteristics of the individual in relation to its environment, and can be interpreted as indicators of life habits or adaptations suffered due its occupation of different habitats. This work aims to contribute for the knowledge of the ecomorphology of the Brazilian marine ichthyofauna, specifically from Galinhos, located at Rio Grande do Norte state. 10 different species of fish were studied, belonging the families Gerreidae (Eucinostomus argenteus), Haemulidae (Orthopristis ruber,Pomadasyscorvinaeformis,Haemulonaurolineatum,Haemulonplumieri,Haemulonsteindachneri), Lutjanidae (Lutjanus synagris), Paralichthyidae (Syaciummicrurum), Bothidae (Bothus ocellatus) and Tetraodontidae (Sphoeroidestestudineus), which were obtained during five collections, in the period time of September/2004 to April/2005, utilizing three special nets. The ecomorphological study was performed at the laboratory. Eight to ten samples of each fish specie were measured. Fifteen morphological aspects were considered to calculate twelve ecomorphological attributes. Multivariate statistical analysis methods such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis were done to identify ecmorphological patterns to describe the data set obtained. As results, H.aurolineatumwas the most abundant specie found (23,03%) and S.testudineusthe less one with 0,23%. The 1st Principal component showed variation of 60,03% with influence of the ecomorphological attribute related to body morphology, while the 2nd PC with 23,25% variation had influence of the ecomorphological attribute related to oral morphology. The Cluster Analiysis promoted the identification of three distinct groups Perciformes, Pleuronectiformes and Tetraodontiformes. Based on the obtained data, considering morphological characters differences among the species studied, we suggest that all of them live at the medium (E.argenteus,O.rubber, P.corvinaeformis,H.aurolineatum,H.plumieri,H.steindachneri,L.synagris) and bottom (S.micrurum,B.ocellatus,S.testudineus) region of column water.

Caracterização espacial de reservatórios do semiárido em função da qualidade da água através do uso de componentes principais

A região semiárida sofre escassez hídrica. A fim de regularizar a disponibilidade hídrica nos períodos de estiagem, são construídas barragens. No entanto, a qualidade da água armazenada tem sofrido os efeitos do descarte irregular de resíduos no meio ambiente e das atividades antrópicas exercidas nas bacias hidrográficas. A degradação hídrica pode ser constatada a partir do monitoramento dos parâmetros de qualidade da água. Estes dados podem ser analisados através de métodos estatísticos tais como a Análise de Componentes Principais e a análise de agrupamento, que seleciona indivíduos com características semelhantes. O objetivo deste trabalho é realizar oagrupamento dos reservatórios do Rio Grande do Norte, com base nos parâmetros de qualidade da água, para a identificação de grupos homogêneos de reservatórios em termos de fontes de poluição. Serão objeto desse estudo as bacias Piranhas-Açu, Apodi-Mossoró, Trairí, Potengi e Ceará-Mirim. Os parâmetros mercúrio, chumbo, cromo, fósforo total, nitrogênio total e zinco contribuíram para a formação da primeira componente principal, que pode indicar poluição por metais pesados; sólidos totais, DBO, OD e cobre, para a segunda componente, que pode ser indicativo de poluição por matéria orgânica e atividades antrópicas; e clorofila a , cádmio e níquel, para a terceira componente, que pode indicar eutrofização e poluição por metais pesados. De posse das componentes principais se procedeu o agrupamento dos reservatórios, formando-se quatro grupos distintos. Os grupos 1 e 2 são constituídos por reservatórios da Bacia Piranhas-Açu, que apresentou maiores valores de metais pesados. O grupo 3, constituído por reservatórios das bacias Ceará-Mirim, Potengi e Trairí, apresentou maiores valores de DBO e sólidostotais e o grupo 4 é formado por reservatórios da Bacia Apodi-Mossoró. Nas Bacias do Trarí e Piranhas-Açu deve ser coibido o lançamento desordenado de efluentes e fontes de poluição difusas, e implantado um sistema de coleta de esgoto para minimizar a poluição por matéria orgânica

Estimativas, variabilidade e análise de tendência da evapotranspiração de referência em perímetros irrigados, no semiárido do nordeste brasileiro

The variability / climate change has generated great concern worldwide, is one of the major issues as global warming, which can is affecting the availability of water resources in irrigated perimeters. In the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil it is known that there is a predominance of drought, but it is not enough known about trends in climate series of joint water loss by evaporation and transpiration (evapotranspiration). Therefore, this study aimed to analyze whether there is increase and / or decrease evidence in the regime of reference evapotranspiration (ETo), for the monthly, annual and interdecadal scales in irrigated polo towns of Juazeiro, BA (9 ° 24'S, 40 ° 26'W and 375,5m) and Petrolina, PE (09 ° 09'S, 40 ° 22'W and 376m), which is the main analysis objective. The daily meteorological data were provided by EMBRAPA Semiárido for the period from 01.01.1976 to 31.12.2014, estimated the daily ETo using the standard method of Penman-Monteith (EToPM) parameterized by Smith (1991). Other methods of more simplified estimatives were calculated and compared to EToPM, as the ones following: Solar Radiation (EToRS), Linacre (EToL), Hargreaves and Samani (EToHS) and the method of Class A pan (EToTCA). The main statistical analysis were non-parametric tests of homogeneity (Run), trend (Mann-kendall), magnitude of the trend (Sen) and early trend detection (Mann-Whitney). The statistical significance adopted was 5 and / or 1%. The Analysis of Variance - ANOVA was used to detect if there is a significant difference in mean interdecadal mean. For comparison between the methods of ETo, it were used the correlation test (r), the Student t test and Tukey levels of 5% significance. Finally, statistics Willmott et al. (1985) statistics was used to evaluate the concordance index and performance of simplified methods compared to the standard method. It obtained as main results that there was a decrease in the time series of EToPM in irrigated areas of Juazeiro, BA and Petrolina, PE, significant respectively at 1 and 5%, with an annual magnitude of -14.5 mm (Juazeiro) and -7.7 mm (Petrolina) and early trend in 1996. The methods which had better for better agreement with EToPM were EToRS with very good performance, in both locations, followed by the method of EToL with good performance (Juazeiro) and median (Petrolina). EToHS had the worst performance (bad) for both locations. It is suggested that this decrease of EToPM can be associated with the increase in irrigated agricultural areas and the construction of Sobradinho lake upstream of the perimeters.

Ecomorfologia de dez espécies de peixes marinhos mais abundantes de Galinhos/RN

Ecomorphology is a science based on the idea that morphological differences among species could be associated with distinct biological and environmental pressures suffered by them. These differences can be studied employing morphological and biometric indexes denominated Ecomorphological attributes , representing standards that express characteristics of the individual in relation to its environment, and can be interpreted as indicators of life habits or adaptations suffered due its occupation of different habitats. This work aims to contribute for the knowledge of the ecomorphology of the Brazilian marine ichthyofauna, specifically from Galinhos, located at Rio Grande do Norte state. 10 different species of fish were studied, belonging the families Gerreidae (Eucinostomus argenteus), Haemulidae (Orthopristis ruber,Pomadasyscorvinaeformis,Haemulonaurolineatum,Haemulonplumieri,Haemulonsteindachneri), Lutjanidae (Lutjanus synagris), Paralichthyidae (Syaciummicrurum), Bothidae (Bothus ocellatus) and Tetraodontidae (Sphoeroidestestudineus), which were obtained during five collections, in the period time of September/2004 to April/2005, utilizing three special nets. The ecomorphological study was performed at the laboratory. Eight to ten samples of each fish specie were measured. Fifteen morphological aspects were considered to calculate twelve ecomorphological attributes. Multivariate statistical analysis methods such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis were done to identify ecmorphological patterns to describe the data set obtained. As results, H.aurolineatumwas the most abundant specie found (23,03%) and S.testudineusthe less one with 0,23%. The 1st Principal component showed variation of 60,03% with influence of the ecomorphological attribute related to body morphology, while the 2nd PC with 23,25% variation had influence of the ecomorphological attribute related to oral morphology. The Cluster Analiysis promoted the identification of three distinct groups Perciformes, Pleuronectiformes and Tetraodontiformes. Based on the obtained data, considering morphological characters differences among the species studied, we suggest that all of them live at the medium (E.argenteus,O.rubber, P.corvinaeformis,H.aurolineatum,H.plumieri,H.steindachneri,L.synagris) and bottom (S.micrurum,B.ocellatus,S.testudineus) region of column water.

Ectoparasitos associados a aves de um fragmento de Floresta Estacional Decidual no Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

This study to aimed investigate the community of ectoparasites associated with birds in the Mata do Olho D água, in the municipality of Macaíba, Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Brazil, its structure and the ambiental and hosts influential variables on it, and to verify microhabitats preferences by species of chewing lice and feather mites. We examined 172 individuals belonging to 38 species of Passeriformes and non-Passeriformes. 12 new geographic records are reported and 11 host-parasite associations not yet known for chewing lice and feather mites species. Significant relationship was found between the abundance of chewing lice and the variables total length (r = 0.29, p <0.05) and exposed culmen (r = 0.38, p <0.05) of the hosts. A principal component (PC1) accounted for 90.1% of the hosts morphological variation was significantly influential on the abundance of chewing lice (p <0.05), indicating that the morphological characteristics of the hosts may be positively influencing the abundance of these ectoparasites. Significantly higher frequency of individuals with high loads of chewing lice was detected during the dry period (x ² = 8.5, p <0.05), corroborating studies that propose that birds of arid environments suffer as much pressure as those of parasitic humid environments. Analyses of null models of co-occurrence and niche overlap showed a high degree of structure in the feather mites and chewing lice assemblies, when compared with other groups, and preferences in the use of microhabitats by taxa identified. These results corroborate ecological theories in host-parasite systems, contribute to the knowledge of ectoparasites associated with neotropical birds, and the need for experimental studies, as well as further deepening the biology of these arthropods

Ensino de Entropia: um enfoque histórico e epistemológico.

The rational construction necessary to systematize scientific knowledge in physics, introduces difficulties of understanding in some of its concepts. One of these concepts which exemplify properly this difficulty in learning or teaching is entropy. This thesis propose the construction of a didactic route which constitute itself a historical and epistemological course to entropy, intending to contribute for teaching this concept as well as other physics concepts. The basic assumption to build this route is that through the historical review of the development of this concept in the way suggested by Bachelard s (1884-1962) epistemology it is possible to make subjects, to be taught and learned, more meaningful. Initially I composed a brief biographical note to give the reader an idea about the issues, interests and reflections, related to science, and how I dealt with them in my private and professional life, as well as the role they played to lead me to write this thesis. The strategy to construct the route to entropy was to split the usual contents of basic thermodynamics in three moments in a way they can constitute epistemological units , which can be identified by the way of thinking in the corresponding moments of scientific knowledge production: a technical and empiricist moment, a rationalist and positivist moment and a post-positivist rationalist one. The transition between each moment is characterized by a rupture with the former way of thinking; however the progress in the construction of knowledge in the area is evident. As the final part of this work I present an analysis based on elements of Bachelard s epistemology that are present in each moment. This analysis is the basic component of the didactic route that I propose myself to build. The way I made this route guide to entropy could contribute to the construction of other didactic routes in physics and other sciences, in a way to unveil hidden meanings and as a tool to humanize scientific knowledge.

Constribuição técnica de um sistema de emulsão inversa a base de óleos vegetais para fluidos de perfuração

The developments in formulating drilling fluids to apply in petroleum fields are based on new technologies and environmental challenges, where the technical performance of a developed drilling fluid is used to produce a minimum environmental impact, showing great economy in costs. It is well known that the potential use of oil-based drilling fluids is limited because these fluids when discharged in the sea do not disperse as much as water-based ones and may form waterproof films in the seabed, having a profound effect on plants and animals living in this environment. The current works have been made in investigating fluids called pseudofluids, which are synthetic ester-based, n-paraffin-based and other fluids formed from inverse emulsion. In this research the principal parameters involved in inverse emulsion process were studied, in laboratory scale, using esters as main component. Others commercial drilling fluids were used as comparative samples, as well as samples from laboratory and field where these drilling fluids are being applied. Concentrations of emulsifier and organophilic clay, which are viscosity donor, were varied to verify the influence of these parameters, in different oil/water ratios (55/45, 60/40, 65/35, 70/30, and 75/25). The salt concentration (NaCl) is an indicative parameter of stability and activity of an esterbased fluid. In this research the salt concentration was varied in 10,000, 20,000, and 50,000 ppm of NaCl. Some rheological properties of the produced fluids were studied, such as: initial gel, plastic viscosity, yield point, and apparent viscosity. Through the obtained rheological measures, the existence of two systems could be verified: fluid and flocculated. It could be noticed that the systems were influenced, directly, by the oil/water ratio and emulsifier, organophilic clay and NaCl concentrations. This study showed the viability to use an ester obtained from a regional vegetable product babaçu coconut oil to obtain an efficient and environmental safe drilling fluid

Evolução de estruturas primordiais

Understanding the way in which large-scale structures, like galaxies, form remains one of the most challenging problems in cosmology today. The standard theory for the origin of these structures is that they grew by gravitational instability from small, perhaps quantum generated, °uctuations in the density of dark matter, baryons and photons over an uniform primordial Universe. After the recombination, the baryons began to fall into the pre-existing gravitational potential wells of the dark matter. In this dissertation a study is initially made of the primordial recombination era, the epoch of the formation of the neutral hydrogen atoms. Besides, we analyzed the evolution of the density contrast (of baryonic and dark matter), in clouds of dark matter with masses among 104M¯ ¡ 1010M¯. In particular, we take into account the several physical mechanisms that act in the baryonic component, during and after the recombination era. The analysis of the formation of these primordial objects was made in the context of three models of dark energy as background: Quintessence, ¤CDM(Cosmological Constant plus Cold Dark Matter) and Phantom. We show that the dark matter is the fundamental agent for the formation of the structures observed today. The dark energy has great importance at that epoch of its formation

Avaliação imuno-histoquímica da BMP-2, BMP-4 e seus receptores (BMPRIA e BMPRII) em ameloblastomas e tumor odontogênico adenomatóide

BMPs are components superfamily ligands transformation growth fator-β (TGF-β) secreted into the extracellular environment, with mechanisms of intercellular communication through specific ligands and receptors in various target cells, being recognized for its influence in osteogenic induction, also play an important role in tissue homeostasis, cell proliferation, differentiation control , in addition to being present in the development of various malignancies. The aim of this study was to compare the immunohistochemical expression of BMP-2, BMP-4 and its receptors BMPRIA and BMPRII in cases of ameloblastoma and adenomatoid odontogenic tumor. The sample consisted of 20 cases of solid ameloblastoma (SA), 10 cases of ameloblastoma unicystic (UA) and 16 cases of adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT). The expression of BMPs and their receptors was evaluated in the parenchyma and stroma of lesions, establishing the percentage of immunopositive cells (0 - negative; 1-1 % to 10 % of cells positive; 2 - 11% to 25% of positive cells; 3 - 26% to 50% of cells positive; 4 - 51% to 75 % of positive cells; 5 - more than 75% positive cells). Analysis of the expression of BMP-2 revealed no statistically significant differences in parenchymal (p = 0.925) and stromal component (p = 0.345) between the groups, as well as BMP-4 (p = 0.873 / p = 0.131). In the epithelial component, SA and AOT had a higher frequency of score 5. In turn, all cases of UA were classified as score 5. The analysis of the stromal component showed no statistically significant difference between groups with respect to median scores BMPRIA positivity (p = 0.768) and BMPRII (p = 0.779). In the epithelial component of SA and UA, no statistically significant correlations between imunoexpression proteins analyzed were observed. In turn, the group of AOT, statistically significant positive correlations between the scores of expression of all studied proteins were found. In the stromal component, statistically significant positive correlations were found only in the SA group in BMP -4 and BMPRII (r = 0.476; p = .034), in the UA in BMP-4 and BMPRIA (r = 0.709; p = 0.022). The results of this study suggest that the BMPs and their receptors are involved in the development process odontogenic tumors. BMP-4, in turn, besides being present in odontogenic tumors have the capacity to form mineralized material.

Manifestações oculares em mulheres com síndrome dos ovários policísticos: prevalência e associação com fatores de risco metabólicos e inflamatórios

Objetivos: Estimar a prevalência de alterações do filme lacrimal e da doença do olho seco (DOS), comparar as mudanças na pressão intraocular (PIO) e comparar as espessuras macular e da camada de fibras nervosas da retina (CFNR), entre mulheres com síndrome dos ovários policísticos (SOP) e mulheres saudáveis, estratificando-as em condições clínicas, metabólicas e inflamatórias. Metodologia: O estudo incluiu 45 mulheres com SOP e 47 mulheres saudáveis ovulatórias submetidas a avaliações clínico-ginecológicas e oftalmológicas, incluindo propedêuticas para a avaliação do filme lacrimal e medida da PIO, e medição da espessura macular, da CFNR e parâmetros do disco óptico usando tomografia de coerência óptica. Resultados: Tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal (TRFL; p=0.001) e impregnação por fluoresceína (p=0.006) apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os grupos estudados. A prevalência de DOS foi de 44,4% nas portadoras de SOP. Houve redução estatisticamente significativa do TRFL na presença de SOP (p=0.001). Além disso, houve efeito estatisticamente significativo de intolerância à glicose e síndrome metabólica/inflamação na impregnação por fluoresceina (p=0.004; p=0.015, respectivamente). A PIO encontrou-se estatisticamente mais elevada no grupo SOP que no grupo controle (p=0.011). Houve um aumento na média do IPC (índice pressão-córnea) com a associação entre SOP e da síndrome metabólica (p = 0.005); A média da espessura da CNFR superior ao redor do nervo óptico foi estatisticamente mais espessa nas voluntárias com SOP que nas voluntárias saudáveis (p=0.036); Após estratificação pela presença de resistência insulínica, as médias dos subcampos das espessuras maculares “macular interno temporal, macular interno inferior, macular interno nasal e macular externo nasal, foram mais espessas no grupo SOP que no grupo controle (p<0.05); Houve associação significativa entre obesidade e resistência insulínica (p=0.037), e intolerância à glicose (p=0.001), com aumento médio do componente principal 1 (CP1), e, na presença de síndrome metabólica (p<0.0001), com aumento médio do componente principal 2 (CP2), respectivamente, em relação à espessura macular total. Na presença de obesidade e inflamação, houve redução no escore médio da CP2 (p=0.034), em relação à espessura da CFNR na mácula. xviii Conclusões: Há uma associação da SOP, suas alterações metabólicas e inflamatórias com alterações do filme lacrimal e com mudanças na PIO. A diminuição na espessura da CFNR macular e aumento da espessura total macular estão possivelmente associadas às alterações metabólicas, e, o aumento na espessura da CFNR ao redor do nervo óptico estão provavelmente associadas às alterações hormonais, inerentes à SOP.

Cartilha do silêncio: sob o signo da modernidade e da memória

This research starts from the presupposition that Cartilha do Silêncio(1997), a novel by the Brazilian writer Francisco Dantas, has a double articulated shift. One of the moves is towards the modern experience, with the idea that modernity is filled with contraries, as remarked by Nietzsche; the other is linked to the livelihoods ashore on traditional experiences, which encompasses the notion of memory as individual and collective ownership. The aim here is to analyze such perspective, social and critical issues within the characters' life stories that regards the calling of past as clear example that tradition is not gone, though modern life presents its own signs. Such dynamics gives to the plot a paradoxal feature. This work is mainly grounded on Marshall Berman' s thoughts in All That Is Solid Melts Into Air: The Experience of Modernity (1982) as well as on Antoine Compagnon'sFive Paradoxes of Modernity (1994). Assuming that Francisco Dantas' Novel is set as a split narrative, outcome of social memory originated on individual experiences aside social process and patriarchal family, this research brings into play the concept of memory by Jacques Le Goff in History and Memory (1992) along EcléaBosi's study in Memória e Sociedade: lembranças de velhos (1979). Keen to check how Cartilha do silêncio adjoins modern livelihoods with aesthetics order, the method articulates text and context, literary and social life, according to Antonio Candido'sLiteratura e Sociedade (1965). Thus, after reading the novel, it is possible to notice how the identity of the characters are built throughout the plot and it is also kept against settling on its social context during the transition from patriarchal tradition to modernity, creating a taut mood between both registries.

Estudo do balanço de umidade por meio de modelos regionais para o clima do passado e do futuro sobre a América do Sul

In the context of climate change over South America (SA) has been observed that the combination of high temperatures and rain more temperatures less rainfall, cause different impacts such as extreme precipitation events, favorable conditions for fires and droughts. As a result, these regions face growing threat of water shortage, local or generalized. Thus, the water availability in Brazil depends largely on the weather and its variations in different time scales. In this sense, the main objective of this research is to study the moisture budget through regional climate models (RCM) from Project Regional Climate Change Assessments for La Plata Basin (CLARIS-LPB) and combine these RCM through two statistical techniques in an attempt to improve prediction on three areas of AS: Amazon (AMZ), Northeast Brazil (NEB) and the Plata Basin (LPB) in past climates (1961-1990) and future (2071-2100). The moisture transport on AS was investigated through the moisture fluxes vertically integrated. The main results showed that the average fluxes of water vapor in the tropics (AMZ and NEB) are higher across the eastern and northern edges, thus indicating that the contributions of the trade winds of the North Atlantic and South are equally important for the entry moisture during the months of JJA and DJF. This configuration was observed in all the models and climates. In comparison climates, it was found that the convergence of the flow of moisture in the past weather was smaller in the future in various regions and seasons. Similarly, the majority of the SPC simulates the future climate, reduced precipitation in tropical regions (AMZ and NEB), and an increase in the LPB region. The second phase of this research was to carry out combination of RCM in more accurately predict precipitation, through the multiple regression techniques for components Main (C.RPC) and convex combination (C.EQM), and then analyze and compare combinations of RCM (ensemble). The results indicated that the combination was better in RPC represent precipitation observed in both climates. Since, in addition to showing values be close to those observed, the technique obtained coefficient of correlation of moderate to strong magnitude in almost every month in different climates and regions, also lower dispersion of data (RMSE). A significant advantage of the combination of methods was the ability to capture extreme events (outliers) for the study regions. In general, it was observed that the wet C.EQM captures more extreme, while C.RPC can capture more extreme dry climates and in the three regions studied.

Metodologia de análise e diagnóstico de fratura em um componente automotivo sujeito a cargas cíclicas alternadas

The competitiveness of the trade generated by the higher availability of products with lower quality and cost promoted a new reality of industrial production with small clearances. Track deviations at the production are not discarded, uncertainties can statistically occur. The world consumer and the Brazilian one are supported by the consumer protection code, in lawsuits against the products poor quality. An automobile is composed of various systems and thousands of constituent parts, increasing the likelihood of failure. The dynamic and security systems are critical in relation to the consequences of possible failures. The investigation of the failure gives us the possibility of learning and contributing to various improvements. Our main purpose in this work is to develop a systematic, specific methodology by investigating the root cause of the flaw occurred on an axle end of the front suspension of an automobile, and to perform comparative data analyses between the fractured part and the project information. Our research was based on a flaw generated in an automotive suspension system involved in a mechanical judicial cause, resulting in property and personal damages. In the investigations concerning the analysis of mechanical flaws, knowledge on materials engineering plays a crucial role in the process, since it enables applying techniques for characterizing materials, relating the technical attributes required from a respective part with its structure of manufacturing material, thus providing a greater scientific contribution to the work. The specific methodology developed follows its own flowchart. In the early phase, the data in the records and information on the involved ones were collected. The following laboratory analyses were performed: macrography of the fracture, micrography with SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) of the initial and final fracture, phase analysis with optical microscopy, Brinell hardness and Vickers microhardness analyses, quantitative and qualitative chemical analysis, by using X-ray fluorescence and optical spectroscopy for carbon analysis, qualitative study on the state of tension was done. Field data were also collected. In the analyses data of the values resulting from the fractured stock parts and the design values were compared. After the investigation, one concluded that: the developed methodology systematized the investigation and enabled crossing data, thus minimizing diagnostic error probability, the morphology of the fracture indicates failure by the fatigue mechanism in a geometrically propitious location, a tension hub, the part was subjected to low tensions by the sectional area of the final fracture, the manufacturing material of the fractured part has low ductility, the component fractured in an earlier moment than the one recommended by the manufacturer, the percentages of C, Si, Mn and Cr of the fractured part present values which differ from the design ones, the hardness value of the superior limit of the fractured part is higher than that of the design, and there is no manufacturing uniformity between stock and fractured part. The work will contribute to optimizing the guidance of the actions in a mechanical engineering judicial expertise