Análise da função dos músculos do quadril em portadores de síndrome da dor patelofemural

The Patellofemoral pain syndrome is defined as a fore or retro patellar pain and it has multifactorial etiology, where the bad patellar alignment is the most acceptable hypothesis. However proximal factors to the knee, as the debility of the muscles of the hip, have been demonstrated as a contributing factor to the appearing of that syndrome. Purpose: To evaluate if exists a relation between the hip muscles performance and the development of the SDPF. Methods: Thirty women took part in this study. They were divided in two groups; a control group (fifteen asymptomatic subjects) and an experimental group (fifteen subjects with the diagnosis of SDPF). The muscle performance was evaluated in an isokinetic dynamometer, where it was verified the peak torque (PT), PT to body weight, PT time and the agonist/antagonist relation. It was also analyzed the electromyographic activity of the middle gluteus. The data was analyzed by the not paired t test at a significance level of 5%. Results:. Didn t have significant difference to the PT of the abductor muscles (p = 0,46) and lateral rotators of the hip (p = 0,17) between groups. Also didn t have significant difference to the PT values by the body weight, to these muscle groups either (p = 0,10 e p = 0,11, respectively). Didn t have significant difference between the amplitude of the signal (p = 0,05) and the onset of medium gluteus (p = 0,25) between the groups. Conclusion: In the experimental conditions realized, the study didn t demonstrate a relation between performance the hip muscles behavior and the development of the SDPF

Efeito do kinesio taping® no desempenho neuromuscular do quadríceps e no equilíbrio em sujeitos submetidos à reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior: ensaio clínico e randomizado

Objetivo: Investigar os efeitos imediatos do Kinesio Taping® no desempenho neuromuscular do Quadríceps Femoral (QF) de indivíduos submetidos à reconstrução do Ligamento Cruzado Anterior (LCA). Metodologia: trata-se de um ensaio clínico e randomizado composto por 45 indivíduos do sexo masculino que se encontravam entre 12ª e 17ª semanas após reconstrução do LCA. Todos foram submetidos a uma avaliação inicial composta pela análise do equilíbrio postural, através da baropodometria; determinação do Senso de Posição Articular (SPA), seguidas das avaliações isocinéticas excêntricas e concêntricas a 600/s, concomitante com a captação do sinal eletromiográfico do músculo Vasto Lateral (VL). Posteriormente foram alocados de forma aleatória em Grupo Controle (GC), Grupo Placebo (GP) e Grupo Experimental (GE). Os indivíduos do GE foram submetidos ao protocolo sugerido (aplicação do Kinesio Taping® no QF do membro acometido), enquanto os do GP utilizaram a aplicação do Kinesio Taping® sem as recomendações propostas pelo método. Já os indivíduos do GC permaneceram em repouso por dez minutos, sendo todos os indivíduos submetidos a uma reavaliação de forma idêntica à primeira. Foram analisadas as seguintes variáveis: pico de torque médio, pico de torque/peso corporal, potência muscular e erro absoluto do SPA para a dinamometria; amplitude ântero-posterior e médio-lateral para a baropodometria; e a amplitude de ativação muscular (Root Means Square - RMS) por meio da eletromiografia de superfície. Resultados: Nenhuma das variáveis analisadas apresentou diferenças intergrupo ou intragrupo. Conclusão: O Kinesio Taping® não altera o desempenho neuromuscular do quadríceps femoral de indivíduos submetidos à reconstrução do LCA para nenhuma das variáveis analisadas.

Contribuição à citogenética de testudines e análise de assimetria flutuante em Eretmochelys imbricata, Cheloniidae

This work has contributed to knowledge of the order Testudines from cytogenetic and morphological point of view. With regard to the aspects proposed cytogenetic characterization of the species Mesoclemmys tuberculata (n = 5), endemic to the Caatinga biomes, through conventional techniques of cytogenetics and molecular levels. This species presented 2n = 58, NF = 64, the first submetacentric pair, the second metacentric and third subtelocentric, and the other microchromosome telocentric. This species showed a nucleolar bearing pair, coincident with the 18S ribosomal rDNA and that proved to be heterochromatic. Small heterochromatic blocks were also found in the centromeres of the largest chromosomes, as well as terminal regions in most other chromosomes of the complement, that were GC +. Telomeric sequences showed variable patterns of signal intensity, with some repeats more intense in microchromosomes and subtly in the larger ones. When compared with other species of the genus, the G-banding patterns showed a marked similarity between them. The first karyotypic description of the species will aid in future studies and the understanding of evolutionary aspects of this family. From the morphological point of view, we carried out studies of fluctuating asymmetry in sea turtle Eretmochelys imbricata, using methods of benchmarking between hatchlings and adults and their implications for natural selection. Data were collected at two different times: first during the spawning female and the second during the outbreak and birth of the nest. The analyzed characteristics consisted of measurements of length and width of front and rear flippers (CANT, LANT, CPOS and LPOS) also collected data on the number of hull plates, side plates (NPL), the surrounding plates (NPCIRC), and plastron; plates power plants (NPP), inframarginais plates (NPIM). With the values of asymmetry we calculated the value of strict heritability for these traits, the calculation was based on only one parent. A nonparametric analysis Mann-Whitneywas performed to compare the groups (females X hatchlings, newborn hatchlings X dead hatchlings). Adult females showed no bilateral fluctuating asymmetry (FA = 0) on the number plates of the hull and plastron, while offspring, living and dead, showed a greater level of variation in these meristic parameters. In the analysis of females x hatchlings we found a significant difference between the levels of asymmetry in hoof plates (p=0.006) an the width of hindlimbs (p=0.001). Levels of FA suggest an accurate indicator as to the viability or maintenance of the individual to the reproductive phase. The coefficient of heritability (h2) of FA , obtained from the regression analysis, showed that both have low and not statistically significant values(p> 0.1). In the case of exclusion of the effective role of genetics in the generation of FA, reproductive strategies based on high number of subsidiaries products, such as those observed in E. imbricata seems to implicate the production of individuals with high level of developmental instability

Medidas e análise estatística em sinais bioelétricos sobre pontos de acupuntura

In the 20th century, the acupuncture has spread on occident as a complementary practice of heath care. This fact has motivated the international scientific community to invest in research that seek to understand why acupuncture works. In this work we compare statistically volt age fluctuation of bioelectric signals caught on the skin at an acupuncture point (IG 4) another nearby on acupuncture point. The acquisition of these signals was performed utilizing an electronic interface with a computer, which was based on an instrumentation amplifier designed with adequate specifications to this end. On the collected signals from a sample of 30 volunteers we have calculated major statistics and submitted them to pairing t-test with significance leveI a = O, 05. We have estimated to bioelectric signals the following parameters: standard deviation, asymmetry and curtose. Moreover, we have calculated the self-correlation function matched by on exponential curve we have observed that the signal decays more rapidly from a non-acupoint then from an acupoint. This fact is an indicative of the existence of information in the acupoint

Análise das curvas de luz do CoroT usando diferentes processos comparativos: estimando períodos de rotação estelar

One of the main goals of CoRoT Natal Team is the determination of rotation period for thousand of stars, a fundamental parameter for the study of stellar evolutionary histories. In order to estimate the rotation period of stars and to understand the associated uncertainties resulting, for example, from discontinuities in the curves and (or) low signal-to-noise ratio, we have compared three different methods for light curves treatment. These methods were applied to many light curves with different characteristics. First, a Visual Analysis was undertaken for each light curve, giving a general perspective on the different phenomena reflected in the curves. The results obtained by this method regarding the rotation period of the star, the presence of spots, or the star nature (binary system or other) were then compared with those obtained by two accurate methods: the CLEANest method, based on the DCDFT (Date Compensated Discrete Fourier Transform), and the Wavelet method, based on the Wavelet Transform. Our results show that all three methods have similar levels of accuracy and can complement each other. Nevertheless, the Wavelet method gives more information about the star, from the wavelet map, showing the variations of frequencies over time in the signal. Finally, we discuss the limitations of these methods, the efficiency to give us informations about the star and the development of tools to integrate different methods into a single analysis

Análise sísmica usando transformada de Curvelet

Oil prospecting is one of most complex and important features of oil industry Direct prospecting methods like drilling well logs are very expensive, in consequence indirect methods are preferred. Among the indirect prospecting techniques the seismic imaging is a relevant method. Seismic method is based on artificial seismic waves that are generated, go through the geologic medium suffering diffraction and reflexion and return to the surface where they are recorded and analyzed to construct seismograms. However, the seismogram contains not only actual geologic information, but also noise, and one of the main components of the noise is the ground roll. Noise attenuation is essential for a good geologic interpretation of the seismogram. It is common to study seismograms by using time-frequency transformations that map the seismic signal into a frequency space where it is easier to remove or attenuate noise. After that, data is reconstructed in the original space in such a way that geologic structures are shown in more detail. In addition, the curvelet transform is a new and effective spectral transformation that have been used in the analysis of complex data. In this work, we employ the curvelet transform to represent geologic data using basis functions that are directional in space. This particular basis can represent more effectively two dimensional objects with contours and lines. The curvelet analysis maps real space into frequencies scales and angular sectors in such way that we can distinguish in detail the sub-spaces where is the noise and remove the coefficients corresponding to the undesired data. In this work we develop and apply the denoising analysis to remove the ground roll of seismograms. We apply this technique to a artificial seismogram and to a real one. In both cases we obtain a good noise attenuation

Análise wavelet e modelo de manchas em curvas de luz estelares dos telescópios espaciais Kepler e CoRoT

Analogous to sunspots and solar photospheric faculae, which visibility is modulated by stellar rotation, stellar active regions consist of cool spots and bright faculae caused by the magnetic field of the star. Such starspots are now well established as major tracers used to estimate the stellar rotation period, but their dynamic behavior may also be used to analyze other relevant phenomena such as the presence of magnetic activity and its cycles. To calculate the stellar rotation period, identify the presence of active regions and investigate if the star exhibits or not differential rotation, we apply two methods: a wavelet analysis and a spot model. The wavelet procedure is also applied here to study pulsation in order to identify specific signatures of this particular stellar variability for different types of pulsating variable stars. The wavelet transform has been used as a powerful tool for treating several problems in astrophysics. In this work, we show that the time-frequency analysis of stellar light curves using the wavelet transform is a practical tool for identifying rotation, magnetic activity, and pulsation signatures. We present the wavelet spectral composition and multiscale variations of the time series for four classes of stars: targets dominated by magnetic activity, stars with transiting planets, those with binary transits, and pulsating stars. We applied the Morlet wavelet (6th order), which offers high time and frequency resolution. By applying the wavelet transform to the signal, we obtain the wavelet local and global power spectra. The first is interpreted as energy distribution of the signal in time-frequency space, and the second is obtained by time integration of the local map. Since the wavelet transform is a useful mathematical tool for nonstationary signals, this technique applied to Kepler and CoRoT light curves allows us to clearly identify particular signatures for different phenomena. In particular, patterns were identified for the temporal evolution of the rotation period and other periodicity due to active regions affecting these light curves. In addition, a beat-pattern vii signature in the local wavelet map of pulsating stars over the entire time span was also detected. The second method is based on starspots detection during transits of an extrasolar planet orbiting its host star. As a planet eclipses its parent star, we can detect physical phenomena on the surface of the star. If a dark spot on the disk of the star is partially or totally eclipsed, the integrated stellar luminosity will increase slightly. By analyzing the transit light curve it is possible to infer the physical properties of starspots, such as size, intensity, position and temperature. By detecting the same spot on consecutive transits, it is possible to obtain additional information such as the stellar rotation period in the planetary transit latitude, differential rotation, and magnetic activity cycles. Transit observations of CoRoT-18 and Kepler-17 were used to implement this model.

Análise de tendência e caracterização sazonal e interanual da evapotranspiração de referência para o sudoeste da amazônia brasileira: Acre, Brasil

The objective of this research was to investigate monthly climatological, seasonal, annual and interdecadal of the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) in Acre state in order to better understand its spatial and temporal variability and identify possible trends in the region. The study was conducted with data from Rio Branco municipalities, the state capital, Tarauacá and Cruzeiro do Sul considering a 30-year period (1985-2014), from monthly data from weather stations surface of the National Institute of Meteorology. The methodology was held, first, the consistency of meteorological data. Thus, it was made the gap filling in the time series by means of multivariate techniques. Subsequently were performed statistical tests trend (Mann-Kendall) and homogeneity, by Sen's estimator of the magnitude of this trend is estimated, as well as computational algorithms containing parametric and non-parametric tests for two samples to identify from that year the trend has become significant. Finally, analysis of variance technique (ANOVA) was adopted in order to verify whether there were significant differences in average annual evapotranspiration between locations. The indirect method of Penman-Montheith parameterized by FAO was used to calculate the ETo. The results of this work through examination of the descriptive statistics showed that the ETo the annual average was 3.80, 2.92 and 2.86 mm day-1 year, to Rio Branco, Tarauacá and Cruzeiro do Sul, respectively. Featuring quite remarkable seasonal pattern with a minimum in June and a maximum in October, with Rio Branco to town one with the strongest signal (amplitudes) on the other hand, the Southern Cross presented the highest variability among the studied locations. By ANOVA it was found that the average annual statistically different for a significance level of 1% between locations, but the annual average between Cruzeiro do Sul and Tarauacá no statistically significant differences. For the three locations, the 2000s was the one with the highest ETo values associated with warmer waters of the North Atlantic basin and the 80s to lower values, associated with cooler waters of this basin. By analyzing the Mann-kendall and Sen estimator test, there was a trend of increasing the seasonal reference evapotranspiration (fall, winter and spring) on the order of 0.11 mm per decade and that from the years of 1990, 1996 and 2001 became statistically significant to the localities of Cruzeiro do Sul Tarauacá and Rio Branco, respectively. For trend analysis of meteorological parameters was observed positive trend in the 5% level of significance, for average temperature, minimum temperature and solar radiation.

Análise de desempenho de algoritmos de compressão de dados com perda para aplicações industriais

The great amount of data generated as the result of the automation and process supervision in industry implies in two problems: a big demand of storage in discs and the difficulty in streaming this data through a telecommunications link. The lossy data compression algorithms were born in the 90’s with the goal of solving these problems and, by consequence, industries started to use those algorithms in industrial supervision systems to compress data in real time. These algorithms were projected to eliminate redundant and undesired information in a efficient and simple way. However, those algorithms parameters must be set for each process variable, becoming impracticable to configure this parameters for each variable in case of systems that monitor thousands of them. In that context, this paper propose the algorithm Adaptive Swinging Door Trending that consists in a adaptation of the Swinging Door Trending, as this main parameters are adjusted dynamically by the analysis of the signal tendencies in real time. It’s also proposed a comparative analysis of performance in lossy data compression algorithms applied on time series process variables and dynamometer cards. The algorithms used to compare were the piecewise linear and the transforms.

Contribuições em escalonamento e análise de desempenho de redes WirelessHART

Wireless Communication is a trend in the industrial environment nowadays and on this trend, we can highlight the WirelessHART technology. In this situation, it is natural the search for new improvements in the technology and such improvements can be related directly to the routing and scheduling algorithms. In the present thesis, we present a literature review about the main specific solutions for Routing and scheduling for WirelessHART. The thesis also proposes a new scheduling algorithm called Flow Scheduling that intends to improve superframe utilization and flexibility aspects. For validation purposes, we develop a simulation module for the Network Simulator 3 (NS-3) that models aspects like positioning, signal attenuation and energy consumption and provides an link individual error configuration. The module also allows the creation of the scheduling superframe using the Flow and Han Algorithms. In order to validate the new algorithms, we execute a series of comparative tests and evaluate the algorithms performance for link allocation, delay and superframe occupation. In order to validate the physical layer of the simulation module, we statically configure the routing and scheduling aspects and perform reliability and energy consumption tests using various literature topologies and error probabilities.

Contribuições em escalonamento e análise de desempenho de redes WirelessHART

Wireless Communication is a trend in the industrial environment nowadays and on this trend, we can highlight the WirelessHART technology. In this situation, it is natural the search for new improvements in the technology and such improvements can be related directly to the routing and scheduling algorithms. In the present thesis, we present a literature review about the main specific solutions for Routing and scheduling for WirelessHART. The thesis also proposes a new scheduling algorithm called Flow Scheduling that intends to improve superframe utilization and flexibility aspects. For validation purposes, we develop a simulation module for the Network Simulator 3 (NS-3) that models aspects like positioning, signal attenuation and energy consumption and provides an link individual error configuration. The module also allows the creation of the scheduling superframe using the Flow and Han Algorithms. In order to validate the new algorithms, we execute a series of comparative tests and evaluate the algorithms performance for link allocation, delay and superframe occupation. In order to validate the physical layer of the simulation module, we statically configure the routing and scheduling aspects and perform reliability and energy consumption tests using various literature topologies and error probabilities.

Análise wavelet em curvas de luz estelares de sistemas binários da missão espacial CoRoT

Binary systems are key environments to study the fundamental properties of stars. In this work, we analyze 99 binary systems identified by the CoRoT space mission. From the study of the phase diagrams of these systems, our sample is divided into three groups: those whose systems are characterized by the variability relative to the binary eclipses; those presenting strong modulations probably due to the presence of stellar spots on the surface of star; and those whose systems have variability associated with the expansion and contraction of the surface layers. For eclipsing binary stars, phase diagrams are used to estimate the classification in regard to their morphology, based on the study of equipotential surfaces. In this context, to determine the rotation period, and to identify the presence of active regions, and to investigate if the star exhibits or not differential rotation and study stellar pulsation, we apply the wavelet procedure. The wavelet transform has been used as a powerful tool in the treatment of a large number of problems in astrophysics. Through the wavelet transform, one can perform an analysis in time-frequency light curves rich in details that contribute significantly to the study of phenomena associated with the rotation, the magnetic activity and stellar pulsations. In this work, we apply Morlet wavelet (6th order), which offers high time and frequency resolution and obtain local (energy distribution of the signal) and global (time integration of local map) wavelet power spectra. Using the wavelet analysis, we identify thirteen systems with periodicities related to the rotational modulation, besides the beating pattern signature in the local wavelet map of five pulsating stars over the entire time span.

Análise wavelet em curvas de luz estelares de sistemas binários da missão espacial CoRoT

Binary systems are key environments to study the fundamental properties of stars. In this work, we analyze 99 binary systems identified by the CoRoT space mission. From the study of the phase diagrams of these systems, our sample is divided into three groups: those whose systems are characterized by the variability relative to the binary eclipses; those presenting strong modulations probably due to the presence of stellar spots on the surface of star; and those whose systems have variability associated with the expansion and contraction of the surface layers. For eclipsing binary stars, phase diagrams are used to estimate the classification in regard to their morphology, based on the study of equipotential surfaces. In this context, to determine the rotation period, and to identify the presence of active regions, and to investigate if the star exhibits or not differential rotation and study stellar pulsation, we apply the wavelet procedure. The wavelet transform has been used as a powerful tool in the treatment of a large number of problems in astrophysics. Through the wavelet transform, one can perform an analysis in time-frequency light curves rich in details that contribute significantly to the study of phenomena associated with the rotation, the magnetic activity and stellar pulsations. In this work, we apply Morlet wavelet (6th order), which offers high time and frequency resolution and obtain local (energy distribution of the signal) and global (time integration of local map) wavelet power spectra. Using the wavelet analysis, we identify thirteen systems with periodicities related to the rotational modulation, besides the beating pattern signature in the local wavelet map of five pulsating stars over the entire time span.

Estudo de famílias wavelets para aplicação na análise em DOAS

Trace gases are important to our environment even though their presence comes only by ‘traces’, but their concentrations must be monitored, so any necessary interventions can be done at the right time. There are some lower and upper boundaries which produce nice conditions for our lives and then monitoring trace gases comes as an essential task nowadays to be accomplished by many techniques. One of them is the differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS), which consists mathematically on a regression - the classical method uses least-squares - to retrieve the trace gases concentrations. In order to achieve better results, many works have tried out different techniques instead of the classical approach. Some have tried to preprocess the signals to be analyzed by a denoising procedure - e.g. discrete wavelet transform (DWT). This work presents a semi-empirical study to find out the most suitable DWT family to be used in this denoising. The search seeks among many well-known families the one to better remove the noise, keeping the original signal’s main features, then by decreasing the noise, the residual left after the regression is done decreases too. The analysis take account the wavelet decomposition level, the threshold to be applied on the detail coefficients and how to apply them - hard or soft thresholding. The signals used come from an open and online data base which contains characteristic signals from some trace gases usually studied.

Estudo de famílias wavelets para aplicação na análise em DOAS

Trace gases are important to our environment even though their presence comes only by ‘traces’, but their concentrations must be monitored, so any necessary interventions can be done at the right time. There are some lower and upper boundaries which produce nice conditions for our lives and then monitoring trace gases comes as an essential task nowadays to be accomplished by many techniques. One of them is the differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS), which consists mathematically on a regression - the classical method uses least-squares - to retrieve the trace gases concentrations. In order to achieve better results, many works have tried out different techniques instead of the classical approach. Some have tried to preprocess the signals to be analyzed by a denoising procedure - e.g. discrete wavelet transform (DWT). This work presents a semi-empirical study to find out the most suitable DWT family to be used in this denoising. The search seeks among many well-known families the one to better remove the noise, keeping the original signal’s main features, then by decreasing the noise, the residual left after the regression is done decreases too. The analysis take account the wavelet decomposition level, the threshold to be applied on the detail coefficients and how to apply them - hard or soft thresholding. The signals used come from an open and online data base which contains characteristic signals from some trace gases usually studied.