Acesso aos níveis de atenção à saúde em um município do Estado de São Paulo: perspectivas de gestores, profissionais e usuários

Pós-graduação em Saúde Coletiva - FMB

Enhancing weak signal transmission through a feedforward network

The ability to transmit and amplify weak signals is fundamental to signal processing of artificial devices in engineering. Using a multilayer feedforward network of coupled double-well oscillators as well as Fitzhugh-Nagumo oscillators, we here investigate the conditions under which a weak signal received by the first layer can be transmitted through the network with or without amplitude attenuation. We find that the coupling strength and the nodes' states of the first layer act as two-state switches, which determine whether the transmission is significantly enhanced or exponentially decreased. We hope this finding is useful for designing artificial signal amplifiers.

Network-based high level data classification

Traditional supervised data classification considers only physical features (e. g., distance or similarity) of the input data. Here, this type of learning is called low level classification. On the other hand, the human (animal) brain performs both low and high orders of learning and it has facility in identifying patterns according to the semantic meaning of the input data. Data classification that considers not only physical attributes but also the pattern formation is, here, referred to as high level classification. In this paper, we propose a hybrid classification technique that combines both types of learning. The low level term can be implemented by any classification technique, while the high level term is realized by the extraction of features of the underlying network constructed from the input data. Thus, the former classifies the test instances by their physical features or class topologies, while the latter measures the compliance of the test instances to the pattern formation of the data. Our study shows that the proposed technique not only can realize classification according to the pattern formation, but also is able to improve the performance of traditional classification techniques. Furthermore, as the class configuration's complexity increases, such as the mixture among different classes, a larger portion of the high level term is required to get correct classification. This feature confirms that the high level classification has a special importance in complex situations of classification. Finally, we show how the proposed technique can be employed in a real-world application, where it is capable of identifying variations and distortions of handwritten digit images. As a result, it supplies an improvement in the overall pattern recognition rate.

Peer assessment in ULPGC on line CLIL course 2010-2013

[EN]Introduction to Content Language and Integrated Learning ( CLIL) is a 60 hour on line course offered by Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria within its extracurricular courses. During three years we have had 76 students whose final assessment has been to create a CLIL lesson which was evaluated by their peers. The tool for the peer assessment has been the Moodle platform; forums. The assessment was guided by a list of questions they had to apply when evaluating the lessons, but the replies from the CLIL lesson creators did not have any predetermined structure or guidelines to be followed. We have analysed the assessments and replies by grouping them according to content similarities.

PlayingCLIL, a new game-based methodology using drama pedagogy

[EN]Linguistic immersion programs are increasing nowadays. The concept of being bilingual, that started being used by schools for the elite in the 19th century, and that in the mid- 20th century became an educational option, has given raise to CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning), a methodology through which students work in a bilingual environment, acquiring knowledge of curricular subject and developing their competences in a foreign language. In this teaching context started a new European project called PlayingCLIL. Six partners from different European countries (Germany, United Kingdom, Spain and Romania) are working in this project. Our main aim is to develop a new methodology to learn a foreign language combining elements from the pedagogic drama (interactive games) with the CLIL classroom. At present we are testing the games in different schools and high schools and we are compiling the results to be collected in a handbook (printed and e-book).

Role of BDNF secretion and signaling in the activity-dependent refinement of synaptic connections

Neuronal networks exhibit diverse types of plasticity, including the activity-dependent regulation of synaptic functions and refinement of synaptic connections. In addition, continuous generation of new neurons in the “adult” brain (adult neurogenesis) represents a powerful form of structural plasticity establishing new connections and possibly implementing pre-existing neuronal circuits (Kempermann et al, 2000; Ming and Song, 2005). Neurotrophins, a family of neuronal growth factors, are crucially involved in the modulation of activity-dependent neuronal plasticity. The first evidence for the physiological importance of this role evolved from the observations that the local administration of neurotrophins has dramatic effects on the activity-dependent refinement of synaptic connections in the visual cortex (McAllister et al, 1999; Berardi et al, 2000; Thoenen, 1995). Moreover, the local availability of critical amounts of neurotrophins appears to be relevant for the ability of hippocampal neurons to undergo long-term potentiation (LTP) of the synaptic transmission (Lu, 2004; Aicardi et al, 2004). To achieve a comprehensive understanding of the modulatory role of neurotrophins in integrated neuronal systems, informations on the mechanisms about local neurotrophins synthesis and secretion as well as ditribution of their cognate receptors are of crucial importance. In the first part of this doctoral thesis I have used electrophysiological approaches and real-time imaging tecniques to investigate additional features about the regulation of neurotrophins secretion, namely the capability of the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to undergo synaptic recycling. In cortical and hippocampal slices as well as in dissociated cell cultures, neuronal activity rapidly enhances the neuronal expression and secretion of BDNF which is subsequently taken up by neurons themselves but also by perineuronal astrocytes, through the selective activation of BDNF receptors. Moreover, internalized BDNF becomes part of the releasable source of the neurotrophin, which is promptly recruited for activity-dependent recycling. Thus, we described for the first time that neurons and astrocytes contain an endocytic compartment competent for BDNF recycling, suggesting a specialized form of bidirectional communication between neurons and glia. The mechanism of BDNF recycling is reminiscent of that for neurotransmitters and identifies BDNF as a new modulator implicated in neuro- and glio-transmission. In the second part of this doctoral thesis I addressed the role of BDNF signaling in adult hippocampal neurogenesis. I have generated a transgenic mouse model to specifically investigate the influence of BDNF signaling on the generation, differentiation, survival and connectivity of newborn neurons into the adult hippocampal network. I demonstrated that the survival of newborn neurons critically depends on the activation of the BDNF receptor TrkB. The TrkB-dependent decision regarding life or death in these newborn neurons takes place right at the transition point of their morphological and functional maturation Before newborn neurons start to die, they exhibit a drastic reduction in dendritic complexity and spine density compared to wild-type newborn neurons, indicating that this receptor is required for the connectivity of newborn neurons. Both the failure to become integrated and subsequent dying lead to impaired LTP. Finally, mice lacking a functional TrkB in the restricted population of newborn neurons show behavioral deficits, namely increased anxiety-like behavior. These data suggest that the integration and establishment of proper connections by newly generated neurons into the pre-existing network are relevant features for regulating the emotional state of the animal.

Frame-driven Extraction of Linked Data and Ontologies from Text

Ontology design and population -core aspects of semantic technologies- re- cently have become fields of great interest due to the increasing need of domain-specific knowledge bases that can boost the use of Semantic Web. For building such knowledge resources, the state of the art tools for ontology design require a lot of human work. Producing meaningful schemas and populating them with domain-specific data is in fact a very difficult and time-consuming task. Even more if the task consists in modelling knowledge at a web scale. The primary aim of this work is to investigate a novel and flexible method- ology for automatically learning ontology from textual data, lightening the human workload required for conceptualizing domain-specific knowledge and populating an extracted schema with real data, speeding up the whole ontology production process. Here computational linguistics plays a fundamental role, from automati- cally identifying facts from natural language and extracting frame of relations among recognized entities, to producing linked data with which extending existing knowledge bases or creating new ones. In the state of the art, automatic ontology learning systems are mainly based on plain-pipelined linguistics classifiers performing tasks such as Named Entity recognition, Entity resolution, Taxonomy and Relation extraction [11]. These approaches present some weaknesses, specially in capturing struc- tures through which the meaning of complex concepts is expressed [24]. Humans, in fact, tend to organize knowledge in well-defined patterns, which include participant entities and meaningful relations linking entities with each other. In literature, these structures have been called Semantic Frames by Fill- 6 Introduction more [20], or more recently as Knowledge Patterns [23]. Some NLP studies has recently shown the possibility of performing more accurate deep parsing with the ability of logically understanding the structure of discourse [7]. In this work, some of these technologies have been investigated and em- ployed to produce accurate ontology schemas. The long-term goal is to collect large amounts of semantically structured information from the web of crowds, through an automated process, in order to identify and investigate the cognitive patterns used by human to organize their knowledge.

Development of a field method to assess root parasites of woody plants - ecological analyses of the grapevine-phylloxera interaction

The development and the growth of plants is strongly affected by the interactions between roots, rootrnassociated organisms and rhizosphere communities. Methods to assess such interactions are hardly torndevelop particularly in perennial and woody plants, due to their complex root system structure and theirrntemporal change in physiology patterns. In this respect, grape root systems are not investigated veryrnwell. The aim of the present work was the development of a method to assess and predict interactionsrnat the root system of rootstocks (Vitis berlandieri x Vitis riparia) in field. To achieve this aim, grapernphylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch, Hemiptera, Aphidoidea) was used as a graperoot parasitizingrnmodel.rnTo develop the methodical approach, a longt-term trial (2006-2009) was arranged on a commercial usedrnvineyard in Geisenheim/Rheingau. All 2 to 8 weeks the top most 20 cm of soil under the foliage wallrnwere investigated and root material was extracted (n=8-10). To include temporal, spatial and cultivarrnspecific root system dynamics, the extracted root material was analyzed digitally on the morphologicalrnproperties. The grape phylloxera population was quantified and characterized visually on base of theirrnlarvalstages (oviparous, non oviparous and winged preliminary stages). Infection patches (nodosities)rnwere characterized visually as well, partly supported by digital root color analyses. Due to the knownrneffects of fungal endophytes on the vitality of grape phylloxera infested grapevines, fungal endophytesrnwere isolated from nodosity and root tissue and characterized (morphotypes) afterwards. Further abioticrnand biotic soil conditions of the vineyards were assessed. The temporal, spatial and cultivar specificrnsensitivity of single parameters were analyzed by omnibus tests (ANOVAs) and adjacent post-hoc tests.rnThe relations between different parameters were analyzed by multiple regression models.rnQuantitative parameters to assess the degeneration of nodosity, the development nodosity attachedrnroots and to differentiate between nodosities and other root swellings in field were developed. Significantrndifferences were shown between root dynamic including parameters and root dynamic ignoringrnparameters. Regarding the description of grape phylloxera population and root system dynamic, thernmethod showed a high temporal, spatial and cultivar specific sensitivity. Further, specific differencesrncould be shown in the frequency of endophyte morphotypes between root and nodosity tissue as wellrnas between cultivars. Degeneration of nodosities as well as nodosity occupation rates could be relatedrnto the calculated abundances of grape phylloxera population. Further ecological questions consideringrngrape root development (e.g. relation between moisture and root development) and grape phylloxerarnpopulation development (e.g. relation between temperature and population structure) could be answeredrnfor field conditions.rnGenerally, the presented work provides an approach to evaluate vitality of grape root systems. Thisrnapproach can be useful, considering the development of control strategies against soilborne pests inrnviticulture (e.g. grape phylloxera, Sorospheara viticola, Roesleria subterranea (Weinm.) Redhaed) as well as considering the evaluation of integrated management systems in viticulture.

Massenspektrometrische Wasserdampfmessung in der oberen Troposphäre und unteren Stratosphäre

Diese Arbeit beschreibt die Entwicklung des flugzeuggetragenen Atmosphärischen Ionisations-Massenspektrometers AIMS-H2O zur Messung von Wasserdampf in der oberen Troposphäre und unteren Stratosphäre (UTLS) und erste Flugzeugmessungen mit dem Instrument. Wasserdampf beeinflusst das Klima in der UTLS aufgrund seiner Strahlungseigenschaften und agiert als wichtiger Parameter bei der Bildung von Zirruswolken und Kondensstreifen. Deshalb sind genaue Wasserdampfmessungen für das Verständnis vieler atmosphärischer Prozesse unerlässlich. Instrumentenvergleiche wie sie im SPARC Report No. 2 und dem Bericht der AUQAVIT Kampagne zusammengefasst sind, haben gezeigt, dass große Abweichungen zwischen einzelnen Methoden und Instrumenten bestehen. Diese Unsicherheiten limitieren das Verständnis des Einflusses von Wasserdampf auf die Dynamik und die Strahlungseigenschaften in der UTLS. Die in dieser Arbeit vorgestellte Entwicklung einer neuen Messmethode für Wasserdampf mit dem Massenspektrometer AIMS-H2O ist deshalb auf die genaue Messung niedriger Wasserdampfkonzentrationen in der UTLS fokussiert. Mit AIMS H2O wird Umgebungsluft in einer neu entwickelten Gasentladungsquelle ionisiert. Durch eine Reihe von Ionen-Molekül-Reaktionen entstehen H3O+(H2O) und H3O+(H2O)2 Ionen. Diese Ionen werden genutzt, um die Wasserdampfkonzentration in der Atmosphäre zu bestimmen. Um die erforderliche hohe Genauigkeit zu erzielen, wird AIMS H2O im Flug kalibriert. In dem zu diesem Zweck aufgebauten Kalibrationsmodul wird die katalytische Reaktion von Wasserstoff und Sauerstoff auf einer Platinoberfläche genutzt, um definierte Wasserdampfkonzentrationen für die Kalibration im Flug zu erzeugen. Bei ersten Messungen auf der Falcon während der Kampagne CONCERT 2011 konnte dabei eine Genauigkeit von 8 bis 15% für die Messung der Wasserdampfkonzentration in einem Messbereich von 0,5 bis 250 ppmv erreicht werden. Die Messfrequenz betrug 4 Hz, was einer räumlichen Auflösung von etwa 50 m entspricht. Der Vergleich der Messung des Massenspektrometers mit dem Laserhygrometer Waran zeigt eine sehr gute Übereinstimmung im Rahmen der Unsicherheiten. Anhand zweier Fallstudien werden die Messungen von AIMS H2O während CONCERT 2011 detailliert analysiert. In der ersten Studie werden zwei Flüge in eine stratosphärische Intrusion über Nordeuropa untersucht. In dieser Situation wurde stratosphärische Luft bis hinunter auf 6 km Höhe transportiert und war dadurch mit der Falcon erreichbar. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass AIMS-H2O sehr gut für die genaue Messung niedriger Wasserdampfkonzentrationen, in diesem Fall bis etwa 3,5 ppmv, geeignet ist. Der Vergleich der Messung mit Analysen des ECMWF Integrated Forecast Systems zeigt eine gute Übereinstimmung der gemessenen Wasserdampfstrukturen mit der dynamischen Tropopause. Unterschiede tauchen dagegen beim Vergleich der Wasserdampfkonzentrationen in der unteren Stratosphäre auf. Hier prognostiziert das Modell deutlich höhere Feuchten. Die zweite Fallstudie beschäftigt sich mit der Verteilung der relativen Feuchte in jungen Kondensstreifen im Vergleich zu ihrer direkten Umgebung. Dabei wurde für drei Messsequenzen im Abgasstrahl von Flugzeugen beobachtet, dass die relative Feuchte innerhalb des Kondensstreifens im Vergleich zur Umgebung sowohl bei unter- als auch übersättigten Umgebungsbedingungen in Richtung Sättigung verschoben ist. Die hohe Anzahl an Eispartikeln und die damit verbundene große Eisoberfläche in jungen Kondensstreifen führt also zu einer schnellen Relaxation von Gasphase und Eis in Richtung Gleichgewicht. In der Zukunft soll AIMS-H2O auch auf HALO für die genaue Messung von Wasserdampf bei ML-CIRRUS und weiteren Kampagnen eingesetzt werden.

Integriertes Informationsmanagement für Bildungseinrichtungen

Der CampusSource Workshop fand vom 10. bis 12. Oktober 2006 an der Westfälischen Wilhelms Universität (WWU) in Münster statt. Kernpunkte der Veranstaltung waren die Entwicklung einer Engine zur Verknüpfung von e-Learning Anwendungen mit Systemen der HIS GmbH und die Erstellung von Lehr- und Lerninhalten mit dem Ziel der Wiederverwendung. Im zweiten Kapitel sind Vorträge der Veranstaltung im Adobe Flash Format zusammengetragen. Zur Betrachtung der Vorträge ist der Adobe Flash Player, mindestens in der Version 6 erforderlich

Leveraging Informality Within eLearning

The next generation of learners expect more informality in learning. Formal learning systems such as traditional LMS systems no longer meet the needs of a generation of learners used to Twitter and Facebook, social networking and user-generated content. Regardless of this, however, formal content and learning models are still important and play a major role in educating learners, particularly in enterprise. The eLite project at DERI addressed this emerging dichotomy of learning styles, reconciling the traditional with the avant garde by using innovative technology to add informal learning capabilities to formal learning architectures.

Matching form with content

Successful computer-supported distance education requires that its enabling technologies are accessible and usable anywhere. They should work seamlessly inside and outside the information superhighway, wherever the target learners are located, without obtruding on the learning activity. It has long been recognised that the usability of interactive computer systems is inversely related to the visibility of the implementing technologies. Reducing the visibility of technology is especially challenging in the area of online language learning systems, which require high levels of interactivity and communication along multiple dimensions such as speaking, listening, reading and writing. In this article, the authors review the concept of invisibility as it applies to the design of interactive technologies and appliances. They describe a specialised appliance matched to the requirements for distance second language learning, and report on a successful multi-phase evaluation process, including initial field testing at a Thai open university.

Matching form with content

Successful computer-supported distance education requires that its enabling technologies are accessible and usable anywhere. They should work seamlessly inside and outside the information superhighway, wherever the target learners are located, without obtruding on the learning activity. It has long been recognised that the usability of interactive computer systems is inversely related to the visibility of the implementing technologies. Reducing the visibility of technology is especially challenging in the area of online language learning systems, which require high levels of interactivity and communication along multiple dimensions such as speaking, listening, reading and writing. In this article, the authors review the concept of invisibility as it applies to the design of interactive technologies and appliances. They describe a specialised appliance matched to the requirements for distance second language learning, and report on a successful multi-phase evaluation process, including initial field testing at a Thai open university.