Máquina de vetores-suporte intervalar

The Support Vector Machines (SVM) has attracted increasing attention in machine learning area, particularly on classification and patterns recognition. However, in some cases it is not easy to determinate accurately the class which given pattern belongs. This thesis involves the construction of a intervalar pattern classifier using SVM in association with intervalar theory, in order to model the separation of a pattern set between distinct classes with precision, aiming to obtain an optimized separation capable to treat imprecisions contained in the initial data and generated during the computational processing. The SVM is a linear machine. In order to allow it to solve real-world problems (usually nonlinear problems), it is necessary to treat the pattern set, know as input set, transforming from nonlinear nature to linear problem. The kernel machines are responsible to do this mapping. To create the intervalar extension of SVM, both for linear and nonlinear problems, it was necessary define intervalar kernel and the Mercer s theorem (which caracterize a kernel function) to intervalar function

Palma forrageira (Opuntia ficus indica e Nopalea cochenillifera) como matéria-prima para produção de etanol celulósico e enzimas celulolíticas

The need for new sources of energy and the concern about the environment have pushed the search for renewable energy sources such as ethanol. The use of lignocellulosic biomass as substrate appears as an important alternative because of the abundance of this raw material and for it does not compete with food production. However, the process still meets difficulties of implementation, including the cost for production of enzymes that degrade cellulose to fermentable sugars. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of the species of cactus pear Opuntia ficus indica and Nopalea cochenillifera, commonly found in northeastern Brazil, as raw materials for the production of: 1) cellulosic ethanol by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process, using two different strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (PE-2 and LNF CA-11), and 2) cellulolytic enzymes by semi-solid state fermentation (SSSF) using the filamentous fungus Penicillium chrysogenum. Before alcoholic fermentation process, the material was conditioned and pretreated by three different strategies: alkaline hydrogen peroxide, alkaline using NaOH and acid using H2SO4 followed by alkaline delignification with NaOH. Analysis of composition, crystallinity and enzymatic digestibility were carried out with the material before and after pretreatment. In addition, scanning electron microscopy images were used to compare qualitatively the material and observe the effects of pretreatments. An experimental design 2² with triplicate at the central point was used to evaluate the influence of temperature (30, 40 and 45 °C) and the initial charge of substrate (3, 4 and 5% cellulose) in the SSF process using the material obtained through the best condition and testing both strains of S. cerevisiae, one of them flocculent (LNF CA-11). For cellulase production, the filamentous fungus P. chrysogenum was tested with N. cochenillifera in the raw condition (without pretreatment) and pretrated hydrothermically, varying the pH of the fermentative medium (3, 5 and 7). The characterization of cactus pear resulted in 31.55% cellulose, 17.12% hemicellulose and 10.25% lignin for N. cochenillifera and 34.86% cellulose, 19.97% hemicellulose and 15.72% lignin for O. ficus indica. It has also been determined, to N. cochenillifera and O. ficus indica, the content of pectin (5.44% and 5.55% of calcium pectate, respectively), extractives (26.90% and 9.69%, respectively) and ashes (5.40% and 5.95%). Pretreatment using alkaline hydrogen peroxide resulted in the best cellulose recovery results (86.16% for N. cochenillifera and 93.59% for O. ficus indica) and delignification (48.79% and 23.84% for N. cochenillifera and O. ficus indica, respectively). This pretreatment was also the only one which did not increase the crystallinity index of the samples, in the case of O. ficus indica. However, when analyzing the enzymatic digestibility of cellulose, alkali pretreatment was the one which showed the best yields and therefore it was chosen for the tests in SSF. The experiments showed higher yield of conversion of cellulose to ethanol by PE-2 strain using the pretreated N. cochenillifera (93.81%) at 40 °C using 4% initial charge of cellulose. N. cochenillifera gave better yields than O. ficus indica and PE-2 strain showed better performance than CA-11. N. cochenillifera proved to be a substrate that can be used in the SSSF for enzymes production, reaching values of 1.00 U/g of CMCase and 0.85 FPU/g. The pretreatment was not effective to increase the enzymatic activity values

Desenvolvimento de protótipo de coletor automático destinado à coleta de amostras de água em corpos aquáticos para análise em laboratório

The aim of this approach is to describe the design and construction of a low-cost automated water sampler prototype. In recent years, there is an increasing need on the use of automated equipments for hydro climatic variables to be use in urban and rural environments. Such devices are always used to provide measured information which is of crucial importance on the development of water resources strategies at watershed scale. Actually, many research and water public institutions have been using these kinds of equipments. In most of the cases, automated equipments are expensive and need to be imported, generating a situation of technologic dependency. The prototype is based on an electronic system which controls a peristaltic pump functioning, five solenoid valves and an ultrasonic sensor connected to a datalloger. An interface with the user allows communication with a PC, when the equipment functioning parameters can be provided. The equipment has a hydraulic module composed by a 12V peristaltic pump connected to a distribution circuit composed by five solenoid valves, one of them being used to clean the circuit before each sampling procedure. Samples are collected by four 1.95 polyethylene bottles. The sampler body was made of acrylic material, with a cylindrical shape, and dimensions 0.72 m and 0.38 m height and diameter, respectively. The weight of the equipment without samples is approximately 15 kg, which infers to its portability. The prototype development total cost budget was approximately US$ 1,560.00. Laboratory tests aimed to evaluate the equipment performance and functioning demonstrated satisfactory results

Aerofotos convencionais e imagens orbitais TM/LANDSAT no mapeamento morfopedológico em Santa Bárbara D'Oeste (SP)

Foram estudados, com o auxílio de fotografias aéreas, aspectos qualitativos e quantitativos do relevo e da rede de drenagem de solos de uma área de Santa Bárbara D'Oeste, SP. Esta região compreende 14.625 ha, onde foram selecionadas bacias hidrográficas de 3ª ordem de ramificação e amostras circulares de 5km². As unidades de mapeamento simples ou associações de solos são: Latossolo Vermelho Escuro, Podzólico, Litossolo + Podzólico, Terra Roxa Estruturada + Latossolo Roxo distrófico. Após a caracterização das feições fisiográficas, da área de ocorrência desses solos, foram realizados dois mapas morfopedológicos. No primeiro utilizou-se fotografias aéreas verticais pancromáticas na escala 1: 35.000 (data de 25/6/78) e no segundo imagens orbitais do sensor Thematic Mapper do LANDSAT-5, nas bandas 3, 4 e 5 e composição colorida 3/4/5 na escala 1: 100.000 (data de 12/9/91). As análises qualitativas e quantitativas do relevo (índice de declividade média) e rede de drenagem (densidade de drenagem, freqüência de rios, razão de textura) mostraram-se eficientes na diferenciação das unidades de solo estudadas, tanto em bacias hidrográficas como em amostras circulares. A utilização de fotografias aéreas, permitiu maior riqueza de detalhes na precisão dos limites das unidades de mapeamento e no maior número de unidades de mapeamento discriminadas em relação as imagens orbitais. A composição colorida 3/4/5 permitiu diferenciar os Latossolos argilosos dos Latossolos de textura média, assim como o Latossolo Húmico.

Avaliação in vitro da adesão e proliferação de células mesenquimais do ligamento periodontal humano em diferentes superfícies de titânio

In the last years, many scientific researches in implantology have been focused on alternatives that would provide higher speed and quality in the process of osseointegration. Different treatment methods can be used to modify the topographic and chemical properties of titanium surface in order to optimize the tissue-implant reactions by a positive tissue response. This study aimed to evaluate the adhesion and proliferation of mesenchymal cells from human periodontal ligament on two different titanium surfaces, using cell culture techniques. Grade II titanium discs received different surface treatments, forming two distinct groups: polished and cathodic cage plasma nitriding. Human periodontal ligament mesenchymal cells were cultured on titanium discs in 24-well cell culture plates, at a density of 2 x 104 cells per well, including wells with no discs as positive control. Data obtained by counting the cells that adhered to the titanium surfaces (polished group and cathodic cage group) and to the plastic surface (control group), in the 24, 48 and 72-hour periods after plating, were used to analyze cell adhesion and proliferation and to obtain the cell growing curve in the different groups. The data were submitted to nonparametric analysis and the differences between groups were compared by Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman statistical tests. No statistically significant differences were found in the cells counts between the groups (p>0.05). It was concluded that both treatments produced surfaces compatible with the adhesion and proliferation of human periodontal ligament mesenchymal cells

Relação da imunoexpressão da bmp-2, bmpr-ia e bmpr-ii com o perfil clínico-patológico em carcinoma epidermóide de lábio inferior

Currently, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have effective participation in the growth of malignancies. Knowing that there are few studies involving BMPs and oral squamous cell carcinoma, this work constitutes an immunohistochemical study of BMP-2, BMPR IA and BMPR II in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the lower lip relating to the clinical and pathological aspects of this lesion. The sample consisted of 40 cases of SCC of the lower lip, being 20 cases of SCC of the lower lip with regional metastasis and 20 cases without metastasis. We evaluated the intensity of expression (score 1 to mark absent / weak, score 2 for high ) and was found the percentage of labeled cells, where the score was 1 cases with 0 to 50% of positive cells, score 2 with 51 to 75% of positive cells, and score 3 more than 75% of positive cells. The sample comprised 72.5% of men with a mean age of 65.8 years, there was a predominance of stage II and 52.5% of the carcinomas were classified as low grade, being carcinoma with metastasis presenting most cases (70%) as carcinomas of high malignancy grade (p = 0.004). The largest number of cases of SCC of the lower lip that were in stages I / II (61, 9%) were classified as carcinomas of low grade malignancy and carcinomas in stages III / IV were classified as high-grade tumors (p = 0, 024). The BMP-2 showed strong intensity of immunostaining in 82.5%, BMPR-IA showed 55% of cases with an intensity of immunostaining absent / weak and BMPR-II showed 85% of cases with an intensity of immunostaining absent / weak. Only the protein BMPR-IA were significantly associated with all clinic-pathological parameters studied, metastasis (p <0.001), TNM (p <0.001) and histological grade of malignancy with (p = 0.028). The percentage of positive cells, all markers showed the highest number of cases with more than 75% of positive cells (score 3) and only BMPR-II showed statistical difference when related to the presence and absence of metastasis (p = 0.049 ). We conclude that there is disturbance in the BMP signaling pathway in EC-mediated lower lip and that high expression of BMP-2 associated with the expression of BMPR-IA and BMPR-II are associated with metastasis in carcinoma

Expressão de genes imediatos induzidos por vocalizações em sagüis-comuns (Callithrix jacchus)

Immediate-early genes (IEGs) expression has been widely used as a valuable tool to investigate brain areas activated by specific stimuli. Studies of natural vocalizations, specially in songbirds, have largely benefited from this tool. Here we used IEGs expression to investigate brain areas activated by the hearing of conspecific common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) vocalizations and/or utterance of antiphonal vocalizations. Nine adult male common marmosets were housed in sound-attenuating cages. Six animals were stimulated with playbacks of freely recorded natural long distance vocalizations (phee calls and twitters; 45 min. total duration). Three of them vocalized in response (O/V group) and three did not (O/n group). The control group (C) was composed by the remaining animals, which neither heard the playbacks nor spontaneously vocalized. After one hour of the stimulation onset (or no stimulation, in the case of the C group), animals were perfused with 0,9% phosphate-saline buffer and 4% paraformaldehyde. The tissue was coronally sectioned at 20 micro meter in a cryostat and submitted to immunohistochemistry for the IEGs egr-1 and c-fos. Marked immunoreactivity was observed in the auditory cortex of O/V and O/n subjects and in the anterior cingulate cortex, the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex of O/V subjects. In this study, brain areas activated by vocalizations of common marmosets were investigated using IEGs expression for the first time. Our results with the egr-1 gene indicate that potential plastic phenomena occur in areas related to hearing and uttering conspecific vocalizations.

O pátio escolar do ensino fundamental como ambiente de brincar segundo as crianças usuárias

The intention of the present study was to analyze the adequacy of the playground of elementary schools, according to the point of view of the child student, direct user of this type of environment, what estimated its critical in respect to these spaces and aimed at to contribute for its improvement. Many studies have analyzed the quality of the physical environment available for activities of leisure in specific places for children, focusing in the influence of the physical space in the interpersonal relationships and the comfort and satisfaction generated by the physical characteristics of these spaces. Concern with scholar environment, specially the interest on playgrounds, has been subject of recent studies; however, little attention has been given to the opinion of the user-child in relation to this school environment. In this inquiry of the playground of two state schools of 1ª to 4ª series of elementary school in the city of Piracicaba, SP, was used: assystematics observations, photographic register of the studied environments, interviews with child-users and behavioral mapping. The main subjects resulting from the analysis of the interviews content were: adaptation, density and interpersonal relationships, and infantile confinement. The results revealed the unsatisfactory conditions of the courtyards, in respect to person-environment relationship. The children demonstrated to be critical, creative and responsible when answering questions related to the quality of the school courtyard. This finding confirms previous studies and leads to the conclusion that the child, as the direct user, should be included as an excellent source of consultation in the planning of the constructed environment

Suporte ao uso de álcool e drogas na atenção primária: um estudo com equipes de Natal/RN

National surveys indicate that 6.8 % of the brazilian population is dependent on alcohol and 1 % dependent on illicit drugs, representing a significant portion of the population affected by this issue . Primary Care becomes instrumental in expanding the coverage of this demand and in reducing unnecessary referrals for specialized care. This study aimed to investigate the responsiveness and institutional support of Primary Care Teams in relation to the demands of alcohol and drugs users. The research was conducted in a Family Health Unit in West Sanitary District of Natal City. With quantitative and qualitative nature, our study consisted of two stages. At first, we performed a mapping of alcohol and other drugs abusive use in a sample of the population assisted by Family Heath Teams, using sociodemographic questionnaire and ASSIST (Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test). 406 questionnaires were completed. Of these questionnaires, 27.8% are men and 72.2% women, of which 56% are between 20 and 39 years-old, they are housewives, have a stable relationship and are consumers of tobacco (37.6%), marijuana (13%) and especially alcohol (57%). In second stage, two Conversation Circles with Family Health Teams and the referential Family Health Support Center were formed to discuss the data of the mapping realized in the previous phase. The circles, which had participation of 20 of the 37 professional teams from Family Health and 2 from Family Health Support Center, showed a lack of professional training in the subject; inability of the healthcare network in the user embracement; belief of professionals that nothing can be done when matter is alcohol and drugs; and referencing as the only care action performed by teams. Thus we point out the need to support an approach on issues of alcohol and drugs which consider gender issues, investing in Harm Reduction Policy as a possibility of working in this context for recognizing each user in their uniqueness and strategizing with them to promote health in a broad and contextualized way

Obtenção e caracterização de nanopartículas de quitosana

Chitosan nanoparticles have been used in several systems for the controlled release of drugs. The aim of this study was to obtain and characterize chitosan nanoparticles prepared by the method of coacervation / precipitation using sodium sulfate at different concentrations as the crosslinking agent. The characterization was done using zeta potential and small angle Xray scattering, SAXS. The dispersions of chitosan were obtained at pH 1 and pH = 3. The results of zeta potential at pH = 1 ranged from +64.8 to +29.27 mV and for pH = 3 they varied from +72.4 to +23.48 mV, indicating that the chain of chitosan is positively charged in acidic pH and the behavior of nanoparticles in terms of surface charge was independent of pH. However, the results indicated a dependence of particle size in relation to pH. This difference in behavior was explained by the influence of enthalpic and entropic components

Análise bromatológica de carnes antes e após o processamento para obtenção de charque

The process of salting and drying in the sun is used to preserve meat since the beginning of civilization. There is evidence that this preservation technique has arisen in Egypt, between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago. In our country, according to literature, was the first industrial product that gave the appearance of beef jerky, beef being produced, where about 70% to 75% of the muscle is composed of water, where it will be around 45% as a final product, according to the law in his article RIISPOA No. 432 provides that the jerky should contain no more than this amount of moisture in the muscular portion, or more than 15% of total ash with tolerance of up to 5% variation . Besides this parameter, proteins, lipids, ash, and minerals were analyzed in samples before and after the manufacturing process to know the content of these nutrients. Since these are considered important in product quality, thus the concentration in these samples, respectively, in the flesh Front (CD and CHD) before and after the manufacturing process for humidity were respectively 75.28% and 47.38% , the protein was 14.17 and 22.20 g / 100 g sample, 6.360 and 4.251 of lipids g/100g of the sample, and the ashes 0.974 9.144 g/100g sample, minerals like calcium and 4.074 30 , 06 ppm, sódio0, 055 and 5.401 g / L, sodium chloride, 0.139 and 13.74 g / L, potassium 237.5 and 166.8 ppm, 1.721 and 3.295 ppm iron, 0.143 and 0.135 ppm phosphorus, zinc and 4.690 6.905 ppm; magnésio14, 63 e13, 75 ppm manganese .017 e0, 007ppm, copper 0.057 and 0.039 ppm in the case of needle-type meat (CPA and CHPA), 68.04% and 44.17%, protein 13 , 72, and 24.42 g/100g of sample, 1.137 in the ash and 12.68 g / 100g of sample, and the minerals calcium 17.11 and 12.89 ppm; sódio0, 123 and 4.871 g / L, sodium chloride 0.312 and 12.39 g / L, potassium 305.3 and 182.1 ppm; ferro1, 817 and 1.513 ppm, 0.273 and 0.139 ppm phosphorus, zinc 6.305 and 4.783 ppm, 27.95 and 15.85 ppm magnesium, manganese and 0.025 0.011 ppm, 0.057 and 0.143 ppm copper and chromium 0.014 and 0.068 ppm

Síntese e caracterização de redes metalorgânicas baseadas em zinco e ácidos benzenodicarboxílicos

Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are supramolecular structures consisted of ions or metal clusters coordinated to organic ligands which are repeated in two or three dimensions. These structures have atracted much attention due to their properties such as low density, high specific surface area and large volume of pores. In this work, MOFs consisted of zinc clusters connected by ditopic ligands, terephthalic acid (1,4- H2BDC) or isophthalic acid (1,3-H2BDC) were synthesized. To obtain the proposed materials, different routes and synthetic parameters were tested, such as the molar ratio of the precursors, the addition of template molecules, the type of solvente, the addition of organic base or the type of a counter-ion of Zn salt. It was found that the variation of these parameters led to the formation of different metalorganic structures. The solids obtained were characterized by XRD, SEM and IR. For the samples identified as MOF- 5, it was verified that the structure was composed of both interpenetrated and non interpenetrated structures. These samples showed a low stability, becoming totally transformed into another structure within less than 72 hours. The addition of the nickel and/or cobalt was found to be a promissing method for increasing the stability of MOF- 5, which in this case, still remained unconverted to another structure even after 15 days of exposure to air. The samples prepared from 1,3-H2BDC were probably new, still unknown Metal Organic Frameworks

Atividade biológica de células-tronco da polpa de dentes decíduos humanos submetidas à criopreservação

Dental pulp stem cells have been widely investigated because of their ability to differentiate into both dental and non-dental cells, with potential use in therapies involving tissue engineering. The technique of cell cryopreservation represents a viable alternative for the conservation of these cells, since it stops reversibly, in a controlled manner, all of cell biological functions in an ultra low temperature. The present study aimed to evaluate, using in vitro experiments, the influence of a cryopreservation protocol on the biologic acti vity of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED). Cells obtained from the pulp of three deciduous teeth on end-stage exfoliation or with indicated extraction were expanded in α-MEM culture medium supplemented with antibiotics and 15% fetal bovine serum. At second subculture (P2), a group of cells were submitted to cryopreservation for 30 days in 10% DMSO diluted in fetal bovine serum, at -80º C, while the remind cells continued under normal conditions of cell culture. Cell proliferation was evaluated in both groups (not cryopreserved or cryopreserved) by Trypan blue stain essay at intervals of 24, 48 and 72h after plating. Cell cycle analysis of SHEDs submitted or not to the cryopreservation protocol was performed in the same intervals. Events related to cell death were studied by Annexyn V and PI expression under flow cytometry at the intervals of 24 and 72h. The presence of nuclear morphological changes was evaluated by DAPI staining at 72h interval. It was observed that both groups exhibited an upward cell proliferation curve, without considerable changes in cell viability throughout the experiment. The distribution of cell in the cell cycle phasis was consistent with cell proliferation in both groups. There were no nuclear morphological damages in the end range of the experiment. therefore, it is concluded that the proposed cryopreservation protocol is efficient for storing the studied cell type, allowing its use in future experimental studies

Avaliação do atendimento anestésico da criança e do adolescente em um hospital universitário

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Qualidade em anestesia e na satisfação dos pacientes têm tido acentuado destaque. O objetivo foi avaliar o atendimento anestésico de crianças e adolescentes, entrevistando seus responsáveis. MÉTODO: Foram entrevistados 230 responsáveis por crianças e adolescentes submetidos à anestesia no período compreendido entre abril e dezembro de 2003. Realizou-se entrevista na visita pós-operatória através de questionário com quatro itens: identificação das crianças e de adolescentes e seus responsáveis (item 1); esclarecimentos na visita pré-anestésica (item 2), quanto à anestesia (item 3) e à recuperação pós-anestésica (SRPA) (item 4), determinando-se quem dera as informações aos entrevistados e se houvera complicação no pós-anestésico. O responsável atribuiu nota de 0 a 10 ao Serviço de Anestesiologia. RESULTADOS: A pesquisa foi respondida pela mãe em 189 (82,2%) casos. A maioria dos entrevistados, 114 (75,6%), tinha entre 20 e 39 anos, era casada (148 a 64,3%) e 140 (60,9%) não tinham ocupação. Para 89%, o anestesiologista se identificou; para 37% e 77,4%, esclareceu sobre importância e tempo do jejum; 82%, sobre anemia; 90%, alergia; 46,8%, importância da SRPA; 42,2%, tempo de permanência; 72,9%, estado de saúde de sua criança. Não houve apreensões para 49%, 58% e 58%, respectivamente, no pré, intra e pós-anestésico. Gostariam de ter estado com sua criança/adolescente na chegada à SRPA 78,9%. Foram relacionadas preocupações no período pré, intra e pós-anestésico com o sexo e a idade do paciente - não ter tido nenhuma preocupação - maioria dos entrevistados - e com a escolaridade do entrevistado - quanto mais completa, menor foi o número e a variedade das preocupações relatadas. As notas atribuídas ao Serviço de Anestesiologia tiveram maior freqüência entre 7 e 10 (97,4%). CONCLUSÕES: Considera-se que o Serviço de Anestesiologia desenvolve bom trabalho, apesar de falhas na comunicação, que são de solução simples e dependem mais da vontade do serviço que de seu conhecimento científico.

Perfil eletroforético das proteínas séricas de serpentes Crotalus durissus terrificus (cascavel) criadas em cativeiro

As serpentes peçonhentas dos gêneros Bothrops e Crotalus têm sido mantidas em cativeiro visando à extração de venenos para a produção de imunobiológicos. O conhecimento da fisiologia desses animais e as alterações na concentração de proteínas e suas frações séricas são importantes para a identificação precoce de importantes enfermidades que cursam com estados de hipoproteinemia e hiperproteinemia. O objetivo do trabalho foi determinar a concentração de proteína total e o perfil eletroforético das proteínas séricas de serpentes Crotalus durissus terrificus (cascavel) criadas em cativeiro. Foram colhidas amostras de sangue da veia coccígea ventral de 21 serpentes adultas e sadias, divididas em dois grupos: Grupo 1 de 12 machos com peso médio de 588,89±193,55g, e Grupo 2 de nove fêmeas com peso médio de 708,33±194,04g. A proteína total sérica foi determinada pelo método de refratometria e a eletroforese em gel de agarose. Obtiveram-se valores da proteína total sérica (g/dL) de 4,51±0,50 para machos e de 4,82±0,72 para fêmeas, e para machos e fêmeas de 4,64±0,61. Foram identificadas pela eletroforese quatro frações protéicas (g/dL): albumina, a, b, g-globulinas e calculada a relação albumina:globulina. As serpentes fêmeas apresentaram maiores valores para as variáveis, albumina e para a relação albumina/globulina (AG) diferindo significativamente (P<0,05) do grupo de machos, porém sem significado clínico.