Evaluation of the Cartographic Communication Performance of a Route Guidance and Navigation System

This study evaluates the influence of different cartographic representations of in-car navigation systems on visual demand, subjective preference, and navigational error. It takes into account the type and complexity of the representation, maneuvering complexity, road layout, and driver gender. A group of 28 drivers (14 male and 14 female) participated in this experiment which was performed in a low-cost driving simulator. The tests were performed on a limited number of instances for each type of representation, and their purpose was to carry out a preliminary assessment and provide future avenues for further studies. Data collected for the visual demand study were analyzed using non-parametric statistical analyses. Results confirmed previous research that showed that different levels of design complexity significantly influence visual demand. Non-grid-like road networks, for example, influence significantly visual demand and navigational error. An analysis of simple maneuvers on a grid-like road network showed that static and blinking arrows did not present significant differences. From the set of representations analyzed to assess visual demand, both arrows were equally efficient. From a gender perspective, women seem to took at the display more than men, but this factor was not significant. With respect to subjective preferences, drivers prefer representations with mimetic landmarks when they perform straight-ahead tasks. For maneuvering tasks, landmarks in a perspective model created higher visual demands.

Influence of respiratory biofeedback associated to re-expansive ventilation patterns in individuals with functional mouth breathing

Objectives: Assess the effect of re-expansive respiratory patterns associated to respiratory biofeedback (RBF) on pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength and habits in individuals with functional mouth breathing (FMB).Methods: Sixty children with FMB were divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was submitted to 15 sessions of re-expansive respiratory patterns associated to RBF (biofeedback pletsmovent; MICROHARD (R) V1.0), which provided biofeedback of the thoracic and abdominal movements. The control group was submitted to 15 sessions using biofeedback alone. Spirometry, maximum static respiratory pressure measurements and questions regarding habits (answered by parents/guardians) were carried out before and after therapy. The Student's t-test for paired data and non-parametric tests were employed for statistical analysis at a 5% Level of significance.Results: Significant changes were found in forced vital. capacity, Tiffeneau index scores, maximum expiratory pressure, maximum inspiratory pressure and habits assessed in FMB with the use of RBF associated to the re-expansive patterns. No significant differences were found comparing the experimental and control groups.Conclusions: The results allow the conclusion that RBF associated to re-expansive patterns improves forced vital capacity, Tiffeneau index scores, respiratory muscle strength and habits in FMB and can therefore be used as a form of therapy for such individuals. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mutagenicity and genotoxicity of isatin in mammalian cells in vivo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Não vício assintótico, consistência forte e uniformemente forte de estimadores do tipo núcleo para dados direcionais sobre uma esfera unitária k-dimensional

In this work we studied the asymptotic unbiasedness, the strong and the uniform strong consistencies of a class of kernel estimators fn as an estimator of the density function f taking values on a k-dimensional sphere

Avaliação da angiogênese em lesões de líquen plano oral e pênfigo vulgar

Oral lichen planus and pemphigus vulgaris are chronic diseases mucous membrane immune of unknown aetiology that can be observed affecting to the oral mucous. A relevant as regards neoplasies the role angiogenesis in the inflammatory chronic disease pathogenesis as it provides a substancial interest can be considered as being an activity diseases marker; besides being through specialised research of this angiogenic process to improve of understanding pathogenic mechanism. This research proposes to assess angiogenic active through of antibody immunohistochemistry expression antiCD34 antibody in 26 OLP of reticular cases, 14 OLP erosives cases, 18 of PV cases and 15 specimens of normal oral mucosa. The result was submitted non-parametric tests of 5% significance level. It is not statistically significant correlacion was seen regarding between average vessels. However, only be effectively observed the median of OLP cases was larger than pemphigus vulgaris in fact proved average larger than oral normal mucosa (p=0,280). Regarding the microvascular count of CD34 concerning clinic form oral lichen planus (reticular and erosion) increased emphasis is more cross-border average for the form erosion clinic. Despite of the statistic tests could not be more effective (p=0,720). Even though, the results of the research is not sufficient to enable to consider of angiogenic process in the pathogenesis and lesions progression of oral lichen planus and pemphigus vulgaris, we suggest this process is present in both forms lesion, however, more studies must be made in the near future in order to prepare a well-founded proposal

Imunoexpressão da IL-17 e RORγt em carcinomas de células escamosas de lábio e língua

Th17 cells have been strongly associated to the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, although their influence on the carcinogenesis is still little known, there are reports of anti-tumor and protumoral actions. The objective of this study is to research the presence of Th17 lineage in lip and tongue SCC, using the analysis of the immunoexpression of IL-17 and RORγt, relating this immunoexpression with clinical and morphological findings in the attempt to better comprehend the role of these cells on the tumoral immunity of OSCCs. The results were submitted to non-parametric statistical tests with significance level of 5%. On the histomorphological analysis, it was observed the predominance of low level lesions on lip and high level lesions on tongue (p=0,024). It was not observed statistical significance between clinical stage and histological gradation of malignancy (p=0,644). For the immunohistochemical study, 5 random fields with greater immunoreactivity of the peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate were photomicrographed on the 400x magnification. It was done the count of lymphocytes which showed cytoplasmic and pericytoplasmic staining for the IL-17 cytokine as well as nuclear and cytoplasmic staining for RORγt. It was observed statistical significance difference on the quantity of immunopositive lymphocytes to IL-17 between the groups of SCC of lip and tongue (p=0,028). For the RORγt it was not observed statistical significance difference between the groups of SCC of lip and tongue (p=0,915). It was not observed statistical difference between the immunostaining of IL-17 and RORγt with histological gradation of malignancy and clinical staging. The findings of this research suggest a possible anti-tumor role of IL-17 for cases of lip. The results of the analysis of the RORγt are possibly due to the wide duality of the anti-tumor and protumoral role of the Th17 cells and their plasticity which, in the presence of different cytokines expressed on the tumor microenvironment, can alter its phenotype.

Interações físicas e psicossociais em mulheres com fibromialgia

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a non-inflammatory rheumatic syndrome of unknown etiology, with symptoms of diffuse musculoskeletal pain and presence of specific anatomic sites called tender points. The symptoms are often associated with fatigue, sleep disturbances, morning stiffness, alterations in pain perception, anxiety and depression. Fibromyalgia exhibits a correlation between physical and behavioral symptoms, which have a negative influence on the quality of life of patients. Emotional skills are important factors since they are related to subjective well-being, personal productivity, social interaction and interpersonal relationships. We aim to describe the physical and psychosocial interactions in women with FM, showing the association between perceived social support and affect with symptoms of pain, functionality and mood. We will also describe a body representation of pain in women with FM. Data were collected over 3 years and the sample size ranged between studies. This is an exploratory cross-sectional study conducted with a convenience sample of 63 women with FM and 42 healthy women as a control group (CT), aged 20-76 years, recruited through spontaneous demand at Onofre Lopes University Hospital (HUOL) and the Clinical School of Physiotherapy of Universidade Potiguar (UNP). The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Social Support Scale (MOS), Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Scale of Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), in addition to pressure algometry were used. For data analysis, we used parametric and non-parametric tests and a general linear model with adjustment variables and analysis of variance. A significant difference was found between pain threshold and tolerance, functionality, depression, anxiety, social support, and positive and negative affect between the groups. Affective states and social support were associated with anxiety, depression and functionality. A body was drawn representing pain with higher incidences in trapeze, supraspinatus and second ribs. The reason for studying sensory aspects, affective behavior and social support in FM patients opens perspectives for scientific and clinical research of this syndrome. Women with chronic pain such as FM appear to have altered mood states, less social support and affective dysfunctions, influencing the other symptoms of the syndrome

Glucose consume and growth of E. coli under electromagnetic field

E. coli,em caldo glicosado,foi submetida a campo eletromagnético de intensidade 5G, gerado por fonte de tensão alternada de 60 Hz . Os crescimento e consumo de glicose foram avaliados através do teste não-paramétrico de Mann-Whitney para comparação de dois grupos. Após 8 h de exposição encontraram-se menor valor da glicose residual e maior turbidez nos tubos expostos ao campo evidenciando efeito positivo deste. A causa deste efeito no consumo da glicose pode ser pela estimulação de sistema de transporte de glicose, como a Difusão Facilitada ou por um tipo de fenômeno chamado ressonância ciclotrônica. O aumento do crescimento pode ser pelo encurtamento da lag phase e estimulação da log phase.

Correlato hormonal do comportamento reprodutivo de machos de sagüi comum (Callithrix jacchus) em ambiente natural

Contrary to what is recorded for Callithrix jacchus females, the social interactions and hormonal profiles of males are less studied, and mainly in wild groups. The goal of this study was to investigate the behavioral and endocrine profiles of reproductive (RMs) and non-reproductive (NRs) common marmoset adult free-ranging males living in two natural groups (GC1 and GR2). The groups inhabited the area of the Escola Agrícola de Jundiaí/UFRN, located in Macaíba, Brazil. Fecal collection for cortisol and androgen measurement and behavioral monitoring was carried out during the active phase from April to September, 2005. For behavioral data collection the focal instantaneous method was used every 5 min, for a total of 11.563 records. Statistical analysis was performed using non parametric tests and p < 0.05. Besides showing diurnal variation, the frequency of affiliative behaviors was significantly higher for RMs toward reproductive females than for NRs. Affiliative interactions of RMs with both reproductive females and NRs were similar, probably related to pair bond formation and helper recruitment, respectively. Parental care was also similar for both RMs and NRs. Both androgen and cortisol levels increased after the birth of the infants, mainly in RMs. The longitudinal profile of androgens fluctuates more in response to agonistic encounters and sexual behavior than that of cortisol. The mean basal excretion of both hormones was significantly higher in RMs and seems to reflect their higher participation in territorial vigilance and mate guarding behaviors. Significant positive correlations were found between agonism and cortisol and androgen hormones. These results describe, for the first time, the behavioral and hormonal profiles of common marmosets living in free-ranging groups and suggest that reproductive males are more responsive both behaviorally and hormonally to social group dynamics

Indicadores da resposta ao estresse agudo associados com a familiaridade ao ambiente e aos procedimentos de banho e tosa em cães (Canis familiaris) da raça poodle

The stress responses can be parameters used in order to identify the welfare of animals. Behavior parameters can also be regarded as means to identify their relation to stressing situations. In this study, adult male and female poodle dogs, accustomed (group 1) or not (group 2) to the environment of a bath and grooming salon were analyzed through the plasmatic concentration of cortisol, cell counting of the immune system (total leukocytes and percentage of neutrophils and lymphocytes) and through observation of changes in behavior before and after the bath and grooming service. After arriving at the kennel, the dogs were taken to the bath and grooming facility, where they had their blood samples taken and were observed for ten minutes. The subsequent procedures consisted of the bath and grooming services and the collection of another blood samples. The research results were analyzed through non-parametric statistic tests and p < 0.05. Accustomed and non-accustomed dogs presented different hormonal and behavior responses: accustomed dogs presented an increasing of the cortisol level at the second blood samples collection, thus indicating stress towards the aforementioned procedures and presenting behavior responses which can be described as moderated stress. Non-accustomed dogs presented the same cortisol levels in both first and second samples suggesting that they were already reacting to the new environment. Dogs also shown behavioral responses which can be described as acute stress. Both male and female dogs showed similar immunological changes as well as different endocrine and behavioral profiles. Concerning aggression, this study demonstrates that biting the owner can be a predicting behavior of aggression during the bath and grooming service, male dogs were more aggressive than the female, and that males were more reactive to unknown caretaker. The results of this research propose that the familiarization of the animal with the bath and grooming environment and caretaker is important to the welfare of poodle dogs, especially to that of male dogs

Ferramentas quimiométricas aplicadas a classificação de amostras de leite em pó e quantificação de proteínas

In this work we used chemometric tools to classify and quantify the protein content in samples of milk powder. We applied the NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy combined with multivariate techniques. First, we carried out an exploratory method of samples by principal component analysis (PCA), then the classification of independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA). Thus it became possible to classify the samples that were grouped by similarities in their composition. Finally, the techniques of partial least squares regression (PLS) and principal components regression (PCR) allowed the quantification of protein content in samples of milk powder, compared with the Kjeldahl reference method. A total of 53 samples of milk powder sold in the metropolitan areas of Natal, Salvador and Rio de Janeiro were acquired for analysis, in which after pre-treatment data, there were four models, which were employed for classification and quantification of samples. The methods employed after being assessed and validated showed good performance, good accuracy and reliability of the results, showing that the NIR technique can be a non invasive technique, since it produces no waste and saves time in analyzing the samples

Estudo dos principais fatores que influenciam na solubilização dos hpas em águas

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) constitute a family of compounds characterized by having two or more condensed aromatic rings and for being a class of substances that are widely distributed in the environment as a complex mixture, being very persistent in the environment due to its low solubility in water. The application of chemometric methods to analytical chemistry has provided excellent results in studying the solubility of PAHs in aqueous media in order to understand the mechanisms involved in environmental contamination. The method consists in analyzing the solubilization of PAHs from diesel oil in water varying parameters such as stirring time, volume of oil added and pH, using a full factorial design of two levels and three factors. PAHs were extracted with n-hexane and analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy because they have molecular characteristics fluorescent due to the large number of condensed rings and links, and gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The results of fluorescence analysis showed that only the stirring time and pH influenced the solubility of PAHs in diesel fuel. How is a non-selective technique for the study of fluorescence was performed on form and semi-quantitative. And for the chromatographic analysis the results showed that the solubility of the different PAHs is influenced differently so that you can classify them into groups by the results of the effects

Influência do assento da cadeira adaptada na execução de uma tarefa de manuseio

Este estudo teve como objetivo verificar a influência da flexibilidade da superfície de assento da cadeira na velocidade e no tempo despendido por alunos com paralisia cerebral espástica durante a execução de uma tarefa de manuseio de um objeto na posição sentada. Participaram do estudo 11 alunos, de ambos os gêneros, com diagnóstico de paralisia cerebral espástica, que tinham algum controle de tronco e membros superiores. A quantificação da análise cinemática foi realizada em duas situações experimentais: 1) execução de uma tarefa acadêmica de encaixe, com o indivíduo posicionado em um mobiliário adaptado com assento de lona; 2) execução de uma tarefa acadêmica de encaixe, com o participante posicionado em um mobiliário adaptado com assento de madeira. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à análise estatística descritiva e não-paramétrica por meio do teste de Wilcoxon. Os resultados indicaram que: 1) a velocidade média de execução das tarefas não foi influenciada pelo tipo de assento utilizado 2) o tempo de execução da tarefa foi influenciada pelo tipo de assento utilizado. A utilização do assento de lona aumentou o tempo de realização da tarefa. Conclui-se que o assento de um mobiliário escolar para um aluno com paralisia cerebral espástica não deve ser confeccionado com um material muito flexível. Este tipo de assento fornecerá uma base instável que dificultará o desempenho do aluno durante atividades realizadas com os membros superiores.

Efeitos de um programa de orientação para adultos com lombalgia

OBJETIVO: Implantar um programa de Escola da Postura para pacientes com lombalgia crônica. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 41 sujeitos (46,81 ± 13,35 anos), de ambos os gêneros, com idade entre 25-65 anos que possuíam dor lombar há mais de 6 meses. Inicialmente, foi realizado a avaliação da qualidade de vida (Medical Outcomes Study 36- Item Short-Form Health Survey- SF-36) e capacidade funcional (Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire - ODQ). em seguida, todos os sujeitos participaram de cinco encontros semanais de 60 minutos, nos quais foram desenvolvidos as capacitações teórico-práticas. Após uma semana, os sujeitos foram reavaliados. Os dados obtidos nas avaliações foram analisados utilizando o teste estatístico não-paramétrico de Wilcoxon, com nível de significância de 5% (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: Foi observada melhora significativa na capacidade funcional (ODQ, p<0,0001). em relação à qualidade de vida observou-se melhora significativa nos domínios capacidade funcional (p=0,0016), dor (p=0,0035), estado geral de saúde (p<0,0001), vitalidade (p<0,0001), aspectos sociais (p<0,0001) e saúde mental (p=0,0007). Nos itens aspectos físicos e aspectos emocionais não foi observada diferença significativa. CONCLUSÃO: O programa Escola da Postura elaborado foi capaz de melhorar a qualidade de vida e capacidade funcional dos participantes.

Aspectos da função pulmonar após revascularização do miocárdio relacionados com risco pré-operatório

OBJETIVOS: Comparar os valores das complacências dinâmica e estática, da resistência de vias aéreas (Cdin, Cest e Raw) e do índice de troca gasosa (PaO2/FiO2), no pós-operatório de cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica (RM) com os parâmetros de normalidade e comparar os valores destas variáveis entre grupos com e sem fatores de risco no pré-operatório. MÉTODO: Questionamento aos doentes a respeito de antecedentes pulmonares, sintomas respiratórios, tabagismo e comorbidades. Após cirurgia de RM, foram feitas as medidas de Cdin, Cest, Raw e do PaO2/FiO2. As variáveis foram comparadas com a normalidade e relacionadas às variáveis pré e pós-operatórias pelo Teste não-paramétrico de Mann-Whitney e pelo Teste para uma proporção (p<0,05). RESULTADO: Foram avaliados 70 doentes (61% homens), com idade entre 26 e 77 anos. em relação à normalidade, apresentaram diminuição da Cdin e da Cest, 64 e 66 pacientes, respectivamente, e 24 apresentaram aumento da Raw. Aproximadamente 50% apresentaram redução do PaO2/FiO2. Não houve diferença significante das variáveis pós-operatórias com respeito aos antecedentes pulmonares, sintomas respiratórios e tabagismo. Nos pacientes com comorbidades, o PaO2/FiO2 foi significativamente menor e, nos homens, a Cdin e a Cest foram maiores que nas mulheres. CONCLUSÃO: As complacências pulmonares estão diminuídas na maioria dos pacientes, e a resistência das vias aéreas está aumentada em um terço deles. O índice de troca gasosa encontra-se diminuído em metade deles. A presença de antecedentes pulmonares, sintomas respiratórios e tabagismo não influencia as variáveis mecânicas, mas o índice de troca gasosa é influenciado pela presença de comorbidades.