An intelligent system to real time rainfall prediction using radar data

This work presents a new approach for rainfall measurements making use of weather radar data for real time application to the radar systems operated by institute of Meteorological Research (IPMET) - UNESP - Bauru - SP-Brazil. Several real time adjustment techniques has been presented being most of them based on surface rain-gauge network. However, some of these methods do not regard the effect of the integration area, time integration and distance rainfall-radar. In this paper, artificial neural networks have been applied for generate a radar reflectivity-rain relationships which regard all effects described above. To evaluate prediction procedure, cross validation was performed using data from IPMET weather Doppler radar and rain-gauge network under the radar umbrella. The preliminary results were acceptable for rainfalls prediction. The small errors observed result from the spatial density and the time resolution of the rain-gauges networks used to calibrate the radar.

Incidence of patulin in fruits and fruit juices marketed in Campinas, Brazil

One hundred and eleven samples of processed fruit juices (apple, grape, pineapple, papaya, guava, banana and mango) and 38 samples of sound fruits (apple, papaya, mango, pear and peach) produced and marketed in Brazil, were analysed for patulin by HPLC. Only one out of 30 samples of apple juice was found positive at 17 μg/l. Patulin was not detected in the other foodstuffs. It was found in 14 samples of spoiled fruit samples of apple (150-267 μg/kg), pear (134-245 μg/kg) and peach (92-174 μg/kg). Confirmation of the identity of patulin was based on the UV spectrum obtained by the HPLC diode array detector, compared with that of standard patulin, TLC developed by several solvent systems and sprayed with 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone, and by acetylation with acetic anhydride.

Automatic landslide recognition through Optimum-Path Forest

In this paper we shed light over the problem of landslide automatic recognition using supervised classification, and we also introduced the OPF classifier in this context. We employed two images acquired from Geoeye-MS satellite at March-2010 in the northwest (high steep areas) and north sides (pipeline area) covering the area of Duque de Caxias city, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The landslide recognition rate has been assessed through a cross-validation with 10 runnings. In regard to the classifiers, we have used OPF against SVM with Radial Basis Function for kernel mapping and a Bayesian classifier. We can conclude that OPF, Bayes and SVM achieved high recognition rates, being OPF the fastest approach. © 2012 IEEE.

Predicción de ecuaciones para el porcentaje de grasa a partir de circunferencias corporales en niños pre-púberes

Introduction: The analysis of body composition through direct and indirect methods allows the study of the various components of the human body, becoming the central hub for assessing nutritional status. Objective: The objective of the study was to develop equations for predicting body fat% from circumferential body arm, waist and calf and propose percentiles to diagnose the nutritional status of school children of both sexes aged 4-10 years. Methods: We selected intentionally (non-probabilistic) 515 children, 261 children and 254 being girls belonging to Program interaction and development of children and adolescents from the State University of Campinas (Sao Paulo, Brazil). Anthropometric variables were evaluated for weight, height, triceps and subscapular skinfolds and body circumferences of arm, waist and calf, and the% fat determined by the equation proposed by Boileau, Lohman and Slaughter (1985). Through regression method 2 were generated equations to predict the percentage of fat from the body circumferences, the equations 1 and 2 were validated by cross validation method. Results: The equations showed high predictive values ranging with a R2 = 64-69%. In cross validation between the criterion and the regression equation proposed no significant difference (p > 0.05) and there was a high level of agreement to a 95% CI. Conclusion: It is concluded that the proposals are validated and shown as an alternative to assess the percentage of fat in school children of both sexes aged 4-10 years in the region of Campinas, SP (Brazil).

Development and application of an electronic tongue for detection and monitoring of nitrate, nitrite and ammonium levels in waters

This work presents the first study and development of an electronic tongue analysis system for the monitoring of nitrogen stable species: nitrate, nitrite and ammonium in water. The electronic tongue was composed of an array of 15 potentiometric poly(vinyl chloride) membrane sensors sensitive to cations and anions plus an artificial neural network (ANN) response model. The building of the ANN model was performed in a medium containing sodium, potassium, and chloride as interfering ions, thus simulating real environmental samples. The correlation coefficient in the cross-validation of nitrate, nitrite and ammonium was satisfactory in the three cases with values higher than 0.92. Finally, the utility of the proposed system is shown in the monitoring of the photoelectrocatalytic treatment of nitrate. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Visible to infrared energy conversion in Pr3+-Yb3+ co-doped fluoroindate glasses

Processes involving visible to infrared energy conversion are presented for Pr3+-Yb3+ co-doped fluoroindate glasses. The emission in the visible and infrared regions, the luminescence decay time of the Pr 3+:3P0 → 3H4 (482 nm), Pr3+:1D2 → 3H6 (800 nm), Yb3+:2F5/2 → 2F 7/2 (1044 nm) transitions and the photoluminescence excitation spectra were measured in Pr3+ samples and in Pr3+-Yb 3+ samples as a function of the Yb3+ concentration. In addition, energy transfer efficiencies were estimated from Pr3+: 3P0 and Pr3+:1D2 levels to Yb3+:2F7/2 level. Down-Conversion (DC) emission is observed due to a combination of two different processes: 1-a one-step cross relaxation (Pr3+:3P0 → 1G4; Yb3+:2F7/2 → 2F5/2) resulting in one photon emitted by Pr3+ (1G4 → 3H5) and one photon emitted by Yb3+ (2F7/2 → 2F5/2); 2-a resonant two-step first order energy transfer, where the first part of energy is transferred to Yb3+ neighbor through cross relaxation (Pr3+:3P0 → 1G4; Yb3+:2F7/2 → 2F5/2) followed by a second energy transfer step (Pr 3+:1G4 → 3H4; Yb3+:2F7/2 → 2F5/2). A third process leading to one IR photon emission to each visible photon absorbed involves cross relaxation energy transfer (Pr3+: 1D2 → 3F4; Yb 3+:2F7/2 → 2F5/2). © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Locomoção visualmente guiada na transposição de obstáculos: efeitos de amostras visuais estáticas e dinâmica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Osteoartrose em joelhos como fator limitante para a qualidade de vida em idosos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Polioencefaloma experimentalmente induzida pela ingestão de dieta com alto teor de enxofre ou pelo herpesvírus bovino 5 em bovinos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise genética de resistência ao Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus em bovinos cruzados Hereford x Nelore

Pós-graduação em Genética e Melhoramento Animal - FCAV

Soroepidemiologia e caracterização molecular da infecção pelo Vírus linfotrópico de células T humanas 1 e 2 (HTLV-1/2) em mulheres gestantes na cidade de Belém, Pará

A infecção pelo HTLV-1/2 já foi investigada em diversas populações, mostrando prevalência variável conforme a área geográfica, grupos étnicos e subpopulações analisadas. Em estudos brasileiros foi observada uma maior prevalência nos Estados da Bahia e do Pará. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a prevalência do HTLV em mulheres grávidas na cidade de Belém, Pará, por meio de técnicas sorológicas e moleculares. Foram coletadas 1.027 amostras de sangue e alíquotas de plasmas foram testadas para a presença de anticorpos anti-HTLV-1/2, utilizando o método imunoenzimático do tipo ELISA. A confirmação da infecção e diferenciação dos tipos e subtipos virais foi realizada por meio da Reação em Cadeia mediada pela Polimerase em duas etapas (Nested PCR) através da amplificação gênica das regiões pX, env e 5’LTR seguido da análise de RFLP e seqüenciamento. Foram detectados seis (0,58%) casos de sororreatividade para o HTLV que posteriormente foram confirmados pela amplificação de um fragmento de 159 pb da região pX. A análise de RFLP com a enzima TaqI mostrou que quatro (66,7%) amostras eram positivas para HTLV-1 e duas (33,3%) para HTLV-2. Uma das amostras HTLV-2 teve o fragmento de 630 pb do gene env amplificado. A análise com a endonuclease XhoI mostrou a presença de um perfil de RFLP característico dos subtipos HTLV-2a/2c. Duas amostras HTLV-1 e uma HTLV-2 tiveram a região 5’LTR amplificada e seqüenciada. Por meio da análise filogenética foi possível classificar as amostras HTLV-1 como Cosmopolita Transcontinental e a HTLV-2 como pertencente ao subtipo HTLV-2c. Esse estudo mostra a relevância de se introduzir o teste para HTLV na triagem pré-natal, a fim de reduzir transmissão vertical e horizontal em nosso estado.

Avaliação nutricional pré-cirúrgica de crianças com lesão labial e/ou palatal

Pós-graduação em Pediatria - FMB

Heterogeneous ethnic distribution of the factor V leiden mutation

Inherited resistance to activated protein C caused by the factor V Leiden (FVL) mutation is the most common genetic cause of venous thrombosis yet described, being found in 20-60% of patients with venous thrombophilia. A relationship between the FVL mutation and an increased predisposition to arterial thrombosis in young women was recently reported. We assessed the prevalence of the FVL mutation in 440 individuals (880 chromosomes) belonging to four different ethnic groups: Caucasians, African Blacks, Asians and Amerindians. PCR amplification followed by MnlI digestion was employed to define the genotype. The FVL mutation was found in a heterozygous state in four out of 152 Whites (2.6%), one out of 151 Amerindians (0.6%), and was absent among 97 African Blacks and 40 Asians. Our results confirm that FVL has a heterogeneous distribution in different human populations, a fact that may contribute to geographic and ethnic differences in the prevalence of thrombotic diseases. In addition, these data may be helpful in decisions regarding the usefulness of screening for the FVL mutation in subjects at risk for thrombosis.

Machine vision to identify broiler breeder behavior

Animal behavioral parameters can be used to assess welfare status in commercial broiler breeders. Behavioral parameters can be monitored with a variety of sensing devices, for instance, the use of video cameras allows comprehensive assessment of animal behavioral expressions. Nevertheless, the development of efficient methods and algorithms to continuously identify and differentiate animal behavior patterns is needed. The objective this study was to provide a methodology to identify hen white broiler breeder behavior using combined techniques of image processing and computer vision. These techniques were applied to differentiate body shapes from a sequence of frames as the birds expressed their behaviors. The method was comprised of four stages: (1) identification of body positions and their relationship with typical behaviors. For this stage, the number of frames required to identify each behavior was determined; (2) collection of image samples, with the isolation of the birds that expressed a behavior of interest; (3) image processing and analysis using a filter developed to separate white birds from the dark background; and finally (4) construction and validation of a behavioral classification tree, using the software tool Weka (model 148). The constructed tree was structured in 8 levels and 27 leaves, and it was validated using two modes: the set training mode with an overall rate of success of 96.7%, and the cross validation mode with an overall rate of success of 70.3%. The results presented here confirmed the feasibility of the method developed to identify white broiler breeder behavior for a particular group of study. Nevertheless, more improvements in the method can be made in order to increase the validation overall rate of success. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Predição genômica utilizando painéis de marcadores moleculares com diferentes densidades, em bovinos da raça Nelore

Pós-graduação em Genética e Melhoramento Animal - FCAV