Estudo da reprodutibilidade do diagnóstico de microinfiltração marginal

Pós-graduação em Ciências Odontológicas - FOAR

Estimativas de parâmetros genéticos de características de carcaça, medidas por ultrassonografia, e suas relações com escores visuais na raça Nelore

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estabilidade e adaptabilidade de híbridos de milho utilizando a abordagem AMMI-bayesiano

Biplot graphics are widely employed in the study of the genotypeenvironment interactions, but they are only a graphical tool without a statistical hypothesis test. The singular values and scores (singular vectors) used in biplots correspond to specific estimates of its parameters, and the use of uncertainty measures may lead to different conclusions from those provided by a simple visual evaluation. The aim of this work is to estimate the genotype-environment interactions, using AMMI analysis, through Bayesian approach. Therefore the credibility intervals can be used for decision-making in different situations of analyses. It allows to verify the consistency of the selection and recommendation of cultivars. Two analyses were performed. The first analysis looked into 10 regular commercial hybrids and all possible 45 hybrids obtained from them. They were assessed in 15 locations. The second analysis evaluated 28 hybrids in 35 different environments, with imbalance data. The ellipses were grouped according to the standard of interaction in the biplot. The AMMI analysis with a Bayesian approach proved to be a complete analysis of stability and adaptability, which provides important information that may help the breeder in their decisions. The regions of credibility, built in the biplots, allow to perform an accurate selection and a precise genotype recommendation, with a level of credibility. Genotypes and environments can be grouped according to the existing interaction pattern, which makes possible to formulate specific recommendations. Moreover the environments can be evaluated, in order to find out which ones contribute similarly to the interaction and those to be discarted. The method makes possible to deal with imbalanced data in a natural way, showing efficiency for multienvironment trials. The prediction takes into account instability and the interaction standard of the observed data, in order to establish a direct comparison between genotypes of both 1st and 2nd seasons.

Estudo da biodegradação das fibras de coco e de sisal visando às aplicações na indústria automotiva

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Controle de viroses em alface por meio de métodos integrados de manejo da cultura

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Determinação automática da porosidade e zoneamento de perfis através da rede neural artificial competitiva

Duas das mais importantes atividades da interpretação de perfis para avaliação de reservatórios de hidrocarbonetos são o zoneamento do perfil (log zonation) e o cálculo da porosidade efetiva das rochas atravessadas pelo poço. O zoneamento é a interpretação visual do perfil para identificação das camadas reservatório e, consequentemente, dos seus limites verticais, ou seja, é a separação formal do perfil em rochas reservatório e rochas selante. Todo procedimento de zoneamento é realizado de forma manual, valendo-se do conhecimento geológico-geofísico e da experiência do intérprete, na avaliação visual dos padrões (características da curva do perfil representativa de um evento geológico) correspondentes a cada tipo litológico específico. O cálculo da porosidade efetiva combina tanto uma atividade visual, na identificação dos pontos representativos de uma particular rocha reservatório no perfil, como a escolha adequada da equação petrofísica que relaciona as propriedades físicas mensuradas da rocha com sua porosidade. A partir do conhecimento da porosidade, será estabelecido o volume eventualmente ocupado por hidrocarboneto. Esta atividade, essencial para a qualificação de reservatórios, requer muito do conhecimento e da experiência do intérprete de perfil para a efetiva avaliação da porosidade efetiva, ou seja, a porosidade da rocha reservatório, isenta do efeito da argila sobre a medida das propriedades físicas da mesma. Uma forma eficiente de automatizar estes procedimentos e auxiliar o geofísico de poço nestas atividades, que particularmente demandam grande dispêndio de tempo, é apresentado nesta dissertação, na forma de um novo perfil, derivado dos perfis tradicionais de porosidade, que apresenta diretamente o zoneamento. Pode-se destacar neste novo perfil as profundidades do topo e da base das rochas reservatório e das rochas selante, escalonado na forma de porosidade efetiva, denominado perfil de porosidade efetiva zoneado. A obtenção do perfil de porosidade efetiva zoneado é baseado no projeto e execução de várias arquiteturas de rede neural artificial, do tipo direta, com treinamento não supervisionado e contendo uma camada de neurônios artificiais, do tipo competitivo. Estas arquiteturas são projetadas de modo a simular o comportamento do intérprete de perfil, quando da utilização do gráfico densidade-neutrônico, para as situações de aplicabilidade do modelo arenito-folhelho. A aplicabilidade e limitações desta metodologia são avaliadas diretamente sobre dados reais, oriundos da bacia do Lago Maracaibo (Venezuela).

Efeitos de formulações e intervalos sem chuva na absorção, translocação e eficácia de Glyphosate e 2,4-D

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influence of a narrow depth gradient and season on the morphology, phenology, and epibiosis of the brown alga Sargassum cymosum

Temporal and spatial fluctuations of environmental parameters are normally assigned as causes of variations in morpho-phenological characters of seaweeds and in their epibionts, but formal tests of such hypotheses are lacking, especially in narrow gradients. The present study evaluated the influence of a very small depth gradient (1 to 3 m) and of subtle seasonality characteristic of tropical areas on morpho-phenological traits and on the occurrence of sessile epiphytic organisms using a controlled orthogonal sampling design in a sublittoral population of the tropical brown alga Sargassum cymosum. Four temporal samples were obtained over a one-year period at three depths using nine replicates. The wet weight, maximum length, number of primary and secondary branches, and proportion of secondary branches with receptacles were recorded. Epibiosis was estimated by visual evaluation of percentage cover on secondary branches. Algal morphology varied as a function of the period of the year (weaker effect) and depth (stronger effect) but in different ways for each variable analysed. In general, fronds tended to be shorter, heavier, and more ramified in shallower areas. In relation to time, the morphological characters tended mostly to present higher values in January (summer) and/or April (autumn). Frequency of receptacles did not depend on algal morphology and depth at all but varied in time, although only in the deepest area. Epibiosis also did not depend on algal morphology but varied in relation to time (stronger effect) and, to a lesser extent, depth (weaker effect). The effect of time upon epibiosis also depended on the biological group analysed. These data support the hypothesis that algal morphology varies in relation to period of the year and depth, even under small temporal and spatial environmenal gradients.

Preventive effect of ozone on the development of white spot lesions during multibracket appliance therapy

OBJECTIVE: To test the null hypotheses: (1) there is no difference in the caries protective effect of ozone and Cervitec/Fluor Protector during multibracket (MB) appliance therapy, and (2) DIAGNOdent and quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) are not superior to a visual evaluation of initial caries lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty right-handed patients with a very poor oral hygiene who required full MB appliance therapy were analyzed during 26 months. In a split-mouth-design, the four quadrants of each patient were either treated with ozone, a combination of Cervitec and Fluor Protector, or served as untreated controls. The visible plaque index (VPI) and white spot formation were analyzed clinically. DIAGNOdent and QLF were used for a quantitative assessment of white spot formation. RESULTS: The average VPI in all four dental arch quadrants amounted to 55.6% and was independent of the preventive measure undertaken. In the quadrants treated with Cervitec/Fluor Protector, only 0.7% of the areas developed new, clinically visible white spots. This was significantly (P < .05) less than in the quadrants treated with ozone (3.2%). The lesions detected with QLF only partially corresponded to the clinically detected white spots, while DIAGNOdent proved to be unable to detect any changes at all. CONCLUSIONS: The caries protective effect of Cervitec/Fluor Protector during MB therapy was superior to ozone, and a visual evaluation of initial caries lesions was superior to both DIAGNOdent and QLF.

Novel autoantigens immunogenic in COPD patients

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory inflammatory condition with autoimmune features including IgG autoantibodies. In this study we analyze the complexity of the autoantibody response and reveal the nature of the antigens that are recognized by autoantibodies in COPD patients. Methods An array of 1827 gridded immunogenic peptide clones was established and screened with 17 sera of COPD patients and 60 healthy controls. Protein arrays were evaluated both by visual inspection and a recently developed computer aided image analysis technique. By this computer aided image analysis technique we computed the intensity values for each peptide clone and each serum and calculated the area under the receiver operator characteristics curve (AUC) for each clone and the separation COPD sera versus control sera. Results By visual evaluation we detected 381 peptide clones that reacted with autoantibodies of COPD patients including 17 clones that reacted with more than 60% of the COPD sera and seven clones that reacted with more than 90% of the COPD sera. The comparison of COPD sera and controls by the automated image analysis system identified 212 peptide clones with informative AUC values. By in silico sequence analysis we found an enrichment of sequence motives previously associated with immunogenicity. Conclusion The identification of a rather complex humoral immune response in COPD patients supports the idea of COPD as a disease with strong autoimmune features. The identification of novel immunogenic antigens is a first step towards a better understanding of the autoimmune component of COPD.

Development of automated image analysis tools for verification of radiotherapy field accuracy with an electronic portal imaging device

The successful management of cancer with radiation relies on the accurate deposition of a prescribed dose to a prescribed anatomical volume within the patient. Treatment set-up errors are inevitable because the alignment of field shaping devices with the patient must be repeated daily up to eighty times during the course of a fractionated radiotherapy treatment. With the invention of electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs), patient's portal images can be visualized daily in real-time after only a small fraction of the radiation dose has been delivered to each treatment field. However, the accuracy of human visual evaluation of low-contrast portal images has been found to be inadequate. The goal of this research is to develop automated image analysis tools to detect both treatment field shape errors and patient anatomy placement errors with an EPID. A moments method has been developed to align treatment field images to compensate for lack of repositioning precision of the image detector. A figure of merit has also been established to verify the shape and rotation of the treatment fields. Following proper alignment of treatment field boundaries, a cross-correlation method has been developed to detect shifts of the patient's anatomy relative to the treatment field boundary. Phantom studies showed that the moments method aligned the radiation fields to within 0.5mm of translation and 0.5$\sp\circ$ of rotation and that the cross-correlation method aligned anatomical structures inside the radiation field to within 1 mm of translation and 1$\sp\circ$ of rotation. A new procedure of generating and using digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) at megavoltage energies as reference images was also investigated. The procedure allowed a direct comparison between a designed treatment portal and the actual patient setup positions detected by an EPID. Phantom studies confirmed the feasibility of the methodology. Both the moments method and the cross-correlation technique were implemented within an experimental radiotherapy picture archival and communication system (RT-PACS) and were used clinically to evaluate the setup variability of two groups of cancer patients treated with and without an alpha-cradle immobilization aid. The tools developed in this project have proven to be very effective and have played an important role in detecting patient alignment errors and field-shape errors in treatment fields formed by a multileaf collimator (MLC). ^

Soil quality response to land-use change for sugarcane expansion in Brazil

Globally, increasing demands for biofuels have intensified the rate of land-use change (LUC) for expansion of bioenergy crops. In Brazil, the world\'s largest sugarcane-ethanol producer, sugarcane area has expanded by 35% (3.2 Mha) in the last decade. Sugarcane expansion has resulted in extensive pastures being subjected to intensive mechanization and large inputs of agrochemicals, which have direct implications on soil quality (SQ). We hypothesized that LUC to support sugarcane expansion leads to overall SQ degradation. To test this hypothesis we conducted a field-study at three sites in the central-southern region, to assess the SQ response to the primary LUC sequence (i.e., native vegetation to pasture to sugarcane) associated to sugarcane expansion in Brazil. At each land use site undisturbed and disturbed soil samples were collected from the 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm depths. Soil chemical and physical attributes were measured through on-farm and laboratory analyses. A dataset of soil biological attributes was also included in this study. Initially, the LUC effects on each individual soil indicator were quantified. Afterward, the LUC effects on overall SQ were assessed using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF). Furthermore, six SQ indexes (SQI) were developed using approaches with increasing complexity. Our results showed that long-term conversion from native vegetation to extensive pasture led to soil acidification, significant depletion of soil organic carbon (SOC) and macronutrients [especially phosphorus (P)] and severe soil compaction, which creates an unbalanced ratio between water- and air-filled pore space within the soil and increases mechanical resistance to root growth. Conversion from pasture to sugarcane improved soil chemical quality by correcting for acidity and increasing macronutrient levels. Despite those improvements, most of the P added by fertilizer accumulated in less plant-available P forms, confirming the key role of organic P has in providing available P to plants in Brazilian soils. Long-term sugarcane production subsequently led to further SOC depletions. Sugarcane production had slight negative impacts on soil physical attributes compared to pasture land. Although tillage performed for sugarcane planting and replanting alleviates soil compaction, our data suggested that the effects are short-term with persistent, reoccurring soil consolidation that increases erosion risk over time. These soil physical changes, induced by LUC, were detected by quantitative soil physical properties as well as by visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS), an on-farm and user-friendly method for evaluating SQ. The SMAF efficiently detected overall SQ response to LUC and it could be reliably used under Brazilian soil conditions. Furthermore, since all of the SQI values developed in this study were able to rank SQ among land uses. We recommend that simpler and more cost-effective SQI strategies using a small number of carefully chosen soil indicators, such as: pH, P, K, VESS and SOC, and proportional weighting within of each soil sectors (chemical, physical and biological) be used as a protocol for SQ assessments in Brazilian sugarcane areas. The SMAF and SQI scores suggested that long-term conversion from native vegetation to extensive pasture depleted overall SQ, driven by decreases in chemical, physical and biological indicators. In contrast, conversion from pasture to sugarcane had no negative impacts on overall SQ, mainly because chemical improvements offset negative impacts on biological and physical indicators. Therefore, our findings can be used as scientific base by farmers, extension agents and public policy makers to adopt and develop management strategies that sustain and/or improving SQ and the sustainability of sugarcane production in Brazil.

Are physical measures good indicators of clinical image quality at low dose levels? A pilot study

Background - For dose reduction actions, the principle of “image quality as good as possible” to “image quality as good as needed” requires to know whether the physical measures and visual image quality relate. Visual evaluation and objective physical measures of image quality can appear to be different. If there is no noticeable effect on the visual image quality with a low dose but there is a objective physical measure impact, then the overall dose may be reduced without compromising the diagnostic image quality. Low dose imaging can be used for certain types of observations, e.g. thoracic scoliosis, control after metal implantation for osteosynthesis, reviewing pneumonia and tuberculosis. Aim of the study - To determine whether physical measures of noise predict visual (clinical) image quality at low dose levels.

Influência da escala de cores na avaliação qualitativa das imagens de cintigrafia de perfusão do miocárdio

Introdução – A cintigrafia de perfusão do miocárdio (CPM) é utilizada no diagnóstico e seguimento de pacientes com doença arterial coronária, sendo a sua avaliação frequentemente realizada através da análise visual dos cortes tomográficos. A escala de cores selecionada é essencial na interpretação clínica das imagens de perfusão do miocárdio. Objetivo – Avaliar a influência de diferentes escalas de cores na avaliação qualitativa das imagens de CPM e estudar quais as mais adequadas para análise visual. Métodos – Trinta e cinco estudos de CPM foram avaliados visualmente por 16 estudantes da licenciatura em medicina nuclear nas escalas de cores Cool, Gray, Gray Invert, Thermal e Warm. Para a escala de cores Cool, a análise das imagens de CPM foi realizada através de um sistema de classificação semiquantitativo por scores. As restantes escalas de cores foram avaliadas por comparação com a análise das imagens efetuada com escala de cores Cool. Resultados/Discussão – Para a escala de cores Cool, a variabilidade interoperador revelou a existência de diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre todos os participantes (p<0,05), o que se pode atribuir à subjetividade da avaliação visual. Os resultados relativos às escalas de cores Gray e Gray Invert foram os mais próximos da perfusão do miocárdio observada com a escala Cool, considerando-se escalas de cores alternativas na análise visual dos estudos de CPM. Para as escalas de cores Thermal e Warm os resultados foram mais divergentes, não se considerando adequadas para a avaliação visual dos estudos de CPM. Conclusão – A escala de cores influencia a avaliação qualitativa da perfusão na CPM.

Alfama : Análise da paisagem urbana como expressão do património subunidade de estudo: Zona Ribeirinha, da Rua da Alfândega a Rua do Jardim do Tabaco

Esta investigação tem como contexto o bairro de Alfama, centrando-se em uma área específica situada na zona ribeirinha com início na Rua da Alfândega e se estendendo até a Rua do Jardim do Tabaco. É uma zona com relevante potencial turístico, mas com pouco dinamismo apesar dos vários atrativos que lá existem. O trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a paisagem urbana na subunidade de estudo citada acima de forma a descobrirmos através da leitura do espaço urbano uma identidade patrimonial para desta maneira propormos a sua valorização. Para facilitar o estudo dividimos a área em cinco trechos e através da observação in loco esboçarmos sua situação ao nível de morfologia urbana, das características espaciais, dos usos e do modo de apropriação do espaço pelas pessoas e pelas atividades, o estado de conservação do edificado, o mobiliário urbano e todas as características do seu entorno. Para a análise da paisagem fizemos um levantamento fotográfico digital e uma avaliação visual do percurso procurando enquadrar-se na leitura da paisagem estudada pelos autores Kevin Lynch e Gordon Cullen. O estudo também passa por uma avaliação dos seus aspectos significativos, ou seja, os registres de memórias que são pontos fortes da paisagem urbana. São aspectos que identificam o local e definem a sua legibilidade. Em paralelo elaboramos uma análise SWOT que contribuiu para entendermos o complexo de desafios que se colocam ao nosso universo de estudo e justificar o contributo desta dissertação através de propostas concretas de valorização. ABSTRACT; The context of this research is Alfama district, focusing on a specific area located on the waterfront starting at Alfândega Street and extending until Jardim do Tabaco Street. lt is an area with a relevant tourism potential, however with a small dynamic despite its many attractions. The research aim to study the urban landscape in the sub-unit mentioned above in order to uncover, through an urban reading, a patrimonial identity seeking its recovery. To facilitate the research, the area was divided into five sections and, by in loco observation, we outlined its position into a urban morphology rank, space characteristics, uses and appropriation of space by individuals and activities, conservation condition of the building, urban furniture and all the features of its surroundings. With regards the landscape study, was done a digital inventory and a visual evaluation of the route in quest of to fit it in the landscape studies by the authors Kevin Lynch and Gordon Cullen. The research also goes through an appraisal of its significant aspects, in other words, the memories records that are the strengths of the urban landscape. These are aspects that identify the location and define its readability. ln parallel we had developed a SWOT analysis which helped to understand the complex challenges in this universe of studies and justify the contribution of this thesis with concrete recovery proposals.