Some further considerations in the development of an experimental design for sensory evaluation of fish quality

An experimental procedure along with a method of analysis to judge the suitability of an individual to be included in a taste panel is described. The procedure is based on comparison of the organoleptic scores assigned by the individual to pairs of fish samples whose qualities are known and a set of physical measurements of the same samples. Fisher's Exact Probability Test provides a criterion for the judgement.

a backtracking search tool for constructing combinatorial test suites

Combinatorial testing is an important testing method. It requires the test cases to cover various combinations of parameters of the system under test. The test generation problem for combinatorial testing can be modeled as constructing a matrix which has certain properties. This paper first discusses two combinatorial testing criteria: covering array and orthogonal array, and then proposes a backtracking search algorithm to construct matrices satisfying them. Several search heuristics and symmetry breaking techniques are used to reduce the search time. This paper also introduces some techniques to generate large covering array instances from smaller ones. All the techniques have been implemented in a tool called EXACT (EXhaustive seArch of Combinatorial Test suites). A new optimal covering array is found by this tool.

Panel Stationarity Test with Structural Breaks

In this paper, we extend the heterogeneous panel data stationarity test of Hadri [Econometrics Journal, Vol. 3 (2000) pp. 148–161] to the cases where breaks are taken into account. Four models with different patterns of breaks under the null hypothesis are specified. Two of the models have been already proposed by Carrion-i-Silvestre et al.[Econometrics Journal,Vol. 8 (2005) pp. 159–175]. The moments of the statistics corresponding to the four models are derived in closed form via characteristic functions.We also provide the exact moments of a modified statistic that do not asymptotically depend on the location of the break point under the null hypothesis. The cases where the break point is unknown are also considered. For the model with breaks in the level and no time trend and for the model with breaks in the level and in the time trend, Carrion-i-Silvestre et al. [Econometrics Journal, Vol. 8 (2005) pp. 159–175]showed that the number of breaks and their positions may be allowed to differ acrossindividuals for cases with known and unknown breaks. Their results can easily be extended to the proposed modified statistic. The asymptotic distributions of all the statistics proposed are derived under the null hypothesis and are shown to be normally distributed. We show by simulations that our suggested tests have in general good performance in finite samples except the modified test. In an empirical application to the consumer prices of 22 OECD countries during the period from 1953 to 2003, we found evidence of stationarity once a structural break and cross-sectional dependence are accommodated.

Robust nonadiabatic molecular dynamics for metals and insulators

We present a new formulation of the correlated electron-ion dynamics (CEID) scheme, which systematically improves Ehrenfest dynamics by including quantum fluctuations around the mean-field atomic trajectories. We show that the method can simulate models of nonadiabatic electronic transitions and test it against exact integration of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation. Unlike previous formulations of CEID, the accuracy of this scheme depends on a single tunable parameter which sets the level of atomic fluctuations included. The convergence to the exact dynamics by increasing the tunable parameter is demonstrated for a model two level system. This algorithm provides a smooth description of the nonadiabatic electronic transitions which satisfies the kinematic constraints (energy and momentum conservation) and preserves quantum coherence. The applicability of this algorithm to more complex atomic systems is discussed.

PPP, UIP and Fisher parity: speculation or rational expectations? Evidence for four Latin American countries

This work aims to test the equilibrium relations of two international macroeconomics models for Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Brazil. The first model is the rational expectation hypothesis (REH) where three key relations will be tested: Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), Uncovered Interest Rate Parity (UIP) and the Fisher Parity condition. The second model follows the line of though of Imperfect Knowledge Economics (IKE) where two equilibrium relations will be tested. According to IKE, even under the assumption that agents are rational, the presence of speculative behavior in financial markets helps explain the long swings often observed in the behavior of exchange rates. The results support the view that the predictions of the IKE model hold for Colombia, while those of the REH hold for both Brazil and Mexico. Mixed findings are obtained for Chile.

Uso del test de cuantificación sensitiva para el estudio de la neuropatía de fibra pequeña

Introducción La mutación genética Val30Met de la proteína transtiretina (TTR) es causante de la polineuropatía amiloidótica familiar, comprometiendo en fases iniciales las fibras nerviosas pequeñas (mielinizadas Aδ y amielínicas tipo C), involucradas en funciones autonómicas, nocicepción, percepción térmica y sudoración. Los métodos neurofisiológicos convencionales, no logran detectar dichas anormalidades, retardando el inicio de tratamientos específicos para la enfermedad. Metodología El objetivo principal fue evaluar el test de cuantificación sensitiva (QST) como método de detección temprana de anormalidades de fibra pequeña, en individuos Val30Met, seguidos en el Hospital Universitario Santa María, Lisboa. Se clasificaron los pacientes en 3 grupos, según sintomatología y examen neurológico. Se analizaron los umbrales para percepción de frío, dolor con el calor y vibración en los grupos, en correlación con controles sanos. Resultados 18 registros de controles sanos y 33 de individuos con la mutación, divididos en asintomáticos (24,2%), sintomáticos con examen neurológico normal (42,4%) y sintomáticos con examen neurológico anormal (33,3%). No se encontraron diferencias entre los pacientes asintomáticos y los controles. Los umbrales para frío (p=0,042) y en el dolor intermedio con el calor (HP 5) (p=0,007) se encuentran elevados en individuos Val30Met sintomáticos con examen normal. En los pacientes sintomáticos con alteraciones al examen, también se presentaron alteraciones en el intervalo entre el inicio y el dolor intermedio con el calor (HP 5-0,5) (p=0,009). Discusión Los umbrales de frío y de percepción de dolor con el calor, permiten detectar anormalidades en personas con la mutación TTR Val30Met, sintomáticos, incluyendo aquellos sin cambios objetivos al examen neurológico.

Prevalencia de los trastornos de voz ocupacionales en los docentes de dos instituciones educativas de nivel superior en Colombia en el año 2013-2014

Resumen: En la población docente, el uso de la voz como principal herramienta del trabajo por su esfuerzo constante y prolongado constituye el principal factor de riesgo para padecer trastornos de la voz, concomitante con otros factores que inciden en la presentación de estas patologías. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de los trastornos en la voz y sus factores asociados de la población docente de dos instituciones de educación superior (IES) en Colombia y los factores de riesgo asociados. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de tipo transversal, en el que participaron 149 docentes de dos IES (instituciones de educación superior) de dos ciudades de Colombia. Se aplicó un cuestionario sustentado en el Modelo de Técnicas Foniátricas para Prevenir la Disfonía en Profesores de Secundaria en Portugal y validado por la escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, programa de fonoaudiología de la Universidad del Rosario con el trabajo denominado “La Voz como herramienta de trabajo” para Colombia; el cual indagaba los factores riesgo asociados al uso de la voz en el quehacer docente. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las variables cualitativas con frecuencias absolutas y porcentajes, medidas de tendencia central, promedio y mediana, de dispersión y desviación estándar. La información recolectada fue analizada con el software SPSS.PASW 18. La correlación entre las variables dependientes y las independientes, se realizaron con el coeficiente no-paramétrico de Spearman y la asociación con la prueba Ji-cuadrado de Pearson o el test exacto de Fisher (valores esperados < 5). Se evaluaron las distribuciones de las variables ordinales de las variables de problemas de la voz con el género, con la prueba no-paramétrica exacta de Mann Whitney. Las pruebas estadísticas se evaluaron a un nivel de significancia del 5% (p<0.05). Resultados: El promedio de edad fue de 36±11.7 años, con un rango que varió entre 25 y 68 años. El género más frecuente fue el masculino con 57,0% de participación. Los datos presentados se dan como resultado de las respuestas a tres preguntas indicativas de los trastornos de voz, las cuales no fueron respondidas por la totalidad de los docentes, por esta razón los datos se presentan así t= número total de personas que respondieron la pregunta y n= número de personas que respondieron afirmativamente. La prevalencia de alteración de voz fue del 63,4% (t=82; n=52), de disminución en el volumen de su voz de 57,3% (t=122; n=70) y cansancio laríngeo en el 76,8% (t=121; n=93). El cansancio laríngeo fue significativamente mayor en los hombres que en las mujeres (p=0.026, Test Mann Whitney exacto a una cola), con algunos hábitos de voz como el realizar esfuerzos en el cuello al hablar (rs = 0,461; p< 0,001) y con la dificultad para inhalar o exhalar aire al hablar (rs = 0,368; p<0.001), con el ruido de fondo (rs =0,361, p<0,001), al permanecer en ambientes contaminados con polvo y humedad (rs=0,311; p=0.001), con sufrir de estrés representado por dolor cervical en espalda y hombros (rs=0,349, p<0.001), y con los problemas familiares (rs= 0,397; p<0.001). Al analizar con la disminución del volumen de voz durante la práctica docente, las correlaciones más significativas mostradas fue estadísticamente mayor entre los hombres que en las mujeres (p=0.006, Test Mann Whitney exacto a una cola), con el esfuerzo cervical para hablar (rs =:0,596, p=<,001), y con el presentar dificultad para inhalar/exhalar aire al usar la voz (rs =0,508, p<,001), con la exposición a ruido de fondo (rs=0,204, p=0,030), ambientes contaminados con polvo y humedad (rs:=305, p<,001), con el estrés (rs =0,316, p=0,001), con los problemas familiares (rs =0,560, p<,001) y en las mujeres con la alteración de la voz en presencia de la menstruación (rs =0,751, p=0,000). Por último, se correlacionó con las alteraciones de voz durante la exposición laboral en la que se mostró mayor correlación en las mujeres que en los hombres (p=0.001, Test Mann Whitney exacto a una cola). Se mostró correlación directa con el no realizar pausas al hablar (rs=0,337, p<0,001), con toser para aclarar la voz (rs =0,349, p=0,001), y con el uso de la voz grave (rs =0,975; p=,004) ,con la presencia de ruido de fondo mientras se dicta clase (rs =0,370, p=0,001) con el permanecer en ambientes contaminados con polvo y humedad (rs =0,253,p=,023), con los síntomas cervicales asociados al estrés (rs=0,323, p=0,003), e inversa con los cambios en tono y volumen de la voz en presencia de menstruación en las mujeres (rs=-0,414,p=,017). Conclusiones: Con los hallazgos encontrados en este estudio es importante reconocer que en las características demográficas, se encontró que el género masculino refirió mayor cantidad de problemas de voz. Para las características laborales la antigüedad ocupacional es factor principal que incide en los problemas de voz; en el análisis de las características demográfico– laborales en las variables analizadas, el grupo etario que reporto cansancio laríngeo se encontraba entre los 36 a 45 años de edad, y los que referían un tiempo de exposición ocupacional mayor a 6 y menor a 15 años. En cuanto a los factores ambientales se identificó que la asociación más significativa está relacionada con estar sometido a cambios bruscos de temperatura, estar expuesto a ruido de fondo durante su labor y finalmente a permanecer en ambientes contaminados. Por ultimo al analizar las alteraciones de la voz con las características personales de los docentes, se observó que el estrés y los problemas familiares inciden de forma significativa en estas patologías. Con estos resultados se recomienda establecer un sistema de vigilancia epidemiológica en las IES, donde se capacite integralmente a los docentes en cuanto a los factores de riesgo personales y de hábitos de voz, además de supervisar y adecuar los factores ambientales que inciden en la presentación de trastornos de voz para evitar la presentación de estas patologías.

12-month results from a novel test battery used in a duodenal levodopa infusion trial

A novel test battery consisting of self-assessments and motor tests (tapping and spiral drawing) for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) was developed for a hand computer with touch screen in a telemedicine setting. Tests are performed four times per day in the home environment during weeklong test periods. Results are processed into scores for different dimensions of the symptom state and an ‘overall score’ reflecting the global condition of a patient during a test period. The test battery was validated in a separate study recently submitted to Mov Disord. This test battery is currently being used in an open longitudinal trial (DAPHNE, EudraCT No. 2005- 002654-21) by sixty-five patients with advanced PD at nine clinics around Sweden. On inclusion, the patients were either receiving treatment with duodenal levodopa/carbidopa infusion (Duodopa®) (n=36), or they were candidates for receiving this treatment (n=29). We now present interim results for the first twelve months. Test periods were performed in three-month intervals. During most of the periods, UPDRS ratings were performed in afternoons at the start of the week. In twenty of the patients, scores were available during individually optimized oral polypharamacy, before receiving infusion and at least one test period after having started infusion treatment. Usability and compliance with performing tests, this far are good, both with patients and clinical staff. Correlations between test periods 2 and 3 during infusion treatment (three months apart) are stronger for overall test score than for total UPDRS, indicating good reliability. The correlation between overall test score and UPDRS for all test periods is adequate (r=-0.6). In an exact Wilcoxon signed rank test, where the endpoint is the change from the first to the twelve month test period (n=25), there was no change in test results in any of the test battery dimensions for the patients already receiving infusion when included. However, in the patients entering the study before receiving infusion, there was a significant change (improvement) from the baseline to the twelve month test period in dimensions; ‘off’, ‘dyskinesia’ and ‘satisfied’ and in the ‘overall score’ (n=15). The mean improvement in overall score after infusion was 29% (p=0.015). We conclude that the test battery is able to measure a functional improvement with infusion that is sustained over at least twelve months.

Theoretical and empirical essays on microeconometrics

This Master Thesis consists of one theoretical article and one empirical article on the field of Microeconometrics. The first chapter\footnote{We also thank useful suggestions by Marinho Bertanha, Gabriel Cepaluni, Brigham Frandsen, Dalia Ghanem, Ricardo Masini, Marcela Mello, Áureo de Paula, Cristine Pinto, Edson Severnini and seminar participants at São Paulo School of Economics, the California Econometrics Conference 2015 and the 37\textsuperscript{th} Brazilian Meeting of Econometrics.}, called \emph{Synthetic Control Estimator: A Generalized Inference Procedure and Confidence Sets}, contributes to the literature about inference techniques of the Synthetic Control Method. This methodology was proposed to answer questions involving counterfactuals when only one treated unit and a few control units are observed. Although this method was applied in many empirical works, the formal theory behind its inference procedure is still an open question. In order to fulfill this lacuna, we make clear the sufficient hypotheses that guarantee the adequacy of Fisher's Exact Hypothesis Testing Procedure for panel data, allowing us to test any \emph{sharp null hypothesis} and, consequently, to propose a new way to estimate Confidence Sets for the Synthetic Control Estimator by inverting a test statistic, the first confidence set when we have access only to finite sample, aggregate level data whose cross-sectional dimension may be larger than its time dimension. Moreover, we analyze the size and the power of the proposed test with a Monte Carlo experiment and find that test statistics that use the synthetic control method outperforms test statistics commonly used in the evaluation literature. We also extend our framework for the cases when we observe more than one outcome of interest (simultaneous hypothesis testing) or more than one treated unit (pooled intervention effect) and when heteroskedasticity is present. The second chapter, called \emph{Free Economic Area of Manaus: An Impact Evaluation using the Synthetic Control Method}, is an empirical article. We apply the synthetic control method for Brazilian city-level data during the 20\textsuperscript{th} Century in order to evaluate the economic impact of the Free Economic Area of Manaus (FEAM). We find that this enterprise zone had positive significant effects on Real GDP per capita and Services Total Production per capita, but it also had negative significant effects on Agriculture Total Production per capita. Our results suggest that this subsidy policy achieve its goal of promoting regional economic growth, even though it may have provoked mis-allocation of resources among economic sectors.

Resultado perinatal de fetos com malformações do trato urinário

PURPOSE: to evaluate the perinatal outcome of fetuses with congenital anomalies of the urinary tract. METHODS: we reviewed the perinatal outcome of 35 fetuses with congenital anomalies of the urinary tract. The following characteristics related to the uropathy were analyzed: type (hydronephrosis, dysplasia and renal agenesis), side of lesion (bilateral or unilateral), and level of the obstruction (high or low, in hydronephrosis). The perinatal outcome was evaluated according to these characteristics. The data were analyzed by the c² test and by the exact Fisher test. The level of significance was 0.05. RESULTS: the incidence of hydronephrosis was 68.6%. Half of the fetuses had unilateral hydronephrosis. Renal dysplasia occurred in 17.1% of the cases; 83.3% of these were bilateral and 16.7%, unilateral. The incidence of renal agenesis was 14.3%, all bilateral. The fetuses with dysplasia/agenesis had a 91% incidence of oligohydramnios, preterm birth, low birth weight, and death. In the group with bilateral disease the presence of oligohydramnios, preterm birth, low birth weight, death, urinary tract infections, and the need of hospitalization for a period greater than 7 days was significant when compared to the group with unilateral disease. The need of hospitalization for a period greater than 7 days in patients with low obstruction was significantly higher when compared to the patients with high obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: hydronephrosis, bilateral disease, and lower obstruction were the most frequent uropathies. The dysplasia/agenesis group had a worse prognosis when compared with the hydronephrosis group. Bilateral disease had a worse prognosis when compared with the unilateral disease group. In the low obstruction group, the need for a period of hospitalization greater than seven days was higher than in the high obstruction group.

Association of haplotypes in the IL8 gene with susceptibility to chronic periodontitis in a Brazilian population

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação funcional do equilíbrio e da sensibilidade cutânea plantar de idosos moradores na comunidade

Desequilíbrio é um dos muitos fatores de risco que aumenta a susceptibilidade de um idoso a quedas. O equilíbrio pode ser avaliado mediante testes posturais e de sensibilidade plantar. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a ocorrência de desequilíbrio e perda de sensibilidade cutânea plantar em idosos da comunidade e verificar a existência de associação entre ambas as alterações. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal descritivo envolvendo 45 idosos submetidos à escala de equilíbrio de Berg (EEB) e ao teste de sensibilidade plantar com monofilamento de nylon. Foram utilizados os testes qui-quadrado e exato de Fisher e elaboradas curvas ROC para estudo da sensibilidade e especificidade da EEB. RESULTADOS: Idosos com alteração do equilíbrio e da sensibilidade cutânea foram em número de 2 e 4, respectivamente. Houve associação significativa entre queixa de desequilíbrio e perda da sensibilidade (p = 0,047) e ocorreu concordância razoável (Kappa: 0,6457) entre a EEB e o teste da sensibilidade. Verificou-se também associação significativa entre 6 dos 14 tarefas da EEB e o teste sensorial. CONCLUSÃO: Idosos vivendo com independência na comunidade, em sua maioria, apresentam equilíbrio e sensibilidade cutânea plantar normais. Quando alteradas estas funções mostram-se associadas de forma que, se os testes forem realizados conjuntamente, a precisão da avaliação do equilíbrio idoso aumenta.

Use of aspartate aminotransferase in diagnosing periodontal disease: a comparative study of clinical and microbiological parameters

The objective of this study was to assess the association between the levels of enzyme aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) with the BANA hydrolysis microbiological test (Perioscan) and clinical periodontal diagnostic measurements, such as bleeding on probing, plaque index, gingival index, probing depth, and attachment level in patients with chronic periodontitis using an enzymatic test (PocketWatch). One hundred and forty-seven sites were evaluated in 22 patients with a probing depth of > or = 5 mm at selected sites. AST and BANA enzymatic tests were carried out, and clinical parameters recorded. Pearson's chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used for statistical analysis. There was no statistical correlation between AST levels and any of the analyzed parameters. The lack of any association between the factors studied does not indicate, however, that the latter cannot be used in diagnosing the actual periodontal condition of patients and/or sites. However, more research should be carried out to evaluate the true relationship between AST and periodontal disease.

In vitro susceptibility of oral Candida albicans strains to different pH levels and calcium hydroxide saturated aqueous solution

Candida albicans is present in the oral cavity and in the whole digestive tract of humans and other animals, being frequently related to endodontic treatment failure. The present study determined the incidence of C. albicans in the oral cavity and the susceptibility of isolates to different pH values and saturated calcium hydroxide aqueous solution at pH 12.5. Sixty-five patients attending the Endodontic Clinic at the Sagrado Coração University participated in the study. The collected samples were cultivated in selective media for C. albicans and the isolates were tested in terms of resistance to both alkaline pH and saturated aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide. In relation to time variables, yeast viability was assessed by the Sabouraud's agar culture and fluorescein diacetate and ethidium bromide fluorescent staining method. Results from the different pHs and experimental times, including those from different techniques measuring fungal viability, were compared using the chi-square and Fisher's exact tests (α=0.05). The yeasts became completely inviable after 48 h of contact with the calcium hydroxide solution. On the other hand, when exposed to the alkaline culture broth, the yeasts were found to be viable at pHs 9.5 and 10.5 for up to 7 days. In conclusion, C. albicans can only be completely inhibited by direct contact with saturated calcium hydroxide aqueous solution after 48 h of exposure.

Analysis of primary stability of dental implants inserted in different substrates using the pullout test and insertion torque

The aim of the study was to evaluate mechanical behavior of implants inserted in three substrates, by measuring the pullout strength and the relative stiffness. 32 implants (Master Porous-Conexao, cylindrical, external hexagon, and surface treatment) were divided into 4 groups (n = 8): pig rib bone, polyurethane Synbone, polyurethane Nacional 40 PCF, and pinus wood. Implants were installed with the exact distance of 5 mm of another implant. The insertion torque (N·cm) was quantified using the digital Kratos torque meter and the pullout test (N) was performed by an axial traction force toward the long axis of the implant (2 min/mm) through mount implant devices attached to a piece adapted to a load cell of 200 Kg of a universal testing machine (Emic DL10000). Data of insertion torque and maximum pullout force were submitted to one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni tests (α = 0.05). Polyurethane Nacional 40 PCF and pinus wood showed the highest values of insertion torque and pullout force, with significant statistical difference (P < 0.05) with other groups. The analysis showed stiffness materials with the highest values for primary stability. © 2013 Nathalia Ferraz Oliscovicz et al.