Searching for molecular markers in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) by statistical and bioinformatic analysis of larynx-derived SAGE libraries

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

Status of a hybrid three-neutrino interpretation of neutrino data

We re-analyse the non-standard interaction (NSI) solutions to the solar neutrino problem in the light of the latest solar as well as atmospheric neutrino data. The latter require oscillations (OSC), while the former do not. Within such a three-neutrino framework the solar and atmospheric neutrino sectors are connected not only by the neutrino mixing angle theta(13) constrained by reactor and atmospheric data, but also by the flavour-changing (FC) and non-universal (NU) parameters accounting for the solar data. Since the NSI solution is energy-independent the spectrum is undistorted, so that the global analysis observables are the solar neutrino rates in all experiments as well as the Super-Kamiokande day-night measurements. We find that the NSI description of solar data is slightly better than that of the OSC solution and that the allowed NSI regions are determined mainly by the rate analysis. By using a few simplified ansatzes for the NSI interactions we explicitly demonstrate that the NSI values indicated by the solar data analysis are fully acceptable also for the atmospheric data. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Leitura crítica da história: reflexões sobre a história da matemática

Muitos elementos que fornecem informações para a escrita da história apresentam direcionamentos representativos de uma forma de pensamento, seja ela política, filosófica ou de cunho social. Esses elementos são trabalhados para que se tenha uma visão específica da história. O objetivo deste texto é, por meio de alguns exemplos, discutir que existem diferentes formas de análise dos elementos que nos fornecem informações históricas, com destaque para a História da Ciência, especificamente para a História da Matemática. Quanto maior for a quantidade de informações sobre determinados acontecimentos históricos, maior é a possibilidade de se obter um encadeamento histórico, firmado em bases qualitativas, que sustente a informação adquirida. Se essas informações forem escassas, ou originárias de fontes duvidosas, as conclusões históricas referentes ao assunto tratado ficam frágeis e passíveis de diferentes e, muitas vezes, conflitantes interpretações. Neste texto, pretende-se apresentar alguns exemplos históricos onde, por conta de poucas informações, ou informações distorcidas, a interpretação histórica é passível de mudanças.

A fotografia na imprensa diária paulistana nas primeiras décadas do século XX: O Estado de S. Paulo

A pesquisa recupera as imagens fotográficas publicadas nas edições diárias do jornal O Estado de S. Paulo, de 1910 a 1929, identificando os temas mais recorrentes publicados pelo periódico. Com metodologia histórica, documental e de estudos de comunicação procedeu-se à organização e análise das imagens. Através da catalogação e ordenação das fotografias por datas de publicação, editorias em que foram publicadas e temas fotográficos mais recorrentes, presentes nos registros impressos, estruturou-se um banco de dados que permitiu a quantificação e o cruzamento dos registros e informações referentes a essa documentação. A análise de dados permitiu identificar elementos da formação da visualidade jornalística no país e traz subsídios para os estudos da história visual da imprensa brasileira.

A bio-economic appraisal of pair trawl fisheries off southeastern Brazil

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

Analyses of fatigue data in 4340 high strength steel after cadmium electroplating

Bending fatigue tests were carried out to clarify the effects of heat treatment parameters: temperature and time after cadmium electroplating on a high strength steel, to avoid hydrogen embrittlement. Temperatures heat of 190 degrees C, 230 degrees C, 250 degrees C and 300 degrees C at 3, 8 and 24 hours together with the base material electroplated, with and without heat treatment, resulted in 14 conditions studied with respect to fatigue behaviour. Statistical data analysis was performed to identify the best combination temperature/time regarding fatigue strength of the ABNT 4340 steel and the results obtained revealed that the fatigue strength depend on temperature/time conditions.

Coordinated views to assist exploration of spatio-temporal data: a case study

In this paper we focus on providing coordinated visual strategies to assist users in performing tasks driven by the presence of temporal and spatial attributes. We introduce temporal visualization techniques targeted at such tasks, and illustrate their use with an application involving a climate classification process. The climate classification requires extensive Processing of a database containing daily rain precipitation values collected along over fifty years at several spatial locations in the São Paulo state, Brazil. We identify user exploration tasks typically conducted as part of the data preparation required in this process, and then describe how such tasks may be assisted by the multiple visual techniques provided. Issues related to the use of the multiple techniques by an end-user are also discussed.

Robust Bayesian analysis of heavy-tailed stochastic volatility models using scale mixtures of normal distributions

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

Apert syndrome: Analysis of associated brain malformations and conformational changes determined by surgical treatment

Apert Syndrome, also called acrocephalosyndactylia type 1, is characterized by craniostenosis with early fusion of sutures of the vault and/ or cranial base, associated to mid-face hypoplasia, symmetric syndactylia of the hands and feet and other systemic malformations. CNS malformations and intracranial hypertension are frequently observed in these patients. Early surgical treatment aims to minimize the deleterious effects of intracranial hypertension. Fronto-orbital advancement, the usual surgical technique, increases the intracranial volume and improves the disposition of encephalic structures previously deformed by a short skull. This study analyzes CNS alterations revealed by magnetic resonance in 18 patients presenting Apert Syndrome, and the conformational alterations in the encephalic structures after surgical treatment. The patients' age in February 2001 ranged from 14 to 322 months (m=107). Image study included brain magnetic resonance showing ventricular enlargement in five cases (27.8%), corpus callosum hypoplasia in five cases (27.8%), septum pellucidum hypoplasia in five cases (27.8%), cavum vergae in two cases (11.1%) and, arachnoid cyst in the posterior fossa in two cases (11.1%). Absence of CNS alterations was noted in 44.4% of cases. A corpus callosum morphologic index was established by dividing its height by its length, which revealed values that ranged from 0.4409 to 1.0237. The values of this index were correlated to the occurrence or absence of surgical treatment (p=0.012; t=2.83). Data analysis allowed the conclusion that the corpus callosum morphologic measure quantified the conformational alterations of the cerebral structures determined by the surgical treatment.

Conceptual model for adaptable and extensible visual data exploration

Interactive visual representations complement traditional statistical and machine learning techniques for data analysis, allowing users to play a more active role in a knowledge discovery process and making the whole process more understandable. Though visual representations are applicable to several stages of the knowledge discovery process, a common use of visualization is in the initial stages to explore and organize a sometimes unknown and complex data set. In this context, the integrated and coordinated - that is, user actions should be capable of affecting multiple visualizations when desired - use of multiple graphical representations allows data to be observed from several perspectives and offers richer information than isolated representations. In this paper we propose an underlying model for an extensible and adaptable environment that allows independently developed visualization components to be gradually integrated into a user configured knowledge discovery application. Because a major requirement when using multiple visual techniques is the ability to link amongst them, so that user actions executed on a representation propagate to others if desired, the model also allows runtime configuration of coordinated user actions over different visual representations. We illustrate how this environment is being used to assist data exploration and organization in a climate classification problem.

Morphometric analysis of a population of diplopods of the genus Rhinocricus Karsch, 1881

Diplopods belonging to the subclass Helminthomorpha may present one or both leg pairs of the seventh diplosegment modified into structures that aid copulation, called gonopods. These structures are used as a taxonomic trait for the description of most species. In the genus Rhinocricus these structures are closely similar, so that it is difficult to distinguish species only on the basis of this trait. Two species, R. padbergi and R. varians, are found in the same habitat and present gonopods practically identical in shape; together they present a broad colour gradient, ranging from dark brown to light beige. Morphometric data for individuals of the experimental group were submitted to ANOVA and MANOVA, using Hotelling-Lawley Trace and generalized Mahalanobis distances (D 2) tests. The results demonstrated a relationship between size and colour, with darker individuals being larger. On the basis of this preliminary analysis, we may suggest that the two species are distinct since dark individuals are distant from medium- and light-coloured individuals according to the D 2 values. This seems to indicate a possible polymorphism of individuals belonging to R. padbergi which present close proximity in the values obtained. In all analyses, we observed that the main variables were diameter, length and telson size.

An intelligent system to detect drilling problems through drilled cuttings return analysis

Cuttings return analysis is an important tool to detect and prevent problems during the petroleum well drilling process. Several measurements and tools have been developed for drilling problems detection, including mud logging, PWD and downhole torque information. Cuttings flow meters were developed in the past to provide information regarding cuttings return at the shale shakers. Their use, however, significantly impact the operation including rig space issues, interferences in geological analysis besides, additional personel required. This article proposes a non intrusive system to analyze the cuttings concentration at the shale shakers, which can indicate problems during drilling process, such as landslide, the collapse of the well borehole walls. Cuttings images are acquired by a high definition camera installed above the shakers and sent to a computer coupled with a data analysis system which aims the quantification and closure of a cuttings material balance in the well surface system domain. No additional people at the rigsite are required to operate the system. Modern Artificial intelligence techniques are used for pattern recognition and data analysis. Techniques include the Optimum-Path Forest (OPF), Artificial Neural Network using Multilayer Perceptrons (ANN-MLP), Support Vector Machines (SVM) and a Bayesian Classifier (BC). Field test results conducted on offshore floating vessels are presented. Results show the robustness of the proposed system, which can be also integrated with other data to improve the efficiency of drilling problems detection. Copyright 2010, IADC/SPE Drilling Conference and Exhibition.

(Em defesa dos) Cuidados Paliativos na Atenção Primária à Saúde

One of the basic principles of the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS) is integral assistance, which considers the integrality of the individual, of service and care, which should necessarily include end of life care. Our aim was to analyze the work process of health professionals at the Family Health Strategy / Primary Care that already cared for people in the dying process to propose viable contributions to the Public Health area as regards the implementation of Palliative Care in Primary Care. We present data referring to the following themes: Singular Therapeutic Project (PTS); death quality as PTS goal (work purpose); the team's ways of doing (bonding as a pact condition). Eleven health professionals (four nurses and seven physicians) linked to the Family Health Strategy (ESF) of Campinas (São Paulo) participated on this research. From the interviews, data analysis followed the Socio-Historical Psychology theoretical and methodological approach. The professionals' activity was analyzed in articulation with the specificities of caring for people in the dying process. We found that action planning in health is oriented by the Singular Therapeutic Project (PTS), with an emphasis in social diagnosis and the need of a bond for attaining a pact. It is understood that the purpose of health professionals' activity is to promote dignity and life quality in the dying process, but integral care should include not only individual and family care, but also the defence of full human development during all phases of life.

An Integrative Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Potential Targets Associated with Cell Proliferation in Uterine Leiomyomas

Background: Uterine Leiomyomas (ULs) are the most common benign tumours affecting women of reproductive age. ULs represent a major problem in public health, as they are the main indication for hysterectomy. Approximately 40-50% of ULs have non-random cytogenetic abnormalities, and half of ULs may have copy number alterations (CNAs). Gene expression microarrays studies have demonstrated that cell proliferation genes act in response to growth factors and steroids. However, only a few genes mapping to CNAs regions were found to be associated with ULs. Methodology: We applied an integrative analysis using genomic and transcriptomic data to identify the pathways and molecular markers associated with ULs. Fifty-one fresh frozen specimens were evaluated by array CGH (JISTIC) and gene expression microarrays (SAM). The CONEXIC algorithm was applied to integrate the data. Principal Findings: The integrated analysis identified the top 30 significant genes (P<0.01), which comprised genes associated with cancer, whereas the protein-protein interaction analysis indicated a strong association between FANCA and BRCA1. Functional in silico analysis revealed target molecules for drugs involved in cell proliferation, including FGFR1 and IGFBP5. Transcriptional and protein analyses showed that FGFR1 (P = 0.006 and P<0.01, respectively) and IGFBP5 (P = 0.0002 and P = 0.006, respectively) were up-regulated in the tumours when compared with the adjacent normal myometrium. Conclusions: The integrative genomic and transcriptomic approach indicated that FGFR1 and IGFBP5 amplification, as well as the consequent up-regulation of the protein products, plays an important role in the aetiology of ULs and thus provides data for potential drug therapies development to target genes associated with cellular proliferation in ULs. © 2013 Cirilo et al.

Software for calculation of reservoir active capacity with the sequent-peak algorithm

It is presented a software developed with Delphi programming language to compute the reservoir's annual regulated active storage, based on the sequent-peak algorithm. Mathematical models used for that purpose generally require extended hydrological series. Usually, the analysis of those series is performed with spreadsheets or graphical representations. Based on that, it was developed a software for calculation of reservoir active capacity. An example calculation is shown by 30-years (from 1977 to 2009) monthly mean flow historical data, from Corrente River, located at São Francisco River Basin, Brazil. As an additional tool, an interface was developed to manage water resources, helping to manipulate data and to point out information that it would be of interest to the user. Moreover, with that interface irrigation districts where water consumption is higher can be analyzed as a function of specific seasonal water demands situations. From a practical application, it is possible to conclude that the program provides the calculation originally proposed. It was designed to keep information organized and retrievable at any time, and to show simulation on seasonal water demands throughout the year, contributing with the elements of study concerning reservoir projects. This program, with its functionality, is an important tool for decision making in the water resources management.