Public-domain software for root image analysis

In the search for high efficiency in root studies, computational systems have been developed to analyze digital images. ImageJ and Safira are public-domain systems that may be used for image analysis of washed roots. However, differences in root properties measured using ImageJ and Safira are supposed. This study compared values of root length and surface area obtained with public-domain systems with values obtained by a reference method. Root samples were collected in a banana plantation in an area of a shallower Typic Carbonatic Haplic Cambisol (CXk), and an area of a deeper Typic Haplic Ta Eutrophic Cambisol (CXve), at six depths in five replications. Root images were digitized and the systems ImageJ and Safira used to determine root length and surface area. The line-intersect method modified by Tennant was used as reference; values of root length and surface area measured with the different systems were analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficient and compared by the confidence interval and t-test. Both systems ImageJ and Safira had positive correlation coefficients with the reference method for root length and surface area data in CXk and CXve. The correlation coefficient ranged from 0.54 to 0.80, with lowest value observed for ImageJ in the measurement of surface area of roots sampled in CXve. The IC (95 %) revealed that root length measurements with Safira did not differ from that with the reference method in CXk (-77.3 to 244.0 mm). Regarding surface area measurements, Safira did not differ from the reference method for samples collected in CXk (-530.6 to 565.8 mm²) as well as in CXve (-4231 to 612.1 mm²). However, measurements with ImageJ were different from those obtained by the reference method, underestimating length and surface area in samples collected in CXk and CXve. Both ImageJ and Safira allow an identification of increases or decreases in root length and surface area. However, Safira results for root length and surface area are closer to the results obtained with the reference method.

Produção de inoculante micorrízico on farm utilizando resíduos da indústria florestal

A produção de inoculante à base de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMAs) utilizando o método on farm é uma alternativa para estimular o uso de inoculante microbiano no sistema de produção vegetal e reduzir os custos associados com a compra desse produto. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o potencial de resíduos do setor florestal, a casca de Pinus (CP) e o lodo de celulose (LC), como componentes do substrato para a produção de inoculante micorrízico on farm . Plantas de sorgo pré-colonizadas com os FMAs, Claroideoglomus etunicatum RJN101A e Dentiscutata heterogama PNB102A, foram estabelecidas em casa de vegetação por três meses em substrato formado por areia:argila expandida:solo (2:2:1). Após, essas foram transplantadas para sacos plásticos de 20 L contendo substrato formado por CP ou LC, misturados com casca de arroz carbonizada + solo de barranco (1:1:1). O experimento seguiu um fatorial 2 × 2, sendo dois isolados fúngicos e dois resíduos, com cinco repetições, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. As plantas cresceram por três meses sob condições ambientais e, após esse período, o substrato foi analisado quanto ao número de esporos de FMAs, à colonização micorrízica da planta hospedeira e ao potencial de inóculo pelo método do NMP (número mais provável). O substrato foi dividido em três camadas (superior, mediana e inferior) e apenas o número de esporos foi avaliado individualmente para cada camada. O número de esporos de ambos FMAs não foi influenciado pelo tipo resíduo, mas diminuiu da parte superior para a inferior dentro de cada unidade experimental. D. heterogama tendeu a produzir maior número de esporos do que C. etunicatum . A porcentagem de colonização micorrízica do sorgo pelos FMAs foi significativamente maior no resíduo LC do que CP. O número de propágulos infectivos de FMAs tendeu também a ser maior em LC (22 a 28 propágulos cm-3 substrato) do que em CP (1,6 a 6,5 propágulos cm-3 substrato). O resíduo LC tem potencial para ser utilizado como componente do substrato em sistemas de produção de inoculante micorrízico on farm.

Fabricants, comerciants i banquers. Les estructures comercials de la indústria cotonera catalana en el mercat español (1840-1936)

Aquesta tesi analitza la integració vertical entre fabricació, comercialització i finançament a la indústria catalana del període 1840-1936. L¿evidència obtinguda de les fonts arxivístiques confirma la visió tradicional quant a la descripció dels fets, però ofereix una interpretació alternativa, més optimista, de les causes i de les conseqüències. Els fabricants s¿implicaren en la comercialització perquè ells eren els coordinadors entre oferta i demanda (no com en el cas britànic, on ho eren els comerciants), i per tant havien de tenir un peu a cada banda. A més, els fabricants eren els més ben situats per a ser uns banquers eficients dels seus clients.

Escola e fábrica: vozes de trabalhadores em uma indústria de ponta

O objetivo deste artigo é o de apresentar parte dos resultados de ampla pesquisa, na qual se estudou a qualificação como construção social, privilegiando-se dois campos de análise: a escola e a fábrica. A pesquisa focalizou uma escola pública, duas unidades do Senai e uma indústria metal-mecânica, localizada no interior do Estado de São Paulo. Neste artigo, discutem-se alguns dados obtidos no âmbito da fábrica, com destaque para o olhar dos trabalhadores sobre as contribuições da escola e da empresa para seu processo de qualificação profissional. Os resultados indicam que há consenso entre os entrevistados sobre o valor da escolarização, não só para o exercício da profissão, mas para a vida social e familiar. Os procedimentos adotados pela indústria, visando à qualificação profissional e à adesão dos trabalhadores aos objetivos empresariais, são também muito bem aceitos. A análise dos dados permitiu, todavia, desvelar conflitos, contradições e idealizações que os discursos consensuais não conseguem de todo ocultar.

Literatura, indústria cultural e formação humana

Este trabalho aborda questões referentes à literatura e aos produtos da indústria cultural, especialmente aos chamados romances "cor-de-rosa", focalizando as potencialidades de diferentes discursos na formação da subjetividade. As protagonistas dos romances O Quinze e As Três Marias, de Rachel de Queiroz são utilizadas como referência. Nesta perspectiva, evidencia-se a impregnação das criações ficcionais, atuando, de forma subconsciente e inconsciente, nas camadas profundas da personalidade, que pode em alguns casos, ampliar o conhecimento e a experiência humanos, aguçar os meios de expressão, despertar o senso crítico, mas em outros, reforçar a alienação da realidade. Conclui que enquanto a literatura oferece a possibilidade de libertar, os produtos da indústria cultural, ou seja, a literatura de massas, constituem um convite à alienação, ao conformismo, uma vez que tendem a inculcar estereótipos e preconceitos.

Video analysis software increases the interrater reliability of video gait assessments in children with cerebral palsy.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of using video analysis software on the interrater reliability of visual assessments of gait videos in children with cerebral palsy. Two clinicians viewed the same random selection of 20 sagittal and frontal video recordings of 12 children with cerebral palsy routinely acquired during outpatient rehabilitation clinics. Both observers rated these videos in a random sequence for each lower limb using the Observational Gait Scale, once with standard video software and another with video analysis software (Dartfish(®)) which can perform angle and timing measurements. The video analysis software improved interrater agreement, measured by weighted Cohen's kappas, for the total score (κ 0.778→0.809) and all of the items that required angle and/or timing measurements (knee position mid-stance κ 0.344→0.591; hindfoot position mid-stance κ 0.160→0.346; foot contact mid-stance κ 0.700→0.854; timing of heel rise κ 0.769→0.835). The use of video analysis software is an efficient approach to improve the reliability of visual video assessments.

Benchmarking therapeutic drug monitoring software: A systematic evaluation of available computer tools

Introduction: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) aims at optimizing treatment by individualizing dosage regimen based on measurement of blood concentrations. Maintaining concentrations within a target range requires pharmacokinetic and clinical capabilities. Bayesian calculation represents a gold standard in TDM approach but requires computing assistance. In the last decades computer programs have been developed to assist clinicians in this assignment. The aim of this benchmarking was to assess and compare computer tools designed to support TDM clinical activities.¦Method: Literature and Internet search was performed to identify software. All programs were tested on common personal computer. Each program was scored against a standardized grid covering pharmacokinetic relevance, user-friendliness, computing aspects, interfacing, and storage. A weighting factor was applied to each criterion of the grid to consider its relative importance. To assess the robustness of the software, six representative clinical vignettes were also processed through all of them.¦Results: 12 software tools were identified, tested and ranked. It represents a comprehensive review of the available software's characteristics. Numbers of drugs handled vary widely and 8 programs offer the ability to the user to add its own drug model. 10 computer programs are able to compute Bayesian dosage adaptation based on a blood concentration (a posteriori adjustment) while 9 are also able to suggest a priori dosage regimen (prior to any blood concentration measurement), based on individual patient covariates, such as age, gender, weight. Among those applying Bayesian analysis, one uses the non-parametric approach. The top 2 software emerging from this benchmark are MwPharm and TCIWorks. Other programs evaluated have also a good potential but are less sophisticated (e.g. in terms of storage or report generation) or less user-friendly.¦Conclusion: Whereas 2 integrated programs are at the top of the ranked listed, such complex tools would possibly not fit all institutions, and each software tool must be regarded with respect to individual needs of hospitals or clinicians. Interest in computing tool to support therapeutic monitoring is still growing. Although developers put efforts into it the last years, there is still room for improvement, especially in terms of institutional information system interfacing, user-friendliness, capacity of data storage and report generation.

Benchmarking therapeutic drug monitoring software: A systematic evaluation of available computer tools

Objectives: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) aims at optimizing treatment by individualizing dosage regimen based on blood concentrations measurement. Maintaining concentrations within a target range requires pharmacokinetic (PK) and clinical capabilities. Bayesian calculation represents a gold standard in TDM approach but requires computing assistance. The aim of this benchmarking was to assess and compare computer tools designed to support TDM clinical activities.¦Methods: Literature and Internet were searched to identify software. Each program was scored against a standardized grid covering pharmacokinetic relevance, user-friendliness, computing aspects, interfacing, and storage. A weighting factor was applied to each criterion of the grid to consider its relative importance. To assess the robustness of the software, six representative clinical vignettes were also processed through all of them.¦Results: 12 software tools were identified, tested and ranked. It represents a comprehensive review of the available software characteristics. Numbers of drugs handled vary from 2 to more than 180, and integration of different population types is available for some programs. Nevertheless, 8 programs offer the ability to add new drug models based on population PK data. 10 computer tools incorporate Bayesian computation to predict dosage regimen (individual parameters are calculated based on population PK models). All of them are able to compute Bayesian a posteriori dosage adaptation based on a blood concentration while 9 are also able to suggest a priori dosage regimen, only based on individual patient covariates. Among those applying Bayesian analysis, MM-USC*PACK uses a non-parametric approach. The top 2 programs emerging from this benchmark are MwPharm and TCIWorks. Others programs evaluated have also a good potential but are less sophisticated or less user-friendly.¦Conclusions: Whereas 2 software packages are ranked at the top of the list, such complex tools would possibly not fit all institutions, and each program must be regarded with respect to individual needs of hospitals or clinicians. Programs should be easy and fast for routine activities, including for non-experienced users. Although interest in TDM tools is growing and efforts were put into it in the last years, there is still room for improvement, especially in terms of institutional information system interfacing, user-friendliness, capability of data storage and automated report generation.

Non-Destructive Evaluation of Iowa Pavements Phase 2: Development of a Fully Automated Software System for Rapid Analysis/Processing of the Falling Weight Deflectometer Data, 2009

The Office of Special Investigations at Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) collects FWD data on regular basis to evaluate pavement structural conditions. The primary objective of this study was to develop a fully-automated software system for rapid processing of the FWD data along with a user manual. The software system automatically reads the FWD raw data collected by the JILS-20 type FWD machine that Iowa DOT owns, processes and analyzes the collected data with the rapid prediction algorithms developed during the phase I study. This system smoothly integrates the FWD data analysis algorithms and the computer program being used to collect the pavement deflection data. This system can be used to assess pavement condition, estimate remaining pavement life, and eventually help assess pavement rehabilitation strategies by the Iowa DOT pavement management team. This report describes the developed software in detail and can also be used as a user-manual for conducting simulation studies and detailed analyses. *********************** Large File ***********************

Revisión: tecnologia de agentes de software

Los agentes de software en la era de las redes globales son una herramienta vital para superar el fenómeno llamado "sobrecarga de información". El grado de madurez alcanzado en esta tecnología permite que hoy se puedan ver aplicaciones concretas funcionado en organizaciones, como así también en el escritorio del usuario hogareño. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar una revisión bibliográfica sobre la tecnología de agentes de software, con orientación a los modelos que permiten gerenciar la sobrecarga de información.

Proposta de um método para escolha de software de automação de bibliotecas

Apresenta um método para avaliação e seleção de softwares de automação de bibliotecas. Consiste na atribuição de critérios e cálculos estatísticos em uma lista elaborada para a seleção e avaliação deste tipo de software. Este método pretender servir como instrumento de apoio à tomada de decisão no processo de escolha do software mais adequado às necessidades de cada instituição. Este trabalho foi motivado por uma demanda do Instituto Brasileiro de Informação em Ciência e Tecnologia (IBICT) para automatizar a sua biblioteca.