Alteração do campo visual em função do uso de cabinas em tratores agrícolas

Com o objetivo de avaliar a alteração do campo visual de um trator, ocasionada pela instalação de uma cabina, foram determinadas as áreas de visibilidade nula em função da presença ou não da mesma, para cada campo visual. Os procedimentos adotados basearam-se na norma ISO 5721-1981 - Agricultural tractors - Operator's field of vision. A cabina aumentou em 34,42% a área de visibilidade nula. A relação área de projeção do trator/área total sombreada foi de 0,075 para o trator sem cabina, e 0,057 para o trator com cabina, indicando as melhores condições de visibilidade do primeiro em relação ao segundo. No que se refere aos campos visuais, a maior redução ocorreu no campo visual dos olhos e no obtido com o movimento da cabeça, em função dos suportes da cabina e da estrutura de proteção contra o capotamento. A cabina diminui o campo de visão do operador, e adequações no projeto da estrutura avaliada são necessárias para melhorar as condições de visibilidade.

Fungicide application using a trailing boom in soybean fields

The objective of this study was to determine the effects in the yield of soybean crop utilizing a trailing boom sprayer for chemical control of late season diseases. The experimental design was randomized blocks with 04 treatments, which consisted of applying fungicides with a traditional sprayer, trailing boom, the traditional sprayer plus the trailing boom simultaneously and control (without fungicide aerial application) in 05 repetitions per treatment. The variables evaluated were: final plant population, pods per plant, grains per pod, weight of one thousand grains and yield. It was concluded that the control of foliar diseases with fungicides presented weight of one thousand grains and yield significantly higher than the average of plots without fungicide application. The trailing boom did not significantly affect the yield compared to the technology currently used.

Avaliação de métodos alternativos à citologia no rastreamento de lesões cervicais: detecção de DNA-HPV e inspeção visual

OBJETIVO: avaliar o desempenho da citologia oncológica (CO), de captura híbrida II (CH II) e da inspeção visual com ácido acético na detecção de lesões pré-neoplásicas e neoplásicas cervicais. MÉTODOS: 2281 mulheres foram submetidas a exame clínico além da coleta de material para citologia, para CH II para detecção de DNA-HPV. Foi feita a inspeção visual do colo após aplicação do ácido acético a 5% (IVA). As mulheres com pelo menos um exame positivo eram convocadas para colposcopia, que também foi realizada em 420 mulheres com todos os exames normais. O desempenho dos testes foi calculado utilizando como padrão ouro a colposcopia com ou sem biopsia. RESULTADOS: a CO foi anormal em 209 mulheres (9,2%); a CH II foi positiva em 399 (17,5%) e em 249 (10,9%) foram encontradas alterações na IVA. Entre as 2281 mulheres avaliadas, 671 (29,4%) apresentaram pelo menos um resultado de exame positivo, embora apenas 82 (3,6%) apresentassem doença confirmada histologicamente (50 NIC1, 20 NIC2, sete NIC3 e cinco carcinomas invasores). As sensibilidades da IVA e da CH II foram semelhantes e significativamente maiores que a da CO. A especificidade da CO foi maior que a da IVA e da CH II. Nos casos com resultado de CO negativo, a IVA apresentou melhor desempenho comparada à CH II. CONCLUSÃO: o desempenho da CO associada à IVA foi melhor que o da CO associada à CH II e do que o da CO isolada.

Inspeção visual do colo uterino após aplicação de ácido acético no rastreamento das neoplasias intra-epiteliais e lesões induzidas por HPV

OBJETIVO: estimar a validade da inspeção visual após aplicação de ácido acético (IVA) no rastreamento das neoplasias intra-epiteliais cervicais (NIC) e lesões induzidas por HPV, comparando seu desempenho com o da colpocitologia e da colposcopia. MÉTODOS: estudo de validação de teste diagnóstico realizado em 893 mulheres de 18 a 65 anos, rastreadas simultaneamente com colpocitologia, IVA e colposcopia, em unidade de saúde pública de Recife, PE. A IVA foi realizada por embrocação do colo com ácido acético a 5% e observação a olho nu, com auxílio de foco clínico comum. Considerou-se como positividade o achado de qualquer lesão aceto-branca no colo. O padrão-ouro foi o histopatológico de biópsia cervical, realizado sempre que qualquer um dos três testes resultasse anormal. Foram estimados e comparados os indicadores de validade de cada teste, com os respectivos intervalos de confiança a 95%. A concordância entre os resultados dos testes foi avaliada pelo coeficiente kappa (k). RESULTADOS: das 303 mulheres biopsiadas, o estudo histopatológico foi anormal em 24. Deste total, a IVA foi positiva em 22, conferindo-lhe sensibilidade estimada de 91,7%, especificidade de 68,9%, valor preditivo positivo de 7,5% e valor preditivo negativo de 99,7%. Comparando-se os intervalos de confiança a 95%, a IVA mostrou maior sensibilidade que a colpocitologia, mas com menores especificidade e valor preditivo positivo. Houve fraca concordância entre os resultados da IVA e da colpocitologia (k=0,02) e excelente concordância com os da colposcopia (k=0,93). CONCLUSÃO: a IVA foi muito mais sensível que a colpocitologia no rastreamento das NIC e lesões HPV-induzidas e teve o mesmo desempenho da colposcopia. Sua baixa especificidade foi responsável por um elevado número de resultados falso-positivos.

The importance of Leptospira interrogans serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae and Canicola in coastal zone and in southern fields of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

This study aimed to describe the occurrence of Leptospira interrogans serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae and Canicola, in coastal zone and in southern grasslands of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In each one of the four analyzed farms blood samples were collected from free-living wild animals, domestic animals and humans to perform serological testing for leptospirosis. The presence of antibodies was verified by microscopic agglutination test (MAT). The criterion adopted to consider a serum as agglutination reactant was at least 50% of leptospira for a microscopic field of 100x. From 17 blood samples collected at Chuí, five (29.41%) were positive, three (60.00%) for serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae and two (40.00%) for Canicola. From 21 samples collected in the County of Santana da Boa Vista, six (28.57%) were positive, four (66.67%) for serovar Canicola and two (33.33%) for serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae. From 32 samples collected at Alegrete, 10 (31.25%) were positive, seven (70.00%) for serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae and three (30.00%) foro serovar Canicola. From 17 blood samples collected in Cruz Alta, three (17.64%) were positive, two (66.67%) for serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae and one (33.33%) for Canicola. It is necessary to improve sanitary practices on farms in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in order to achieve success in leptospirosis control programs.

Lean daily management, visual management and continuous improvement

This thesis was part of lean adaptation project started at Outotec Lappeenranta factory in early 2013. The purpose of this thesis was to develop and propose lean tools that could be used in daily management, visual management and continuous improvement. This thesis was “outsiders” view, and as such, did not study the current processes deeply. As result of this thesis, two different Daily Management -boards were designed, one for parallel processes and one for sequential processes. In addition, methods of doing continuous improvement and daily task accountability were framed and standard work for the leaders outlined. The tools presented in this thesis are general tools which support work in lean environment. They are visual and, if used correctly, they provide a basis from which continuous improvement can be done. Lean philosophy emphasizes the deep understanding of the current situation and it would be against the lean principles to blindly implement anything developed “on the outside”. The tools presented should be reviewed and modified further by the people working on the factory floor.

Visual customer segmentation and behavior analysis : a SOM-based approach

Ett ämne som väckt intresse både inom industrin och forskningen är hantering av kundförhållanden (CRM, eng. Customer Relationship Management), dvs. en kundorienterad affärsstrategi där företagen från att ha varit produktorienterade väljer att bli mera kundcentrerade. Numera kan kundernas beteende och aktiviteter lätt registreras och sparas med hjälp av integrerade affärssystem (ERP, eng. Enterprise Resource Planning) och datalager (DW, eng. Data Warehousing). Kunder med olika preferenser och köpbeteende skapar sin egen ”signatur” i synnerhet via användningen av kundkort, vilket möjliggör mångsidig modellering av kundernas köpbeteende. För att få en översikt av kundernas köpbeteende och deras lönsamhet, används ofta kundsegmentering som en metod för att indela kunderna i grupper utgående från deras likheter. De mest använda metoderna för kundsegmentering är analytiska modeller konstruerade för en viss tidsperiod. Dessa modeller beaktar inte att kundernas beteende kan förändras med tiden. I föreliggande avhandling skapas en holistisk översikt av kundernas karaktär och köpbeteende som utöver de konventionella segmenteringsmodellerna även beaktar dynamiken i köpbeteendet. Dynamiken i en kundsegmenteringsmodell innefattar förändringar i segmentens struktur och innehåll, samt förändringen av individuella kunders tillhörighet i ett segment (s.k migrationsanalyser). Vardera förändringen modelleras, analyseras och exemplifieras med visuella datautvinningstekniker, främst med självorganiserande kartor (SOM, eng. Self-Organizing Maps) och självorganiserande tidskartor (SOTM), en vidareutveckling av SOM. Visualiseringen anteciperas underlätta tolkningen av identifierade mönster och göra processen med kunskapsöverföring mellan den som gör analysen och beslutsfattaren smidigare. Asiakkuudenhallinta (CRM) eli organisaation muuttaminen tuotepainotteisesta asiakaskeskeiseksi on herättänyt mielenkiintoa niin yliopisto- kuin yritysmaailmassakin. Asiakkaiden käyttäytymistä ja toimintaa pystytään nykyään helposti tallentamaan ja varastoimaan toiminnanohjausjärjestelmien ja tietovarastojen avulla; asiakkaat jättävät jatkuvasti piirteistään ja ostokäyttäytymisestään kertovia tietojälkiä, joita voidaan analysoida. On tavallista, että asiakkaat poikkeavat toisistaan eri tavoin, ja heidän mieltymyksensä kuten myös ostokäyttäytymisensä saattavat olla hyvinkin erilaisia. Asiakaskäyttäytymisen monimuotoisuuteen ja tuottavuuteen paneuduttaessa käytetäänkin laajalti asiakassegmentointia eli asiakkaiden jakamista ryhmiin samankaltaisuuden perusteella. Perinteiset asiakassegmentoinnin ratkaisut ovat usein yksittäisiä analyyttisia malleja, jotka on tehty tietyn aikajakson perusteella. Tämän vuoksi ne monesti jättävät huomioimatta sen, että asiakkaiden käyttäytyminen saattaa ajan kuluessa muuttua. Tässä väitöskirjassa pyritäänkin tarjoamaan holistinen kuva asiakkaiden ominaisuuksista ja ostokäyttäytymisestä tarkastelemalla kahta muutosvoimaa tiettyyn aikarajaukseen perustuvien perinteisten segmentointimallien lisäksi. Nämä kaksi asiakassegmentointimallin dynamiikkaa ovat muutokset segmenttien rakenteessa ja muutokset yksittäisten asiakkaiden kuulumisessa ryhmään. Ensimmäistä dynamiikkaa lähestytään ajallisen asiakassegmentoinnin avulla, jossa visualisoidaan ajan kuluessa tapahtuvat muutokset segmenttien rakenteissa ja profiileissa. Toista dynamiikkaa taas lähestytään käyttäen nk. segmenttisiirtymien analyysia, jossa visuaalisin keinoin tunnistetaan samantyyppisesti segmentistä toiseen vaihtavat asiakkaat. Visualisoinnin tehtävänä on tukea havaittujen kaavojen tulkitsemista sekä helpottaa tiedonsiirtoa analysoijan ja päättäjien välillä. Visuaalisia tiedonlouhintamenetelmiä, kuten itseorganisoivia karttoja ja niiden laajennuksia, käytetään osoittamaan näiden menetelmien hyödyllisyys sekä asiakkuudenhallinnassa yleisesti että erityisesti asiakassegmentoinnissa.

From the seeds of rediscovered texts come new fields of inquiry

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

Unexpected effects of pigeon-peas (Cajanus cajan) in the restoration of rupestrian fields

Several degraded areas can be found along the Highway MG-010 that crosses the Espinhaço Mountain Biosphere Reserve in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. Restoration by planting the legume Cajanus cajan was implemented in some of these areas. The present study compares plant species richness, diversity, abundance, equitability, similarity, and soil composition between restored and non-restored areas, in an attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of C. cajan in the restoration process in the mountain environment. Each treatment (restored and non-restored) had four sampling areas, each with three 300 m² plots. We counted and identified every individual plant found within these plots. We also collected soil from the superficial layer (0-10 cm) of each sampling area in both treatments. The areas where C. cajan was planted revealed lower species richness, diversity, and plant abundance. The soil of these areas also contained higher levels of Phosphorus and Magnesium. Plant equitability and similarity between plots and other soil components (pH, Nitrogen, Aluminum, Calcium, Potassium, H+Al, sum of bases - SB, cation exchange capacity - CTC, base saturation - V%, aluminum saturation - M%) did not differ between the two treatments. Contrary to the expectations, soil enhancement in the quartzitic soil poor in nutrients in the rupestrian fields can facilitate the invasion by exotic plants, which are not adapted to the lack of nutrients. As it appears, the use of C. cajan in restoration projects represents a mistake and future restoration plans should avoid the use of exotic species, given that they may cause negative effects on the native plant community, as demonstrated here in the rupestrian fields.

Limits of Meritocracy. How Fields of Study and Gender Segregation Affect Social Stratification in Finland

This dissertation critically reviews the idea of meritocracy from both a theoretical and an empirical perspective. Based on a discussion of classical texts of social philosophy and sociology, it is argued that meritocracy as a concept for social stratification is best compatible with the sociological tradition of status attainment research: both frame social inequality in primarily individualistic terms, centring on the role of ascribed (e.g., gender, social background) and achieved (e.g., educational qualifications) characteristics for determining individuals’ socioeconomic rewards. This theoretical argument introduces the research problem at the core of this dissertation: to what extent can the individualistic conception of social stratification be maintained empirically? Fields of study and their interaction with educational attainment levels play a prominent role in the analysis of this question. Drawing on sociological versions of segmented labour market theory, it is assumed that fields of study may channel individuals into heterogeneous political-economic contexts on the labour market, which potentially modify the socioeconomic benefit individuals derive from their qualification levels. The focus on fields of study may also highlight economic differentials between men and women that derive from the persisting segregation of men’s and women’s occupational and educational specializations rather than direct gender discrimination on the labour market. The quantitative analyses in this dissertation consist of three research articles, which are based primarily on Finnish data, but occasionally extend the view to other European countries. The data sources include register-based macro- and microdata as well as survey data. Article I examines the extent and the patterns of gender segregation within the Finnish educational system between 1981 and 2005. The results show that differences between men’s and women’s field specializations have for the most part remained stable during this period, with particularly high levels of gender segregation observed at lower educational levels. The focus in Article II rests on the effects of gender-segregated fields of study on higher education graduates’ occupational status. It is shown that fields of study matter for accessing professional jobs and avoiding low-skilled positions in Finland: at the early career stage, particularly polytechnic graduates from female-dominated fields are less likely to work in professional positions. Finnish university graduates from male-dominated fields were more likely than their peers with different specializations to work as professionals, yet they also faced a greater risk of being sorted into lowskilled jobs if they failed to make use of this advantage. Article III proceeded to analyse the joint impact of educational qualification levels and fields of study on young adults’ median earnings in Finland between 1985 and 2005. The results show that qualification levels do not confer a consistent benefit in the process of earnings stratification. Advanced qualifications raise median earnings most clearly among individuals specializing in the same field of study. When comparing individuals with different field specializations, on the other hand, higher-level qualifications do not necessarily lead to higher median earnings. Overall, the findings of this dissertation reveal a heterogeneous effect of education for achieving social positions, which challenges individual-centred, meritocratic accounts of social stratification and underlines the problematic lack of structural and institutional dimensions in the dominant account of social status attainment.