Implicações técnicas da vacinação na resposta imune contra o vírus da febre aftosa

Na bovinocultura brasileira, a vacinação contra o vírus da Febre Aftosa (FA) é fundamental para a fase inicial de erradicação da enfermidade. Mesmo a qualidade da vacina tendo controle rígido feito pelos órgãos oficiais, restam variáveis técnicas ainda não monitoradas como manipulação, transporte e conservação pelo consumidor, dose, local e forma de aplicação que interferem na resposta imune, preocupações essas, que direcionam o presente estudo. Assim, pela pesquisa de anticorpos neutralizantes do vírus da FA em placas de microtitulação com cultivo de células BHK-21, foram determinados os títulos, calculados em logaritmo decimal (SN), em soros sanguíneos de bovinos vacinados conforme o protocolo apresentado. No primeiro grupo com 25 animais, a média de SN foi igual a 2,37 e 2,19, respectivamente, 30 e 180 dias após a vacinação, cuja vacina foi manejada por especialista com todos os cuidados técnicos recomendados. Outro grupo com 140 bovinos, distribuídos em 5 fazendas distintas, apresentou média de SN igual a 1,66 e 1,5l depois de 30 e 180 dias após a vacinação, cuja vacina foi manejada sem acompanhamento técnico e por indivíduos não especializados. Finalmente um terceiro grupo com 10 animais, que ficaram sem vacinação, apresentou média de SN igual a 0,82 e 0,81, também 30 e 180 dias após a aplicação do placebo. Assim, só os cuidados com a qualidade da vacina são insuficientes para proporcionar títulos satisfatórios que determinam proteção dos rebanhos contra o vírus da FA, uma vez que a literatura pertinente considera rebanhos com 1,52 de média do SN como tendo 50% dos animais protegidos, e com 1,70 como tendo mais de 70% de proteção, no período de até 7 meses.

Aplicação de adubo e corretivo após o corte da cana-planta utilizando técnicas geoestatísticas

O conhecimento da variação espacial de atributos do solo pode contribuir para o planejamento e a otimização na condução de experimentos e de lavouras comerciais, objetivando a agricultura de precisão. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a necessidade de fertilizante e calcário para implantação da agricultura de precisão, com base no comportamento espacial de atributos químicos de um Latossolo após o corte da cana-planta. Os dados foram avaliados pela estatística descritiva e análise da dependência espacial, com base no ajuste de semivariogramas. As técnicas de geoestatísticas apresentam-se como ferramentas auxiliares na aplicação de fertilizantes por meio de taxa variada, detectando, para a área em estudo, que não se recomenda a aplicação de fósforo e calagem por taxa variada.

Análise de desempenho de vendas em telecomunicações utilizando técnicas de mineração de dados

Nowadays, telecommunications is one of the most dynamic and strategic areas in the world. Organizations are always seeking to find new management practices within an ever increasing competitive environment where resources are getting scarce. In this scenario, data obtained from business and corporate processes have even greater importance, although this data is not yet adequately explored. Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD) appears then, as an option to allow the study of complex problems in different areas of management. This work proposes both a systematization of KDD activities using concepts from different methodologies, such as CRISP-DM, SEMMA and FAYYAD approaches and a study concerning the viability of multivariate regression analysis models to explain corporative telecommunications sales using performance indicators. Thus, statistical methods were outlined to analyze the effects of such indicators on the behavior of business productivity. According to business and standard statistical analysis, equations were defined and fit to their respective determination coefficients. Tests of hypotheses were also conducted on parameters with the purpose of validating the regression models. The results show that there is a relationship between these development indicators and the amount of sales

Modelo de classificação para pequenas empresas supermercadistas quanto ao uso de técnicas de prevenção de perdas: um estudo de caso

The objective of this work is to draw attention to the importance of use of techniques of loss prevention in small retail organization, analyzing and creating a classification model related to the use of these in companies. This work identifies the fragilities and virtues of companies and classifies them relating the use of techniques of loss prevention. The used methodology is based in a revision of the available literature on measurements and techniques of loss prevention, analyzing the processes that techniques needed to be adopted to reduce losses, approaching the "pillars" of loss prevention, the cycle life of products in retail and cycles of continues improvement in business. Based on the objectives of this work and on the light of researched techniques, was defined the case study, developed from a questionnaire application and the researcher's observation on a net of 16 small supermarkets. From those studies a model of classification of companies was created. The practical implications of this work are useful to point mistakes in retail administration that can become losses, reducing the profitability of companies or even making them impracticable. The academic contribution of this study is a proposal of an unpublished model of classification for small supermarkets based on the use of techniques of loss prevention. As a result of the research, 14 companies were classified as Companies with Minimum Use of Loss Prevention Techniques - CMULPT, and 02 companies were classified as Companies with Deficient Use of Loss Prevention Techniques - CDULPT. The result of the research concludes that on average the group was classified as being Companies with Minimum Use of Techniques of Prevention of Losses EUMTPP, and that the companies should adopt a program of loss prevention focusing in the identification and quantification of losses and in a implantation of a culture of loss prevention

Produção pesqueira artesanal: diagnóstico ergonômico e bases para um planejamento nutricional situado e a promoção da saúde dos jangadeiros

The traditional fishing with rafts is characterized by unpredictability, high stakes and inadequate work conditions. The extensive working hours, physical wear, inadequate nutrition, unsanitary conditions, lack of salvage equipment and instruments suitable working, added by the presence of changes in the nutritional status of fisherman, that contribute to the picture of insecurity in high seas, injuries and health. This study aimed to analyze the activity of the fisherman s from Ponta Negra, Natal / RN, and check the conditions of supply of these fishermen and their implications on health and development of their work. To this finality, was used a methodology based on the ergonomic work analysis employing techniques such as observational and interactional conversational action, listening to the answers, observation protocols, photographic and video records. The script conversational dynamic action was developed from literature searches about the artisanal fisheries, culture and food habits of this population, and analyzes the overall situation of focus and two reference situations. To collect data on the usual diet of fisherman as well as quantitative and qualitative analysis that was used for data analysis and 24h recall the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The impact of this power to the health of fisherman was evaluated performing a nutritional assessment. The results revealed that the fishermen carry out their activities with poor working conditions, health and nutrition. Feeding practices of these fishermen undertake development work, making it even more stressful, as well contributing to the emergence of Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases. The management of the activity, as well as the current structure of the vessel, also contributes to the adoption of inappropriate feeding practices during the shipment of catch. The results of this indicate the need for adequate interventions in order to assist in recovery and / or maintenance of health of fisherman minimizing reflections of nutritional disorders for the development activity by improving the quality of life in this population

Fatores inibidores do uso de técnicas ambientais nos postos de combustíveis: um estudo de caso em Natal/RN

The objective of this work was to investigate the factors that inhibit the use of Environmental Techniques in the Gas Station of the city of Natal/RN. For this, a survey with the aid of a questionnaire was used like research instrument. It s used a sample for convenience, not probabilistic. For collection of the data, it was used directly application of the questionnaire to the Managers or Assistant managers of the gas station, in accordance with its availability or presence. The data was collected in all the regions of Natal (North, South, East and West). The population in accordance with the data of the ANP of September 2005 is of 111 ranks and the collected sample was of 86. To carry through the analysis of the data of this research had been used softwares Excel and Statistic version 5.0, for Windows. The analysis of data is divided in two parts; descriptive analysis and analysis of groupings (clusters). The results showed that bigger part of the interviewed ones has between 30 and 39 years of age; they have second grade completed; they had declared to have little between and reasonable knowledge how much to the use of Clean Technology (CT) in gas station; and a small part of the interviewed ones had informed to have much knowledge how much the resolutions of the CONAMA established for the Gas Station. Of the searched ranks, the majority is national(76.7%); the most accurate practice environmental used in the gas station are: it collects selective of oil used or contaminated and ecological tanks - coated with strengthened fibre glass; great part of the interviewed ones (33.8%) informed that never the TL makes planning of referring future action; about of the half of the interviewed ones (84.9%) they had more declared that its employees have of none to a reasonable level of training for deal with problems that compromise the environment; the majority of the ranks (72.1%) functions has for more then six years. It is observed that almost all the interviewed ones (96.5%) evaluate as being important or very important the implantation of CT in Gas Station and the great majority (82.1%) evaluates the difficulty in if implanting these technologies in Gas Station as being easy or very easy. In the analysis of cluster, it was verified existence of two groupings (as much in the variable of the barriers and benefits), being that inside of each clusters exists homogeneity and between clusters exists heterogeneity. In reality, everything is important or very important in the opinion of the interviewed ones. There only exists a small significant difference that separates them in clusters

Uso de técnicas de otimização baseadas em derivadas como suporte do planejamento operacional de redes de distribuição de energia elétrica

The usual programs for load flow calculation were in general developped aiming the simulation of electric energy transmission, subtransmission and distribution systems. However, the mathematical methods and algorithms used by the formulations were based, in majority, just on the characteristics of the transmittion systems, which were the main concern focus of engineers and researchers. Though, the physical characteristics of these systems are quite different from the distribution ones. In the transmission systems, the voltage levels are high and the lines are generally very long. These aspects contribute the capacitive and inductive effects that appear in the system to have a considerable influence in the values of the interest quantities, reason why they should be taken into consideration. Still in the transmission systems, the loads have a macro nature, as for example, cities, neiborhoods, or big industries. These loads are, generally, practically balanced, what reduces the necessity of utilization of three-phase methodology for the load flow calculation. Distribution systems, on the other hand, present different characteristics: the voltage levels are small in comparison to the transmission ones. This almost annul the capacitive effects of the lines. The loads are, in this case, transformers, in whose secondaries are connected small consumers, in a sort of times, mono-phase ones, so that the probability of finding an unbalanced circuit is high. This way, the utilization of three-phase methodologies assumes an important dimension. Besides, equipments like voltage regulators, that use simultaneously the concepts of phase and line voltage in their functioning, need a three-phase methodology, in order to allow the simulation of their real behavior. For the exposed reasons, initially was developped, in the scope of this work, a method for three-phase load flow calculation in order to simulate the steady-state behaviour of distribution systems. Aiming to achieve this goal, the Power Summation Algorithm was used, as a base for developing the three phase method. This algorithm was already widely tested and approved by researchers and engineers in the simulation of radial electric energy distribution systems, mainly for single-phase representation. By our formulation, lines are modeled in three-phase circuits, considering the magnetic coupling between the phases; but the earth effect is considered through the Carson reduction. It s important to point out that, in spite of the loads being normally connected to the transformer s secondaries, was considered the hypothesis of existence of star or delta loads connected to the primary circuit. To perform the simulation of voltage regulators, a new model was utilized, allowing the simulation of various types of configurations, according to their real functioning. Finally, was considered the possibility of representation of switches with current measuring in various points of the feeder. The loads are adjusted during the iteractive process, in order to match the current in each switch, converging to the measured value specified by the input data. In a second stage of the work, sensibility parameters were derived taking as base the described load flow, with the objective of suporting further optimization processes. This parameters are found by calculating of the partial derivatives of a variable in respect to another, in general, voltages, losses and reactive powers. After describing the calculation of the sensibility parameters, the Gradient Method was presented, using these parameters to optimize an objective function, that will be defined for each type of study. The first one refers to the reduction of technical losses in a medium voltage feeder, through the installation of capacitor banks; the second one refers to the problem of correction of voltage profile, through the instalation of capacitor banks or voltage regulators. In case of the losses reduction will be considered, as objective function, the sum of the losses in all the parts of the system. To the correction of the voltage profile, the objective function will be the sum of the square voltage deviations in each node, in respect to the rated voltage. In the end of the work, results of application of the described methods in some feeders are presented, aiming to give insight about their performance and acuity

Técnicas de simplificação de redes e otimização multiobjetivo para análise de variações de tensão em regime permanente provocadas por parques eólicos integrados ao sistema elétrico

This study presents a description of the development model of a representation of simplified grid applied in hybrid load flow for calculation of the voltage variations in a steady-state caused by the wind farm on power system. Also, it proposes an optimal load-flow able to control power factor on connection bar and to minimize the loss. The analysis process on system, led by the wind producer, it has as base given technician supplied by the grid. So, the propose model to the simplification of the grid that allows the necessity of some knowledge only about the data referring the internal network, that is, the part of the network that interests in the analysis. In this way, it is intended to supply forms for the auxiliary in the systematization of the relations between the sector agents. The model for simplified network proposed identifies the internal network, external network and the buses of boulders from a study of vulnerability of the network, attributing them floating liquid powers attributing slack models. It was opted to apply the presented model in Newton-Raphson and a hybrid load flow, composed by The Gauss-Seidel method Zbarra and Summation Power. Finally, presents the results obtained to a developed computational environment of SCILAB and FORTRAN, with their respective analysis and conclusion, comparing them with the ANAREDE

Técnicas de inteligência artificial para a geração dinâmica de set points para uma coluna de destilação

Artificial Intelligence techniques are applied to improve performance of a simulated oil distillation system. The chosen system was a debutanizer column. At this process, the feed, which comes to the column, is segmented by heating. The lightest components become steams, by forming the LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas). The others components, C5+, continue liquid. In the composition of the LPG, ideally, we have only propane and butanes, but, in practice, there are contaminants, for example, pentanes. The objective of this work is to control pentane amount in LPG, by means of intelligent set points (SP s) determination for PID controllers that are present in original instrumentation (regulatory control) of the column. A fuzzy system will be responsible for adjusting the SP's, driven by the comparison between the molar fraction of the pentane present in the output of the plant (LPG) and the desired amount. However, the molar fraction of pentane is difficult to measure on-line, due to constraints such as: long intervals of measurement, high reliability and low cost. Therefore, an inference system was used, based on a multilayer neural network, to infer the pentane molar fraction through secondary variables of the column. Finally, the results shown that the proposed control system were able to control the value of pentane molar fraction under different operational situations

Análise dos Modos Ressonantes em Antenas de Microfita sobre Substratos Iso/Anisotrópicos por Técnicas da Ressonância Transversa

Neste trabalho, são utilizadas a Técnica da Ressonância Transversa (TRT) e a Técnica da Ressonância Transversa Modificada (MTRT), para a determinação das freqüências dos modos ressonantes de antenas de microfita com patch quadrado, retangular e circular e com substratos isotrópicos e anisotrópicos. Para isso, é proposto um modelo da cavidade equivalente, onde a antena tipo patch retangular é representada como sendo a superposição de duas linhas infinitas em microfita, uma de largura W, representando a dimensão que expressa a largura do patch, e a outra com largura L, representando a dimensão que expressa o comprimento do patch. A avaliação da eficiência e aplicabilidade dos métodos citados é realizada comparando-se com resultados experimentais e obtidos através de outras técnicas. Três situações serão verificadas: estruturas com substrato infinito, estrutura com substrato tipo pedestal e estruturas com substrato truncado além dos limites da fita metálica. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que as técnicas de análise de onda completa utilizadas neste trabalho, por um formalismo matemático mais rigoroso, são eficientes e precisas tanto na aplicação em estruturas com substrato isotrópico como nas que possuem substrato anisotrópico. Inicialmente são consideradas apenas as estruturas com substratos isotrópicos, com diferentes constantes dielétricas, e é avaliada a influência da largura do substrato sobre as freqüências dos modos ressonantes das antenas. Posteriormente, a análise do truncamento do dielétrico é realizada para estruturas com substrato anisotrópico. Em todos os casos, os resultados experimentais, obtidos a partir da construção de protótipos, são confrontados com os obtidos a partir de simulação, utilizando as técnicas TRT e MTRT. No final, as técnicas descritas são utilizadas para antenas tipo patch circular, sendo utilizada uma técnica de equivalência para transformar a antena circular em outra quadrada ou retangular equivalente, dependendo do modo que se queira encontrar. Os resultados obtidos são então analisados, observando-se uma boa concordância e indicando a viabilidade do método. Após isso, são apresentadas as conclusões e sugeridos alguns temas para a continuidade deste trabalho

Uso de técnicas de otimização baseadas em derivadas como suporte do planejamento operacional de redes de distribuição de energia elétrica

The usual programs for load flow calculation were in general developped aiming the simulation of electric energy transmission, subtransmission and distribution systems. However, the mathematical methods and algorithms used by the formulations were based, in majority, just on the characteristics of the transmittion systems, which were the main concern focus of engineers and researchers. Though, the physical characteristics of these systems are quite different from the distribution ones. In the transmission systems, the voltage levels are high and the lines are generally very long. These aspects contribute the capacitive and inductive effects that appear in the system to have a considerable influence in the values of the interest quantities, reason why they should be taken into consideration. Still in the transmission systems, the loads have a macro nature, as for example, cities, neiborhoods, or big industries. These loads are, generally, practically balanced, what reduces the necessity of utilization of three-phase methodology for the load flow calculation. Distribution systems, on the other hand, present different characteristics: the voltage levels are small in comparison to the transmission ones. This almost annul the capacitive effects of the lines. The loads are, in this case, transformers, in whose secondaries are connected small consumers, in a sort of times, mono-phase ones, so that the probability of finding an unbalanced circuit is high. This way, the utilization of three-phase methodologies assumes an important dimension. Besides, equipments like voltage regulators, that use simultaneously the concepts of phase and line voltage in their functioning, need a three-phase methodology, in order to allow the simulation of their real behavior. For the exposed reasons, initially was developped, in the scope of this work, a method for three-phase load flow calculation in order to simulate the steady-state behaviour of distribution systems. Aiming to achieve this goal, the Power Summation Algorithm was used, as a base for developping the three phase method. This algorithm was already widely tested and approved by researchers and engineers in the simulation of radial electric energy distribution systems, mainly for single-phase representation. By our formulation, lines are modeled in three-phase circuits, considering the magnetic coupling between the phases; but the earth effect is considered through the Carson reduction. Its important to point out that, in spite of the loads being normally connected to the transformers secondaries, was considered the hypothesis of existence of star or delta loads connected to the primary circuit. To perform the simulation of voltage regulators, a new model was utilized, allowing the simulation of various types of configurations, according to their real functioning. Finally, was considered the possibility of representation of switches with current measuring in various points of the feeder. The loads are adjusted during the iteractive process, in order to match the current in each switch, converging to the measured value specified by the input data. In a second stage of the work, sensibility parameters were derived taking as base the described load flow, with the objective of suporting further optimization processes. This parameters are found by calculating of the partial derivatives of a variable in respect to another, in general, voltages, losses and reactive powers. After describing the calculation of the sensibility parameters, the Gradient Method was presented, using these parameters to optimize an objective function, that will be defined for each type of study. The first one refers to the reduction of technical losses in a medium voltage feeder, through the installation of capacitor banks; the second one refers to the problem of correction of voltage profile, through the instalation of capacitor banks or voltage regulators. In case of the losses reduction will be considered, as objective function, the sum of the losses in all the parts of the system. To the correction of the voltage profile, the objective function will be the sum of the square voltage deviations in each node, in respect to the rated voltage. In the end of the work, results of application of the described methods in some feeders are presented, aiming to give insight about their performance and acuity

Síntese de superfícies seletivas de frequência atráves de técnicas de computação natural

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Técnicas neuronais de agrupamentos aplicadas à detecção de anomalias em mamogramas digitais

This work proposes the development of an intelligent system for analysis of digital mammograms, capable to detect and to classify masses and microcalcifications. The digital mammograms will be pre-processed through techniques of digital processing of images with the purpose of adapting the image to the detection system and automatic classification of the existent calcifications in the suckles. The model adopted for the detection and classification of the mammograms uses the neural network of Kohonen by the algorithm Self Organization Map - SOM. The algorithm of Vector quantization, Kmeans it is also used with the same purpose of the SOM. An analysis of the performance of the two algorithms in the automatic classification of digital mammograms is developed. The developed system will aid the radiologist in the diagnosis and accompaniment of the development of abnormalities

Identificação de nematóides através de técnicas de processamento inteligentes de imagens

abstract

Técnicas de computação natural para segmentação de imagens médicas

Image segmentation is one of the image processing problems that deserves special attention from the scientific community. This work studies unsupervised methods to clustering and pattern recognition applicable to medical image segmentation. Natural Computing based methods have shown very attractive in such tasks and are studied here as a way to verify it's applicability in medical image segmentation. This work treats to implement the following methods: GKA (Genetic K-means Algorithm), GFCMA (Genetic FCM Algorithm), PSOKA (PSO and K-means based Clustering Algorithm) and PSOFCM (PSO and FCM based Clustering Algorithm). Besides, as a way to evaluate the results given by the algorithms, clustering validity indexes are used as quantitative measure. Visual and qualitative evaluations are realized also, mainly using data given by the BrainWeb brain simulator as ground truth