Improving the TanDEM-X Digital Elevation Model for flood modelling using flood extents from Synthetic Aperture Radar images

The topography of many floodplains in the developed world has now been surveyed with high resolution sensors such as airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), giving accurate Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) that facilitate accurate flood inundation modelling. This is not always the case for remote rivers in developing countries. However, the accuracy of DEMs produced for modelling studies on such rivers should be enhanced in the near future by the high resolution TanDEM-X WorldDEM. In a parallel development, increasing use is now being made of flood extents derived from high resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images for calibrating, validating and assimilating observations into flood inundation models in order to improve these. This paper discusses an additional use of SAR flood extents, namely to improve the accuracy of the TanDEM-X DEM in the floodplain covered by the flood extents, thereby permanently improving this DEM for future flood modelling and other studies. The method is based on the fact that for larger rivers the water elevation generally changes only slowly along a reach, so that the boundary of the flood extent (the waterline) can be regarded locally as a quasi-contour. As a result, heights of adjacent pixels along a small section of waterline can be regarded as samples with a common population mean. The height of the central pixel in the section can be replaced with the average of these heights, leading to a more accurate estimate. While this will result in a reduction in the height errors along a waterline, the waterline is a linear feature in a two-dimensional space. However, improvements to the DEM heights between adjacent pairs of waterlines can also be made, because DEM heights enclosed by the higher waterline of a pair must be at least no higher than the corrected heights along the higher waterline, whereas DEM heights not enclosed by the lower waterline must in general be no lower than the corrected heights along the lower waterline. In addition, DEM heights between the higher and lower waterlines can also be assigned smaller errors because of the reduced errors on the corrected waterline heights. The method was tested on a section of the TanDEM-X Intermediate DEM (IDEM) covering an 11km reach of the Warwickshire Avon, England. Flood extents from four COSMO-SKyMed images were available at various stages of a flood in November 2012, and a LiDAR DEM was available for validation. In the area covered by the flood extents, the original IDEM heights had a mean difference from the corresponding LiDAR heights of 0.5 m with a standard deviation of 2.0 m, while the corrected heights had a mean difference of 0.3 m with standard deviation 1.2 m. These figures show that significant reductions in IDEM height bias and error can be made using the method, with the corrected error being only 60% of the original. Even if only a single SAR image obtained near the peak of the flood was used, the corrected error was only 66% of the original. The method should also be capable of improving the final TanDEM-X DEM and other DEMs, and may also be of use with data from the SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) satellite.

An ensemble of eddy-permitting global ocean reanalyses from the MyOcean project

A set of four eddy-permitting global ocean reanalyses produced in the framework of the MyOcean project have been compared over the altimetry period 1993–2011. The main differences among the reanalyses used here come from the data assimilation scheme implemented to control the ocean state by inserting reprocessed observations of sea surface temperature (SST), in situ temperature and salinity profiles, sea level anomaly and sea-ice concentration. A first objective of this work includes assessing the interannual variability and trends for a series of parameters, usually considered in the community as essential ocean variables: SST, sea surface salinity, temperature and salinity averaged over meaningful layers of the water column, sea level, transports across pre-defined sections, and sea ice parameters. The eddy-permitting nature of the global reanalyses allows also to estimate eddy kinetic energy. The results show that in general there is a good consistency between the different reanalyses. An intercomparison against experiments without data assimilation was done during the MyOcean project and we conclude that data assimilation is crucial for correctly simulating some quantities such as regional trends of sea level as well as the eddy kinetic energy. A second objective is to show that the ensemble mean of reanalyses can be evaluated as one single system regarding its reliability in reproducing the climate signals, where both variability and uncertainties are assessed through the ensemble spread and signal-to-noise ratio. The main advantage of having access to several reanalyses differing in the way data assimilation is performed is that it becomes possible to assess part of the total uncertainty. Given the fact that we use very similar ocean models and atmospheric forcing, we can conclude that the spread of the ensemble of reanalyses is mainly representative of our ability to gauge uncertainty in the assimilation methods. This uncertainty changes a lot from one ocean parameter to another, especially in global indices. However, despite several caveats in the design of the multi-system ensemble, the main conclusion from this study is that an eddy-permitting multi-system ensemble approach has become mature and our results provide a first step towards a systematic comparison of eddy-permitting global ocean reanalyses aimed at providing robust conclusions on the recent evolution of the oceanic state.

Controle na administração pública: uma proposta para o sistema de controle interno do Poder Executivo do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Este trabalho tem por objetivo propor diretrizes para o sistema de controle interno do Poder Executivo do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, de forma a inserir atividades de correição, de ouvidorias e de transparência e prevenção à corrupção. O cenário atual deste sistema estadual é regido pelo Decreto 43.463, de 14 de fevereiro de 2012, e deixou de fora aquelas atividades. O trabalho contextualiza a importância de que tais atividades integrem um sistema único, a fim de desenvolver e manter permanente interlocução das informações produzidas por cada atividade. Como o controle interno é instrumento de accountability, tal integração pode fomentar a transparência, podendo contribuir para as ações do controle social. A premissa para a proposta de diretrizes do presente trabalho é o modelo federal e o modelo de alguns estados da federação, os quais já estruturaram seu sistema de controle interno do Poder Executivo, contemplando as atividades de controle interno, de correição, de ouvidorias e de transparência e prevenção à corrupção.

tCAD: a 3D modeling application on a depth enhanced tabletop computer

Tabletop computers featuring multi-touch input and object tracking are a common platform for research on Tangible User Interfaces (also known as Tangible Interaction). However, such systems are confined to sensing activity on the tabletop surface, disregarding the rich and relatively unexplored interaction canvas above the tabletop. This dissertation contributes with tCAD, a 3D modeling tool combining fiducial marker tracking, finger tracking and depth sensing in a single system. This dissertation presents the technical details of how these features were integrated, attesting to its viability through the design, development and early evaluation of the tCAD application. A key aspect of this work is a description of the interaction techniques enabled by merging tracked objects with direct user input on and above a table surface.

Viabilidade agronômica do consórcio de alface e rúcula, em duas épocas de cultivo

Avaliou-se a produtividade de grupos de alface e da rúcula, em consórcio, em relação aos seus cultivos solteiros, na UNESP Jaboticabal, em condições de campo, em duas épocas de cultivo, maio a agosto e setembro a novembro de 2001, sob delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos constaram de combinações dos fatores grupos de alface (crespa, cv. Vera; lisa, cv. Elisa e americana, cv. Tainá), sistemas de cultivo (consórcio e cultivo solteiro) e épocas de semeadura da rúcula para o estabelecimento do consórcio [0; 7 e 14 dias após o transplante (DAT) da alface]. As maiores matérias fresca e seca de alface foram obtidas na primavera, com destaque para a alface americana. As alfaces não foram afetadas pelo sistema de cultivo. A maior matéria fresca de rúcula, no outono-inverno, foi obtida em consórcio, a 0 DAT, com as alfaces crespa e lisa e, aos 7 DAT com americana, enquanto na primavera, quando foi consorciada aos 7 DAT com alface crespa e a 0 DAT com alfaces do grupo lisa e americana. A rúcula teve sua matéria seca reduzida nos consórcios estabelecidos tardiamente, aos 14 DAT. Os cultivos consorciados apresentaram-se superiores aos cultivos solteiros entre 5 e 93%, segundo o índice de uso eficiente da terra. Os maiores índices de uso eficiente da terra foram obtidos com os consórcios de rúcula e alface crespa a 0 DAT (1,93), no outono-inverno e pelas mesmas hortaliças aos 7 DAT (1,84), na primavera.

Estudo numérico de escoamento turbulento em padrão anular gás-líquido em dutos verticais

Multiphase flows in ducts can adopt several morphologies depending on the mass fluxes and the fluids properties. Annular flow is one of the most frequently encountered flow patterns in industrial applications. For gas liquid systems, it consists of a liquid film flowing adjacent to the wall and a gas core flowing in the center of the duct. This work presents a numerical study of this flow pattern in gas liquid systems in vertical ducts. For this, a solution algorithm was developed and implemented in FORTRAN 90 to numerically solve the governing transport equations. The mass and momentum conservation equations are solved simultaneously from the wall to the center of the duct, using the Finite Volumes Technique. Momentum conservation in the gas liquid interface is enforced using an equivalent effective viscosity, which also allows for the solution of both velocity fields in a single system of equations. In this way, the velocity distributions across the gas core and the liquid film are obtained iteratively, together with the global pressure gradient and the liquid film thickness. Convergence criteria are based upon satisfaction of mass balance within the liquid film and the gas core. For system closure, two different approaches are presented for the calculation of the radial turbulent viscosity distribution within the liquid film and the gas core. The first one combines a k- Ɛ one-equation model and a low Reynolds k-Ɛ model. The second one uses a low Reynolds k- Ɛ model to compute the eddy viscosity profile from the center of the duct right to the wall. Appropriate interfacial values for k e Ɛ are proposed, based on concepts and ideas previously used, with success, in stratified gas liquid flow. The proposed approaches are compared with an algebraic model found in the literature, specifically devised for annular gas liquid flow, using available experimental results. This also serves as a validation of the solution algorithm

O financiamento da política de assistência social no contexto do SUAS: tendências e particularidades do município do Natal-RN

This dissertation analyzes the configuration of the financing of Social assistance in the municipality of Natal-RN in the context of their particular expressions of the problematizando municipal budget against neoliberal adjustment macroeconomic policy. The current trends of "disclaimer" and "desfinanciamento" of social protection by the State, in the context of contemporary capitalism, bring strong implications for Social Security, especially through the redirection of public resources to the international capital, which highlights the overlapping economic interests on social needs. Whereas the changes and innovations occurring in connection with the financing of Social assistance policy, the goal of this documentary research is to identify the characteristics and trends of funding this policy in Natal-RN, from the secondary data analysis from the City of Natal, the Ministry of Social development and hunger and Portal of transparency. In the light of the theoretical, research now presented, shows trends of investment in Social assistance in the municipality of Natal-RN, in the period 2005 to 2009, which are: the tiny role membership (08) Social assistance in the municipal budget; the dispersion and fragmentation of the resources of Social assistance in other organs and/or secretariats of municipal administration; the participation of just 47.5% in expenditure from own organ Manager; the low percentage of implementation of resources foreseen in the Annual Budget Laws; the low allocation of resources in Municipal Social Assistance Fund (FUMAS), which contradicts the national policy for Social Assistance-PNAS/2004; and the predominance of government transfers in the composition of the resources of Social assistance in the municipality. The results of this research suggest that the process of financing of Social assistance in Natal is distant from the principles and guidelines pointed by PNAS/2004. In addition to the effort to understand the complexity of the financing of Social assistance in Natal, this work seeks to contribute to a political analysis in the direction of strengthening social control and the struggle for the expansion of investment in social spending

Computer-assisted analysis of cell proliferation markers in oral lesions

Abnormalities in any component of the cell cycle regulatory machine may result in oral. cancer, and markers of cell proliferation have been used to determine the prognosis of tumor progression. The aim of this study was to determine whether silver-stained nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) and Ki-67 measurements could improve the assessment of growth rates in oral lesions. Eighty-three oral biopsies were studied, 20 of which were classified as fibrous inflammatory hyperplasia (FIH), 40 as leukoplakia (LKP) and 23 as oral. squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Within the LKP group, 22 out of 29 biopsies were diagnosed as non-dysplastic leukoplakia (LK) and 18 as dysplastic teukoptakia (DLK), presenting discrete, moderate and severe dysplasia. Ki-67 immunotabeting of the lesions increased steadily in the following order: FIH, DLK, LK and OSCC, indicating that Ki-67 is a good marker for predicting the protiferative fraction among benign, premalignant and malignant oral lesions. The median values of AgNOR parameters indicate that the morphometric index gives better results regarding the proliferative rate than the numerical one. A series of linear regressions between AgNOR parameters and Ki-67 showed positive associations. We conclude that a combination of Ki-67 and morphometric AgNOR analyses could be used as an aid in the determination of the protiferative status of oral epithelial. cells in oral cancer. (C) 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Comparação entre a capacidade de desobturação de canais radiculares obturados com cimentos à base de MTA, polímero da mamona e resina epóxica utilizando instrumento manual ou rotatório

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Participação política no Conselho Municipal de Assistência Social de Franca/SP: desafios e perspectivas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise da cicatrização na pele de coelhos após tratamentos de feridas com biomateriais associados à fração de proteína do látex natural da seringueira (Hevea brasiliensis)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Programa de gestão única da rede pública de ensino de Mato Grosso: acesso ao sistema único pela via neoliberal

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Comportamento de cultivares de feijoeiro e de milho verde em cultivo solteiro e consorciado

Pós-graduação em Agronomia - FEIS

Does Adjunctive Chemotherapy Reduce Remission Rates Compared to Cortisone Alone in Unifocal or Multifocal Histiocytosis of Bone?

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disorder that can affect almost any organ, including bone. Treatment options include local corticosteroid infiltration in isolated bone lesions and oral corticosteroids and chemotherapy in multifocal bone lesions. Several studies show local corticosteroid injection in unifocal bone lesions heal in more than 75% of patients with minimal side effects. Therefore, it is unclear whether chemotherapy adds materially to the healing rate. We therefore compared overall survival, remission rate, and recurrence rate in patients with bone LCH treated with chemotherapy and corticosteroids or corticosteroids alone. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 198 patients with LCH since 1950. Median age at diagnosis was 5 years, male-to-female ratio was 1.33, and the most frequent symptom was local pain (95%). We recorded the disease presentation, demographics, treatment, and clinical evolution of each patient. Minimum followup was 4 months (median, 24 months; range, 4-360 months). The survival rate of the systemic disease group was 76.5% (65 of 85) while the survival rate in the unifocal and multifocal bone involvement groups was 100% at a median 5-year followup. All patients with unifocal bone involvement and 40 of 43 (93%) with multifocal bone involvement had complete remission. One of 30 patients with multifocal bone involvement treated with chemotherapy and oral corticosteroids did not achieve remission whereas two of six receiving only corticosteroids did not achieve remission. Our observations suggest intralesional corticosteroid injection without adjunctive chemotherapy achieves remission in unifocal bone LCH but may not do so in multifocal single-system bone involvement. Larger series would be required to confirm this observation. Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Galaxy triplets in Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7: II. A connection with compact groups?

We analyse a sample of 71 triplets of luminous galaxies derived from the work of O’Mill et al. We compare the properties of triplets and their members with those of control samples of compact groups, the 10 brightest members of rich clusters and galaxies in pairs. The triplets are restricted to have members with spectroscopic redshifts in the range 0.01 ≤ z ≤ 0.14 and absolute r-band luminosities brighter than Mr = −20.5. For these member galaxies, we analyse the stellar mass content, the star formation rates, the Dn(4000) parameter and (Mg − Mr) colour index. Since galaxies in triplets may finally merge in a single system, we analyse different global properties of these systems. We calculate the probability that the properties of galaxies in triplets are strongly correlated. We also study total star formation activity and global colours, and define the triplet compactness as a measure of the percentage of the system total area that is filled by the light of member galaxies. We concentrate in the comparison of our results with those of compact groups to assess how the triplets are a natural extension of these compact systems. Our analysis suggests that triplet galaxy members behave similarly to compact group members and galaxies in rich clusters. We also find that systems comprising three blue, star-forming, young stellar population galaxies (blue triplets) are most probably real systems and not a chance configuration of interloping galaxies. The same holds for triplets composed of three red, non-star-forming galaxies, showing the correlation of galaxy properties in these systems. From the analysis of the triplet as a whole, we conclude that, at a given total stellar mass content, triplets show a total star formation activity and global colours similar to compact groups. However, blue triplets show a high total star formation activity with a lower stellar mass content. From an analysis of the compactness parameter of the systems we find that light is even more concentrated in triplets than in compact groups. We propose that triplets composed of three luminous galaxies, should not be considered as an analogous of galaxy pairs with a third extra member, but rather they are a natural extension of compact groups.