Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Index RDI'

The aim of this thesis is to propose a decision support tool for contractors before the bidding stage to quantify the probability of schedule delay in construction projects by using fuzzy logic incorporated with relative importance index (RII) method. Eighty three (83) different schedule delay factors were identified through detailed literature review and interview with experts from a leading Turkish construction company, then categorized into nine (9) groups and visualized by utilizing Ishikawa (Fish Bone) Diagrams. The relative importances of schedule delay factors were quantified by relative importance index (RII) method and the ranking of the factors and groups were demonstrated according to their importance level on schedule delay. A schedule delay assessment model was proposed by using Fuzzy Theory in order to determine a realistic time contingency by taking into account of delay factors characterized in construction projects. The assessment model was developed by using Fuzzy Logic Toolbox of the MATLAB Program Software. Proposed methodology was tested in a real case study and probability of schedule delay was evaluated by the assessment model after the required inputs were inserted to software. According to the case study results, the most contributing factors and groups (that need attention) to the probability of schedule delays were discussed. The assessment model results were found to be conceivably acceptable and adequate for the purpose of this thesis.

<p>Studies indicate that between 6-9% of all children has some type of voice problems. Voice problems in children may have different etiology and can affect all ages. In Sweden, there is a lack of a standardized questionnaire addressed to children with voice problems and their legal guardians. The purpose of this study was to translate and validate the Pediatric Voice Handicap Index (pVHI) in Swedish children aged 6 to 10 years. The study was carried out through an internet-based assessment form for children referred to speech and language pathologist/ phoniatrican due to voice disorders in Sweden and a matched control group of children without voice problems. The experimental group consisted of 13 children with voice problems and the control group of 29 children. The questionnaire was filled out by the guardian in cooperation with the child. It contained 23 claims separated into three domains: functional, physical and emotional. The results of each child’s assessment were the total pVHI, with a maximum of 92 points. A comparison between results presented in the original pVHI showed great similarities regarding mean values within the three domains the total pVHI and the experimental group’s estimation of over- all voice problems on a VAS- scale. The internal validity of the translation was high with a Cronbach´s alpha at .95- .96 within the different domains. Significant differences were found between the experimental group and the control group in each domain. There was also a significant difference between the experimental group and the control group regarding total pVHI. The results indicate that the translation of pVHI is easy to fill out and close to the original. Also, it discriminates between children with and without voice disorders indicating good sensitivity and specificity, which is central in a broader use.</p><br><p>Studier visar att mellan 6- 9 % av alla barn har någon form av röstproblem. Röstproblem hos barn kan ha olika etiologi och kan drabba alla åldrar. I Sverige har ett standardiserat skattningsformulär riktat till barn med röstproblem och dess målsmän saknats. Syftet med föreliggande studie var att översätta och validera pediatric Voice Handicap Index (pVHI) för svenska barn mellan 6 till 10 år. Studien utfördes genom ett internetbaserat skattningsformulär till barn med målsmän som sökt hjälp för röstbesvär hos logoped/foniater i Sverige samt en matchad kontrollgrupp utan uttalade röstproblem. Experimentgruppen bestod av 13 barn med röstproblem och kontrollgruppen av 29 barn. Skattningsformuläret fylldes i av målsmän i samråd med barnet. Det innehöll 23 påståenden fördelade inom tre domäner; funktionell, kroppslig och emotionell. Sammantagna resultatet av varje barns skattning utgjorde ett total pVHI där 92 var maxpoäng. Vid jämförelser mellan resultaten i den ursprungliga pVHI och föreliggande studie återfanns stora likheter på medelvärden inom de tre domänerna, för total pVHI och för experimentgruppens skattning av omfattning av deras röstproblem på en VAS-skala. Den interna validiteten av den översatta svenska versionen var hög med ett Cronbach's alfa på .95 till .96 inom de olika domänerna. Signifikant skillnad återfanns mellan experimentgrupp och kontrollgrupp inom varje domän. Det var även signifikant skillnad mellan experimentgruppen och kontrollgruppens total- pVHI. Resultaten i föreliggande studie tyder på att översättningen av pVHI var nära den ursprungliga versionen. Dessutom diskriminerar översättningen mellan barn med och utan röstproblem vilket indikerar på god sensitivitet och specificitet, något som är centralt för en bredare användning.</p>

Realiza un estudio de tipo descriptivo y transversal con el propósito de relacionar la alteración postural de cabeza y cuello con los desórdenes temporomandibulares (DTM). Se seleccionó de manera no probabilística y por conveniencia a 30 internos de Odontología de la promoción 2011 del Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo, cuyas edades comprendieron desde 21 a 30 años, de ambos géneros (14 mujeres y 16 hombres). Se realizó la anamnesis, el examen clínico según el Eje I de los Criterios Diagnóstico de Investigación en Desórdenes Temporomandibulares (RDC/TMD) para hallar la presencia de Desórdenes Temporomandibulares y el análisis radiográfico a través del Cefalograma descrito por Rocabado. Los datos fueron procesados mediante la prueba de Significancia Estadística no paramétrica CHI cuadrado (x2), este análisis estadístico se realizó con el programa spss 17.0. Los resultados mostraron que los sujetos no presentaron Disfunción Muscular. Al relacionarse la Disfunción Articular con: la alteración de la distancia Occipital-Atlas (OA), el ángulo Anteroposterior (API) y el Triángulo Hioideo (TH) no se encontró asociación estadística. Se concluye que la alteración postural de cabeza y cuello no se relaciona con la presencia de Desórdenes Temporomandibulares.<br>Tesis

Due to the nature of globalization, new strategies have been designed to break into new markets. Joint Venture is a common strategy to enter new markets and by using a Joint Venture, companies share risks and establish new contacts with local knowledge. Brazil is a market where foreign investors gain more and more interest. Brazil's economy is growing fast and made well during the global financial crisis. The middle class in Brazil is constantly growing and for the first time, poverty is not a majority in Brazil.In an International Joint Venture (IJV), it is usually a foreign company establishing a partnership with a local company. Often, IJVs fail because companies have problems collaborating, depending on different variables. In this thesis, we chose to analyze the cultural barriers in a Brazilian-Swedish IJV on the Brazilian market. The purpose of this thesis is to gain an understanding and describe cultural barriers in an IJV partnership, and high-light those to increase the chances for successful IJVs between Brazilian and Swedish companies in the future.This thesis is qualitative, with an abductive approach, in order to gain a deeper and better understanding of experienced barriers. We have chosen to see culture from both a national and an organizational perspective as earlier research has showed that national culture affects the organizational culture within an IJV. Using Hofstede's (1991) four dimensions of national culture as a supplement to Wilson’s (2001) four factors influencing the organizational culture, we have conducted four interviews in two Swedish-Brazilian IJV companies located in São Paulo, Brazil. The companies we have chosen to interview have been small or medium-sized manufacturing. Interviews were conducted face-to-face in a comfortable environment for all respondents. In our analysis, we used matrices to make it easier to see what differences and/or similarities there are between the case-companies.Results of this study, demonstrate that the experiences from the two case-studies are well in line with each other. The organizational structure in Brazil has been perceived as more hierarchical than the Swedish vertical and more open structure. This in turn, has strengthened the differences in communication between managers and employees, which been perceived as more top-down in Brazil than in Sweden. Our conclusion is that cultural barriers have been perceived, in the perception of the leaders’ expected behavior, language barriers, differences in planning and management of uncertain situations, Brazil's more family-oriented society and close relationship between private life and work in the Brazilian market.Several of these barriers have been experienced during the early start-up of an IJV, something we believe increases the importance of being well prepared for cultural barriers that may arise. The importance of an agreement upon the structure and policies at the company at an early stage is crucial, to reduce future possible conflicts. Show mutual respect and understanding for one's partners’ culture and experienced cultural barriers, use these to avoid any negative effects, and instead create a positive impact for the IJV.<br>Minor Field Study

Main aim of this thesis is to study existing systems of faceted search and to design own system based on faceted search in the index of Wikipedia. In this thesis we can meet with existing solutions of faceted search. From mistakes and failures of existing solutions was designed our own system, that is output of this thesis. Designed system is described in way of design and implementation. Product of thesis is application and graphical interface. Application interface can be integrated into existing informational system, where it can be used as multidimensional filter. Graphical interface provides option how can application interface be used in real system. System was created focusing on usefullness and simplicity, for using in existing information systems.

p. 1-47<br>Submitted by Santiago Fabio (fabio.ssantiago@hotmail.com) on 2013-04-22T17:57:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 1111.pdf: 321783 bytes, checksum: adf8d30a1de03fb37e7da08aee32b4dd (MD5)<br>Approved for entry into archive by Maria Creuza Silva(mariakreuza@yahoo.com.br) on 2013-05-04T16:56:13Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 1111.pdf: 321783 bytes, checksum: adf8d30a1de03fb37e7da08aee32b4dd (MD5)<br>Made available in DSpace on 2013-05-04T16:56:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 1111.pdf: 321783 bytes, checksum: adf8d30a1de03fb37e7da08aee32b4dd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008<br>O principal objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a existência de relação entre os níveis do Índice de Infestação Predial (IIP) obtidos pelo LIRAa e a transmissão de dengue nas semanas posteriores a sua realização. Trata-se de estudo ecológico tendo como unidade de análise município, fonte de dados o SINAN e registros sobre o LIRAa, de 2003 a 2006, obtidos nas Secretarias Estaduais de Saúde. Observou-se correlação positiva estatisticamente significante entre o IIP e o Número da Reprodutibilidade Basal das Infecções - R0 (r= 0,36, p=0,002) e a Força de infecção - λ ( r = 0,35, p=0,002). Os resultados deste estudo reforçam a importância do LIRAa como sinal de alerta para os responsáveis pelas atividades de controle da dengue nos municípios, pois, indiretamente, foi demonstrado que IIP mais elevados nos meses que antecedem o verão podem resultar no maior número de casos na estação de maior transmissão da doença.<br>Salvador

Bakgrund Kraven på evidensbaserad vård ökar ständigt. Att jämföra patienters självskattade besvär före och efter behandling är ett sätt att utvärdera behandlingseffekten.  Rösthandikappindex (RHI) och VA-skala för röstbesvär är två verktyg för utvärdering av röstbehandling. Tidigare studier har visat att röstbehandling ger minskade självskattade röstbesvär. Syfte Syftet med denna studie var att med självskattningsformulär utvärdera effekten av logopedisk röstbehandling i Västerbottens läns landsting (VLL) och undersöka om behandlingseffekten påverkas av kön, diagnos, antal behandlingstillfällen och hur mycket tid patienten är beredd att lägga på behandling, samt att undersöka om det finns ett samband mellan självskattningsformuläret RHI och VA-skala för röstbesvär. Metod 102 patienter, 28 män och 74 kvinnor, som under perioden januari 2009 till september 2012 genomgått logopedisk röstbehandling inom VLL, deltog i studien. Deltagarna rekryterades retrospektivt. Genom dataanalys undersöktes huruvida det fanns någon signifikant skillnad i poäng på RHI efter behandling, om det fanns några signifikanta skillnader i självskattning beroende på kön, diagnos eller antal behandlingstillfällen samt om det fanns en korrelation mellan RHI-poäng och skattning på VA-skala. Resultat En signifikant minskning av RHI-poäng kunde ses för hela gruppen efter röstbehandling jämfört med före. Inga signifikanta skillnader sågs mellan könen eller mellan grupper indelade utifrån antal behandlingstillfällen. Det fanns inte heller någon skillnad mellan olika diagnoser. Däremot sågs signifikanta korrelationer mellan RHI och VA-skala för röstbesvär. Slutsats Studien visade att de självskattade besvären minskade efter behandling. Resultaten var inte beroende av kön, diagnos eller antal behandlingstillfällen. Utifrån detta dras slutsatsen att den logopediska röstbehandlingen i Västerbottens läns landsting ger effekt. Vad gäller de självskattningsverktyg som används i verksamheten sågs en korrelation mellan RHI och VA-skala för röstbesvär. Det är möjligt att dessa verktyg mäter olika aspekter av samma problem. Det är då av vikt att kombinera dessa för att få en helhetsbild av patienters upplevda röstbesvär<br>Background The demand for evidence based health care is increasing. One way to evaluate the effect of treatment is to compare patients’ self-assessed malaise before and after treatment. Two useful tools for evaluating voice therapy administered by a speech-language pathologist  is Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and a Visual Analogue Scale, VA-scale, for voice problems. Previous studies has found that voice therapy results in a decreased level of voice problems                                                                                        Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of voice treatment administered by speech-language pathologists in Västerbottens läns landsting (VLL) with help of the self-assessment tools VHI and VA-scale for voice problems and to investigate if there were any differences in the self-assessment due to gender, diagnosis, number of treatment sessions or the amount of time the patient was willing to spend on voice therapy. The aim was also to investigate if there was a correlation between the VHI and the VA-scale for voice problems.                                                                                                                      Method This retrospective study has analyzed self-assessment forms from 102 patients, 28 men and 74 women, who have been seeing a speech-language pathologist for voice therapy sometime between January 2009 and September 2012 in VLL. Data analysis was used to investigate if there was any significant difference in VHI points before and after voice therapy, if there was any significant differences in the self-assessment due to gender, diagnosis or number of therapy sessions and if there was a correlation between the points on VHI and self-assessed malaise on the VA-scale for voice problems.                                                                                                                      Results There was a significant decrease of VHI points for the whole group after voice therapy. No significant differences were found regarding gender, diagnosis or number of treatment sessions. There was no correlation between the VHI score and the amount of time the patient was willing to spend on voice therapy. A significant correlation was found between VHI and the VA-scale for voice problems.           Conclusion This study found that self-assessed voice problems decreased after voice treatment. The efficacy of voice therapy does not seem to be affected by gender, diagnosis, number of treatment sessions or the amount of time the patient was willing to spend on voice therapy. The conclusion is that the voice therapy administered by speech-language pathologists in VLL has an effect. There was a correlation between VHI and the VA-scale for voice disorders. It is possible that these tools are measuring different aspects of the same problem. Therefore, it is important to combine these tools to get an overall picture of the patients’ self-perceived voice problems.

Submitted by Suelen Reis (suziy.ellen@gmail.com) on 2013-04-24T13:33:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao- Patríciasec.pdf: 452651 bytes, checksum: 406c286b26c6f4211a97270a3b5b972d (MD5)<br>Approved for entry into archive by Rodrigo Meirelles(rodrigomei@ufba.br) on 2013-05-08T12:10:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao- Patríciasec.pdf: 452651 bytes, checksum: 406c286b26c6f4211a97270a3b5b972d (MD5)<br>Made available in DSpace on 2013-05-08T12:10:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao- Patríciasec.pdf: 452651 bytes, checksum: 406c286b26c6f4211a97270a3b5b972d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005<br>A doença periodontal (DP) é uma doença infecciosa crônica que acomete os tecidos periodontais, sendo a maior causa de perda dentária em adultos acima de 40 anos, precedida apenas pela cárie dentária como importante problema de saúde bucal coletiva no Brasil. Nos últimos anos vários pesquisadores encontraram evidências ligando as doenças periodontais com um risco aumentado para arterosclerose, independente de outros fatores de risco para doenças cardiovascular, o que nos motivou a realizar esta pesquisa, na qual verificou-se a prevalência da doença periodontal nos pacientes atendidos no Ambulatório de Cardiopatia Isquêmica do Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, da Universidade Federal da Bahia(HUPES). O desenho é de um estudo de corte transversal. A amostra foi composta de 135 indivíduos (78 do sexo masculino e 57 do sexo feminino), com faixa etária de 35 até 99 anos. Os dados da pesquisa foram obtidos por estágios: leitura de prontuário, questionário e exame periodontal. Foram utilizados o Índice Gengival (LÖE e SILNESS, 1963), o Índice de Placa (SILNESS e LÖE, 1964), a Profundidade de Sondagem (PS) e Perda de Inserção Clínica como parâmetros clínicos de avaliação periodontal. A prevalência de doença periodontal em pacientes portadores de Cardiopatia Isquêmica no HUPES foi de 55,7%. A presença de doença periodontal entre aqueles com Insuficiência Cardíaca Congestiva (ICC) foi 1,5 vezes maior (p=0,001). Entre os pacientes diabéticos a presença de doença periodontal foi 1,4 vezes maior (p=0,02). Dessa forma, os achados deste estudo contribuem para fortalecer o conceito de que fatores etiopatogênicos comuns podem existir entre doença periodontal e doença isquêmica do coração.<br>Salvador

Submitted by Maria Creuza Silva (mariakreuza@yahoo.com.br) on 2014-07-16T20:12:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Patricia Almeida Moreno. 2010.pdf: 828032 bytes, checksum: 344cf314c0512a27470bf97bf1f721c9 (MD5)<br>Approved for entry into archive by Maria Creuza Silva (mariakreuza@yahoo.com.br) on 2014-07-16T20:32:56Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Patricia Almeida Moreno. 2010.pdf: 828032 bytes, checksum: 344cf314c0512a27470bf97bf1f721c9 (MD5)<br>Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-16T20:32:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Patricia Almeida Moreno. 2010.pdf: 828032 bytes, checksum: 344cf314c0512a27470bf97bf1f721c9 (MD5)<br>Objetivo: Comparar o estado antropométrico dos idosos negros a partir do IMC obtido pela altura estimada e a altura convencional. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado em amostra populacional de negros dos distritos sanitários (DS) Barra- Rio vermelho e Liberdade, na cidade de Salvador-Ba, sendo a população final do estudo constituída por 383 indivíduos com idade ≥ 60 anos. As variáveis do estudo foram: medidas antropométricas ― peso, altura e altura do joelho, índice de massa corpórea, cor autorreferida, escolaridade, nível socioeconômico. Utilizou-se o teste t-student pareado para analisar as diferenças de médias das medidas antropométricas e o teste de qui-quadrado para analisar as diferenças de proporções dos estratos do diagnóstico nutricional à partir do IMC convencional e do IMC estimado. Para a classificação da concordância de IMC´s foram calculados os valores de Kappa. Resultados: Dos idosos estudados 60,8% estavam na faixa etária 60-69 anos, predominando o sexo feminino (69,2%). A análise de concordância do IMCE apresenta para magreza em homens e mulheres 72,0% e 83,4%, respectivamente. Os valores observados de Kappa elevados para magreza e sobrepeso em ambos os sexos indicam que o IMC cuja altura foi estimada pelo Knee-height tem boa concordância com aquele obtido a partir de medidas convencionais de peso e altura. Tanto para a altura convencional, quanto para a altura estimada houve uma redução da altura média com o aumento da idade. Conclusão: Diante dos resultados encontrados, sugere-se, então, que na prática nutricional da assistência ao idoso, seja considerada a medida do joelho na estimativa da altura para efeito de cálculo do IMC e considerando que esta técnica é de baixo custo e de fácil aplicação pode ser utilizada em ambiente ambulatorial, domiciliar ou hospitalar.<br>Objective: To compare the anthropometric status of elderly blacks from BMI obtained by the estimated height and conventional height. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study in a population sample of black health districts (DS) Barra-Rio Vermelho and Liberdade in the city of Salvador-BA, and the final study population consisted of 383 individuals aged ≥ 60 years. The study variables were: anthropometric measurements - weight, height and knee height, body mass index, self-reported color, education, socioeconomic level. We used the paired Student t test to analyze differences in mean values of anthropometric measures and chi-square test to analyze differences in proportions of the strata of nutritional diagnosis from the conventional BMI and BMI estimated. For classification concordance of BMI's were calculated Kappa values. Results: Of the elderly studied 60.8% were aged 60-69 years, predominantly female (69.2%). Concordance analysis of IMCE presents for men and women were 72.0% and 83.4%, respectively. It was observed that the high Kappa values for thinness and overweight in both sexes indicate that BMI whose height was estimated by Knee-height is in good agreement with that obtained from conventional measurements of height and weight. Both for the conventional height, the estimated height to the height was reduced with increasing average age. Conclusion: Considering the results, it is suggested, then, that in practice the nutritional care of the elderly, is considered as the estimation of knee height to calculate BMI and considering that this technique is inexpensive and easy application can be used in an outpatient setting, home or hospital.

A Migrânea e a Disfunção Temporomandibular (DTM) são doenças crônicas e tem como aspecto mais importante a dor crônica. Muitos trabalhos descrevem sinais e sintomas de DTM em pacientes com cefaleia sugerindo uma associação entre essas duas condições. Porém, ainda são poucos os trabalhos que utilizaram um critério que fornecesse não apenas sinais e sintomas, mas também a classificação diagnóstica. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a frequência da DTM a partir da aplicação do RDC/TMD e a severidade da DTM através do Índice Anamnésico de Fonseca em mulheres com Migrânea, Migrânea Crônica e mulheres sem queixa de cefaleia. Participaram deste estudo 91 mulheres, divididas em três grupos: 30 mulheres no Grupo Controle (GC), 38 mulheres no Grupo Migrânea (GM) e 23 mulheres no Grupo Migrânea Crônica (GMC). As voluntárias dos grupos GM e GMC foram selecionadas durante a primeira consulta no Ambulatório de Cefaleia (ACEF) do Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo e as do GC entre as acompanhantes dos pacientes naquele mesmo dia. Foram inclusas voluntárias com idade entre 18 e 55 anos, que não tivessem ingerido antiinflamatórios e/ou analgésicos nas últimas 24 horas antecedentes à avaliação fisioterapêutica, que não tivesse história de trauma na face, nem usasse prótese dentária parcial ou total e foram excluídas voluntárias com outros tipos de cefaleia e doenças sistêmicas como fibromialgia e artrite reumatóide. Para o GC, as voluntárias não podiam ter queixa de cefaleia nos últimos 3 meses. Três examinadores participaram da coleta. Para análise dos dados foi utilizado a análise da variância (ANOVA two-Way p<0,05) na comparação dos dados antropométricos e da amplitude de movimento mandibular entre os três grupos e Tukey como post-hoc análise para avaliar a diferença no número de locais dolorosos e o número de diagnósticos, com nível de significância de (p<0,05). O teste qui-quadrado foi utilizado para verificar a diferença de diagnóstico entre os três grupos e para verificar a freqüência da severidade entre os três grupos foi utilizado o teste exato de Fisher. As voluntárias dos grupos com migrânea apresentaram maior frequência de diagnósticos de DTM em comparação ao GC, p<0,05 e não foi observada diferença entre os grupos com migrânea. Os diagnósticos, segundo o RDC/TMD, do grupo I (dor miofascial) foram os mais prevalentes nos três grupos estudados e foi mais freqüente nos grupos com migrânea. Os diagnósticos dos grupos I+III estiveram presentes nos três grupos estudados e com maior freqüência no grupo GM. Não foram encontrados diagnósticos individuais pertencentes apenas aos grupos II e III. O número de pontos dolorosos musculares foi significativamente maior nos grupos GM e GMC em relação ao controle e não houve diferença entre os grupos com GM e GMC. As voluntárias dos grupos com migrânea apresentaram maiores graus de severidade de DTM, em comparação ao GC, p<0,05 e o GMC apresentou maior severidade que o GM. Os resultados deste trabalho demonstraram que Mulheres com Migrânea tem maior frequência de DTM, apresentam maior número de diagnósticos e de pontos dolorosos segundo o RDC/TMD que mulheres sem migrânea bem como maiores graus de severidade de DTM. Portanto a DTM e a Migrânea estão clinicamente relacionadas.<br>Migraine and Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) are chronic disorders and their most important aspect is the chronic pain. The persistent cranial-cervical and orofacial pain is the predominant reason why people seek treatment. Besides the pain, the affected areas are also similar suggesting an association between these two conditions. Many studies describe signs and symptoms of TMD in patients with headache suggesting an association between these two conditions. However, there are few studies that use a criterion that provides not only signs and symptoms, but also the diagnostic classification. The Diagnostic Criteria for Research in Temporomandibular disorders (RDC / TMD) provide a diagnostic classification with reports of acceptable levels of reliability, provide specifications for the conduct of a clinical standard and allow the development of clinical diagnoses (Axis I), the classification psychosocial classification of the individual (Axis II). The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of the DTM from the application of the RDC / TMD and TMD severity through the history index of Fonseca in women with migraine, chronic migraine and women with complaints of headache. The study included 91 women, divided into three groups: 30 women in the control group (CG), 38 women in the migraine group (GM) and 23 women in Chronic Migraine Group (CMG). The voluntary groups GM and GMC were selected during the first appointment and at the Headache Clinic (ACEF) of the University Hospital of Ribeirão Pretos Faculty of Medicine, (University of São Paulo) and the ones of CG were selected among the companions of the patients during that day. There were included volunteers aged between 18 and 55, who had not ingested anti-inflammatory and / or painkillers in the last 24 hours before the physical therapy evaluation and who didnt have a history of face trauma, or wore partial or total dentures and volunteers with other types of headache and systemic diseases such as fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis were excluded. For the GC, the volunteers could not have complained of headache in the last 3 months. Three examiners participated in data collection, I and II in the initial screening of volunteers and III in the implementation of the RDC / TMD and the history index of Fonseca, the examiner III was blind to the conditions of the volunteers and was previously trained. In order to analyze the Data it was used analysis of variance (two-way ANOVA p <0.05) in comparison of anthropometric data and range of mandibular movement between groups and Tukey as posthoc analysis to evaluate the difference in the number of painful sites and the number of diagnoses, with a significance level of p <0.05. The chi-square test was used to determine the difference in diagnosis between the three groups and to determine the frequency of severity among the three groups used the Fisher exact test. The voluntary group with migraine showed a higher frequency of diagnosis and higher severity of TMD in comparison to the CG, p <0.05 and no difference was observed between the groups with migraine.

En röststörning kan sägas föreligga då rösten inte fungerar eller låter som den brukar så att det påverkar kommunikationen. Prevalensen för röststörningar uppskattas till omkring 6 % av den vuxna befolkningen. När rösten inte fungerar som den ska leder det till emotionella, sociala och funktionella svårigheter för individen och har negativ inverkan på livskvaliteten. Voice- Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) är ett självskattningsformulär som mäter vilken inverkan en röststörning kan ha på individens livskvalitet. Detta instrument är internationellt välanvänt, men har inte funnits översatt till svenska. Syftet med föreliggande uppsats var att översätta och validera V-RQOL för en svensk population. Översättningen skedde genom så kallad back translation och den svenska versionen fick namnet Röstrelaterad livskvalitet (RRL). RRL och Rösthandikappindex (RHI) distribuerades i pappersformat till en röstpatientgrupp (n = 88) och en röstfrisk grupp (n = 110). Reliabiliteten av domänerna och samtliga tio påståenden på RRL var hög för patientgruppen med Cronbach’s alfa- värden från 0.82 till 0.90. Det fanns en tydlig relation mellan den självskattade röstkvaliteten och poängen på RRL och formuläret kunde även differentiera mellan röstpatienter och röstfriska. Dessa resultat indikerar att formulärets begreppsvaliditet är god. Pearson’s korrelationsanalys visade att det fanns en signifikant negativ korrelation mellan RRL:s och RHI:s domäner och totalpoäng. Detta starka samband mellan ”the gold standard”, RHI, och RRL innebär en god kriterierelaterad validitet för formuläret. Sammanfattningsvis visar resultaten att RRL har hög reliabilitet och god validitet, dessutom är formuläret kort vilket innebär en liten arbetsinsats. Formuläret anses därför vara ett pålitligt och värdefullt tillägg i den kliniska bedömningen av röststörningar.<br>A voice disorder can be said to exist when the voice does not work or sound as it normally should in a manner so that it interferes with communication. The prevalence of voice disorders is estimated to be about 6 % of the adult population. When the voice does not work as it should it may lead to emotional, social and functional difficulties for the individual and with negative effects on the quality of life. Voice- Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) is a self-reporting questionnaire which measures the effect of a voice disorder on the quality of life of an individual. The instrument is frequently used internationally, but no Swedish translation has existed. In the present study, the purpose was to translate and validate V-RQOL for a Swedish population. The method for translating the questionnaire was back translation. The translated questionnaire was given the Swedish name Röstrelaterad livskvalitet (RRL). RRL and the Swedish version of The Voice Handicap Index, Rösthandikappindex (RHI), was distributed to a group of voice patients (n = 88) and a group of non-voice patients (n = 110). The reliability of the domains and the combined items of RRL was high according to Cronbach’s alpha with alpha values ranging from 0.82 to 0.90. There was a strong relation between the self–estimated voice quality and the scores on RRL, and the RRL- questionnaire was shown to differentiate between voice patients and non-voice patients. These results indicate that the construct validity of the questionnaire is good. Pearson’s correlation analysis demonstrated a significant negative correlation between the domains and total scores of RRL and RHI. This strong relation between “the gold standard”, RHI, and RRL proved that the criterion validity of the questionnaire is good. In summary the results show that RRL has a high reliability and good validity, in addition to this, the questionnaire is short and requires minimal work. The questionnaire is therefore considered to be a reliable and valuable addition to the clinical assessment of voice disorders.

Submitted by Tatiana Lima (tatianasl@ufba.br) on 2015-04-13T19:42:10Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Santos, Cíntia Regina da Silva..pdf: 2132907 bytes, checksum: 01d523d05ca76062efc9ce40afcf69e1 (MD5)<br>Approved for entry into archive by Tatiana Lima (tatianasl@ufba.br) on 2015-05-05T20:01:49Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Santos, Cíntia Regina da Silva..pdf: 2132907 bytes, checksum: 01d523d05ca76062efc9ce40afcf69e1 (MD5)<br>Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-05T20:01:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Santos, Cíntia Regina da Silva..pdf: 2132907 bytes, checksum: 01d523d05ca76062efc9ce40afcf69e1 (MD5)<br>Esta pesquisa analisou a relação entre os indicadores de gestão propostos pelo Tribunal de Contas da União (TCU) para os Institutos Federais de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia (IFs) e o Índice Geral de Cursos (IGC). Os primeiros retratam os aspectos do desempenho da gestão enquanto o IGC aborda a dimensão do desempenho da qualidade do ensino superior. Para a pesquisa foram selecionados vinte e oito IFs, surgidos da transformação ou integração com os Centros Federais de Educação Tecnológica (CEFETs), e que possuíssem o IGC calculado para pelo menos um dos três anos correspondente ao corte temporal da pesquisa, 2010, 2011 e 2012. O modelo de análise proposto relacionou estes dois grupos de indicadores através das técnicas estatísticas de correlação e regressão múltipla. Os resultados evidenciaram que, diferentemente do ocorrido no âmbito das universidades federais, os indicadores de gestão do TCU estabelecidos para os IFs tem baixo potencial explicativo para o IGC. Dentre os indicadores do TCU que apresentaram certo grau de explicação para o IGC, somente figuram o Percentual do Gasto com Pessoal, PGP; o Percentual do Gasto com Investimento, PGI, a Relação Ingresso Aluno, RIA e o Índice de Retenção do Fluxo Escolar, IRFE. Todos apresentaram uma relação positiva com o IGC. A maior surpresa do estudo, entretanto, foi a ausência de relação entre os indicadores relacionados à eficácia e eficiência acadêmica e a adequação da força de trabalho docente, que no referencial teórico analisado apresentaram forte relação com os indicadores de qualidade do ensino superior. Intui-se, a partir da análise dos indicadores e do referencial teórico, que a baixa explicação do IGC por meio dos indicadores do TCU deve-se, principalmente, a aspectos como: falta de confiabilidade dos indicadores do TCU; indicadores estes, apresentados de modo global e não segregados por modalidades de ensino, que portanto, não atendem as especificidades dos IFs. O estudo conclui que os indicadores do TCU, do modo como são atualmente apresentados nos relatórios de gestão dos IFs, não se constituem em efetivas ferramentas de gestão e pouco informam sobre o desempenho da gestão destas instituições e sua relação com o desempenho da qualidade do ensino, aqui representada pelo IGC. Deste modo, é urgente a criação de novos indicadores de gestão ou adequação dos existentes para melhor avaliar os esforços da gestão dos IFs na concretização de seus objetivos: a prestação de um ensino superior de qualidade voltado para o atendimento das demandas individuais e socioeconômicas do país. This research examined the relationship between management indicators proposed by the Brazil Court of Audit (TCU) for Federal Institutes of Education, Science and Technology (IFs) and the General Index of Courses (IGC). The first depict aspects of performance management while the IGC performance aspects of the quality of higher education. For research were selected twenty-eight IFs that origin from the transformation or integration with the Federal Centers for Technological Education (CEFETs) and that the IGC had calculated for a time corresponding to the three sectional design years 2010, 2011 and 2012. Was proposed a model of analysis that related these two groups of indicators through statistical techniques of correlation and multiple regression. The results showed that unlike what happened in the context of the federal universities management indicators TCU set for the Federal Institutes have low explanatory potential for the IGC. Among the TCU indicators that showed some degree of explanation for the IGC can be cited the Percentage of Expenditure Personnel (PGP); Percentage of the Expenditure on Investment (PGI), Relation new Students and matriculate students (RIA) and Retention School Flow Index (IRFE) . All had a positive relationship with the IGC. The biggest surprise of the study was the lack of relationship between indicators related to effectiveness academic and the workforce teachers, which analyzed the theoretical framework presented strong relationship with indicators of quality of higher education. Suspects from the analysis of the indicators and the theoretical framework that the low explanation of the IGC through the indicators TCU is due to aspects such as: lack of reliable indicators of the TCU; these indicators, presented in a comprehensive manner and not segregated by type of education, which therefore do not meet the specifics of the IFs. The study concludes that indicators of TCU, the way they are currently reported in the management of IFs, do not constitute effective management tools and little about the performance of the management of these institutions and their relationship to the performance of quality of education, represented here by IGC. Thus, it is urgent to create new indicators or adequacy of existing management to better assess the efforts of the management of IFs in achieving their goals: to provide a top quality education geared to meet the individual demands of the country and socioeconomic.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:37:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_isabel cristina_pereira.pdf: 914766 bytes, checksum: c37475e752545b7fee514cfc04ce4f2e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-06-27<br>The longevity of dogs has increased the number of neoplasm cases, and the breast neoplasm is one of the most frequent diagnosed in this species. The female dogs are important as a study population as they present similarities between the breast neoplasms developed in humans and canines, thus allowing the use of the compared pathology in an attempt to have a better understanding of the disease. Changes in calcium and magnesium levels may be related to the presence and occurrence of breast neoplasms, but there is no defined standardization of these changes. The study aimed to analyze epidemiological data in canine patients with breast neoplasms, determine levels of serum calcium and magnesium in dogs with breast neoplasms before and after excision, and associate variation of calcium and magnesium blood levels with the neoplasms malignity. The study had a sample of 53 females 53 female dogs with tumors in the mammary gland, from which we obtained data of descriptive characteristics of the sample, regarding the review of the animal, exposure to risk factors and tumor development, associated with the morphological characteristics and anatomical location. Excision of tumor masses was performed for histopathological analysis evaluating the surgical margin and classifying the patients according to the biological behavior and malignancy degree: high malignancy (HM), intermediate malignancy (IM), low malignancy (LM) and benign (B). In further study, there was a loss of 17 dogs in the study for the analysis of mineral levels the period of 180 days and analyzed 36 dogs with mammary neoplasms and 28 healthy dogs without breast tumors were studied as controls. Dogs were evaluated on day zero (before surgery) in regard to assessments of tumor mass, and on that date, surgery was carried out in order to send the tumoral part for anatomopathologic evaluation taking into account the classification in biological behavior. Serum calcium and magnesium dosage (absorbance spectrophotometry) was performed prior to the excision of tumors (on day zero) and at 60 and 180 days after surgery, and at the same time interval the serum levels of minerals in the control group were evaluated. Of the 53 dogs studied, 24 showed high malignant tumors, 12 intermediate malignant tumors, 13 low malignancy tumors and four benign tumors. The elderly patients were the most frequent ones in the malignancy group. There was no relationship between biological behavior when compared to: age range, size, breed, time of onset and development, previous ovariohysterectomy and the use of contraceptives. As for location, of the 171 breasts affected, the development of neoplasms of greater malignancy occurred in medial abdominal and inguinal mammary glands. It was demonstrated the relationship between margin involvement and development of pulmonary metastasis. The neoplasic mobility and consistency were identified as prognostic factors for dogs with mammary neoplasms, while the other variables studied were not related to prognosis, while the other studied variables were not related with the prognosis. Data concerning the 36 females suffering from canine mammary neoplasms, which were observed, 13 had tumors of high malignancy (HM), nine of intermediate malignancy (IM), 10 of low malignancy (LM) and four benign (B). The average of calcium levels in the control group was 10.07 mg / dl and magnesium of 2.04 mg / dl. Mean levels of calcium serum of patients in group LM and IM were respectively 8.63 mg / dl and 8.77 mg / dl, both differing statistically (p <0.001) from the control group. The patients in the HM group had a mean calcium of 12.00 mg / dl and differed significantly (p <0.001) from the mean levels obtained in the control group. Regarding the serum levels of magnesium, it was demonstrated statistical difference between the control group (2.04 mg / dl) and the LM groups (p <0.001), IM groups (p = 0.002) and HM groups (p <0.001), with averages of 57 mg / dl, 1.67 mg / dl and 2.56 mg / dl, respectively. Both in the serum levels of calcium and magnesium no statistical differences between control group and group L were shown. It was observed that in animals with mammary neoplasms, the blood values of the studied minerals differed between the first and last collection in the LM groups (p = 0.0125) and HM groups (p = 0,0,0087) in the levels of calcium and in the same LM groups (p = 0.0124) and MA (p = 0.0015) in the levels of magnesium. The results showed that neoplasm mobility and consistency were correlated with malignancy and worse prognosis of the patient, and a strong relationship between margin involvement and lung metastases. Also, dogs with tumors of low malignancy and intermediate malignancy have hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia, as well as in the cases of malignant neoplasms there is high hypercalcemia and hypermagnesemia, both going back to the physiological levels after six months of surgical excision<br>A longevidade dos cães tem aumentado a casuística de neoplasmas, sendo que o neoplasma mamário é um dos mais frequentes diagnosticados nesta espécie. As fêmeas caninas são importantes como população de estudo das neoplasias uma vez que existem similaridades entre os neoplasmas mamários desenvolvidos em humanos e caninos, possibilitando desta forma o uso da patologia comparada, buscando maior entendimento da doença. Alterações nos níveis de cálcio e magnésio podem estar relacionadas a presença e ocorrência de neoplasmas mamários, porém não existe uma padronização definida dessas alterações. O trabalho teve como objetivos analisar dados epidemiológicos em pacientes caninos com neoplasmas mamários e determinar níveis de cálcio e magnésio séricos e após exérese; e associar variação de níveis sanguíneos de cálcio e magnésio com a malignidade dos neoplasmas. O estudo teve uma amostra de 53 fêmeas caninas com tumoração em glândula mamária, das quais foram obtidos dados de características descritivas da amostra referentes a resenha do animal, exposição a fatores de risco e do desenvolvimento tumoral, associado as características morfológicas e localização anatômica. Foi realizada exérese das massas tumorais para análise histopatológica avaliando margem cirúrgica e classificando os pacientes segundo comportamento biológico e diferentes graus de malignidade: alta malignidade (AM), malignidade intermediária (MI), baixa malignidade (BM) e benignos (B). Na continuação do estudo, houve uma perda de 17 cães para o estudo de análise de níveis de minerais no período de 180 dias, sendo estudadas 36 fêmeas com neoplasmas mamários e 28 cães saudáveis sem tumores mamários, como controles. Os cães foram avaliados no dia zero (prévio à cirurgia) em relação à massa tumoral e nessa data foi realizada exérese para encaminhamento de peça tumoral para avaliação anatomopatológica e classificados segundo comportamento biológico. A dosagem sérica de cálcio e magnésio (espectrofotometria de absorbância), foi realizada prévia à exérese dos tumores (no dia zero) e aos 60 e 180 dias após o procedimento cirúrgico, no mesmo intervalo de tempo foram avaliadas as dosagens séricas dos minerais no grupo controle. Das 53 cadelas estudadas, 24 apresentavam tumores de alta malignidade, 12 de malignidade intermediária, 13 de baixa malignidade e quatro eram benignos. Os pacientes idosos foram frequentes no grupo de maior malignidade. Não houve relação entre comportamento biológico quando comparado com: faixa de idade, porte, raça, tempo de aparecimento e desenvolvimento ovariohisterectomia prévia e uso de contraceptivos. Quanto a localização, das 171 mamas acometidadas, o desenvolvimento de neoplasma de maior malignidade ocorreu em mamas inguinais e abdominais mediais. Foi demonstrado relação entre comprometimento de margem e desenvolvimento de metástase pulmonar. A mobilidade e consistência neoplásica foram identificados como fatores prognósticos para cães com neoplasma mamário, enquanto as outras variáveis estudadas não foram relacionadas com o prognóstico. Dados referentes às 36 fêmeas caninas portadoras de neoplasmas mamários, que foram acompanhadas, 13 apresentaram tumores de alta malignidade (AM), nove de malignidade intermediária (MI), 10 de baixa malignidade (BM) e quatro benignos (B). A média dos níveis de Cálcio do grupo controle foi de 10,07mg/dl e do magnésio de 2,04mg/dl. Os níveis médios de cálcio sérico dos pacientes do grupo BM e MI foi respectivamente 8,63mg/dl e 8,77mg/dl, ambos diferindo estatisticamente (p< 0,001) do grupo controle. Os pacientes do grupo de AM apresentaram média de cálcio de 12,00mg/dl e diferiram significantemente (p< 0,001) dos níveis médios obtidos no grupo controle. Em relação aos níveis séricos de magnésio foi demonstrado diferença estatística entre o grupo controle (2,04mg/dl) e os grupos BM (p< 0,001), MI (p=0,002) e AM (p< 0,001), com médias de 1,57 mg/dl, 1,67mg/dl e 2,56mg/dl respectivamente. Tanto nos níveis séricos de cálcio quanto de magnésio não foram demonstradas diferenças estatísticas entre o grupo controle e o grupo B. Foi observado que, nos animais com neoplasmas mamários, os valores sanguíneos dos minerais estudados diferiram entre a primeira e última coleta nos grupos BM (p=0,0125) e AM (p=0,0,0087) quanto aos níveis de cálcio e nos mesmos grupos BM (p=0,0124) e AM (p=0,0015) quanto aos níveis de magnésio. Os resultados permitiram concluir que mobilidade e consistência do neoplasma, foram relacionadas com malignidade e pior prognóstico do paciente além de uma forte relação entre comprometimento de margem e metástase pulmonar. Ainda, cães portadores de neoplasias de baixa malignidade e malignidade intermediária apresentam hipocalcemia e hipomagnesemia, assim como nos casos de neoplasmas de alta malignidade ocorre hipercalcemia e hipermagnesemia, ambos retornando aos níveis fisiológicos após seis meses da exérese cirúrgica.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:44:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_felipe_nobre.pdf: 1392556 bytes, checksum: d4e08f0635d94bd71a605aee76674bfe (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-10-24<br>The objective of this study was to look into the viability of using the images acquired by the Moderated Orbital resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor in order to determining the period of occurrence of phenological stages in order to assist determining the best conducive to harvesting of seed rice. The study area consisted of 12 farms located in the municipalities of Arroio Grande and Rio Grande - RS, of which we had information regarding to sowing, V4, R1, R6 and harvest dates. The delimitation of the field crops was performed by geodetic coordinates obtained by a GPS navigation receiver, aided by medium spatial resolution images from Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor. In order to generate the spectro-temporal profiles were used daily images from MODIS sensor products MOD09GQ (Terra satellite) and MYD09GQ (Aqua satellite) with 250m spatial resolution, turned in the Enhanced Vegetation Index 2 (EVI2), ranging from before sowing to after harvest. Daily images from Terra and Aqua satellites were composited in images containing the maximum EVI2 for each day. Then we excluded from the analysis the composite images with cloud cover noise contamination and those showing values significantly discrepant with those of adjacent days. The temporal profiles of EVI2 for each crop field were associated with the dates of sowing, V4, R1 and R6 phenological stages and harvesting of crops fields. The EVI2 spectro-temporal profile for paddy rice presented considerable increases around the V4 stage, reaching its highest values around the R6 stage and then begin to decrease even after harvesting. However, we observed a wide range of EVI2 values for each developmental stage analized and the harvest date for different crops fields. Thus, in this study we could not establish reliable parameters that indicate the possibility of using daily images from MODIS as a single indicator for determining both phenological stages and most propitious time for rice harvesting. However, it is possible to monitor the temporal profile EVI2 of irrigated rice fields, which can be used as auxiliary data to approximately determine the crop phonological stage, since cloud free images are available.<br>O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a viabilidade da utilização das imagens adquiridas pelo sensor orbital MODerated resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) na determinação do período de ocorrência dos estádios fenológicos de modo a facilitar a identificação do ponto de maturidade fisiológica e do momento mais propício à colheita de lavouras de sementes de arroz irrigado. A área de estudo constitui-se de 12 talhões situados nos municípios de Arroio Grande e Rio Grande RS, das quais se dispunha de informações das datas de semeadura, dos estádios fenológicos V4, R1, R6 e de colheita. A delimitação das lavouras foi realizada por meio de coordenadas geodésicas obtidas por um receptor GPS de navegação, auxiliadas por imagens de média resolução espacial do sensor TM do satélite Landsat 5. Na geração dos perfis espectro-temporais foram utilizadas imagens diárias do sensor MODIS produtos MOD09GQ (satélite Terra) e MYD09GQ (satélite Aqua), com resolução espacial de 250 metros, transformadas no índice de vegetação EVI2 (Enhanced Vegetation Index 2), abrangendo desde o período anterior a semeadura até o que precede a colheita. A partir das imagens diárias Terra e Aqua foram geradas imagens compostas contendo o valor máximo do EVI2 para a média de cada lavoura, em cada dia. Posteriormente, foram eliminadas da análise as imagens compostas contaminadas pela presença de nuvens e/ou ruídos e aquelas apresentando valores consideravelmente discrepantes às dos dias adjacentes. Aos perfis temporais do EVI2 foram associadas as informações sobre as datas de semeadura, dos estádios V4, R1, R6 e de colheita das lavouras. O perfil espectrotemporal sob a forma do EVI2 para a cultura do arroz irrigado apresenta-se com acréscimos consideráveis dos valores em torno do estádio V4, alcançando os valores mais altos por volta do estádio R6 que em seguida começam a decrescer até mesmo após a colheita da lavoura. Entretanto, observou-se grande amplitude de valores de EVI2 para cada estádio fenológico analisado e para a data de colheita, para as diferentes lavouras. Desta forma, neste estudo, não foi possível estabelecer parâmetros confiáveis que indiquem a possibilidade da utilização das imagens diárias do MODIS como único indicador para determinação tanto dos estádios fenológicos estudados quanto do momento mais propício à colheita de lavouras de arroz irrigado. Entretanto, é possível monitorar o perfil temporal do EVI2 das lavouras de arroz irrigado, que pode ser utilizado como ferramenta auxiliar para se determinar o provável estádio fenológico da cultura, desde que se disponham imagens livres de nuvens.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:30:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_Eduarda_Rodrigues_Dutra.pdf: 1414666 bytes, checksum: ec6fdd591603266bfd4c19955d49f0b0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-05-10<br>The aim of this study was to test the accuracy of three partial protocols of oral examination, assessing only first molars, to estimate dental caries prevalence, severity and its association with risk factors. A representative sample of 1,211 children with 8-12 years of age from 20 public and private schools from urban area of Pelotas, Brazil was assessed. DMFT index was obtained by full mouth examination and three partial protocols: P1 all first molars; P2 e P3 first molars from two random diagonal quadrants (1 and 3, 2 and 4). Socioeconomic, behavioral and oral health variables were also collected. Sensitivity, absolute and relative bias and inflation factor were calculated for each partial protocol using dental caries prevalence (DMFT ≥ 1).Risk factors were assessed for all protocols using Poisson Regression for both dental caries prevalence and severity (mean DMFT). Prevalence of dental caries was 32.4% for full mouth examination, 30.2% for P1, 22.2% for P2 and 21.4% for P3. In comparison with full-mouth examination, P1 showed a higher sensitivity [93.1% (CI 95% 91.5; 94.5)]. All protocols showed similar magnitude of association measures for all risk factors investigated, using caries prevalence and mean DMFT. The partial protocols showed potential applicability in epidemiological studies assessing dental caries prevalence and associated factors in schoolchildren aging 8-12 years<br>O estudo teve como objetivo testar a acurácia de três protocolos de exame parcial da cavidade bucal, avaliando somente primeiros molares, para estimativa da prevalência e severidade de cárie, assim como da sua associação com variáveis socioeconômicas, comportamentais e de saúde bucal em escolares com faixa etária entre 8 e 12 anos. Uma amostra representativa de 1211 escolares, proveniente de 20 escolas (públicas e privadas) de Pelotas-RS, foi avaliada. Através de exame bucal da boca inteira, foi obtido o índice CPOD (número de dentes cariados, perdidos e obturados). A partir deste exame, estimou-se o índice CPOD para outros três protocolos parciais de exame avaliando somente os primeiros molares: P1 avaliação dos quatro elementos e; P2 e P3 avaliação de dois molares de quadrantes contralaterais.Variáveis socioeconômicas, comportamentais e de saúde bucal foram também coletadas. Utilizando a prevalência de cárie (CPOD ≥ 1) foram calculadas a sensibilidade, viés absoluto, viés relativo e fator de inflação para cada um dos protocolos parciais em relação ao exame de boca inteira. A associação entre a prevalência e a média do CPOD com as variáveis independentes também foi avaliada para os diferentes protocolos, utilizando Regressão de Poisson. A prevalência de cárie foi de 32,4% para o exame de boca inteira, 30,2% para P1, 22,2% para P2 e 21,4% pra P3. O P1, comparado à avaliação de boca inteira, mostrou alta sensibilidade [93,1% (IC 95% 91,5; 94,5)]. Utilizando a prevalência de cárie dentária e o CPOD médio, foi possível constatar a similaridade dos quatro protocolos quanto a magnitude de associação dos fatores de risco investigados.Os protocolos parciais estudados demonstram potencial da aplicabilidade em levantamentos epidemiológicos que avaliem a prevalência da cárie dentária e a sua associação com fatores demográficos e sócio comportamentais em crianças entre 8 e 12 anos

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:38:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_otavio_matos_tavares.pdf: 665334 bytes, checksum: 9d1b76916bd06ebd657d489b448639b6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-06-29<br>The experiment, divided into two phases (Phase I and Phase II), had as its objective to evaluate forage production of annual ryegrass (Estanzuela LE 284) of natural reseeding subjected to nitrogen fertilization in the succession of a soybean crop in crop-livestock integration and the residual effect of fertilization on the production of corn grains (crop successor). Treatments of Phase I consisted of four levels of nitrogen fertilization (urea 45%) of coverage (N0 = 0 kg/ha de N, N1 = 22,5 kg/ha de N, N2= 67,5 kg/ha de N e N3 = 135 kg/ha de N) and two levels base fertilization (B1= no fertilization; B2= with fertilization in the order of 170 kg/ha of the formula 05-25-25). The pasture was managed by cutes in accordance with its height. Each time the pasture reached the average canopy height from 20-25 cm, two samples (circular cuts - 0,0881 m²) were made leaving a residue of 10-12 cm. During this occasion a sample was collected with a square of 0,04 m² to determine the number of tillers and leaf area index (LAI). The entire profile of the canopy was cut. Phase II consisted of the evaluation of the residual effect of the fertilization treatments of Phase I on the production of corn grains. The base fertilization (NPK) and the application of nitrogen in coverage, significantly increase forage production of annual ryegrass of natural reseeding in soybean stubble in crop-livestock integration. Nitrogen fertilization linearly increase the weight of tillers and leaf blades. The averages of remaining ryegrass straw added to the soybean crop residues meet the appropriate amount for the implementation of the summer crop in the SPD. Nitrogen fertilization presents no residual effect on the crop yield of corn for grain in succession.<br>O experimento, dividido em duas fases (Fase I e Fase II), teve como objetivo avaliar a produção de forragem de azevém anual (Estanzuela LE 284) de ressemeadura natural na sucessão da cultura da soja submetido à adubação nitrogenada em integração lavoura-pecuária e o efeito residual da adubação na produção de grãos de milho (cultura sucessora). Os tratamentos da Fase I constaram de quatro níveis de adubação nitrogenada (ureia 45%) em cobertura (N0 = 0 kg/ha de N, N1 = 22,5 kg/ha de N, N2= 67,5 kg/ha de N e N3 = 135 kg/ha de N) e dois níveis de adubação de base (B1= sem adubação; B2= com adubação, na ordem de 170 kg/ha da fórmula 05-25-25). O pasto foi manejado por cortes seguindo um protocolo de altura. A cada vez que o pasto atingia altura média do dossel entre 20-25 cm eram efetuadas duas amostragens (cortes) circulares (0,0881 m²), deixando-se um resíduo de 10-12 cm. Na mesma ocasião era coletada uma amostra com um quadro de 0,04 m² para determinação do número de perfilhos e índice de área foliar (IAF), sendo coletado todo o perfil do dossel. A Fase II consistiu da avaliação do efeito residual dos tratamentos de adubação da Fase I sobre a produção de grãos de milho. As adubações de base (NPK) e de nitrogênio em cobertura aumentam a produção de forragem de azevém anual de ressemeadura natural em resteva de soja no sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária. A adubação nitrogenada aumenta de forma linear o peso de perfilhos e de lâminas foliares. As médias da palhada remanescente de azevém somadas aos resíduos da cultura da soja atendem a quantidade adequada para a implantação da lavoura de verão no SPD. A adubação nitrogenada não apresenta efeito residual sobre a cultura do milho para grãos em sucessão.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:59:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_anelise_tessari_perboni.pdf: 3085637 bytes, checksum: c55ca1817bac9993117c80d2a3e5179a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-14<br>Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) belongs to the family Brassicaceae and constitutes the third most produced oilseed in the world, surpassed only by soybean and palm. Flooding of soil and low temperatures can cause alterations in cellular metabolism and impair plant growth, generating a stress condition. Two experiments were conducted using the canola hybrid Hyola 43, Hyola 401, Hyola 420 and Hyola 432. The first was conducted in greenhouse where 10 plants of each hybrid were subjected to stress by flooding for a period of six days. Were evaluated parameters and differences in the kinetics of emission of chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll content, leaf area and dry weight of shoot and root. The flooding caused a reduction of leaf area, root dry mass and root dry mass/shoot dry mass ratio of all hybrids studied. In relation to chlorophyll fluorescence were identified differences in parameters related to specific flows that have undergone changes as a function of stress the latter being more pronounced for Hyola 432. The performace photosynthetic index (PIABS and PIABS,total) showed a decrease after 6 days of the experiment except for hybrid Hyola 420. The analysis of the kinetics of chlorophyll a fluorescence transient showed differential effects of stress application in different sites of photosynthetic apparatus, and these effects were less pronounced in the plants of hybrid Hyola 420. In the second experiment, canola plants were grown in a greenhouse where stress by low temperatures was driven in the Laboratory of Plant Metabolism. Ten plants of each hybrid were placed in a growth chamber the absence of light for different periods of low temperatures: 1 and 4 hours at 0oC and 1, 4 and 15 hours at 4oC. Were evaluated parameters and differences in the kinetics of emission of chlorophyll a fluorescence. The hybrids showed the same behavior in relation to chlorophyll a fluorescence in response to stress by low temperatures. In general, the parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence related to the activity of the PSI were the most affected, and the increase of these parameters resulted in higher values of the PIABS,total. The analysis of the kinetics of chlorophyll a fluorescence transient showed temperature effects, mainly at the J point which reflects the accumulation of reduced plastoquinone (QA -) and the I-P phase reflecting the reduction of end electron acceptors at the PSI acceptor side, ie, ferredoxin (Fd) NADP and other intermediaries. We conclude that the plants of the hibrid Hyola 420 were less affected by flooding showing that this hybrid can be considered less sensitive to stress compared to other hybrids. The parameters that involve the activity of the FSI and the variable fluorescence transient at the J point were more responsive to stress conditions imposed by low temperatures.<br>A canola (Brassica napus L.) pertence à família das Brassicaceae e constitui-se na terceira oleaginosa mais produzida no mundo, superada apenas pela soja e pela palma. O alagamento do solo e as baixas temperaturas podem promover alterações no metabolismo celular e prejudicar o crescimento das plantas, gerando uma condição de estresse. Foram desenvolvidos dois experimentos utilizando os híbridos de canola Hyola 43, Hyola 401, Hyola 420 e Hyola 432. O primeiro foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, onde 10 plantas de cada híbrido foram submetidas a estresse por alagamento por um período de seis dias. Foram avaliados os parâmetros e as diferenças na cinética de emissão da fluorescência da clorofila, teor de clorofila, área foliar e massa seca da parte aérea e raiz. O alagamento promoveu redução da área foliar, massa seca de raízes e relação massa seca de raiz/massa seca parte aérea de todos híbridos estudados. Em relação a fluorescência da clorofila foram identificadas diferenças nos parâmetros relacionados aos fluxos específicos que sofreram variação em função do estresse sendo esta mais acentuada para Hyola 432. Os índices de performace fotossintéticos (PIABS e PIABS,total) apresentaram decréscimo ao final de 6 dias de experimento exceto para o híbrido Hyola 420. A análise da cinética da fluorescência transiente da clorofila a mostrou efeitos diferenciais da aplicação do estresse nos diferentes locais da maquinaria fotossintética, sendo estes efeitos menos pronunciados nas plantas do híbrido Hyola 420. No segundo experimento as plantas de canola foram cultivadas em casa de vegetação sendo o estresse por baixas temperaturas conduzido no Laboratório de Metabolismo Vegetal. Dez plantas de cada híbrido foram acondicionadas em câmara de crescimento com ausência de luz por períodos distintos de baixas temperaturas: 1 e 4 horas a 0oC e 1, 4 e 15 horas a 4oC. Avaliaram-se os parâmetros e as diferenças na cinética de emissão da fluorescência da clorofila a. Os híbridos apresentaram o mesmo comportamento em relação à fluorescência da clorofila em resposta ao estresse por baixas temperaturas. Em geral, os parâmetros da fluorescência da clorofila relacionados à atividade do fotossistema I foram os mais afetados, sendo que o aumento destes parâmetros resultou em maiores valores de PIABS,total. A análise da cinética da fluorescência transiente da clorofila a revelou efeitos da temperatura principalmente no ponto J o qual reflete o acúmulo de plastoquinona A reduzida (QA -) e na fase I-P que reflete a redução dos aceptores de elétrons finais do lado aceptor do FSI, ou seja, ferredoxina (Fd), outros intermediários e NADP. Conclui-se que as plantas do híbrido Hyola 420 foram menos afetadas pelas condições de alagamento demonstrando que tal híbrido pode ser considerado menos sensível a determinado estresse em relação aos demais híbridos testados. Os parâmetros que envolvem a atividade do FSI bem como a 5 fluorescência variável transiente no ponto J foram mais responsivos às condições impostas pelo estresse por baixas temperaturas.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:29:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcia Matsumura de Araujo.pdf: 426334 bytes, checksum: a84834be65347b173ce793529a3d04cd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-13<br>This study aimed to evaluate the food consumed by female players of team sports in high school, to assess the diet quality index and the nutrition knowledge of these players. The dietary intake was assessed through food records from 4 days, the Diet Quality Index and nutrition knowledge through a validated questionnaire. The group had a mean age of 16.8 years (± 1.5). The inadequacies of the diet found were: Low average energy consumption (1621,9Kcal); Inadequacie of carbohydrate (90.9%), proteins (81.8%) and lipids (50%). There were also found inadequacies for vitamins A (63.6%) and C (59.1%). The inadequacie minerals were: calcium (59.1%), phosphate (95.5%), zinc (77.3%) and electrolytes as sodium (100%) and potassium (100%). In addition, inadequate intake of fiber was found in 100% of the sample. As for the Diet Quality Index, 72.7% require modification of their diets and nutrition knowledge was moderate (72.5%). The analysis of food intake showed that players consume an inadequate diet for their health and physical performance and the Diet Quality Index, together with the assessment of nutrition knowledge show that athletes have moderate knowledge about nutrition but need changes in their diets, suggesting the need for nutritional intervention in this group.<br>A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar a alimentação consumida por jogadoras que praticam esportes coletivos em escola de ensino médio, bem como avaliar o índice de qualidade da dietae mensurar o conhecimento nutricional.. Avaliou-se a ingestão dietética por meio de registro alimentar de 4 dias, o Índice de Qualidade da Dieta e conhecimento nutricional utilizando-se questionário validado. As atletas apresentaram idade média de 16,8 anos (±1,5). As inadequações encontradas na dieta foram: baixo consumo médio de energia (1621,9Kcal), inadequação do consumo de carboidratos (90,9%), proteínas (81,8%) e de lipídeos (50%), também foram encontradas inadequações de ingestão das vitaminas A (63,6%) e C (59,1%), dos minerais cálcio (59,1%), fósforo (95,5%), zinco (77,3%) e dos eletrólitos sódio (100%) e potássio (100%). Tamém se verificou inadequação do consumo de fibras em 100% da amostra. Quanto ao Índice de Qualidade da Dieta, 72,7% necessitam de modificações da dieta e o conhecimento nutricional foi moderado (72,5%). A análise da ingestão alimentar mostrou que as jogadoras consomem uma alimentação inadequada para o seu desempenho físico e saúde e o Índice de Qualidade da Dieta, juntamente com a avaliação do conhecimento nutricional demonstram que as mesmas possuem conhecimento moderado sobre nutrição mas que necessitam de alterações nas suas dietas, sugerindo a necessidade de intervenção nutricional para esse grupo.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:44:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_dalcionei_pazzin.pdf: 829971 bytes, checksum: 3d3a9a4e4d6cd6b10887342484141cf8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-01-19<br>Soybean cultivation has increased in regions of low lands, traditionally rice-producing areas, these areas being subject to any conditions of soil flooding. Excess water in the soil for the cultivation of soybean can impair the development, production and seed quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of flooding in lowland soils, at different times of cultivation on morphological, physiological and productivity of soybean varieties, as well as seed quality. We used five soybean cultivars (IAS-5, BRS Macota, CD 221, BRS 255 RR and BMX Apollo RR) under soil flooding conditions a period of five days at different stages, both in the growing season and in the reproductive tract. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Station of the Lowlands, from Embrapa Clima Temperado headquartered in the Capão do Leão city, RS. Evaluations were made of the seeds in Didactic Laboratory Seed Analysis, of the Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel). During the crop cycle were evaluated: plant height, main stem diameter, chlorophyll content index, and seed production. The characteristics of the seeds were evaluated for physiological quality, seed weight of 1000 and average size. Statistical analysis for the experiments were performed using analysis of variance to assess the significance of main effects and interactions. The comparison test of Tukey was used to average 5% probability. It was found that productivity is adversely affected by flooding the soil, and there are cultivars that have a lower reduction in output. The weight of thousand seeds is lower when plants suffer stress from excess water in the R5 stage, except the cultivar Apollo BMX RR. Flooding caused a reduction in plant height, and decrease in the chlorophyll content in the leaves. The flooding resulted in variation in the soybean crop cycle, and may postpone or advance depending on the maturity date on which it occurred. Flooding causes negative effect on the physiological quality of seeds, varying according to the time of flooding.<br>O cultivo da soja vem aumentando em regiões de solos de várzea, tradicionalmente áreas produtoras de arroz irrigado, sendo essas áreas sujeitas a eventuais condições de alagamento do solo. O excesso de água no solo durante o cultivo de soja pode prejudicar o desenvolvimento, a produção e a qualidade fisiológica de sementes. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do alagamento em solo de várzea, em diferentes períodos do cultivo sobre as características morfológicas, fisiológicas e produtividade de cultivares precoces de soja, além da qualidade das sementes produzidas. Foram utilizados cinco cultivares (IAS-5, BRS Macota, CD 221, BRS 255 RR e BMX Apolo RR) de soja sob condição de alagamento do solo um período de cinco dias em diferentes estádios, tanto no período vegetativo quanto no reprodutivo. O experimento foi conduzido na Estação Experimental de Terras Baixas, da Embrapa Clima Temperado sediada no município do Capão do Leão, RS. As avaliações das sementes foram realizadas no Laboratório Didático de Análise de Sementes da Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel). Durante o ciclo da cultura foram avaliados: altura de plantas, diâmetro da haste principal, índice do teor de clorofila (ITC), e produtividade de sementes. As características das sementes foram avaliadas pela qualidade fisiológica, peso de 1000 sementes e tamanho médio. As análises estatísticas para os experimentos foram realizadas através de análise de variância para verificar a significância dos efeitos principais e das interações. O teste de comparação de média utilizado foi Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. Foi constatado que a produtividade é afetada negativamente pelo alagamento do solo, e há cultivares que apresentam menor redução da produção. O peso de mil sementes é inferior quando as plantas sofrem estresse por excesso hídrico no estádio R5, com exceção da cultivar BMX Apolo RR . O alagamento provocou redução na altura de plantas, e diminuição no índice do teor de clorofila (ITC) nas folhas. O alagamento resultou em variação no ciclo da cultura da soja, podendo adiar ou antecipar a maturação dependendo da data em que ele ocorreu. O alagamento causa efeito negativo na qualidade fisiológica das sementes, variando de acordo com a época do encharcamento.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:25:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_maria_arita_garcia.pdf: 8113106 bytes, checksum: fba0a4bf56d450b9bee5e250f53be0b8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-18<br>This research aims to analyze the monthly variations of rainfall in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) relating to monthly changes in the average thickness of the troposphere (700mb) at the bottom of the Southern Hemisphere, which is centered in the region of Antarctica. Monthly anomalies of atmospheric thickness have been represented by principal oscillation pattern that is called the Arctic Oscillation Index. This study is important because RS has played an important role in national agricultural production, and the variable rainfall has been identified as a key role in the productivity of different regional cultures. During the study, monthly rainfall data from 32 meteorological stations in RS has been used, which has been correlated with the Arctic Oscillation Index. The Arctic Oscillation Index has been obtained directly from Climate Prediction Center and the study period has been from 1979 to 2008 and, the correlations between the monthly rainfalls have been tested considering the time lags of index 0, -1, -2, -3 months. The results of the climatology have showed that rainfall in these last three decades have presented patterns and distributed monthly throughout the year and lower values to the south and higher to the north and northwest. The largest temporal gradient in RS has occurred between the months of October and November, with their maximum and minimum respectively. The Antarctic Oscillation Index has had its greatest variations in the middle of winter and the smallest variations in late summer. The more significant correlations of rainfall in RS and the index have been mostly reversed (by the way the index is built). The highest correlation has been between the rainfall for the month of May and the index also the month of May especially in the northern half of the RS. In the southern half of RS, the changes in the index in March have shown a higher correlation considering rainfall in March and April. The highest correlations in the northwestern part of RS have been happening between the rainfall of November and November Index and the central region of RS has been showing significant correlations in December with the index in November. Among the best results (the highest correlations) it has been highlighted those correlations of the months of March, April and May. From the average rate for the quarter, the extremes of the index have been identified and climatologies of rainfall have been calculated for the two groups (six negative extreme cases and six positive extreme cases). During the negative rainfall period, the index of quarterly rainfall has been exceeding by up to 50% the positive rainfall period, mainly in the south and west of RS. The negative period has been associated to the intensification of high polar consequently it has also been associated to the intensification of the polar jet, thus the most organized cold fronts pass through the RS, while in positive periods the weakening of the high polar and changes in zonal flow of the subtropical jet have been happening, reducing the intensity of cold fronts.<br>Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo analisar as variações mensais da precipitação no Rio Grande do Sul (RS) e suas relações com as variações mensais da espessura da camada média da troposfera (700mb) na parte inferior do Hemisfério Sul, centrada na região da Antártica. As Anomalias mensais da espessura atmosférica são representadas pelo padrão de oscilação principal, denominado de Índice AAO (Arctic Oscillation Index). A importância deste estudo justifica-se pelo RS ter um papel importante na produção agrícola nacional, sendo a variável precipitação apontada como fator fundamental na produtividade de diversas culturas regionais. Na pesquisa foram utilizados dados de precipitação mensal de 32 estações meteorológicas no RS, as quais foram correlacionadas com o índice AAO. O índice AAO foi obtido diretamente CPC (Climate Prediction Center) e o período de estudo foram de 1979 a 2008, sendo que as correlações entre as precipitações mensais do RS foram testadas com defasagens temporais do índice de 0, -1, -2, -3 meses. Os resultados da climatologia mostram que a precipitação nestas ultimas 3 décadas apresentaram padrões mensais bem distribuídos ao longo do ano, com menores valores ao sul e maiores ao norte e noroeste. O maior gradiente temporal no RS ocorre entre os meses de outubro e novembro, com seus máximos e mínimos respectivamente. O Índice de Oscilação Antártica tem suas maiores variações no meio do inverno e as menores variações no final de verão. As correlações mais significativas da precipitação no RS e o índice foram predominantemente inversas (pela forma como foi construído o índice). As maiores correlações foram entre as precipitações do mês de maio e o Índice também do mês de maio, especialmente na metade norte do RS. Na metade sul do RS, as variações do Índice no mês de março apresentam alta correlação com as precipitações de março e de abril. A parte noroeste do RS as maiores correlações foram entre as precipitações de novembro e o Índice de novembro, Na região central do RS apresentam correlações significativas em dezembro com o Índice de novembro. Entres os melhores resultados (maiores correlações) destacam-se as correlações nos meses de março, abril e maio. A partir do índice médio deste trimestre foram identificados os casos extremos do índice e calculado as climatologias das precipitações para os dois grupos (6 casos extremos negativos e 6 casos extremos positivos). A climatologia mostra que para o período negativo do índice a precipitação acumulada trimestral supera em até 50% a do período positivo, principalmente no sul e oeste do RS. O período negativo está associado à intensificação da alta polar, conseqüentemente intensificação o jato polar e frentes frias mais organizadas passam pelo RS, enquanto que nos períodos positivos ocorre enfraquecimento da alta polar e alteração no fluxo zonal do jato subtropical, reduzindo a intensidade das frentes frias.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:32:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_pablo_machado_mendes.pdf: 827691 bytes, checksum: 944bff209792e2b057fea45540a30453 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-07-13<br>The society is currently moving in the direction of finding solutions to environmental problems that threaten the continuity of life on the planet, and these problems not caused exclusively by man, according to differing opinions of several scientists around the world. The poultry industry is one of the most striking of these food producers taking responsibility for going to meet the worldwide research trying to solve the problems of environmental pollution, the idea is proposing a viable solution both technically and economically and provide back a critical need in the field of creation of broiler chickens: the bed where the chicken are created is able to be discarded in agricultural land safely and without damaging the soil, in these case, without causing environmental impact on the ground? To answer this question we sought to evaluate the poultry litter in relation to their chemical composition, number of lots created on the poultry litter and biosecurity of these beds. Currently producers perform physical and chemical analysis to determine whether the bed can be designed in agricultural land, among them the C/N (carbon/ nitrogen), which is the main parameter to decide whether the bed can be considered stable and it ready for disposal. This study proposes to develop a test that serves as a bioindicator phytotoxicity to determine if a litter is ready to be allocated to agricultural soil without causing environmental impact to soil, water resources and the environment in general.<br>A sociedade atualmente caminha no sentido de procurar soluções para os problemas ambientais que ameaçam a continuidade da vida no planeta, sendo estes problemas causados ou não, exclusivamente pelo homem, segundo opiniões divergentes de diversos cientistas pelo mundo. A avicultura é uma das atividades mais impactantes do ramo da produção de alimentos, tendo a responsabilidade de caminhar ao encontro das pesquisas mundiais que tentam solucionar os problemas de poluição ambiental, surgindo a idéia de propor uma solução viável tanto técnica quanto economicamente e que suprisse uma necessidade fundamental no ramo da criação de frangos de corte: a cama aonde o frango é criado tem condições de ser descartada em solo agrícola com segurança e sem prejudicar o desenvolvimento do solo, ou seja, sem causar impacto ambiental no solo? Para responder essa pergunta procurou-se avaliar a cama de frango em relação a sua composição química, quantidade de lotes criados em cima da cama e a biossegurança dessas camas. Atualmente os produtores realizam análises físico-químicas para determinar se a cama pode ser destinada em solo agrícola, dentre elas a relação C/N (carbono/nitrogênio), que é o principal parâmetro para se decidir se a cama pode ser considerada estabilizada e por isso pronta para o descarte. Este estudo propõe o desenvolvimento de um teste de fitotoxicidade que serve de bioindicador para determinar se uma cama de aviário está apta a ser destinada em solo agrícola sem causar impacto ambiental ao solo, recursos hídricos e ao ambiente em geral.

The present dissertation is the design of a company's business plan, with a view to the new monitoring system, with all the important factors such as economic and technical factors, and legislative changes in the branch are taken into consideration. Furthermore there is the view to the economic standing of the company is also evalua-ted. The business plan is simultaneously considered from a general view of potential implementation of the proposed solution.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:44:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_helen_claudine_saliba_rodrigues.pdf: 1023984 bytes, checksum: 108e9fceec945fa268f473cea166dd99 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-03-28<br>The study aimed to evaluate the cold tolerance of four rice cultivars under stress conditions (13-18°C) in stages S0-V3 and check the season effect of irrigation suppression on the quality of rice seeds from the cultivars BRS Atalanta, BRS Querência and BRS 7 Taim. The study consisted on two experiments performed independently. In the first experiment, it was evaluated the cold tolerance of seeds of the cultivars Brilhante, BRS SCS Tio Taka, BRS Querência and BRS7 Taim under stress conditions (13-18°C) during early development (S0-S3). The evaluative parameters were: speed index of total emergence, speed index of emergence of the stage V1, V2 and V3, index of cold tolerance (ICT), index of susceptibility to cold (ISC), index of cold intensity (ICI), geometric average (GA), chlorophyll content (CC) and seedling length (SL). The Brilhante cultivar showed tolerance to the temperature of 13-18°C, measured by the speed index of total emergence, speed index of vegetative stages, tolerance index, geometric average, chlorophyll content and seedling length at the initial development. In the second experiment, it was used seeds from the cultivars BRS Atalanta, BRS Querência and BRS 7 Taim and it was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, it was made the irrigation suppression in four seasons: Season 1: stage of panicle exsertion (R3) Season 2: stage of milky grain (R6) Season 3: stage of pasty grain (R7), and Season 4: physiological maturity (R9). In the second stage, it was performed the analysis of seed quality harvested for each treatment, through the germination test, cold test, accelerated aging, electrical conductivity, weight of a thousand seeds and seed health. It was not possible to assess the season of irrigation suppression, in the stages of panicle exsertion, milky grain, pasty grain and physiological maturity due to the high rainfall occurred throughout the reproductive phase of rice seeds of the three cultivars evaluated. The high rainfall combined with high temperature were the main factors that favored the incidence of fungus from the genus Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., and Bipolaris sp. on the seeds of the cultivars in study.<br>O trabalho objetivou avaliar a tolerância ao frio de quatro cultivares de arroz sob condições de estresse (13-18ºC) nos estádios S0-V3 e verificar o efeito da época da supressão da irrigação na qualidade das sementes de arroz das cultivares BRS Atalanta, BRS Querência e BRS 7 Taim. O estudo constitui-se de dois experimentos realizados independentemente. No primeiro experimento, avaliou-se a tolerância ao frio das sementes das cultivares Brilhante, BRS SCS Tio Taka, BRS Querência e BRS7 Taim em condições estresse (13-18ºC) durante o desenvolvimento inicial (S0-V3). Os parâmetros avaliativos utilizados foram: índice de velocidade de emergência total, índice de velocidade de emergência do estádio V1, V2 e V3, índice de tolerância ao frio (ITF), índice de suscetibilidade ao frio (ISF), índice de intensidade ao frio (IIT), média geométrica (MG), teor de clorofila (TC) e comprimento de plântula (CP). A cultivar Brilhante apresentou tolerância à temperatura 13-18°C, avaliado pelo índice de velocidade de emergência total, índice de velocidade dos estádios vegetativos, índice de tolerância, média geométrica, teor de clorofila e comprimento de plântula no desenvolvimento inicial. No segundo experimento, utilizou-se sementes das cultivares BRS Atalanta, BRS Querência e BRS 7 Taim e foi realizado em duas etapas. Na primeira etapa, realizou-se a supressão da irrigação em quatro épocas: Época 1: estádio de exerção da panícula (R3); Época 2: estádio de grão leitoso (R6); Época 3: estádio de grão pastoso (R7) e, Época 4: maturidade fisiológica (R9). Na segunda etapa, efetuaram-se as análises de qualidade das sementes colhidas para cada tratamento, através dos testes de germinação, frio, envelhecimento acelerado, condutividade elétrica, peso de mil sementes e sanidade. Não foi possível avaliar a época da supressão da irrigação, nos estádios de exerção da panícula, grão leitoso, grão pastoso e maturidade fisiológica em função da elevada precipitação pluvial ocorrida durante toda a fase reprodutiva das sementes de arroz das três cultivares avaliadas. A elevada precipitação pluvial aliada à alta temperatura foram os principais fatores que favoreceram a incidência dos fungos dos gêneros Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., e Bipolaris sp. sobre as sementes das cultivares em estudo.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:36:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_Lizete_Stumpf.pdf: 2371879 bytes, checksum: 6016698f00243a4e4da56fcfcfb81d48 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-04-07<br>The largest Brazilian coal mine is located in the municipality of Candiota, Rio Grande do Sul state. Carbon seams lie near the surface around 10 to 25 meters deep, it can be mined open-pit. This mining method uses a dragline, a large machine for removing carbon, it involves changes in topography, vegetation and hydrological regime of the area. Density, porosity and water retention are directly affected. The major change of constructed soil physical attributes comes from removal of layers of original soil and deposition on the regeneration areas. Excessive machinery traffic during soil construction causes compaction of the area, it makes difficult water infiltration into soil profile facilitating water erosion, and inhibiting the vegetation of the area. The use of soil uncompressed plants is an important strategy on recovering soil structural quality. The knowledge of physical parameters as density and aggregation of constructed soils in mining areas must be considered of great importance for evaluating physical attributes since it can indicates changes in porosity, degree of compaction, root penetration, and water and air permeability. Mechanical parameters as pre- consolidation pressure and compression index can indicate soil bearing capacity. The general objective of the work was analyze the potential of different cover crops on recovery of coal mining degraded areas, by determining physicmechanical parameters of the constructed soil over time. Treatments with single plants established in October-November, 2007 were analyzed T1- Capim vaquero (Cynodon dactilon), T2 - Braquiaria brizanta (Brachiaria brizantha), T3 - Tanzânia (Panicum maximun), T4 - Braquiaria humidícola (Brachiaria humidicola), T7 - Hemartria (Hemarthria altissima), T8 - Grama Tifton (Cynodon dactilon). Constructed soil without cover crops was used as a control SCSP in order to observe the action of plants on constructed soil attributes recovery. As general conclusions we can state that because of little time for establishing the experiment, the cover crop had incipient action on improvement of physical attributes, but when compared with control presented highest density and porosity, DPM, and percentage of macroaggregates, highlighting Brachiaria.<br>A maior jazida brasileira de carvão mineral localiza-se em Candiota-RS. Nesta localidade o carvão encontra-se próximo à superfície, em torno de 10 a 25m de profundidade, podendo ser minerado a céu aberto. Este método de lavra emprega a dragline , máquina de grande porte, para remoção do carvão, acarretando em modificações na topografia, na vegetação e no regime hidrológico da área. Logo, a principal alteração dos atributos físicos do solo construído advém da remoção das camadas do solo original e deposição nas áreas de regeneração. O excessivo tráfego de máquinas durante a construção do solo acarreta na compactação da área, dificultando a infiltração da água ao longo do perfil, facilitando a erosão hídrica e inibindo a revegetação da área. O uso de plantas que atuam como descompactadoras do solo constitui-se importante estratégia na recuperação da qualidade estrutural de solo. O conhecimento de parâmetros físicos como a densidade e a agregação de solos construídos em áreas de mineração deve ser considerado de grande importância na avaliação dos atributos físicos, já que poderá indicar as mudanças ocorridas na porosidade, grau de compactação, penetração das raízes e permeabilidade da água e do ar. Os parâmetros mecânicos como a pressão de pré-consolidação e o índice de compressão podem indicar a capacidade de suporte de carga do solo, podendo evitar a compactação adicional da área. Neste contexto, o objetivo geral do trabalho foi analisar o potencial de diferentes plantas de cobertura na recuperação de áreas degradadas pela mineração de carvão, através da determinação de parâmetros físico-mecânicos do solo construído, ao longo do tempo. Foram analisados os tratamentos com as plantas solteiras, implantadas em outubro/novembro de 2007: T1- Capim vaquero (Cynodon dactilon), T2 - Braquiaria brizanta (Brachiaria brizantha), T3 - Tanzânia (Panicum maximun), T4 - Braquiaria humidícola (Brachiaria humidicola), T7 - Hemartria (Hemarthria altissima), T8 - Grama Tifton (Cynodon dactilon). Como testemunha usou-se o solo construído sem plantas de cobertura SCSP, no intuito de observar a ação das plantas na recuperação dos atributos do solo construído. Como conclusões gerais pode-se dizer que devido ao pouco tempo de implantação do experimento, as plantas de cobertura tiveram ação incipiente na melhoria dos atributos físicos-mecânicos, mas ao serem comparadas com a testemunha, apresentaram melhores valores de densidade, porosidade total, DMP e porcentagem de macroagregados, destacando as braquiarias, até o presente momento.

This thesis is dealed with the quantification of the effects of strategic planning for the development of municipalities and regions. The first part includes the theoretical basis of the issue, especially the definition of basic concepts such as regional development, regional policy, a region, the indicators of regional development and strategic planning. In the practical part are analyzed strategic planning through the Program of the South Bohemian and Pilsen region and their strategies with the help of studying the matter. Using indicators of regional development will be quantified impact of strategic planning for the development of municipalities and regions. Since there is no uniform method of measuring methods of strategic planning, the conclusion will be proposed uniform method of measuring the impact of strategic planning for the development of municipalities and regions.

abstract: The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) General Abilities Index (GAI) and Cognitive Proficiency Index (CPI) have been advanced as possible diagnostic markers of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Diagnostic utility statistics were used to test the ability of GAI-CPI difference scores to identify children with ADHD. Participants included an ADHD sample (n = 78), a referred but non-diagnosed hospital sample (n = 66), and a simulated sample with virtually identical psychometric characteristics as the WISC-IV 2,200 child standardization sample. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analyses were computed to determine the utility of GAI-CPI difference scores to identify children with ADHD. The GAI-CPI discrepancy method had an AUC of .64, 95% CI [0.58, 0.71] for the ADHD sample compared to the simulated normative sample and an AUC of .46, 95% CI [0.37, 0.56] for the ADHD sample compared to the referred but non-diagnosed hospital sample. These AUC scores indicate that the GAI-CPI discrepancy method has low accuracy.<br>Dissertation/Thesis<br>M.A. Educational Psychology 2010

The safety and security of a radiological facility shares a common objective which is to ensure the protection of the population and the environment from an undue radiological hazard. Adapting and extending risk assessment to security applications has been limited because of the adaptive nature of the sub-state actors and the lack of historical data of terrorist attacks on radiological facilities. Currently, no broad risk index exists for radiological facilities, such as healthcare centers and universities. This study develops a quantitative risk-based methodology that radiological facilities can employ to conduct self-assessments and gain better understanding of the threat they face. The computation of the Potential Facility Risk Index (PFRI) is based on the triplet definition (threat, vulnerability, and consequences) of risk. The threat component of the PFRI is devised as a utility function weighing the threat group attributes and asset preference. The principles of probabilistic risk assessment and pathway analysis are implemented to account for radioactive material theft probabilities in different attack scenarios. Locational hazards and nuclear security culture are measured as a function of radiological facility vulnerability. The consequences of loss of life and economic loss are computed, as a result of an attack from the radiological dispersal device (RDD). The methodology is applied to a hypothetical healthcare facility a single radioactive with three material assets (⁶⁰Co, ¹³⁷Cs, ¹⁹²Ir). The representation of the PFRI value on a qualitative scale-ranging from “very low risk” (1) to “very high risk” (10) presents a holistic view of the state of the facility risk to RDD. The PFRI may be used by decision makers to evaluate any security upgrades and justify security investments. The RDD game, developed as an extension to PFRI, provides the healthcare facility (defender) with strategic options to budget scarce security resources and make optimal choices under severe uncertainty about the terrorist adversary (attacker) theat.

abstract: Decades ago in the U.S., clear lines delineated which neighborhoods were acceptable for certain people and which were not. Techniques such as steering and biased mortgage practices continue to perpetuate a segregated outcome for many residents. In contrast, ethnic enclaves and age restricted communities are viewed as voluntary segregation based on cultural and social amenities. This diversity surrounding the causes of segregation are not just region-wide characteristics, but can vary within a region. Local segregation analysis aims to uncover this local variation, and hence open the door to policy solutions not visible at the global scale. The centralization index, originally introduced as a global measure of segregation focused on spatial concentration of two population groups relative a region's urban center, has lost relevancy in recent decades as regions have become polycentric, and the index's magnitude is sensitive to the particular point chosen as the center. These attributes, which make it a poor global measure, are leveraged here to repurpose the index as a local measure. The index's ability to differentiate minority from majority segregation, and its focus on a particular location within a region make it an ideal local segregation index. Based on the local centralization index for two groups, a local multigroup variation is defined, and a local space-time redistribution index is presented capturing change in concentration of a single population group over two time periods. Permutation based inference approaches are used to test the statistical significance of measured index values. Applications to the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area show persistent cores of black and white segregation over the years 1990, 2000 and 2010, and a trend of white segregated neighborhoods increasing at a faster rate than black. An analysis of the Phoenix area's recently opened light rail system shows that its 28 stations are located in areas of significant white, black and Hispanic segregation, and there is a clear concentration of renters over owners around most stations. There is little indication of statistically significant change in segregation or population concentration around the stations, indicating a lack of near term impact of light rail on the region's overall demographics.<br>Dissertation/Thesis<br>Ph.D. Geography 2012

abstract: Front End Planning (FEP) is a critical process for uncovering project unknowns, while developing adequate scope definition following a structured approach for the project execution process. FEP for infrastructure projects assists in identifying and mitigating issues such as right-of-way concerns, utility adjustments, environmental hazards, logistic problems, and permitting requirements. This thesis describes a novel and effective risk management tool that has been developed by the Construction Industry Institute (CII) called the Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) for infrastructure projects. Input from industry professionals from over 30 companies was used in the tool development which is specifically focused on FEP. Data from actual projects are given showing the efficacy of the tool. Critical success factors for FEP of infrastructure projects are shared. The research shows that a finite and specific list of issues related to scope definition of infrastructure projects can be developed. The thesis also concludes that the PDRI score indicates the current level of scope definition and corresponds to project performance. Infrastructure projects with low PDRI scores outperform projects with high PDRI scores.<br>Dissertation/Thesis<br>M.S. Built Environment 2010

abstract: The smart grid initiative is the impetus behind changes that are expected to culminate into an enhanced distribution system with the communication and control infrastructure to support advanced distribution system applications and resources such as distributed generation, energy storage systems, and price responsive loads. This research proposes a distribution-class analog of the transmission LMP (DLMP) as an enabler of the advanced applications of the enhanced distribution system. The DLMP is envisioned as a control signal that can incentivize distribution system resources to behave optimally in a manner that benefits economic efficiency and system reliability and that can optimally couple the transmission and the distribution systems. The DLMP is calculated from a two-stage optimization problem; a transmission system OPF and a distribution system OPF. An iterative framework that ensures accurate representation of the distribution system's price sensitive resources for the transmission system problem and vice versa is developed and its convergence problem is discussed. As part of the DLMP calculation framework, a DCOPF formulation that endogenously captures the effect of real power losses is discussed. The formulation uses piecewise linear functions to approximate losses. This thesis explores, with theoretical proofs, the breakdown of the loss approximation technique when non-positive DLMPs/LMPs occur and discusses a mixed integer linear programming formulation that corrects the breakdown. The DLMP is numerically illustrated in traditional and enhanced distribution systems and its superiority to contemporary pricing mechanisms is demonstrated using price responsive loads. Results show that the impact of the inaccuracy of contemporary pricing schemes becomes significant as flexible resources increase. At high elasticity, aggregate load consumption deviated from the optimal consumption by up to about 45 percent when using a flat or time-of-use rate. Individual load consumption deviated by up to 25 percent when using a real-time price. The superiority of the DLMP is more pronounced when important distribution network conditions are not reflected by contemporary prices. The individual load consumption incentivized by the real-time price deviated by up to 90 percent from the optimal consumption in a congested distribution network. While the DLMP internalizes congestion management, the consumption incentivized by the real-time price caused overloads.<br>Dissertation/Thesis<br>M.S. Electrical Engineering 2013

abstract: Project teams expend substantial effort to develop scope definition during the front end planning phase of large, complex projects, but oftentimes neglect to sufficiently plan for small projects. An industry survey administered by the author showed that small projects make up 70-90 percent (by count) of all projects in the industrial construction sector, the planning of these project varies greatly, and that a consistent definition of “small industrial project” did not exist. This dissertation summarizes the motivations and efforts to develop a non-proprietary front end planning tool specifically for small industrial projects, namely the Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) for Small Industrial Projects. The author was a member of Construction Industry Institute (CII) Research Team 314, who was tasked with developing the tool in May of 2013. The author, together with the research team, reviewed, scrutinized and adapted an existing industrial-focused FEP tool, the PDRI for Industrial Projects, and other resources to develop a set of 41 specific elements relevant to the planning of small industrial projects. The author supported the facilitation of five separate industry workshops where 65 industry professionals evaluated the element descriptions, and provided element prioritization data that was statistically analyzed and used to develop a weighted score sheet that corresponds to the element descriptions. The tool was tested on 54 completed and in-progress projects, the author’s analysis of which showed that small industrial projects with greater scope definition (based on the tool’s scoring scheme) outperformed projects with lesser scope definition regarding cost performance, schedule performance, change performance, financial performance, and customer satisfaction. Moreover, the author found that users of the tool on in-progress projects overwhelmingly agreed that the tool added value to their projects in a timeframe and manner consistent with their needs, and that they would continue using the tool in the future. The author also developed an index-based selection guide to aid PDRI users in choosing the appropriate tool for use on an industrial project based on distinguishing project size with indicators of project complexity. The final results of the author’s research provide several contributions to the front end planning, small projects, and project complexity bodies of knowledge.<br>Dissertation/Thesis<br>Doctoral Dissertation Construction 2015

abstract: Project teams expend substantial effort to develop scope definition during the front end planning phase of large, complex projects, but oftentimes neglect to sufficiently plan for small projects. An industry survey administered by the author showed that small projects make up approximately half of all projects in the infrastructure construction sector (by count), the planning of these projects varies greatly, and that a consistent definition of “small infrastructure project” did not exist. This dissertation summarizes the motivations and efforts of Construction Industry Institute (CII) Research Team 314a to develop a non-proprietary front end planning tool specifically for small infrastructure projects, namely the Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) for Small Infrastructure Projects. The author was a member of CII Research Team 314a, who was tasked with developing the tool in September 2015. The author, together with the research team, scrutinized and adapted an existing infrastructure-focused FEP tool, the PDRI for Infrastructure Projects, and other resources to develop a set of 40 specific elements relevant to the planning of small infrastructure projects. The author along with the research team supported the facilitation of seven separate industry workshops where 71 industry professionals evaluated the element descriptions and provided element prioritization data that was statistically analyzed and used to develop a corresponding weighted score sheet. The tool was tested on 76 completed and in-progress projects, the analysis of which showed that small infrastructure projects with greater scope definition (based on the tool’s scoring scheme) outperformed projects with lesser scope definition regarding cost performance, schedule performance, change performance, financial performance, and customer satisfaction. Moreover, the author found that users of the tool on in-progress projects agreed that the tool added value to their projects in a timeframe and manner consistent with their needs, and that they would continue using the tool in the future. The author also conducted qualitative and quantitative similarities and differences between PDRI – Infrastructure and PDRI – Small Infrastructure Projects in support of improved planning efforts for both types of projects. Finally, the author piloted a case study that introduced the PDRI into an introductory construction management course to enhance students’ learning experience.<br>Dissertation/Thesis<br>Doctoral Dissertation Construction Management 2017

abstract: The infrastructure is built in Unsaturated Soils. However, the geotechnical practitioners insist in designing the structures based on Saturated Soil Mechanics. The design of structures based on unsaturated soil mechanics is desirable because it reduces cost and it is by far a more sustainable approach. The research community has identified the Soil-Water Characteristic Curve as the most important soil property when dealing with unsaturated conditions. This soil property is unpopular among practitioners because the laboratory testing takes an appreciable amount of time. Several authors have attempted predicting the Soil-Water Characteristic Curve; however, most of the published predictions are based on a very limited soil database. The National Resources Conservation Service has a vast database of engineering soil properties with more than 36,000 soils, which includes water content measurements at different levels of suctions. This database was used in this study to validate two existing models that based the Soil-Water Characteristic Curve prediction on statistical analysis. It was found that although the predictions are acceptable for some ranges of suctions; they did not performed that well for others. It was found that the first model validated was accurate for fine-grained soils, while the second model was best for granular soils. For these reasons, two models to estimate the Soil-Water Characteristic Curve are proposed. The first model estimates the fitting parameters of the Fredlund and Xing (1994) function separately and then, the predicted parameters are fitted to the Fredlund and Xing function for an overall estimate of the degree of saturation. Results show an overall improvement on the predicted values when compared to existing models. The second model is based on the relationship between the Soil-Water Characteristic Curve and the Pore-Size Distribution of the soils. The process allows for the prediction of the entire Soil-Water Characteristic Curve function and proved to be a better approximation than that used in the first attempt. Both models constitute important tools in the implementation of unsaturated soil mechanics into engineering practice due to the link of the prediction with simple and well known engineering soil properties.<br>Dissertation/Thesis<br>M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering 2011

abstract: The effects of over-the-counter drug (OTC) use on college students' health has been debated in the field of psychology with researchers arguing that poor sleep quality among college students is the result of polysubstance use. However, this explanation is not a foregone conclusion. These researchers have not adequately addressed the issue poor sleep quality among college students and its relationship to polysubstance use. This is an important issue because prolonged unsupervised OTC drug use and poor sleep quality can impact long-term health and lessen students' likelihood of being successful in college. This paper addresses the issue of OTC drug use with special attention to sleep quality. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scores were collected to assess subjective sleep quality and its relationship to OTC drug use. Several other risk factors including binge drinking, marijuana use, and illicit drug use were also accounted for in this model. This study argues that, although the current literature suggests that poor sleep quality is the effect of drug use rather than the cause; the relationships between these factors are still unclear. This study aims to fill a gap in the college drug use literature by establishing a relationship between poor sleep quality and OTC drug use in a college sample.<br>Dissertation/Thesis<br>M.S. Psychology 2014

abstract: The Gulf of Mexico (or “Gulf”) is of critical significance to the oil and gas industries’ offshore production, but the potential for accidental petrochemical influx into the Gulf due to such processes is high; two of the largest marine oil spills in history, Pemex's Ixtoc I spill (1979) and British Petroleum's (BP) Deepwater Horizon (2010), have occurred in the region. However, the Gulf is also of critical significance to thousands of unique species, many of which may be irreparably harmed by accidental petrochemical exposure. To better manage the conservation and recovery of marine species in the Gulf ecosystem, a Petrochemical Vulnerability Index was developed to determine the potential impact of a petrochemical influx on Gulf marine fishes, therein providing an objective framework with which to determine the best immediate and long term management strategies for resource managers and decision-makers. The resulting Petrochemical Vulnerability Index (PVI) was developed and applied to all bony fishes and shark/ray species in the Gulf of Mexico (1,670 spp), based on a theoretical petrochemical vulnerability framework developed by peer review. The PVI for fishes embodies three key facets of species vulnerability: likelihood of exposure, individual sensitivity, and population resilience, and comprised of 11 total metrics (Distribution, Longevity, Mobility, Habitat, Pre-Adult Stage Length, Pre-Adult Exposure; Increased Adult Sensitivity Due to UV Light, Increased Pre-Adult Sensitivity Due to UV Light; and Abundance, Reproductive Turnover Rate, Diet/Habitat Specialization). The resulting PVI can be used to guide attention to the species potentially most in need of immediate attention in the event of an oil spill or other petrochemical influx, as well as those species that may require intensive long-term recovery. The scored relative vulnerability rankings can also provide information on species that ought to be the focus of future toxicological research, by indicating which species lack toxicological data, and may potentially experience significant impacts.<br>Dissertation/Thesis<br>Masters Thesis Applied Biological Sciences 2020

abstract: In recent years, solar photovoltaic (PV) industry has seen lots of improvements in technology and of growth in market with crystalline silicon PV modules being the most widely used technology. Plant inspections are gaining much importance to identify and quantitatively determine the impacts of various visual defects on performance. There are about 86 different types of defects found in the PV modules installed in various climates and most of them can be visually observed. However, a quantitative determination of impact or risk of each of identified defect on performance is challenging. Thus, it is utmost important to quantify the risk for each of the visual defects without any human subjectivity. The best way to quantify the risk of each defect is to perform current-voltage measurements of the defective modules installed in the plant but it requires disruption of plant operation, expensive measuring equipment and intensive human resources. One of the most riskiest and dominant visual defects is encapsulant browning which affects the PV module performance in the form of current degradation. The present study deals with developing an automated image processing tool which can address the issues of human subjectivity on browning level impacting performance. The image processing tool developed in this work can be directly used to quantify the impact of browning on performance without intrusively disconnecting the modules from the plant. In this work, the quantified browning level impact on performance has also been experimentally validated through a correlation study using short-circuit current and reflectance/transmittance measurements of browned PV modules retrieved from aged plants/systems installed in diverse climatic conditions. The primary goal of the image processing tool developed in this work is to determine the performance impact of encapsulant browning without interrupting the plant operation for I-V measurements. The use of image processing tool provides a single numerical value, called browning index (BI), which can accurately quantify browning levels on modules and also correlate with the performance and reflectance/transmittance parameters of the modules.<br>Dissertation/Thesis<br>Masters Thesis Mechanical Engineering 2016

abstract: Research was conducted to observe the effect of Number of Transparent Covers and Refractive Index on performance of a domestic Solar Water heating system. The enhancement of efficiency for solar thermal system is an emerging challenge. The knowledge gained from this research will enable to optimize the number of transparent covers and refractive index prior to develop a solar water heater with improved optical efficiency and thermal efficiency for the collector. Numerical simulation is conducted on the performance of the liquid flat plate collector for July 21st and October 21st from 8 am to 4 pm with different refractive index values 1.1, 1.4, 1.7 and different numbers of transparent covers (0-3). In order to accomplish the proposed method the formulation and solutions are executed using simple software MATLAB. The result demonstrates efficiency of flat plate collector increases with the increase of number of covers. The performance of collector decreases when refractive index is higher. The improved useful heat gain is obtained when number of cover used is 3 and refractive index is 1.1.<br>Dissertation/Thesis<br>Masters Thesis Mechanical Engineering 2015

abstract: Background: Higher intake of carbohydrates in the evening and later eating times has been associated with higher total energy intake (TEI)1-3 and higher risk of being overweight or obese.1,4 Though existing evidence indicates a link between added sugars intake and increased body mass index (BMI), the effect of daily patterns of added sugars intake on TEI and BMI is unknown. Research on added sugars has relied on self-report dietary assessments with limited days of dietary data, resulting in unreliable estimates. The purpose of this thesis was to describe patterns of added sugars consumption, and to investigate the relationship between dietary sugars, eating patterns, TEI, and BMI using 15-days of dietary data from a feeding study. Methods: 40 participants age 18 to 70 years completed a 15-d highly controlled feeding study which imitated their normal diet, while recording meal times. Meals and snacks were coded based on participant identified, time-of-day, and meal content specific criteria. All consumed foods and beverages were carefully weighed and entered into the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR) for analysis. Pearson correlation, independent t-test, one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc tests, and multiple linear regressions were used to investigate the association between patterns of added sugars and energy intake, as well as eating frequency (EF), with TEI and BMI. Results: 15-d median added sugars intake was 9.7% of total calories. The highest contribution to added sugars intake (% of g/d) came from snacks (44%) in women and from afternoon (39%) consumption in men. The highest contribution to TEI came from dinner (30%) and afternoon (34%) consumption in women, and from lunch (31%) or dinner (30%) and afternoon (35%) consumption in men. Total eating occasion (EO) frequency had a negative association with TEI (r = -0.31) and no association with % energy from added sugars. In multivariate regression models, besides sex, % energy from beverages only (Adjusted R2 = 0.41) and % added sugars from dinner (Adjusted R2 = 0.39) were significant predictors of TEI, while none of the variables were associated with BMI. Conclusion: Changing one’s pattern of eating, (EF and % energy from beverages only and % added sugars from dinner), may reduce TEI, potentially reducing BMI.<br>Dissertation/Thesis<br>Masters Thesis Nutrition 2019

abstract: Most current database management systems are optimized for single query execution. Yet, often, queries come as part of a query workload. Therefore, there is a need for index structures that can take into consideration existence of multiple queries in a query workload and efficiently produce accurate results for the entire query workload. These index structures should be scalable to handle large amounts of data as well as large query workloads. The main objective of this dissertation is to create and design scalable index structures that are optimized for range query workloads. Range queries are an important type of queries with wide-ranging applications. There are no existing index structures that are optimized for efficient execution of range query workloads. There are also unique challenges that need to be addressed for range queries in 1D, 2D, and high-dimensional spaces. In this work, I introduce novel cost models, index selection algorithms, and storage mechanisms that can tackle these challenges and efficiently process a given range query workload in 1D, 2D, and high-dimensional spaces. In particular, I introduce the index structures, HCS (for 1D spaces), cSHB (for 2D spaces), and PSLSH (for high-dimensional spaces) that are designed specifically to efficiently handle range query workload and the unique challenges arising from their respective spaces. I experimentally show the effectiveness of the above proposed index structures by comparing with state-of-the-art techniques.<br>Dissertation/Thesis<br>Doctoral Dissertation Computer Science 2017