Substance abuse is the overindulgence in and dependence on a drug or chemical leading to detrimental effects on the individual’s health and the welfare of those surrounding him or her. Logistic regression analysis is an important tool used in the analysis of the relationship between various explanatory variables and nominal response variables. The objective of this study is to use this statistical method to determine the factors which are considered to be significant contributors to the use or abuse of substances in school-aged children and also determine what measures can be implemented to minimize their effect. The logistic regression model was used to build models for the three main types of substances used in this study; Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs and this facilitated the identification of the significant factors which seem to influence their use in children.

An experiment was conducted to obtain a hepatic gene expression dataset from postpubertal dairy heifers that could be fit to a computational model capable of predicting future lactation performance values. The initial animal experiment was conducted to characterize the hepatic transcriptional response to 24-hour total feed withdrawal in one-hundred and two postpubertal Holstein dairy heifers using an 8329-gene oligonucleotide microarray in a randomized block design. Plasma concentration of non-esterified fatty acids was significantly higher, while levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate, triacylglycerol, and glucose were significantly lower with the 24-hour total feed withdrawal. In total, 505 differentially expressed genes were identified and microarray results were confirmed by real-time PCR. Upregulation of key gluconeogenic genes occurred despite diminished dietary substrate and lower hepatic glucose synthesis. Downregulation of ketogenic genes was contrary to the non-ruminant response to feed withdrawal, but was consistent with a lower ruminal supply of short-chain fatty acids as precursors. Following the microarray experiment, the first series of regression analyses was employed to identify relationships between gene expression signal and lactation performance measurements taken over the first lactation of 81 of the subjects from the original study. Regression models were evaluated using mean square prediction error (MSPE) and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) analysis. The strongest validated stepwise regression models were constructed for milk protein percentage (r = 0.04) and lactation persistency (r = 0.09). To determine if another type of regression analysis would better predict lactation performance, partial least squares (PLS) regression analysis was then applied. Selection of gene expression data was based on an assessment of the linear dependence of all genes in normalized datasets for 81 subjects against 18 dairy herd index (DHI) variables using Pearson correlation analysis. Results were distributed into two lists based on correlation coefficient. Each gene expression dataset was used to construct PLS models for the purpose of predicting lactation performance. The strongest predictive models were generated for protein percentage (r = 0.46), 305-d milk yield (r = 0.44), and 305-d protein yield (r = 0.47). These results demonstrate the suitability of using hepatic gene expression in young animals to quantitatively predict future lactation performance. / Ontario Centre for Agricultural Genomics, NSERC Canada, and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)

Substance abuse is the overindulgence in and dependence on a drug or chemical leading to detrimental effects on the individual’s health and the welfare of those surrounding him or her. Logistic regression analysis is an important tool used in the analysis of the relationship between various explanatory variables and nominal response variables. The objective of this study is to use this statistical method to determine the factors which are considered to be significant contributors to the use or abuse of substances in school-aged children and also determine what measures can be implemented to minimize their effect. The logistic regression model was used to build models for the three main types of substances used in this study; Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs and this facilitated the identification of the significant factors which seem to influence their use in children.

Rapid deployment of terrestrial wind power plants (WPPs) is a function of accurate identification of areas suitable for WPPs. Efficient WPP site prospecting not only decreases installation lead time, but also reduces site selection expenses and provides faster reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. Combining conventional predictor variables, such as wind strength and proximity to transmission lines, with nonconventional socioeconomic and demographic predictor variables, will result in improved identification of suitable counties for WPPs and therefore accelerate the site prospecting phase of wind power plant deployment. Existing and under-construction American terrestrial WPPs located in the top 12 windiest states (230 as of June 2009) plus 178 potential county level predictor variables are introduced to logistic regression with stepwise selection and a random sampling validation methodology to identify influential predictor variables. In addition to the wind resource and proximity to electricity transmission lines, existence of a Renewable Portfolio Standard, the population density within a 200 mile radius of the county center, median home values, and farm land area in the county are the four strongest nonconventional predictors (Hosmer and Lemeshow Chi-Square = 9.1250, N = 1009, df = 8, p = 0.3319, - 2LogLikelihood = 619.521). Evaluation of the final model using multiple statistics, including the Heidke skill score (0.2647), confirms overall model predictive skill. The model identifies the existence of 238 suitable counties in the twelve state region that do not possess WPPs (~73% validated overall accuracy) and eliminates 654 counties that are not classified as suitable for WPPs. The 238 counties identified by the model represent ideal counties for further exploration of WPP development and possible transmission line construction. The results of this study will therefore allow faster integration of renewable energy sources and limit climate change impacts from increasing atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations.

Construction projects in developing countries may suffer from time overruns, which are associated with cost overruns. This research project investigated both time and cost overruns on high-rise building projects in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Surprisingly, preliminary data analysis showed negligible cost overruns in comparison to time overruns. So, further analysis o f cost overruns was not considered in this thesis. This research project also investigated how the causes o f time-overruns can be mitigated. 72 time-overrun and 22 cost-overrun variables were identified through a literature review. These variables were taken as parameters and a personal interview survey was conducted with developers, consultants, contractors and project managers using semistructured questionnaire. A similar second survey was conducted using 22 measures, which can mitigate time- overruns. Data analysis involved the relative importance index to rank the variables, factors analysis to reduce variables to factors with minimum loss of data, stepwise regression to find links among factors in successive stages of construction process and multiple regression to explain delays in terms of factors. The main causes o f time-overruns were ‘cash flow’, ‘planning and scheduling deficiency’ and ‘design changes’. A scree graph identified 31 important variables that caused delays but factor analysis reduced these to 14 factors. Stepwise regression found no strong links among the factors to identify them as reasons for delay in successive stages of the construction project. A multiple regression model explained about 85% of the variance of the delays using eight factors. The main individual measures mitigating time-overruns were ‘improvement of cash flow’, ‘improvement o f communication and coordination among project participants’ and ‘development o f robust planning and scheduling instruments’. Factor analysis produced ten representative factors. Stepwise regression could not find strong links among factors mitigating time-overruns in successive stages of the construction project.

Componentes e equipamentos utilizados na indústria petroquímica estão suscetíveis a presença de descontinuidades e, por esta razão, diversas pesquisas são desenvolvidas com o intuito de aprimorar e criar novos métodos para evitar, remediar ou controlar estas, de forma a não causarem um dano à integridade estrutural. Neste trabalho é avaliado um conjunto de trincas induzidas pelo hidrogênio (TIH), através do método de elementos finitos, com a finalidade de verificar o fenômeno de união das suas extremidades formando uma trinca contínua do tipo SWC (Stepwise Cracking). Também se verifica a influência do conjunto de trincas à integridade da estrutura com base na metodologia Fitness for Service (FFS) através do uso dos diagramas de avaliação de falhas (FAD – Failure Assessment Diagram) indicados pelas normas API-579 / ASME FFS-1 e BS 7910 além do procedimento CEGB-R6. Os resultados mostram que o efeito de interação entre as extremidades é intenso quando estas se encontram próximas umas das outras, confirmando assim a tendência de união das fissuras. Também se constata que o fenômeno é fortemente influenciado pela pressão interna presente nas TIH, esta causada pela presença de hidrogênio. Em relação à aceitabilidade das descontinuidades, é observado que os resultados da avaliação são influenciados pela maneira como a descontinuidade é caracterizada. / Components and equipments of the petrochemical industry are susceptible to the presence of flaws and, for this reason, several studies are developed aiming to improve and create new methods to avoid, remedy and control these flaws in order they will not cause any integrity damage. In this work a cluster of Hydrogen Induced Crack (HIC) is assessed, using the finite element method, with the goal to verify the union phenomena in their tips forming a Stepwise Cracking (SWC) flaw. Also is verified the influence of the cluster to the integrity of the structure based on the Fitness for Service methodology, using the Failure Assessment Diagrams indicated by the Standards API-579 / ASME FFS-1 and BS 7910, also the CEGBR6 procedure. The results show that the interaction effect among the tip of the cracks is considerably intense when they are near to each other, confirming the tendency of union among them. Also this phenomenon is strongly influenced by the internal pressure in the HIC, caused by the presence of atomic Hydrogen diffused in the structure. In relation to the flaw assessment, it is observed that results are strongly influenced on how the flaw is characterized.

Este ensaio clínico randomizado multicêntrico avaliou a efetividade de um tratamento alternativo em lesões de cárie profundas comparado ao tratamento expectante (TE) após três anos de acompanhamento. O tratamento alternativo consistiu na remoção parcial de tecido cariado (RPTC) seguida de restauração em uma sessão. Métodos: Os critérios de inclusão foram: pacientes com molares permanentes apresentando lesões profundas de cárie (lesão alcançando metade interna de dentina ao exame radiográfico); resposta positiva ao teste térmico; ausência de dor espontânea; sensibilidade negativa à percussão vertical e ausência de lesão periapical detectada no exame radiográfico. Dentes elegíveis para participação no estudo foram randomicamente designados ao grupo teste (RPTC) e receberam remoção incompleta de tecido cariado e restauração em uma sessão (resina ou amálgama). Dentes designados ao grupo controle (TE) receberam capeamento pulpar indireto com cimento de hidróxido de cálcio e restauração temporária com cimento de óxido de zinco e eugenol modificado. Após 60 dias, as cavidades foram reabertas, o tecido cariado remanescente foi removido e os dentes foram restaurados com resina composta ou amálgama. O desfecho avaliado foi a vitalidade pulpar, determinada por sensibilidade ao teste térmico e ausência de alteração periapical ao exame radiográfico. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de sobrevivência (Kaplan Meier), teste Log Rank e análise de regressão de Cox. Resultados: Foram executados 299 tratamentos, sendo 152 RPTC e 147 TE, em pacientes com idade variando entre seis a 53 anos. Até o terceiro ano de seguimento, 209 dentes foram avaliados. Foram observadas taxas de sucesso de 94% para o grupo RPTC e de 78% para o TE (p<0,000). As razões de falha foram: pulpite (4) e necrose (1) no grupo RPTC, e pulpite (11), necrose (5) exposição pulpar seguida de tratamento endodôntico (2), osteíte (1), exodontia (1) e fratura do dente (1) no grupo TE. Variáveis associadas com sucesso do tratamento foram o tipo de tratamento (RPTC) e número de superfícies envolvidas na restauração – uma superfície mais favorável do que duas ou mais superfícies. Os resultados sugerem que não há necessidade de reabrir a cavidade e realizar uma segunda escavação de tecido cariado para preservar a vitalidade pulpar. / This randomized multicenter clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of an alternative treatment on deep caries lesion’s compared to stepwise excavation (SW) after three years follow up. Treatment consisted on partial caries removal (PDR) followed by tooth’s restoration in one session. Methods: Inclusion criteria were: patients with permanent molars presenting deep carious lesions (lesion reaching inner half dentin on the radiographic examination); positive response to cold test; absence of spontaneous pain; negative sensitivity to percussion and absence of periapical lesion detected on radiographic exam. Teeth randomly assigned to PDR (test) received incomplete caries removal and filling in one session (resin or amalgam). Teeth assigned to SW (control) received indirect pulp capping with calcium hydroxide cement, temporary filling with a modified zinc oxide-eugenol cement. After 60 days the cavity was reopened, the remaining decayed dentine was removed and teeth were filled with composite resin or amalgam. Outcome evaluated was pulp vitality, determine by sensitivity to cold test and the absence of periapical alterations on radiographic exam. Data were submitted to Kaplan Meier, log rank test and Cox regression analysis. Results: At baseline, 299 treatments were executed, 152 PDR and 147 SW. At three years follow up, 209 teeth had been evaluated. A success rate of 94% for PDR and 78% for SW was demonstrated (p<0.000). Failure reasons were: pulpitis (4), pulp necrosis (1) for PDR group, and pulpitis (11), necrosis (5), pulp exposure followed by endodontic treatment (2), osteitis (1), tooth extraction (1) and tooth fracture (1) for SW. Variables associated with treatment success were type of treatment (PDR) and number of surfaces involved in the restoration – one surface more favorable than 2 or more surfaces. Results suggest that there is no need to reopen cavity and perform a second excavation to preserve pulp vitality.

Componentes e equipamentos utilizados na indústria petroquímica estão suscetíveis a presença de descontinuidades e, por esta razão, diversas pesquisas são desenvolvidas com o intuito de aprimorar e criar novos métodos para evitar, remediar ou controlar estas, de forma a não causarem um dano à integridade estrutural. Neste trabalho é avaliado um conjunto de trincas induzidas pelo hidrogênio (TIH), através do método de elementos finitos, com a finalidade de verificar o fenômeno de união das suas extremidades formando uma trinca contínua do tipo SWC (Stepwise Cracking). Também se verifica a influência do conjunto de trincas à integridade da estrutura com base na metodologia Fitness for Service (FFS) através do uso dos diagramas de avaliação de falhas (FAD – Failure Assessment Diagram) indicados pelas normas API-579 / ASME FFS-1 e BS 7910 além do procedimento CEGB-R6. Os resultados mostram que o efeito de interação entre as extremidades é intenso quando estas se encontram próximas umas das outras, confirmando assim a tendência de união das fissuras. Também se constata que o fenômeno é fortemente influenciado pela pressão interna presente nas TIH, esta causada pela presença de hidrogênio. Em relação à aceitabilidade das descontinuidades, é observado que os resultados da avaliação são influenciados pela maneira como a descontinuidade é caracterizada. / Components and equipments of the petrochemical industry are susceptible to the presence of flaws and, for this reason, several studies are developed aiming to improve and create new methods to avoid, remedy and control these flaws in order they will not cause any integrity damage. In this work a cluster of Hydrogen Induced Crack (HIC) is assessed, using the finite element method, with the goal to verify the union phenomena in their tips forming a Stepwise Cracking (SWC) flaw. Also is verified the influence of the cluster to the integrity of the structure based on the Fitness for Service methodology, using the Failure Assessment Diagrams indicated by the Standards API-579 / ASME FFS-1 and BS 7910, also the CEGBR6 procedure. The results show that the interaction effect among the tip of the cracks is considerably intense when they are near to each other, confirming the tendency of union among them. Also this phenomenon is strongly influenced by the internal pressure in the HIC, caused by the presence of atomic Hydrogen diffused in the structure. In relation to the flaw assessment, it is observed that results are strongly influenced on how the flaw is characterized.

Este ensaio clínico randomizado multicêntrico avaliou a efetividade de um tratamento alternativo em lesões de cárie profundas comparado ao tratamento expectante (TE) após três anos de acompanhamento. O tratamento alternativo consistiu na remoção parcial de tecido cariado (RPTC) seguida de restauração em uma sessão. Métodos: Os critérios de inclusão foram: pacientes com molares permanentes apresentando lesões profundas de cárie (lesão alcançando metade interna de dentina ao exame radiográfico); resposta positiva ao teste térmico; ausência de dor espontânea; sensibilidade negativa à percussão vertical e ausência de lesão periapical detectada no exame radiográfico. Dentes elegíveis para participação no estudo foram randomicamente designados ao grupo teste (RPTC) e receberam remoção incompleta de tecido cariado e restauração em uma sessão (resina ou amálgama). Dentes designados ao grupo controle (TE) receberam capeamento pulpar indireto com cimento de hidróxido de cálcio e restauração temporária com cimento de óxido de zinco e eugenol modificado. Após 60 dias, as cavidades foram reabertas, o tecido cariado remanescente foi removido e os dentes foram restaurados com resina composta ou amálgama. O desfecho avaliado foi a vitalidade pulpar, determinada por sensibilidade ao teste térmico e ausência de alteração periapical ao exame radiográfico. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de sobrevivência (Kaplan Meier), teste Log Rank e análise de regressão de Cox. Resultados: Foram executados 299 tratamentos, sendo 152 RPTC e 147 TE, em pacientes com idade variando entre seis a 53 anos. Até o terceiro ano de seguimento, 209 dentes foram avaliados. Foram observadas taxas de sucesso de 94% para o grupo RPTC e de 78% para o TE (p<0,000). As razões de falha foram: pulpite (4) e necrose (1) no grupo RPTC, e pulpite (11), necrose (5) exposição pulpar seguida de tratamento endodôntico (2), osteíte (1), exodontia (1) e fratura do dente (1) no grupo TE. Variáveis associadas com sucesso do tratamento foram o tipo de tratamento (RPTC) e número de superfícies envolvidas na restauração – uma superfície mais favorável do que duas ou mais superfícies. Os resultados sugerem que não há necessidade de reabrir a cavidade e realizar uma segunda escavação de tecido cariado para preservar a vitalidade pulpar. / This randomized multicenter clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of an alternative treatment on deep caries lesion’s compared to stepwise excavation (SW) after three years follow up. Treatment consisted on partial caries removal (PDR) followed by tooth’s restoration in one session. Methods: Inclusion criteria were: patients with permanent molars presenting deep carious lesions (lesion reaching inner half dentin on the radiographic examination); positive response to cold test; absence of spontaneous pain; negative sensitivity to percussion and absence of periapical lesion detected on radiographic exam. Teeth randomly assigned to PDR (test) received incomplete caries removal and filling in one session (resin or amalgam). Teeth assigned to SW (control) received indirect pulp capping with calcium hydroxide cement, temporary filling with a modified zinc oxide-eugenol cement. After 60 days the cavity was reopened, the remaining decayed dentine was removed and teeth were filled with composite resin or amalgam. Outcome evaluated was pulp vitality, determine by sensitivity to cold test and the absence of periapical alterations on radiographic exam. Data were submitted to Kaplan Meier, log rank test and Cox regression analysis. Results: At baseline, 299 treatments were executed, 152 PDR and 147 SW. At three years follow up, 209 teeth had been evaluated. A success rate of 94% for PDR and 78% for SW was demonstrated (p<0.000). Failure reasons were: pulpitis (4), pulp necrosis (1) for PDR group, and pulpitis (11), necrosis (5), pulp exposure followed by endodontic treatment (2), osteitis (1), tooth extraction (1) and tooth fracture (1) for SW. Variables associated with treatment success were type of treatment (PDR) and number of surfaces involved in the restoration – one surface more favorable than 2 or more surfaces. Results suggest that there is no need to reopen cavity and perform a second excavation to preserve pulp vitality.

Componentes e equipamentos utilizados na indústria petroquímica estão suscetíveis a presença de descontinuidades e, por esta razão, diversas pesquisas são desenvolvidas com o intuito de aprimorar e criar novos métodos para evitar, remediar ou controlar estas, de forma a não causarem um dano à integridade estrutural. Neste trabalho é avaliado um conjunto de trincas induzidas pelo hidrogênio (TIH), através do método de elementos finitos, com a finalidade de verificar o fenômeno de união das suas extremidades formando uma trinca contínua do tipo SWC (Stepwise Cracking). Também se verifica a influência do conjunto de trincas à integridade da estrutura com base na metodologia Fitness for Service (FFS) através do uso dos diagramas de avaliação de falhas (FAD – Failure Assessment Diagram) indicados pelas normas API-579 / ASME FFS-1 e BS 7910 além do procedimento CEGB-R6. Os resultados mostram que o efeito de interação entre as extremidades é intenso quando estas se encontram próximas umas das outras, confirmando assim a tendência de união das fissuras. Também se constata que o fenômeno é fortemente influenciado pela pressão interna presente nas TIH, esta causada pela presença de hidrogênio. Em relação à aceitabilidade das descontinuidades, é observado que os resultados da avaliação são influenciados pela maneira como a descontinuidade é caracterizada. / Components and equipments of the petrochemical industry are susceptible to the presence of flaws and, for this reason, several studies are developed aiming to improve and create new methods to avoid, remedy and control these flaws in order they will not cause any integrity damage. In this work a cluster of Hydrogen Induced Crack (HIC) is assessed, using the finite element method, with the goal to verify the union phenomena in their tips forming a Stepwise Cracking (SWC) flaw. Also is verified the influence of the cluster to the integrity of the structure based on the Fitness for Service methodology, using the Failure Assessment Diagrams indicated by the Standards API-579 / ASME FFS-1 and BS 7910, also the CEGBR6 procedure. The results show that the interaction effect among the tip of the cracks is considerably intense when they are near to each other, confirming the tendency of union among them. Also this phenomenon is strongly influenced by the internal pressure in the HIC, caused by the presence of atomic Hydrogen diffused in the structure. In relation to the flaw assessment, it is observed that results are strongly influenced on how the flaw is characterized.