As plantas são organismos sésseis que continuamente enfrentam situações ambientais adversas, o que acarreta em reduções significativas da biomassa e da produtividade. O trabalho, aqui exposto, teve como objetivo avaliar o papel dos fatores de transcrição ASR (do ingles ABA, stress and ripening) na resposta a estresses abióticos em plantas de arroz. Também teve como objetivo avaliar as respostas de plantas de Arabidopsis thaliana ao estresse produzido nos momentos iniciais da exposição ao metal alumínio. O capítulo 1 da presente tese, compara a expressão de miRNAs entre plantas silenciadas para o gene ASR5 (ASR5_RNAi) e plantas não transformadas (controle). De um total de 279 miRNAs maduros identificados, distribuídos em 60 famílias, 159 foram diferencialmente expressos quando as duas bibliotecas foram comparadas. Uma correlação negativa entre o MIR167 e seu gene alvo (LOC_Os07g29820) também foi confirmada por PCR em tempo real. Este é o primeiro trabalho sugerindo o envolvimento das proteínas ASR na regulação da expressão de miRNAs em planta. O segundo capítulo apresenta o estudo das proteínas ASR na manutenção da homeostase do pH em plantas de arroz. Verificou-se uma diminuição do crescimento radicular em plantas silenciadas em solução ácida, quando comparadas com plantas não transformadas nas mesmas condições. Também foi analisada a viabilidade da ponta de raízes quanto ao dano causado pelo baixo pH e diferentes concentrações de Ca+2, demonstrando que a adição de CaCl2 é capaz de aliviar o efeito tóxico do excesso de protons H+. Diversos genes reprimidos nas plantas silenciadas e envolvidos no mecanismo de manutenção do pH em células vegetais, também foram investigados. O terceiro e último capítulo é dedicado ao estudo da resposta inicial de plantas de Arabidopsis thaliana ao estresse por alumínio. Plantas com 7 dias de idade foram expostas a uma concentração de 25 μM de AlCl3 durante 3 horas e modificações na abundância de proteínas foi investigada com a técnica de espectrometria de massa. Um total de 3.213 proteínas foram identificadas, sendo que destas, 293 apresentaram variação no nível de expressão. Diversas proteínas com expressão induzida são funcionalmente associadas com a detoxificação de espécies reativas de oxigênio (ROS), indicando que o tratamento ocasionou estresse oxidativo nas raízes de A. thaliana. Também foram identificadas uma proteína mitocondrial carreadora de substrato e uma acyl-CoA oxidase com possível papel nos mecanismos de defesa em resposta a alumínio e com potencial para futuros estudos funcionais na planta modelo. De uma maneira geral, os resultados aqui apresentados mostram, pela primeira vez, que ASR5 está envolvida na regulação de miRNAs e na homeostase do pH em plantas de arroz, além de identificar proteínas responsivas ao estresse por alumínio em A. thaliana. / Plants are sessile organisms that continuously face adverse environmental situations, leading to a significant reduction in biomass and yield. The aim of the present work was to further study the ASR (ABA, stress and ripening) transcription factors in rice plants. Moreover, the responses of Arabidopsis thaliana to aluminum stress were also analyzed. The chapter 1 of this thesis compares the expression of mature miRNAs in the ASR5 silenced plants (ASR5_RNAi) and in non-transformed plants (control). From a total of 279 mature miRNA of 60 families, 159 were differentially expressed. A negative correlation of MIR167 and its target gene (LOC_Os07g29820) was also confirmed by real time RT-qPCR. This is the first report showing the involvement of ASR proteins in miRNA gene expression regulation. The second chapter presents the study of participation of ASR proteins in the maintenance of pH homeostasis in rice plants. The evaluation of root growth in ASR5_RNAi plants upon acid solution showed inhibition of root growth when compared to non-transformed plants in the same condition. Root tip feasibility and damage caused by low pH and different concentrations of Ca+2 was also analyzed. The results indicate that addition of CaCl2 is capable of alleviating the toxic effects of H+ protons. Several genes downregulated in silenced plants and involved in pH maintenance in plant cells have also been investigated. This work demonstrates the importance of ASR transcription factors in a biological process not yet described. The third and final chapter describes the study of the initial response of Arabidopsis thaliana to aluminum stress. Seven-day old seedlings were treated with 25 μM AlCl3 for 3 hours and submitted to quantitative analyses by mass spectrometry. A total of 3,213 proteins were identified, from which 293 proteins were differentially responsive upon aluminum treatment. Several proteins with increased expression in response to the treatment are functionally associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS), indicating that the Al3+ exposure caused oxidative stress in the roots of A. thaliana. A mitochondrial substrate carrier (At1g78180) and an acyl-CoA oxidase (At3g51840) with a putative role in Al defense were also up-regulated and constitute interesting targets for functional studies of aluminum toxicity in the model plant. Overall, the results here presented show for the first time that ASR5 is involved in miRNA and pH homeostases regulation in rice plants and also identify proteins responsive to aluminum stress in A. thaliana.

As plantas são organismos sésseis que continuamente enfrentam situações ambientais adversas, o que acarreta em reduções significativas da biomassa e da produtividade. O trabalho, aqui exposto, teve como objetivo avaliar o papel dos fatores de transcrição ASR (do ingles ABA, stress and ripening) na resposta a estresses abióticos em plantas de arroz. Também teve como objetivo avaliar as respostas de plantas de Arabidopsis thaliana ao estresse produzido nos momentos iniciais da exposição ao metal alumínio. O capítulo 1 da presente tese, compara a expressão de miRNAs entre plantas silenciadas para o gene ASR5 (ASR5_RNAi) e plantas não transformadas (controle). De um total de 279 miRNAs maduros identificados, distribuídos em 60 famílias, 159 foram diferencialmente expressos quando as duas bibliotecas foram comparadas. Uma correlação negativa entre o MIR167 e seu gene alvo (LOC_Os07g29820) também foi confirmada por PCR em tempo real. Este é o primeiro trabalho sugerindo o envolvimento das proteínas ASR na regulação da expressão de miRNAs em planta. O segundo capítulo apresenta o estudo das proteínas ASR na manutenção da homeostase do pH em plantas de arroz. Verificou-se uma diminuição do crescimento radicular em plantas silenciadas em solução ácida, quando comparadas com plantas não transformadas nas mesmas condições. Também foi analisada a viabilidade da ponta de raízes quanto ao dano causado pelo baixo pH e diferentes concentrações de Ca+2, demonstrando que a adição de CaCl2 é capaz de aliviar o efeito tóxico do excesso de protons H+. Diversos genes reprimidos nas plantas silenciadas e envolvidos no mecanismo de manutenção do pH em células vegetais, também foram investigados. O terceiro e último capítulo é dedicado ao estudo da resposta inicial de plantas de Arabidopsis thaliana ao estresse por alumínio. Plantas com 7 dias de idade foram expostas a uma concentração de 25 μM de AlCl3 durante 3 horas e modificações na abundância de proteínas foi investigada com a técnica de espectrometria de massa. Um total de 3.213 proteínas foram identificadas, sendo que destas, 293 apresentaram variação no nível de expressão. Diversas proteínas com expressão induzida são funcionalmente associadas com a detoxificação de espécies reativas de oxigênio (ROS), indicando que o tratamento ocasionou estresse oxidativo nas raízes de A. thaliana. Também foram identificadas uma proteína mitocondrial carreadora de substrato e uma acyl-CoA oxidase com possível papel nos mecanismos de defesa em resposta a alumínio e com potencial para futuros estudos funcionais na planta modelo. De uma maneira geral, os resultados aqui apresentados mostram, pela primeira vez, que ASR5 está envolvida na regulação de miRNAs e na homeostase do pH em plantas de arroz, além de identificar proteínas responsivas ao estresse por alumínio em A. thaliana. / Plants are sessile organisms that continuously face adverse environmental situations, leading to a significant reduction in biomass and yield. The aim of the present work was to further study the ASR (ABA, stress and ripening) transcription factors in rice plants. Moreover, the responses of Arabidopsis thaliana to aluminum stress were also analyzed. The chapter 1 of this thesis compares the expression of mature miRNAs in the ASR5 silenced plants (ASR5_RNAi) and in non-transformed plants (control). From a total of 279 mature miRNA of 60 families, 159 were differentially expressed. A negative correlation of MIR167 and its target gene (LOC_Os07g29820) was also confirmed by real time RT-qPCR. This is the first report showing the involvement of ASR proteins in miRNA gene expression regulation. The second chapter presents the study of participation of ASR proteins in the maintenance of pH homeostasis in rice plants. The evaluation of root growth in ASR5_RNAi plants upon acid solution showed inhibition of root growth when compared to non-transformed plants in the same condition. Root tip feasibility and damage caused by low pH and different concentrations of Ca+2 was also analyzed. The results indicate that addition of CaCl2 is capable of alleviating the toxic effects of H+ protons. Several genes downregulated in silenced plants and involved in pH maintenance in plant cells have also been investigated. This work demonstrates the importance of ASR transcription factors in a biological process not yet described. The third and final chapter describes the study of the initial response of Arabidopsis thaliana to aluminum stress. Seven-day old seedlings were treated with 25 μM AlCl3 for 3 hours and submitted to quantitative analyses by mass spectrometry. A total of 3,213 proteins were identified, from which 293 proteins were differentially responsive upon aluminum treatment. Several proteins with increased expression in response to the treatment are functionally associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS), indicating that the Al3+ exposure caused oxidative stress in the roots of A. thaliana. A mitochondrial substrate carrier (At1g78180) and an acyl-CoA oxidase (At3g51840) with a putative role in Al defense were also up-regulated and constitute interesting targets for functional studies of aluminum toxicity in the model plant. Overall, the results here presented show for the first time that ASR5 is involved in miRNA and pH homeostases regulation in rice plants and also identify proteins responsive to aluminum stress in A. thaliana.

Submitted by Miriam Lucas (miriam.lucas@unioeste.br) on 2018-02-22T14:55:33Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Thiago_Ferreira_ Toledo_2017.pdf: 4330728 bytes, checksum: 73f5158965bc4e02f9124a14dff04241 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-22T14:55:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Thiago_Ferreira_ Toledo_2017.pdf: 4330728 bytes, checksum: 73f5158965bc4e02f9124a14dff04241 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-18 / The overall purpose of automatic speech recognition systems is to allow the interaction between humans and electronic devices through speech, for example, the content captured from user's speech using a microphone, can be converted into textual transcription. In general, such systems should be able to overcome adversities such as noise influence, communication channel variability, age, accent and speed of speech, concurrent speech from other speakers and spontaneous speech. Even with this challenging scenario, this work aims to investigate this technology to be employed in the medical field. The research was carried out through a systematic review for the scientific basis of concepts and identification of relevant research studies. To validate the feasibility of using these systems in the medical field, a Web System Prototype was developed to generate medical reports through automatic speech recognition for the Brazilian Portuguese Language. The prototype was developed with the application of Delivery in Stage technique, from Software Engineering. The selection of the automatic speech recognition technology to be integrated to the prototype was based on an evaluation of the accuracy rate of seven systems for the Brazilian Portuguese Language. The development of this work allowed to conclude that these systems of automatic speech recognition can be used in the medical environment, providing support not only for making medical reports, but also acting as a monitoring record during a medical procedure. / O propósito geral de sistemas de reconhecimento automático de fala é o de permitir a interação de seres humanos com dispositivos eletrônicos por meio da fala, por exemplo, a partir da fala do usuário, captada por um microfone, o seu conteúdo pode ser convertido em transcrição textual. Em geral, tais sistemas devem ser capazes de enfrentar adversidades como influência de ruídos, variabilidade do canal de comunicação, idade, sotaque e velocidade da fala, fala concorrente de outros oradores e fala espontânea. Mesmo diante desse cenário desafiador, este trabalho possui como propósito investigar essa tecnologia para ser empregada no âmbito médico. A investigação foi realizada por meio de uma revisão sistemática para o embasamento científico de conceitos e identificação de pesquisas relevantes. Para validar a viabilidade do uso desses sistemas na área médica, foi desenvolvido um Protótipo de Sistema Web com finalidade de gerar laudos médicos por meio do reconhecimento automático de fala para a Língua Portuguesa do Brasil. O protótipo foi desenvolvido com a técnica Entrega em Estágio, presente em Engenharia de Software. A seleção da tecnologia de reconhecimento automático de fala para ser integrada ao protótipo, foi baseada em uma avaliação da taxa de precisão de sete sistemas para a Língua Portuguesa do Brasil. O desenvolvimento desse trabalho permitiu concluir que esses sistemas de reconhecimento automático de fala podem ser empregados no ambiente médico, provendo suporte, não somente à confecção de laudos médicos, mas também atuando como um registro de monitoria durante um procedimento médico.

Magister Scientiae - MSc / Elections are one of the most fundamental activities of a democratic society. As is the case in any other aspect of life, developments in technology have resulted changes in the voting procedure from using the traditional paper-based voting to voting by use of electronic means, or e-voting. E-voting involves using different forms of electronic means like; voting machines, voting via the Internet, telephone, SMS and digital interactive television. This thesis concerns voting by telephone, or televoting, it starts by giving a brief overview and evaluation of various models and technologies that are implemented within such systems. The aspects of televoting that have been investigated are technologies that provide a voice interface to the voter and conduct the voting process, namely the Election Markup Language (EML), Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) and Text-to-Speech (TTS). / South Africa

DIPLOMA THESIS IN THEIR THEORETICAL PART ARE FOCUSE , USE LIGHTWEIGHT AGGREGATES FOR THE PRODUCE OF VERY LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE, FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON FOAM GLASS AGGREGATES. THERE ARE ALSO MENTIONED OTHERS LIGHTWEIGHT AGREGATES, WHICH WE ARE USE FOR PRODUCE O VERY LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE. THEN THERE ARE RISKS UNITED WITH VERY LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE. IN THE PRACTICAL PART IS THE PROPERTY ANALLYSIS OF FOAM GLASS AGGREGATES, DESIGN RECIPE VERY LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE AND MONITORED MECHANICAL A THERMAL PROPERTIES OF THESE CONCRETE.

The field of this diploma thesis is characteristic of cement used in road infrastructure building. In cooperation with the cement plant Horné Srnie, was made previously produced road cement matrix, according to the original recipe. This Diploma thesis is focused on the following characteristics of the cement: the compressive strength, the stiffening process, the volume stability and the development of the hydration heat. The research of the hydration process was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis

As the automatic speech recognition technology is becoming more advanced, the possibilities of in which fields it can operate are growing. The best automatic speech recognition technologies today are mainly based on - and made for - the English language. However, the national library of Sweden recently released open-source wav2vec models purposefully with the Swedish language in mind. With the interest of investigating their performance, one of their models is chosen to assess how well they transcribe the Swedish news broadcasts ”kvart-i-fem”-ekot, comparing its results with Google speech-to-text. The results present wav2vec as the prominent model for this type of audio data, securing a word error rate average that is 9 percentage points less than Google-speech-to-text. A part of this performance could be attributed to the self-supervising method the wav2vec model uses to access large amounts of unlabeled data in its training. In spite of this, both models displayed difficulty with transcribing audio that has poor quality such as disturbing background noise and stationary sounds. Words like abbreviations and names was also difficult for them both to correctly transcribe. Google speech-to-text did however perform better than the wav2vec model on this part.

Many highway and hydraulic structures in North America have been reported to be affected by alkali aggregate reaction (ASR). It is anticipated that most of these structures will be demolished as they approach the end of their service lives. Recycling demolished concrete as aggregates in new concrete is an option that not only reduces the amount of construction demolition waste (CDW) disposed in landfills but also lessens the consumption of non-renewable resources such as natural aggregates. However, the use of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) in new concrete requires detailed research to make sure that the durability of the recycled material is not compromised, especially if the RCA had been previously affected by ASR. In this research project, coarse recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) is reclaimed and processed from distinct members (i.e. foundation blocks, bridge deck and columns) of an ASR-affected overpass after nearly 50 years of service. RCA concrete mixtures incorporating 50 and 100% replacement are manufactured and stored in conditions enabling further ASR development. Mechanical (i.e. Stiffness Damage Test - SDT) and microscopic (Damage Rating Index - DRI) analyses are performed at a fixed “secondary” induced expansion of 0.12%. Results show that the overall performance of the ASR-affected recycled mixtures depends upon the “past” condition of the RCA particles. Moreover, the DRI was able to capture the “past” and “secondary” induced expansion and damage of affected RCA while the SDT only detected the “secondary” distress development. Lastly, an adapted version of the DRI was proposed to further evaluate the overall damage of recycled concrete along with properly displaying “past” and “secondary” induced distress.

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