This text concerns quality of life and rehabilitation of people with visual impairment. The topic is divided into four chapters regarding definitions of visual impairments and their respective diagnosis, rehabilitations and their available types, limitations of quality of life of visually handicapped people and finally text includes case studies and practical research about the quality of life of individuals who have a progressive visual impairment. Furthermore text contains introduction of organizations providing services to visually handicapped, and in conclusion text declares set of recommendations leading to improvement of conditions for adaptation to progressive visual impairment.

L’étude des défauts ponctuels (lacunes, impuretés) et des complexes (cavités, joints de grains, etc.) est un domaine important de la physique du solide. Les propriétés physiques et chimiques des matériaux (élasticité, plasticité, fragilité, etc.) sont très souvent corrélées à la présence de ces défauts. Les techniques expérimentales ne sont cependant pas toujours en mesure de fournir une compréhension suffisante de ceux-ci. Dans ce cas-là, les simulations numériques et la modélisation à l’échelle atomique sont des outils utiles pour interpréter les résultats expérimentaux. Mon travail de thèse se situe dans ce cadre. Le manuscrit comporte 4 principales parties. Dans la première et la deuxième partie, nous présentons les principes de la DFT et la méthodologie utilisée dans cette thèse. La troisième partie de ce manuscrit résume l’étude théorique par DFT de la formation, la migration et la diffusion de différentes configurations de multi-lacunes Vn(n=1-15) dans le fer cubique centré. Les configurations de Vn les plus stables y sont décrites en détail : les énergies de formation, de liaison et de piégeage. La migration de différentes multilacunes est discutée en détail d’un point de vue énergétique et configurationnelle. Dans la dernière partie, nous nous intéressons à l’absorption du soufre dans différents sites (interstitiel et substitutionnel) du massif de Ni et sa ségrégation vers les surfaces Ni (100) et Ni (111). L’étude du soufre en volume permet de clarifie sa position en solution solide. Nous discutons des interactions soufre-soufre et avec le métal de base. La ségrégation et l’absorption sur des surfaces libres du nickel est aussi abordée en détail. / The study of point defects (vacancies, impurity) and complex defects (cavities, grain boundary etc.) is a major challenge for solid state physics. The physical and chemical properties of materials (such elasticity, plasticity, embrittlement etc.) are correlated to the presence of these defects. The experimental study is not always able to bring sufficient information about them. In this way computational simulations and the modeling on the atomic level is efficient to interpret the experimental results and to obtain new informations. This PhD work consists also in a theoretical study of defects in metals. This manuscript is organized in four main parts. In the first and second part, we present the theoretical principles and the methodology used in this work. In the third part, we report a long discussion on the study of formation, migration and diffusion of multivacancies Vn in the bcc-iron system. The main objective of this study is to identify and to analyze most stable configurations of multivacancies for different sizes of Vn (n=1-15) in Fe. The migration is also investigated. In the last part, we present a study of S atoms in nickel. The different sites (interstitial and substitutional sites) in solid solution of nickel-fcc and the segregation of sulfur on and in the Ni(100) and Ni(111) surfaces are discussed. The study of sulfur in the bulk shows that the atoms S occupy the substitutional sites. The S-S and S-Ni interactions are also presented. We conclude by a discussion on the segregation and the adsorption on free surfaces.

This doctoral thesis deals with analysis of existing area defect detection methods in solar cells and with concept of its innovation and of the development of faster detection method. Results of measurement is analyzing in practical and theoretical part. The most important is LBIC (Light Beam Induced Current) method innovated of different wavelength light source usage and Electroluminescence method. On the bases of this knowledge is created Fast LBIC method and then is created catalog of defects in monocrystalline silicon solar cells.

M. Tech. (Mechanical Engineering) Vaal University of Technology / Monitoring the condition of equipment in industry is very important to prevent unplanned breakdowns and to prolong their life. This is necessary, since it is not always economically viable to stop equipment at regular intervals to do maintenance. Failure on machines can lead to high repair costs and production losses. It is thus of paramount importance that early failure symptoms be identified by means of condition monitoring. This study in the field of condition monitoring is performed to determine if the mechanical shock values induced in defect bearings could be used to measure the condition of a bearing while operating under variable speed and variable load. Variable speed and variable load is becoming more popular in industry because variable speed drives applications ensure effective process control. Variable speed application, cause fault frequencies to fluctuate and therefore vibration applications for constant speed applications, which are speed-dependent, can no longer apply. Vibration-monitoring techniques that have applied for many years have now become obsolete in these variable speed applications. Methods such as Short Time Fourier Transformation (STFT), time scale like wavelet transform, and Order tracking has been applied in variable speed applications with some success. These methods analyses the vibration phases on the signal buy compensating for the speed changes. In this thesis, the Shock pulse method is selected as the analyses tool to measure the mechanical shock. Shock pulse monitoring does not focus on the vibration phases but measures in a small-time window when mechanical shocks are induced in the bearing material before the vibration phase. There is very little documented research in the field of mechanical shock pulse monitoring for conditions of variable speed and variable loads, and therefore this research focuses on recording these mechanical shock values by empirical tests. The tests were performed on a bearing with an induced defect on the outer race. The rolling element of the bearing strikes the defect and the mechanical shock value (dBsv) is measured. The mechanical shock is measured with the Shock pulse method in a small-time window before vibration occurs. In this time window, the dBsv is recorded over time to provide diagnostic information of the bearing during acceleration, deceleration and various loading conditions. These mechanical shocks are elastic waves that mirror the impact-contact-force's time function and the Shock pulse monitoring accelerometer, which is tuned to 32 kHz, will respond to the elastic wave fronts with transient amplitudes proportional to the square of the impact velocities. The mechanical shock values were analysed and reoccurring fault levels were identified on each empirical test. These recurring events from the empirical tests were used as primary data for analysis in this research. These tests were performed on a bearing with an induced failure and it was found that the dBsv measured over time could not be used to monitor the condition of the bearing under variable speed applications. This was because the dBsv changed as the speed increased. To overcome this problem Sohoel’s theory was applied and the initial mechanical shock value (dBi) was calculated for the bearing. The dbi value was subtracted from the dBsv and a value called the maximum mechanical shock value (dBm) was obtained. The dBm values stayed constant for the duration of the test and this allowed the condition of the bearing to be measured under variable speed and variable load conditions with some exception. The exception to the findings was that the dBm values stayed constant during acceleration phases, but during the deceleration phases the values were erratic and scattered. At speed below 200rpm the dBm values did not stay constant and therefore it was concluded that the dBm value recorded the best results only when thrust on the bearing was maximum. The other exception was under no-load conditions. The values were erratic and scattered, and therefore the results were not a true reflection of the bearing condition. The third exception was that the results on bearings with various loads remained constant during increased load changes unless the loading was erratic. During erratic load changes, the results were affected. The results also indicated that the larger the defect on the bearing raceway, the higher the dBm values were. Multipil defects on the bearing race ways were not part of this thesis and this gives an opertunity for futher research. The Shock pulse monitoring technique was 100% successful in monitoring the bearing condition only while the speed of the bearing was increasing. The results obtained in this work demonstrated that the condition of bearings can be monitored in applications of variable speed and variable load if the exception are eliminated and to obtain conclusive results the mechanical shock pulses should be measured over time and not be used as once-off value.

Orientador: Sheila Canevese Rahal / Resumo: O presente estudo visou avaliar temporalmente a formação e a qualidade da membrana induzida de Masquelet, tendo por modelo uma falha óssea segmentar induzida no rádio de galinhas. Foram utilizadas 16 galinhas saudáveis, com um ano de idade e massa corpórea média de 1,45 kg. Sob anestesia geral inalatória, foi induzido defeito segmentar de 1,5 cm no rádio esquerdo, o qual foi preenchido com cimento ósseo na fase pastosa. Os defeitos foram avaliados por meio de exames radiográficos e ultrassonográficos, imediatamente após o procedimento cirúrgico e aos sete, 15, 21 e 30 dias de pós-operatório. Para a avaliação histológica das membranas induzidas, uma ave foi submetida à eutanásia aos sete dias (estudo piloto) de pós-operatório e cinco aves aos 15, 21 e 30 dias de pós-operatório. No exame radiográfico do pós-operatório imediato foi possível verificar a presença do cimento ocupando a falha óssea segmentar, como uma massa radiopaca, com variações de intensidade. Com 30 dias de pós-operatório já foi evidente a presença de nova formação óssea partindo de ambas as extremidades fraturadas. Pelo exame ultrassonográfico, as membranas mostraram a maior formação de vascularização aos 30 dias de pós-operatório. Pela avaliação histológica a membrana aos sete e 15 dias de pós-operatório tinha três zonas distintas, porém aos 15 dias havia presença de neovascularização, fibras colágenas organizadas e diminuição de células inflamatórias. Aos 21 dias após a cirurgia houve uma perda de delimitaçã... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the formation and quality of the induced membrane in Masquelet's technique, using a segmental bone defect induced in the chicken’s radius. Sixteen healthy domestic chickens, 1 year old and weighing 1.45 kg were used. Under general anesthesia, a 1.5-cm segmental bone defect was induced in the left radius, which was filled with bone cement during its pasty polymerization phase. The bone defects were evaluated by plain X-rays and ultrasounds, immediately after surgery and at seven, 15, 21 and 30 days postoperatively. One bird was euthanized at 7 days after surgery (pilot study), and five birds were euthanized at 15, 21 and 30 days postoperatively for histological evaluation of the induced membranes. Immediate postoperative radiographic examination showed the presence of cement that occupied the segmental bone defect, as a radiopaque mass, with intensity variations. Thirty days after surgery the presence of new bone formation at the fractured extremities was evident. Ultrasound evaluation showed that the induced-membrane had the highest rate of vascularization at 30 days post-surgery. Histologically, the induced-membrane had three distinct zones at 7 and at 15 days postoperatively, but day 15 had neovascularization, organized collagen fibers and reduced of inflammatory cells. At 21 days after surgery, the zones were less defined and there was cartilage and bone metaplastic areas. At 30 days postoperative diffuse mineralization of the membrane was obse... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

A não-união óssea devido a condições pós-traumáticas ou patologias apresentam grandes desafios para a prática ortopédica, onde a necessidade de analisar novos biomateriais que auxiliem no processo da regeneração, tem levado vários pesquisadores a estudarem a membrana do látex natural (LN) e colágeno (COL) como formas de tratamento através da regeneração óssea guiada. O uso do LN têm mostrado promissores resultados em aplicações biomédicas, apresentando características como biocompatibilidade, crescimento ósseo e estímulo natural à angiogênese. Estudos que utilizam as membranas de colágeno para a mesma finalidade também observaram bons resultados em relação à biocompatibilidade, função hemostática, poder de auxiliar na cicatrização de feridas, capacidade de estimular a adesão celular e quimiotaxia. Porém, possuem alto poder de se degradar antes de completar o período final de tratamento. Desta forma, a utilização de membranas contendo estes dois componentes pode auxiliar no processo de neoformação óssea através da regeneração óssea guiada (ROG), e o LN pode funcionar como matriz para a liberação controlada do colágeno no defeito. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da membrana mista, composta por LN/COL, no processo de reparação óssea em defeitos de tíbia de ratos. Para tanto, foram utilizados quarenta (40) ratos machos da raça Rattus norvegicus albinus, da variedade Wistar, com cinco semanas de idade e peso médio de 300 g. Foi realizado um defeito ósseo bilateralmente nas tíbias de todos os animais, que foram divididos em 4 grupos (n=10), sendo: grupo controle (C); e tratados: grupo látex natural (LN); grupo látex natural/colágeno (LN/COL) e grupo colágeno (COL). O tempo de tratamento foi de 42 dias e a eutanásia dos animais foi realizada por overdose de anestésico (ketamina/xilazina). Após a eutanásia, as tíbias de cada animal foram dissecadas e limpas das partes moles, e armazenadas de acordo com protocolo de cada análise. Foram realizadas análise de microtomografia computadorizada (micro CT), densitometria, ensaio mecânico, histologia, e reação de polimerização em cadeia quantitativo (RT-qPCR). A análise estatística dos dados foi realizada utilizando o programa SPSS® (Versão 20.0, IBM®, Armonk, EUA) e foi adotado nível de significância de 5% (p<= 0,05). Foi utilizado o teste de Shapiro-Wilk para testar se os dados apresentavam ou nãodistribuição normal. A comparação entre os grupos (dados paramétricos) foi realizada através do teste ANOVA com pós-teste de Tukey. Os dados não-paramétricos foram analisados através do teste de Kruskal-Wallis. Foram demonstradas diferenças estatísticas no BV entre os grupos LN e CON (p<0,008); BV/TV do grupo LN/COL comparado ao CON (p<0,016) e ao LN (p<0,016); na neoformação óssea entre CON e COL (p< 0,002); e na força máxima quando comparado o grupo COL com CON (p<0,050) e (p<0,001). Os resultados demonstraram que não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos na análise da DMO (p=0,669), colágeno (p=0,224), rigidez relativa (p=0,461), RANK L (p=0,121), OC (p=0,066) e OPG (0,287), porém, todas as membranas utilizadas demonstraram valores superiores ao grupo CON. Sendo assim podemos concluir que as membranas utilizadas como tratamento apresentaram eficácia na reparação óssea de tíbia de ratos, no entanto, as membranas de COL e LN/COL demonstraram resultados mais significativos no período analisado. / The non-union of bone due to post-traumatic conditions or pathologies presents major challenges for orthopedic practice, where the need to analyze new biomaterials that aid in the regeneration process, has led several researchers to study the natural latex (LN) membrane and collagen (COL) as forms of treatment through guided bone regeneration. The use of LN has shown promising results in biomedical applications, presenting characteristics such as biocompatibility, bone growth and natural stimulation to angiogenesis. Studies that use collagen membranes for the same purpose have also observed good results in relation to biocompatibility, hemostatic function, the power to aid wound healing, the ability to stimulate cell adhesion and chemotaxis. However, they have a high capacity to degrade before completing the final treatment period. Thus, the use of membranes containing these two components can aid in the bone neoformation process through guided bone regeneration (ROG), and the LN can function as a matrix for the controlled release of the collagen in the defect. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the mixed membrane, composed of LN / COL, in the process of bone repair in rat tibia defects. For this purpose, forty (40) male Rattus norvegicus albinus rats of the Wistar variety, with five weeks of age and average weight of 300 g were used. A bone defect was performed bilaterally in the tibiae of all the animals, which were divided into 4 groups (n = 10), being: control group (C); and treated: natural latex group (LN); natural latex / collagen group (LN / COL) and collagen group (COL). The treatment time was 42 days and euthanasia of the animals was performed by anesthetic overdose (ketamine / xylazine). After euthanasia, the tibia from each animal were dissected and cleaned from the soft tissues, and stored according to each analysis protocol. Computed microtomography (micro CT), densitometry, mechanical assay, histology, and quantitative polymerization (RT-qPCR) were performed. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the SPSS® program (Version 20.0, IBM®, Armonk, USA) and a significance level of 5% was adopted (p<=0.05). The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to test whether or not the data presented normal distribution. The comparison between the groups (parametric data) was performed through the ANOVA test with Tukey post-test. Nonparametric data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Statistical differences in BVwere found between the LN and CON groups (p <0.008); BV / TV of the LN / COL group compared to the CON (p <0.016) and the LN (p <0.016); in the bone neoformation between CON and COL (p <0.002); and maximal strength when compared to the COL group with CON (p <0.050) and (p <0.001). The results showed that there was no significant difference between groups in the analysis of BMD (p = 0.669), collagen (p = 0.224), relative rigidity (p = 0.461), RANK L (p = and OPG (0.287), however, all the membranes used showed higher values than the CON group. Thus, it can be concluded that the membranes used as treatment showed efficacy in rat tibia repair, however, the COL and LN / COL membranes showed more significant results in the analyzed period.

Os estudos na área de engenharia de tecidos aplicada à reparação da cartilagem articular estão voltados ao desenvolvimento de uma matriz biocompatível que permita a diferenciação, proliferação e manutenção de células para produção de cartilagem hialina. A quitosana é um biomaterial e vem sendo estudada como suporte para condrócitos e para liberação controlada de substâncias. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a biocompatibilidade do gel de quitosana associada ao fosfato de glicerol para reparação de defeitos osteocondrais induzidos experimentalmente na tróclea do talus de eqüinos. Foram utilizados cinco cavalos da raça Mangalarga, de três anos de idade, e por artroscopia foi criado um defeito osteocondral na tróclea lateral do talus de cada articulação. De forma aleatória um defeito foi escolhido para implante do gel de quitosana - fosfato de glicerol, e o defeito da articulação contralateral foi mantido vazio, servindo como controle. Para acompanhamento da evolução do processo de reparação da cartilagem articular foram realizados os exames físico, radiográfico e ultrassonográfico; análise do líquido sinovial (física, celularidade, quantificação de proteína, condroitim sulfato e ácido hialurônico); e análise da cartilagem articular (histológica e produção de proteoglicanos). Os resultados obtidos de todas as avaliações realizadas foram semelhantes entre os defeitos tratados e controle. O gel de quitosana fosfato de glicerol é biocompatível com o ambiente articular e pode ser indicado para futuras aplicações como suporte de células e para liberação controlada de medicamentos. / The tissue engineering studies applied to articular cartilage repair are focused on the development of scaffold biocompatibility allowing the differentiation, proliferation and cells maintenance providing production of the hyaline cartilage. Chitosan is a biomaterial that has been evaluated as a scaffold for chondrocyts implant and also as a drug-delivery control material. The aim of this work was to evaluate the chitosan glycerol phosphate gel biocompatibility in experimentally induced equine talus osteochondral defect. Five three years old Mangalarga breed horses were submitted to arthroscopy for osteochondral defect production on the lateral troclea of the talus in both tibiotarsal joints by arthroscopy. In a random form one defect was chosen for chitosan-glycerol phosphate gel implant, and the defect of the opposed joint was kept empty and used as a control. For the assessment of the articular cartilage repair process was performed the physic, radiographic and ultrassonographic exams; the synovial fluid analyze (physic, cellularity, protein quantification, chondroitin sulphate and hialuronan); and the articular cartilage analyze (hystologic and proteoglicans production). The results obtained in all evaluations performed were similar between the treated and control defects. The chitosan glycerol phosphate gel is biocompatible with the articular environment and can be indicate for future applications as an scaffold for cells support and drug-delivery control system.

Nos equinos as fraturas geralmente são de alta energia provocando perda do tecido ósseo. Estas lesões do tecido ósseo ocorrem quando suas propriedades de resistência e rigidez são ultrapassadas. Devido a perda de tecido ósseo diversos métodos são utilizados para corrigir os defeitos ósseos, tanto em ortopedia humana, quanto na medicina veterinária, porém os resultados muitas vezes não são satisfatórios. O desenvolvimento de compostos a base colágeno, quitosana e hidroxiapatita deu-se devido a busca na melhora do comportamento mecânico e biológico dos enxertos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o comportamento biomecânico do osso III/IV metacarpianos de ovinos após a implantação de compósito de quitosana, hidroxiapatita e colágeno. Foi utilizado seis ovinos fêmeas da raça Santa Inês, os quais foram submetidos à ostectomias unicorticais de cinco milímetros de diâmetro na região média da superfície dorsal do III/IV metacarpianos. Posteriormente, através de sorteio, foi implantado o compósito de quitosana, colágeno e hidroxiapatita em um membro torácico. No membro contralateral foi reproduzida a mesma técnica, porém foi mantido como controle, não sendo preenchido com o compósito. Todos os animais foram submetidos à avaliação física diária. Após 180 dias da criação da falha, os ovinos foram eutanasiados com protocolo autorizado pela Comissão de Ética no Uso de Animais. Os ossos foram dissecados e armazenados á 20&ordm; C. Após o descongelamento completo, as amostras foram submetidas a ensaio de flexão em três pontos realizado em máquina universal de ensaios mecânicos KRATOS&reg;, modelo KE3000MP, software: TRACOMP W95. Os ossos foram posicionados com sua superfície palmar (mais plana) apoiada sobre duas bases cônicas distantes 5 cm entre sí, de modo que a falha óssea ficasse posicionada à mesma distância entre as bases. A carga foi aplicada na superfície dorsal por um atuador cônico no ponto médio do osso, onde foram criadas as falhas ósseas, com velocidade de deslocamento de 5 milímetros por minuto até o momento da fratura do osso. Durante o ensaio mecânico o software gerou gráficos de força x deformação, de onde foram calculadas as seguintes propriedades biomecânicas: força máxima, rigidez, momento e deformação máxima. Através da análise estatística não houve diferença estatísticas na análise da rigidez, força máxima, momento e deformação máxima para ambos os grupos. Com estes resultados podemos concluir que o compósito de quitosana, hidroxiapatita e colágeno não interferiu na consolidação óssea de III/IV metacarpianos de ovinos após 180 dias da implantação. / In equines, the fractures are usually of high energy causing loss of bone tissue. These bone tissue injuries occur when its properties of strength and rigidity are outdated. Due to bone loss, various methods are used to correct the bone defects, both in human and in orthopedic veterinary medicine, but the results often are not satisfactory. The development of chitosan, collagen and hydroxyapatite composite came about due to search the improvement of the mechanical behaviour and biological grafts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical behavior of the III/IV metacarpal bone of sheep after the implantation of chitosan, collagen and hydroxyapatite composite. Six healthy female sheep Santa Inês breed were submitted to bilateral unicortical ostectomy (five mm/diameter) on the dorsal aspect of the III/IV metacarpal bone. One front limb was randomly selected for composite implatation. At the contralateral limb was reproduced the same technique, but was kept as control, and are not filled with composite. The animals were submitted to daily physical examination during 180-day follow-up period. After 180 days of failure creation, the animals were euthanized with protocol approved by the Animal Ethics Committee. The bones were dissected and stored at -20&ordm; C. After complete thawing, samples were subjected to bending test on three points held in universal testing machine mechanics KRATOS&reg;, model KE3000MP, software: TRACOMP-W95. The bones were positioned with its palmar surface (flatter) supported on two tapered bases 5 cm distant from each other, so that the bone gap was positioned at the same distance between the bases. Load was applied on the dorsal surface by a tapered actuator at the midpoint of the bone, where bone defects were set up, with a speed of displacement of 5 mm per minute until the time of bone fracture. During the mechanical test the software generated graphs of force x deformation, where the following biomechanical properties were calculated: maximum strength, rigidity, moment and maximum deformation. Through statistical analysis, there was no difference in the analysis of statistics, maximum strength, rigidity and maximum deformation for both groups. With the results of this research, it can be concluded that the composite did not interfere in biomechanical characteristics of the metacarpal III/IV bone after 180 days of deployment

O presente trabalho apresenta uma alternativa ao processo de classificação do defeito da segregação central em amostras de aço, utilizando as imagens digitais que são geradas durante o ensaio de Baumann. O algoritmo proposto tem como objetivo agregar as técnicas de processamento digital de imagens e o conhecimento dos especialistas sobre o defeito da segregação central, visando a classificação do defeito de referência. O algoritmo implementado inclui a identificação e a segmentação da linha segregada por meio da aplicação da transformada de Hough e limiar adaptativo. Adicionalmente, o algoritmo apresenta uma proposta para o mapeamento dos atributos da segregação central nos diferentes graus de severidade do defeito, em função dos critérios de continuidade e intensidade. O mapeamento foi realizado por meio da análise das características individuais, como comprimento, largura e área, dos elementos segmentados que compõem a linha segregada. A avaliação do desempenho do algoritmo foi realizada em dois momentos específicos, de acordo com sua fase de implementação. Para a realização da avaliação, foram analisadas 255 imagens de amostras reais, oriundas de duas usinas siderúrgicas, distribuídas nos diferentes graus de severidade. Os resultados da primeira fase de implementação mostram que a identificação da linha segregada apresenta acurácia de 93%. As classificações oriundas do mapeamento realizado para as classes de criticidade do defeito, na segunda fase de implementação, apresentam acurácia de 92% para o critério de continuidade e 68% para o critério de intensidade. / This work presents an alternative to the classification process of centerline segregation in steel samples, using the digital images that are generated during the Baumann test. The proposed algorithm aims to aggregate the digital image processing techniques and experts knowledge on centerline segregation to classify the reference defect. The implemented algorithm includes the identification and segmentation of segregation line, applying the Hough transform and adaptive thresholding. Additionally, the algorithm presents a proposal for mapping the centerline segregation attributes on the different defect degrees of severity, according to the intensity and continuity criteria. The mapping was carried out by analyzing the individual characteristics such as length, width and area of the segmented elements that make up the segregation line. The evaluation of the algorithm performance was done in two specific moments, according to implementation phase. In carrying out this evaluation, 255 images of real samples from two steel plants were analyzed, distributed in different degrees of severity. The results of the first phase of implementation show that the identification of the segregation line has 93% accuracy. The classification results from the attributes mapping realized to the defect severity degrees in the second implementation phase, has accuracy of 92% for the continuity criteria and 68% for the intensity criteria.

Nos equinos as fraturas geralmente são de alta energia provocando perda do tecido ósseo. Estas lesões do tecido ósseo ocorrem quando suas propriedades de resistência e rigidez são ultrapassadas. Devido a perda de tecido ósseo diversos métodos são utilizados para corrigir os defeitos ósseos, tanto em ortopedia humana, quanto na medicina veterinária, porém os resultados muitas vezes não são satisfatórios. O desenvolvimento de compostos a base colágeno, quitosana e hidroxiapatita deu-se devido a busca na melhora do comportamento mecânico e biológico dos enxertos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o comportamento biomecânico do osso III/IV metacarpianos de ovinos após a implantação de compósito de quitosana, hidroxiapatita e colágeno. Foi utilizado seis ovinos fêmeas da raça Santa Inês, os quais foram submetidos à ostectomias unicorticais de cinco milímetros de diâmetro na região média da superfície dorsal do III/IV metacarpianos. Posteriormente, através de sorteio, foi implantado o compósito de quitosana, colágeno e hidroxiapatita em um membro torácico. No membro contralateral foi reproduzida a mesma técnica, porém foi mantido como controle, não sendo preenchido com o compósito. Todos os animais foram submetidos à avaliação física diária. Após 180 dias da criação da falha, os ovinos foram eutanasiados com protocolo autorizado pela Comissão de Ética no Uso de Animais. Os ossos foram dissecados e armazenados á 20&ordm; C. Após o descongelamento completo, as amostras foram submetidas a ensaio de flexão em três pontos realizado em máquina universal de ensaios mecânicos KRATOS&reg;, modelo KE3000MP, software: TRACOMP W95. Os ossos foram posicionados com sua superfície palmar (mais plana) apoiada sobre duas bases cônicas distantes 5 cm entre sí, de modo que a falha óssea ficasse posicionada à mesma distância entre as bases. A carga foi aplicada na superfície dorsal por um atuador cônico no ponto médio do osso, onde foram criadas as falhas ósseas, com velocidade de deslocamento de 5 milímetros por minuto até o momento da fratura do osso. Durante o ensaio mecânico o software gerou gráficos de força x deformação, de onde foram calculadas as seguintes propriedades biomecânicas: força máxima, rigidez, momento e deformação máxima. Através da análise estatística não houve diferença estatísticas na análise da rigidez, força máxima, momento e deformação máxima para ambos os grupos. Com estes resultados podemos concluir que o compósito de quitosana, hidroxiapatita e colágeno não interferiu na consolidação óssea de III/IV metacarpianos de ovinos após 180 dias da implantação. / In equines, the fractures are usually of high energy causing loss of bone tissue. These bone tissue injuries occur when its properties of strength and rigidity are outdated. Due to bone loss, various methods are used to correct the bone defects, both in human and in orthopedic veterinary medicine, but the results often are not satisfactory. The development of chitosan, collagen and hydroxyapatite composite came about due to search the improvement of the mechanical behaviour and biological grafts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical behavior of the III/IV metacarpal bone of sheep after the implantation of chitosan, collagen and hydroxyapatite composite. Six healthy female sheep Santa Inês breed were submitted to bilateral unicortical ostectomy (five mm/diameter) on the dorsal aspect of the III/IV metacarpal bone. One front limb was randomly selected for composite implatation. At the contralateral limb was reproduced the same technique, but was kept as control, and are not filled with composite. The animals were submitted to daily physical examination during 180-day follow-up period. After 180 days of failure creation, the animals were euthanized with protocol approved by the Animal Ethics Committee. The bones were dissected and stored at -20&ordm; C. After complete thawing, samples were subjected to bending test on three points held in universal testing machine mechanics KRATOS&reg;, model KE3000MP, software: TRACOMP-W95. The bones were positioned with its palmar surface (flatter) supported on two tapered bases 5 cm distant from each other, so that the bone gap was positioned at the same distance between the bases. Load was applied on the dorsal surface by a tapered actuator at the midpoint of the bone, where bone defects were set up, with a speed of displacement of 5 mm per minute until the time of bone fracture. During the mechanical test the software generated graphs of force x deformation, where the following biomechanical properties were calculated: maximum strength, rigidity, moment and maximum deformation. Through statistical analysis, there was no difference in the analysis of statistics, maximum strength, rigidity and maximum deformation for both groups. With the results of this research, it can be concluded that the composite did not interfere in biomechanical characteristics of the metacarpal III/IV bone after 180 days of deployment