L’étude des effets des radionucléides et des métaux sur les organismes vivants est nécessaire pour évaluer leur toxicité et leur risque écologique. Notre approche a visé dans un premier temps à étudier les impacts du cadmium (Cd) et de l’Uranium (U) sur différents niveaux biologiques de l’écrevisse Procambarus clarkii après exposition aigue et chronique. Nous avons évalué leurs impacts sur les mitochondries, les réponses face à un stress oxydant, les structures histologiques et la survie. Nous avons tenté de lier ces effets entre eux et à la bioaccumulation dans les branchies et l’hépatopancréas. Nous avons aussi essayé de différencier la chimio- et la radiotoxicité de l’U en exposant des écrevisses soit à l’U appauvri soit au 233U (présentant une activité spécifique plus élevée) au travers des mêmes critères d’effets. Nous avons démontré que le gène mt codant pour la métallothionéine était toujours surexprimé en présence du Cd. De ce fait, il semble être un bon biomarqueur de toxicité du Cd chez P. clarkii. Nous avons mis en évidence que les deux métaux affectent les mitochondries grâce au suivi des niveaux d’expressions des gènes mitochondriaux (12s, atp6 et cox1), et que leur mécanismes d’action ne semblent pas être toujours les mêmes. Nous avons aussi prouvé que l’U génère plus de stress oxydant que le Cd grâce à la comparaison des niveaux d’expressions de gènes qui codent pour des antioxidants (sod(Mn) et mt) et des réponses enzymatiques de la superoxyde dismutase, la catalase, la glutathion peroxydase et la glutathion S transférase. Toutefois, les symptômes des atteintes histo-pathologiques semblent être les mêmes pour les deux métaux. En comparant leurs effets sur la survie des écrevisses, nous avons conclu que le Cd était plus toxique que le radioélément. D’autre part, nous avons démontré que les effets toxiques de l’U aux concentrations rencontrées dans l’environnement, sont plus liés à la chimiotoxicité qu’à la radiotoxicité de cet élément. Nous avons démontré que, les réponses moléculaires varient en fonction de l’intensité et la durée du stress chimique imposé aux organismes. Nous avons proposé d’utiliser les expressions de l’ensemble des gènes étudiés en tant que biomarqueurs de toxicité de l’U plutôt que les activités enzymatiques à cause de leur sensibilité. Ce travail de thèse propose des mécanismes d’actions de l’U basé surtout sur les réponses moléculaires et confirme la nécessité d’approfondir l’étude du profil écotoxicologique de ce radioélément. / The study of the effects of radionuclides and metals on organisms is necessary for the evaluation of their toxicity and their ecological threats. We first aimed to study the impacts of cadmium (Cd) and Uranium (U) on different biological levels of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii after acute and chronic exposures. We evaluated their impacts on mitochondria, oxidative stress responses, on histological structures, and the survival rates. We tried to connect these effects between them and to the bioaccumulation in the gills and the hepatopancreas. We also tried to discriminate the chemo and the radiotoxicity of U by exposing crayfish to either depleted or enriched U (233U: presenting a higher specific activity) using the same criteria of effects. We demonstrated that the gene mt encoding for the metallothionein was always over-expressed in the presence of Cd. Therefore, it seems to be a good biomarker of Cd toxicity in P. clarkii. The follow up of mitochondrial genes expressions (12s, atp6 and cox1), showed that both metals affect mitochondria and that their mechanisms of action do not seem to be always the same. We also observed that U generates more oxidative stress than Cd when comparing the expression levels of genes encoding for antioxidants (sod (Mn) and mt) and the enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase, the catalase, the glutathione peroxidase and the glutathione S transferase. However, the symptoms of histo-pathological damages after Cd and U contamination were similar in both conditions. After comparing the survival rates of the crayfish, we concluded that Cd was more toxic than the radioelement. Moreover, we demonstrated that the toxic effect of U on P. clarkii exposed to a low environmental concentration is mainly due to its chemotoxicity rather than to its radiotoxicity. We established that, the molecular answers vary according to the intensity and the duration of the chemical stress applied to the organisms. We suggested the use of the expressions of all the studied genes as biomarkers of toxicity of U rather than the enzymatic activities because of their sensitivity. This work proposes mechanisms of actions of U based especially on the molecular responses and confirms the necessity of studying the ecotoxicological profile of this radioelement.

Submitted by Nadir Basilio (nadirsb@uninove.br) on 2018-06-15T14:27:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcela Leticia Leal Goncalves.pdf: 2201976 bytes, checksum: bb54dbedb6ad51cd436666d35fcf8a51 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-15T14:27:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcela Leticia Leal Goncalves.pdf: 2201976 bytes, checksum: bb54dbedb6ad51cd436666d35fcf8a51 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-16 / Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immuno-mediated, neurodegenerative, inflamatory disease, of unknown etiology and for which there is no cure. This work aimed to evaluate the orofacial conditions of individuals with MS, including the presence of TMD and salivary flow and observe if there is any correlation or association between these factors, in addition to observing the presence of halitosis in patients with MS, and verify if the treatment with antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is effective against it. We selected 50 patients with diagnosis of MS and in treatment at the Specialties Clinic School of Medicine, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos (UNIMES). Patients were selected to perform the NOT-S instrument, which assesses the orofacial functions, while awaiting consultations and later, 30 of these patients were invited for a return in which the full evaluation was performed. We collected data on duration of the disease, degree of disability, medication use, presence of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) through the RDC/TDM, a stimulated sialometry test was made and halitosis was assessed with the OralchromaTM device. Patients with halitosis from the tongue coating underwent immediate treatment, which held tongue scraping followed by aPDT. To perform the aPDT, the photosensitizer used was methylene blue manipulated at a concentration of 0.005% (Fórmula e Ação®) associated with the laser THERAPY XT-EC® (DMC ABC Medical Equipment, Dental, SP, BR). Six points in the tongue dorsum were irradiated with a distance of 1 cm between them. The device was calibrated with wavelength of 660 nm, with energy of 9 J and power of 100 mW for 90 seconds per point, fluency of 320 J/cm2 and irradiance of 3537 mW/cm2. Data were submitted to descriptive statistical analysis. To test the normality of the data, we used the Shapiro-Wilk test. The data were non-parametric (except for age), then were represented as medians and quartiles, boxplot graphs and scatter plots. To assess statistical difference between halitosis before and after the aPDT the Wilcoxon test was used. For the correlation of numerical variables, the Spearman coefficient was used, and for the association of categorical variables, we used the Mann-Whitney test. Statistically significant differences were those whose p <0.05. Among the patients studied, the median score of NOT-S was 3, 40% had TMD, 33% of patients had severe hyposalivation, 40% had moderate hyposalivation and only 16% had normal salivary flow and 86% had initial halitosis. Treatment with a scraper associated with aPDT was effective in reducing oral malodor (p <0.0001). There was significant correlation between the degree of disability and disease duration, and association only between the result of NOT-S and TMD. It was concluded that patients with MS seem to have a high prevalence of halitosis, moderate or severe hyposalivation, DTM and halitosis. Treatment with tongue scraper associated with aPDT proved effective in the immediate reduction in halitosis in these patients. / A Esclerose Múltipla (EM) é doença imuno-mediada neurodegenerativa, inflamatória e para a qual não há cura. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar as condições orofaciais de indivíduos com EM, incluindo a presença de Disfunção Temporomandibular (DTM) e o fluxo salivar, bem como observar se há alguma correlação ou associação entre esses fatores, além de observar a presença de halitose em pacientes com EM e verificar se o tratamento com terapia fotodinâmica antimicrobiana (aPDT) é eficaz contra esta. Foram selecionados 50 pacientes com diagnóstico de EM e em tratamento no Ambulatório de Especialidades da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Metropolitana de Santos (UNIMES). Os pacientes foram selecionados para a realização do instrumento NOT-S, que avalia as funções orofaciais, enquanto aguardavam as consultas e, posteriormente, 30 desses pacientes foram convidados para um retorno, no qual foi realizada a avaliação completa. Foram coletados os dados de duração da doença, grau de incapacidade, medicamento utilizado, presença DTM por meio do RDC/TDM, foi feito um teste de sialometria estimulada e a halitose foi avaliada com o aparelho OralchromaTM. Pacientes que apresentavam halitose proveniente da saburra lingual, foram submetidos a um tratamento imediato, no qual realizou-se uma raspagem lingual seguida pela aPDT. Para a realização da aPDT, o fotossensibilizador utilizado foi o azul de metileno manipulado na concentração de 0,005% (Fórmula e Ação®), associado ao laser THERAPY XT-EC® (DMC ABC Equipamentos Médicos e Odontológicos, SP, BR). Foram irradiados 6 pontos no dorso lingual com distância de 1 cm entre eles. O aparelho estava previamente calibrado com comprimento de onda de 660 nm, com energia de 9 J e potência de 100 mW, durante 90 segundos por ponto, fluência de 320 J/cm2 e irradiância de 3537 mW/cm2. Os dados foram submetidos à análise estatística descritiva. Para testar a normalidade dos dados, foi utilizado o teste Shapiro-Wilk. Os dados eram não-paramétricos (com exceção da idade), então foram representados em mediana e quartis, gráficos boxplot e gráficos de dispersão. Para avaliar a diferença estatística entre a halitose antes e depois da aPDT foi utilizado o teste de Wilcoxon. Para a correlação de variáveis numéricas, foi utilizado o coeficiente de Spearman, e para a associação das variáveis categóricas, foi utilizado o teste de Mann-Whitney. Foram consideradas diferenças estatisticamente significantes aquelas cujo p<0,05. Dentre os pacientes avaliados, o escore mediano do NOT-S foi 3, 40% apresentavam DTM, 33% dos pacientes apresentaram hipossalivação grave, 40% apresentaram hipossalivação moderada e apenas 16% apresentavam fluxo salivar normal e 86% apresentavam halitose inicial. O tratamento com raspador associado à aPDT foi eficaz na redução da halitose (p<0,0001). Houve correlação apenas entre o grau de incapacidade e a duração da doença, e associação apenas entre o resultado do NOT-S e a presença de DTM. Concluiu-se que os pacientes com EM parecem apresentar uma alta prevalência de halitose, hipossalivação moderada ou grave, DTM e halitose. O tratamento com raspador lingual associado a aPDT se mostrou eficiente na redução imediata da halitose nestes pacientes.

Modelagem e controle de execução são duas abordagens do gerenciamento de processos de negócio que, embora complementares, têm se desenvolvido independentemente. Por um lado, a modelagem é normalmente conduzida por especialistas de negócio e explora aspectos semânticos do processo. Por outro lado, o controle de execução estuda mecanismos consistentes e eficientes de implementação. Este trabalho apresenta um método algorítmico que relaciona modelagem e controle de execução, por meio da geração de expressões algébricas a partir de digrafos acíclicos. Por hipótese, assumimos que modelos de processos de negócio são formados por estruturas baseadas em grafos, e mecanismos de controle de execução são baseados na interpretação de expressões de álgebra de processos. Para a geração de expressões algébricas, esta tese apresenta as propriedades topológicas de digrafos série-paralelo e define um sistema de transformação baseado em redução de digrafos. Além disso, um algoritmo de identificação de digrafos série-paralelo e geração de expressões algébricas é apresentado. O texto também discute o tratamento de digrafos que não são série-paralelo e apresenta, para alguns desses casos, soluções baseadas em mudanças topológicas. Finalmente, o algoritmo é ilustrado com o estudo de caso de uma aplicação real. / Modeling and execution control are complementary approaches of business process management that have been developed independently. On one hand, modeling is usually performed by business specialists and explores semantical aspects of the business process. On other hand, execution control studies consistent and efficient mechanisms for implementation. This work presents an algorithmic method which joins modeling and execution control through algebraic expression generation from acyclic digraphs. By hypothesis, we assume that business process models are defined by graph structures, and execution control mechanisms are based on interpretation of process algebra expressions. For algebraic expression generation, this thesis presents the topological properties of series-parallel digraphs and defines a transformation system based on digraph reduction. Therefore, we present an algorithm for identification of series-parallel digraphs and generation of algebraic expressions. This work also discusses the treatment of non-series-parallel digraphs and presents solutions based on topological changing for some cases. Finally, the algorithm is illustrated with a case study based on a real system.

The purpose of this research was to use a lexical approach, and information and communication technologies (ICT) as strategies to facilitate learning to students of Spanish as a foreign language, to answer the research questions: (1) if the use of multiword lexical units improves the lexical competence and (2) whether the use of technology is an effective strategy to facilitate learning. A lesson plan with different activities was designed and put into practice with two groups of students (experimental and control) of the intermediate level of the University of North Texas (UNT). The collected data were analyzed using the quantitative paradigm with the variance model ANOVA with repeated measures, and the qualitative or interpretive paradigm to offer a broader perspective of the learning process of multiwords lexical units (collocations and idiomatic expressions). The results of this investigation answered the research questions and confirmed the effectiveness of the lexical approach and ICT in the teaching-learning process and facilitated the student's acquisition of L2.

This work deals with the problem of visual representation of Pi-calculus expressions. The theoretical part of this paper discusses general principles of process algebras as well as specific properties of individual models, with a focus on Pi-calculus. Also included is the comparison of several text and graphical representations of expressions. The main part of the thesis deals with the design and implementation of an application for converting text representation of expressions into graphical representation. In addition to the text and graphical representation, an internal tree representation designed to work with expressions within the application is also proposed. The thesis also describes algorithms for finding feasible reductions, performing reductions and expression simplification that operate with the proposed tree representation.

Driving comfort is considered a key factor for broad public acceptance of automated driving. Based on continuous driver/passenger monitoring, potential discomfort could be avoided by adapting automation features such as the driving style. The EU-project MEDIATOR (mediatorproject.eu) aims at developing a mediating system in automated vehicles by constantly evaluating the performance of driver and automation. As facial expressions could be an indicator of discomfort, a driving simulator study has been carried out to investigate this relationship. A total of 41 participants experienced three potentially uncomfortable automated approach situations to a truck driving ahead. The face video of four cameras was analyzed with the Visage facial feature detection and face analysis software, extracting 23 Action Units (AUs). Situation-specific effects showed that the eyes were kept open and eye blinks were reduced (AU43). Inner brows (AU1) as well as upper lids (AU5) raised, indicating surprise. Lips were pressed (AU24) and stretched (AU20) as sign for tension. Overall, facial expression analysis could contribute to detect discomfort in automated driving.

This master‘s thesis deals with the design and implementation of computer application for facial expression recognition. The first section describes the image processing, especially algorithms used in other parts of this thesis. The next section describes methods used for face detection, particularly the Viola-Jones detector. This is followed by a brief description of the basic facial expressions recognized by the application. The last two sections are dedicated to the design and implementation of the facial expression recognition algorithms and to the evaluation of the results.

The classic theorems of Büchi and Kleene state the expressive equivalence of finite automata to monadic second order logic and regular expressions, respectively. These fundamental results enjoy applications in nearly every field of theoretical computer science. Around the same time as Büchi and Kleene, Rabin investigated probabilistic finite automata. This equally well established model has applications ranging from natural language processing to probabilistic model checking. Here, we give probabilistic extensions Büchi\\\''s theorem and Kleene\\\''s theorem to the probabilistic setting. We obtain a probabilistic MSO logic by adding an expected second order quantifier. In the scope of this quantifier, membership is determined by a Bernoulli process. This approach turns out to be universal and is applicable for finite and infinite words as well as for finite trees. In order to prove the expressive equivalence of this probabilistic MSO logic to probabilistic automata, we show a Nivat-theorem, which decomposes a recognisable function into a regular language, homomorphisms, and a probability measure. For regular expressions, we build upon existing work to obtain probabilistic regular expressions on finite and infinite words. We show the expressive equivalence between these expressions and probabilistic Muller-automata. To handle Muller-acceptance conditions, we give a new construction from probabilistic regular expressions to Muller-automata. Concerning finite trees, we define probabilistic regular tree expressions using a new iteration operator, called infinity-iteration. Again, we show that these expressions are expressively equivalent to probabilistic tree automata. On a second track of our research we investigate Constraint LTL over multidimensional data words with data values from the infinite tree. Such LTL formulas are evaluated over infinite words, where every position possesses several data values from the infinite tree. Within Constraint LTL on can compare these values from different positions. We show that the model checking problem for this logic is PSPACE-complete via investigating the emptiness problem of Constraint Büchi automata.

This thesis deals with the analysis of 3D morphological changes and variability in the shape and form of facial expression during five specifically defined facial expressions (raising eyebrows, close both eyes, lips pursing, inflating both cheeks, smile). Changes in facial expression were evaluated in relation to sexual dimorphism and age category of probands using the methods of geometric morphometrics (Dense Correspondence Analysis, Paired Analysis, Principal Component Analysis, Shell-to-Shell Deviation) in program Morphome3cs and RapidForm. The analysis consisted of evaluating the surface of soft tissue changes that occur due to the contraction of facial muscles. Materials used for the analysis are 3D surface facial models of adult healthy people of the Czech nationality (63 women, 58 men) in the age interval 20-60 years. We considered methodology based on Paired Analysis to be more accurate, when we worked only with differences between the neutral expression and facial expression. By choosing a Paired Analysis, we prevented the morphological features of the face from being reflected into the results. Morphological features are a manifestation of sexual dimorphism or age factor as such, but they are not themselves the essence of facial expression. In this way, we analyzed the shape of the face after...

Die visuelle Enkodierung emotionaler Gesichtsausdrücke stellt bisher ein Rätsel dar. Ziel der vorliegenden Dissertation war es daher, durch die Untersuchung von Blickbewegungen und ihrer Funktionalität für das Erkennen von Gesichtsausdrücken, neue Erkenntnisse zu den zugrundeliegenden Prozessen zu liefern. In vier Blickbewegungsexperimenten, in denen Probanden ärgerliche, angeekelte, fröhliche, traurige und neutrale Gesichtsausdrücke in statischer und dynamischer Darbietung kategorisieren sollten, wurde untersucht, ob allgemeine Strategien der Gesichterverarbeitung bereits auf der Ebene der visuellen Enkodierung anhand spezifischer Blickbewegungsmuster zu identifizieren sind und ob Unterschiede bei der initialen Aufnahme visueller Information als Folge unterschiedlicher Fixationspositionen das Erkennen von Gesichtsausdrücken beeinflussen. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass für statische Gesichtsausdrücke nur sehr wenige Fixationen gemacht werden, die hauptsächlich auf das Zentrum des Gesichts und auf emotionsspezifische, diagnostische Gesichtsmerkmale gerichtet sind, was eine kombiniert holistisch-merkmalsorientierte Enkodierungsstrategie nahelegt. Für weniger intensive und dynamische Gesichtsausdrücke deuten die Ergebnisse auf eine stärker konfigurale Enkodierungsstrategie mit mehreren Fixationen zu einer größeren Anzahl unterschiedlicher Gesichtsmerkmale hin. Darüber hinaus waren Blickbewegungsunterschiede relevant für die Emotionserkennung. Die Fixation diagnostischer Gesichtsmerkmale beschleunigte das Erkennen statischer Gesichtsausdrücke. Für das Erkennen dynamischer Gesichtsausdrücke war hingegen eine zentrale Fixationsposition vorteilhaft, vermutlich durch die Förderung von holistischer Gesichterverarbeitung und Veränderungserkennung. Insgesamt zeigte sich, dass allgemeine Strategien der Gesichterverarbeitung bereits auf der Ebene der visuellen Enkodierung identifizierbar sind und dass Unterschiede in diesen frühen Prozessen die Erkennungsleistung beeinflussen. / Processes that underlie the visual encoding of facial expressions still pose a conundrum. Therefore, this dissertation set out to provide new insights into these processes by investigating gaze behaviour and its functional role during the recognition of facial expressions. Four experimental studies were conducted to examine whether general face processing strategies are already reflected on the visual encoding stage of facial expression recognition indicated by specific fixation patterns and whether differences at the initial uptake of visual information as a consequence of varying fixation positions affect facial expression recognition. Gaze behaviour was recorded while participants were asked to categorise angry, disgusted, happy, sad, and neutral facial expressions in static and dynamic displays. Results revealed that gaze behaviour for static facial expressions was characterised by only a few fixations mainly directed to the centre and to expression-specific diagnostic facial features of the face, suggesting a combined holistic and featural encoding strategy. For less intense and dynamic facial expressions, results indicated a more configural encoding strategy with multiple fixations to a greater number of different facial features. In addition, differences in gaze strategy were relevant for facial expression recognition. Fixating diagnostic facial features accelerated the recognition of static facial expressions. In contrast, a central fixation position was beneficial for recognizing dynamic facial expressions, presumably by facilitating holistic face processing and change detection. Overall, findings demonstrated that general face processing strategies are already reflected on the visual encoding stage of facial expression recognition and that variations in these early processes affect recognition performance.