Damage to articular cartilage, whether through degeneration (i.e. osteoarthritis) or acute injury, is particularly debilitating due to the tissue's limited regenerative capacity. These impairments are common: nearly 27 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis and 36% of athletes suffer from traumatic cartilage defects. Allografts are the preferred treatment for large cartilage defects, but demand for these tissues outweighs their supply. To generate additional replacement tissues, tissue engineering strategies have been studied as a cell-based alternative therapy. Our laboratory has had great success repeatedly achieving native or near-native mechanical and biochemical properties in grafts engineered from chondrocyte-seeded agarose hydrogels. The most common iteration of this technique yields a disk of ~4 mm diameter and ~2.3 mm thickness. However, much work is still needed to increase the potential for clinical translation of this product. Our laboratory operates under the premise that in vivo success is predicated on replicating native graft properties in vitro. Compared to these engineered grafts, native grafts are larger in size. They consist of cartilage, which has properties varying in a depth-specific manner, anchored to a porous subchondral bone base. They are able to be stored between harvest and transplantation. This dissertation presents strategies to address a subset of the remaining challenges of reproducing these aspects in engineered grafts. First, graft macrostructure was addressed by incorporating a porous base to generate biomimetic osteochondral grafts. Previous studies have shown advantages to using porous metals as the bony base. Likewise, we confirmed that osteochondral constructs can be cultured to robust tissue properties using porous titanium bases. The titanium manufacturing method, selective laser melting, offers precise control, allowing for tailoring of base shape and pore geometry for optimal cartilage growth and osteointegration. In addition to viability studies, we investigated the influence of the porous base on the measured mechanical properties of the construct's gel region. Through measurements and correlation analysis, we linked a decrease in measured mechanical properties to pore area. We promote characterization of such parameters as an important consideration for the generation of functional grafts using any porous base. Next, we investigated a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) denaturation of gel-incorporated albumin as a strategy for inducing local tissue property changes in constructs during in vitro growth. HIFU is a low cost, non-contact, non-invasive ultrasound modality that is used clinically and in the laboratory for such applications as ablation of uterine fibroids and soft tissue tumors. Denaturing such proteins has been shown to increase local stiffness. We displayed the ability incorporate albumin into tissue engineering relevant hydrogels, alter transport properties, and visualize treatment with its denaturation. HIFU treatment is aided by the porous metal base, allowing for augmented heating. Though heating cartilage is used in the clinic, it is associated with cell death. We investigated this effect, finding that the associated loss of viability remains localized to the treatment zone over time. This promotes the option of balancing desired changes in tissue properties against the concomitant cell viability loss. In order to match clinically utilized allografts, engineered constructs must be scaled up in size. This process is limited by diffusional transport of nutrients and other chemical factors, leading to preferential extracellular matrix deposition in the construct periphery. Many methods are being investigated for overcoming this limitation in fixed-size constructs. In this chapter, we investigated a novel strategy in which small constructs are cultured for future assembly. This modular assembly offers coverage of variable sized defects with more consistent growth with more uniform distribution of biochemical constituents than large constructs cultured on their own. Physiologic failure testing showed that integration of these tissues may be strengthened by increased subunit strength or assembled culture. It is expected that bioadhesive caulking and/or the incorporation of osteochondral bases would further increase integration of the assembled large graft. Finally, we sought to provide a preservation/storage protocol for engineered cartilage constructs. Such a technique is critical for clinical translation, providing the engineered graft with a “shelf-life.” We adopted and evaluated the Missouri Osteochondral Allograft Preservation System (MOPS), which had been shown to maintain cell viability in native grafts for at least 63 days at room temperature without serum or growth factors. Within the current clinical of 28 days, MOPS maintained chondrocyte viability and 75% of the pre-preservation Young's modulus without significant decline in biochemical content, however it did not extend the clinical window as it had with native grafts. Refrigeration with MOPS did not show any benefit at day 28, but proved better with longer preservation times. These results are the first evaluating engineered cartilage storage. Further optimization is necessary to extend storage tissue property maintenance in storage. Overall, this dissertation presents four strategies for increasing the translation potential of engineered articular cartilage grafts by better matching the clinically utilized native allograft system. Combining these techniques, one could ideally engineer small, interlocking ostechondral constructs with HIFU modified interface properties, which could be stored from maturity to implantation. Future optimization is required to better understand and utilize these methods to engineer fully functional, clinically relevant grafts.

O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da intensidade de chuva e diferentes quantidades de palha de cana-de-açúcar sobre a eficácia de herbicidas aplicados em pré-emergência no controle da tiririca. Foram realizados dois experimentos, ambos conduzidos em casa-de-vegetação. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos casualizados, com 4 repetições, para os dois experimentos. No primeiro experimento os tratamentos foram distribuídos em um esquema fatorial 3 x 3 x 2 x 2, constituídos pela combinação entre quantidades de cobertura morta de palha de cana-de-açúcar que foram adicionadas à superfície do solo (0, 10, 20 t/ha), herbicidas aplicados em pré-emergência (sulfentrazone a 0,8 kg i.a./ha e imazapic a 147 g i.a./ha) e um tratamento sem aplicação de herbicida, intensidades de chuva (10 e 20 mm), e épocas em que foram simuladas chuvas após a aplicação dos herbicidas (24 e 168 horas). No segundo experimento os tratamentos foram distribuídos em um esquema fatorial 2 x 3 x 5, constituídos pela combinação entre quantidades de cobertura morta de palha de cana-de-açúcar (0, 15 t/ha), herbicidas aplicados em pré-emergência (sulfentrazone a 0,8 kg i.a./ha e imazapic a 147 g i.a./ha) e um tratamento sem aplicação de herbicida, e épocas em que foi simulada chuva após a aplicação dos herbicidas (0, 3, 6, 9 e 12 dias). Em ambos experimentos foram avaliados: o número de plantas por vaso, biomassas secas da parte aérea e das estruturas do sistema subterrâneo, e número de tubérculos e bulbos sadios. A partir da análise dos resultados, para o primeiro experimento conclui-se que, para o herbicida sulfentrazone, a presença de 20 t/ha de palha de cana-de-açúcar diminuiu a eficácia do herbicida. O herbicida imazapic teve um bom desempenho tanto na ausência quanto na presença de palha, e causou redução das variáveis estudadas independente da intensidade de chuva. A intensidade de chuva de 10 mm, não foi suficiente para transpor o herbicida sulfentrazone na quantidade de 20 t/ha de palha. Já a intensidade de 20 mm foi suficiente para lixiviar o herbicida até mesmo na maior quantidade de palha. O herbicida sulfentrazone suporta mais a permanência na palha, pois apresentou melhor eficácia em relação ao imazapic, quando a chuva foi simulada 168 horas após a aplicação dos herbicidas. Para o segundo experimento pode-se concluir que, as épocas em que foram simuladas as chuvas, não afetaram as variáveis estudadas, não havendo, portanto, diferença se a chuva ocorreu no dia em que foi aplicado o herbicida, ou se ocorreu um período sem chuva de 12 dias. Os herbicidas sulfentrazone e imazapic reduziram o número de plantas, o número de tubérculos, biomassa seca de bulbos, biomassa seca de rizoma e raiz, e biomassa seca da parte aérea, independente da presença de palha. / The present work was developed with the objective of assessing the effects of the intensity of rain and different quantities of sugar cane mulch residue on the efficacy of herbicides applied in pre-emergence for the purple nutsedge control. Two experiments were performed, both conducted in greenhouses. The experiments were performed by randomly choosing blocks with four repetitions. In the first experiment, the treatments were distributed in a factorial scheme 3 x 3 x 2 x 2, constituted by the combination between quantities of dead coverage of sugar cane mulch residue which were added to the soil surface (0, 10, 20 t/ha), herbicides applied in preemergence (sulfentrazone at 0,8 kg i.a./ha and imazapic at 147 g i.a./ha) and a treatment without the application of herbicides, rain intensities (10 and 20 mm), and seasons in which were simulated rains after the application of herbicides (24 and 168 hours). In the second experiment, the treatments were distributed in a factorial scheme 2 x 3 x 5, constituted by the combination between quantities of dead covering of sugar cane mulch residue (0, 15, t/ha), herbicides applied in pre-emergence (sulfentrazone at 0,8 kg i.a./ha and imazapic at 147 g i.a./ha), a treatment without the application of herbicides and seasons in which were simulated rains after the application of herbicides (0, 3, 6, and 12 days). It was evaluated in both experiments: the number of plants per vase, dry biomasses from the aerial parts, from the underground system structures and the number of healthy tubers and bulbs. From the analysis of the results of the first experiment, it may conclude that, to the herbicide sulfentrazone, the presence of 20 t/ha of sugar cane mulch residue diminished its efficacy. The herbicide imazapic had a good performance with the absence as well as with the presence of the mulch residue, and caused a reduction in the varieties studied independently of the intensity of rain. The intensity of rain of 10 mm, wasn’t sufficient to overpass the herbicide sulfentrazone in the quantity of 20 t/ha of mulch residue. But the intensity of 20 mm was enough to lixiviate the herbicide even in the biggest quantity of mulch residue. The herbicide sulfentrazone endures more the abiding on the mulch residue, because it presented a better efficacy in relation to the imazapic, when the rain was simulated 168 hours after the application of the herbicides. From the second experiment it may conclude that the season in which was simulated rains, it didn't affect the varieties studied, therefore there was no difference when the rain occurred on the day when the herbicide was applied, or if it occurred on a 12 day period without rain. The herbicides sulfentrazone and imazapic reduced the number of plants, the number of tubers, dry biomass of bulbs, dry biomass of rhizoma roots and dry biomass of the aerial parts, independently of the presence of mulch residue.

O sucesso do tratamento de implantes dentários depende da quantidade e qualidade óssea da área de interesse e o uso da Tomografia Computadorizada por Feixe Cônico (TCFC) pode ser correlacionado para a sua estimativa. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar e comparar os níveis de escala de cinza dos voxels de imagens obtidas por TCFC de mandíbulas atróficas com o auxílio de programa para diagnóstico e planejamento de implantes e correlacionar a Intensidade Pixel (IP) com a classificação subjetiva do Índice de Qualidade Óssea (IQO). Foram avaliadas imagens tomográficas de 10 mandíbulas atróficas obtidas do banco de dados do LAPI-FOUSP (Laboratório para Análise e Processamento de Imagens) que receberam 8 marcações em regiões normalmente utilizadas para colocação de implantes (4 em região anterior e 4 em região posterior), sobre estas foram posicionados fios ortodônticos para padronização dos cortes tomográficos e simular posições ideais de implantes. Cortes transaxiais das áreas demarcadas foram obtidas para visualização e análise de 4 regiões corticais e 3 regiões trabeculares do tecido ósseo de cada corte, para a seleção de área foi utilizada a ferramenta Região de Interesse (ROI) de cada programa. As imagens foram analisadas por 3 programas de planejamento Romexis (Planmeca,Finlandia), XoranCAT® (Xoran Technologies, EUA) e OsiriX® (Free Software Foundation, 32 bits, EUA). Os dados foram submetidos a análise estatística de Correlação de Spearman em um nível de significância de 5% (p<0,05), análise de correlação intraclasse intra-observador e inter-observador pelo teste Kappa ponderado e o teste qui-quadrado. Os resultados apresentaram que os programas Romexis e OsiriX apresentaram melhor acuidade para a avaliação subjetiva de qualidade óssea, em contrapartida o programa Xoran apresentou inconsistência de dados. Concluiu-se que há correlação entre Intensidade de Pixel e Qualidade óssea de acordo com os resultados encontrados para os programas OsiriX e Romexis / The success of dental implants treatment depends on the bone quantity and quality of the area of interest and the use of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) can be correlated to an estimative. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the grey scale levels of voxels obtained by CBCT of atrophic mandibles with the aid of software for diagnosis and planning implants and correlates the Pixel Intensity (PI) with the subjective classification of Bone Quality Index (BQI). Tomographic images of 10 atrofic mandibles obtained from the data base of LAPI-FOUSP (Laboratory of analysis and imaging processing) were evaluated, received 8 marks in areas normally used for implant placement (4 in anterior and 4 in posterior region) on these orthodontic wires were positioned for standardization of tomographic images and simulate optimal implant positions. Transaxial slices of the demarcated areas were made for visualization and analysis of four regions of interest for cancellous bone and three regions of interest for cortical bone and for selection of each area a tool called Region of Interest (ROI) was used by each software. The images were analised by three diferent planning software, Romexis (Planmeca, Finland), XoranCAT® (Xoran Technologies, EUA) e OsiriX® (Free Software Foundation, 32 bits, EUA). Data were subjected to statistical analysis of Spearman correlation, intraclass intra-observer and inter-observer analysis correlation and weighted Kappa concordance coefficient with 5% significance level and chi-squared test; The results presented that Romexis and OsiriX software showed better accuracy for subjective assessment of bone quality, on the other hand Xoran software showed data inconsistency. This study concluded that a correlation was found between Pixel Intensity (PI) and Bone Quality (BQ) due to the results of OsiriX and Romexis software.

A expressão agronegócio (agribusiness) originou-se na Universidade de Harvard na School of Business Administration, em 1957, com a publicação do livro A Concept of Agribusiness, de John Davis e Ray Goldberg. A ideia do agronegócio resulta em uma cadeia produtiva, com vários elos bastante interdependentes, das fases de produção até a comercialização do produto final O Brasil é visto por especialistas como um potencial fornecedor de alimentos global. E assim, a manutenção e o crescimento da participação produtiva do setor agrícola e pecuário nacional dependem de questões relacionadas à tecnologia. A problemática do trabalho envolve questões da diferenciação entre agropecuária e agronegócio. As fontes de referências de dados trazem informações, mas não englobam atividades da pré-produção, por isso, procurou-se responder: Não seria mais apropriado acrescentar a esta balança comercial os setores para trás, já que se trata como agronegócio? O objetivo é analisar por outra perspectiva os dados da balança comercial do agronegócio, propondo a adição de insumos intrínsecos aos produtos agropecuários, sob a ótica das intensidades tecnológicas, analisando seu comportamento no período de 1997 a 2017, permitindo assim, discorrer sobre o desempenho dos principais grupos de produtos da pauta de exportação e importação desse setor que serve de alicerce para a economia brasileira. Os resultados apontaram para fez diferença em termos de contribuição para a balança comercial do agronegócio a inclusão dos grupos de produtos peixes e crustáceos; produtos farmacêuticos; adubos (fertilizantes); e tratores na nova proposta a contribuição para a balança comercial total é menor. Ademais, os dados mostraram que o país tem dependência externa das vacinas e dos adubos e que esses produtos são de alta e média-alta intensidade tecnológica. / The term agribusiness originated at Harvard University at the School of Business Administration in 1957 with the publication of A Concept of Agribusiness by John Davis and Ray Goldberg. The idea of agribusiness results in a productive chain, with several interdependent links, from the production phases to the commercialization of the final product. Brazil is seen by experts as a potential global food supplier. The maintenance and growth of the productive participation of the national agricultural and livestock sector depends on issues related to technology. The problem of this papers involves issues of differentiation between agriculture and agribusiness. The sources of data references provide information, but do not include pre-production activities, so we tried to answer: Would it not be more appropriate to add the input sector to this trade balance, since it is called as agribusiness? The objective is to analyze from another perspective the agribusiness trade balance data, proposing the addition of intrinsic inputs to agricultural products, from the perspective of technological intensities, analyzing their behavior in the period from 1997 to 2017, thus allowing a discussion on the performance of the agribusinesses. main product groups of the export and import tariff of this sector that serves as a foundation for the Brazilian economy. The results pointed to the difference in terms of the contribution to the agribusiness trade balance to include the fish and crustaceans product groups; pharmaceutical products; fertilizers; and tractors in the new proposal the contribution to the total trade balance is lower. In addition, the data showed that the country has external dependence on vaccines and fertilizers and that these products are high and medium-high technological intensity.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among women. About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. Existing methods of early detection of breast cancer include mammography and palpation, either by patient self-examination or clinical breast exam. Palpation is the manual detection of differences in tissue stiffness between breast tumors and normal breast tissue. The success of palpation relies on the fact that the stiffness of breast tumors is often an order of magnitude greater than that of normal breast tissue, i.e., breast lesions feel ''hard'' or ''lumpy'' as compared to normal breast tissue. A mammogram is an x-ray that allows a qualified specialist to examine the breast tissue for any suspicious areas. Mammography is less likely to reveal breast tumors in women younger than 50 years with denser breast than in older women. When a suspicious site is detected in the breast through a breast self-exam or on a screening mammogram, the doctor may request an ultrasound of the breast tissue. A breast ultrasound can provide evidence about whether the lump is a solid mass, a cyst filled with fluid, or a combination of the two. An invasive needle biopsy is the only diagnostic procedure that can definitely determine if the suspicious area is cancerous. In the clinic, 80% of women who have a breast biopsy do not have breast cancer. Most women with breast cancer diagnosed will have some type of surgery to remove the tumor. Depending on the type of breast cancer and how advanced it is, the patient might need other types of treatment as well, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Image-guided minimally-invasive treatment of localized breast tumor as an alternative to traditional breast surgery, such as high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment, has become a subject of intensive research. HIFU applies extreme high temperatures to induce irreversible cell injury, tumor apoptosis and coagulative necrosis. Compared with conventional surgical procedures the main advantages of HIFU ablation lie in the fact that it is non-invasive, less scarring and less painful, allowing for shorter recovery time. HIFU can be guided by MRI (MRgFUS) or by conventional diagnostic ultrasound (USgFUS). Worldwide, thousands of patients with uterine fibroids, liver cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, bone tumors, and renal cancer have been treated by USgFUS. In this dissertation, the objective is to develop an integrated Harmonic Motion Imaging guided Focused Ultrasound (HMIgFUS) system as a clinical monitoring technique for breast HIFU with the added capability of detecting tumors for treatment planning, evaluation of tissue stiffness changes during HIFU ablation for treatment monitoring in real time, and assessment of thermal lesion sizes after treatment evaluation. A new HIFU treatment planning method was described that used oscillatory radiation force induced displacement amplitude variations to detect the HIFU focal spot before lesioning. Using this method, we were able to visualize the HMIgFUS focal region at variable depths. By comparing the estimated displacement profiles with lesion locations in pathology, we demonstrated the feasibility of using this HMI-based technique to localize the HIFU focal spot and predict lesion location during the planning phase. For HIFU monitoring, a HIFU lesion detection and ablation monitoring method was first developed using oscillatory radiation force induced displacement amplitude variations in real time. Using this method, the HMIgFUS focal region and lesion formation were visualized in real time at a feedback rate of 2.4 Hz. By comparing the estimated lesion size against gross pathology, the feasibility of using HMIgFUS to monitor treatment and lesion formation without interruption is demonstrated. In order to reduce the imaging time, it is shown in this dissertation that using the steered FUS beam, HMI can be used to image a 2.3 times larger ROI without requiring physical movement of the transducer. Using steering for HMI can be used to shorten the total imaging duration without requiring physical movement of the transducer. For the application of breast tumor, HMI and HMIgFUS were optimized and applied to ex vivo breast tissue. The results showed that HMI is experimentally capable of mapping and differentiating stiffness in normal and abnormal breast tissues. HMIgFUS can also successfully generate thermal lesions on normal and pathological breast tissues. HMI has also been applied to post-surgical breast mastectomy specimens to mimic the in vivo environment. In the end, the first HMI clinical system has been built with added capability of GUP-based parallel beamforming. A clinical trial has been approved at Columbia University to image breast tumor on patient. The HMI clinical system has shown to be able to map fibroadenoma mass on two patients with valid HMI displacement. The study in this dissertation may yield an early-detection technique for breast cancer without any age discrimination and thus, increase the survival rate.

Advanced-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) presents very difficult scenarios for radiation therapy (RT) planning. The infiltration of tumor to the skull base and beyond means that the tumor is very close to critical normal organs (organs at risk, OARs). Despite the advent of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) treatment technique---the state-of-art RT technique, conflicting requirements between organ protection and target dose conformity is still problematic. The objectives of the present research are (1) to investigate the dosimetry properties of IMRT treatment in advanced-stage NPC in respect of its dosimetric limitations and planning problems, (2) to develop new methods and tools to resolve such problems, in particular to improve the quality of treatment plans and efficiency of the dose planning and optimization process. A series of four inter-linked studies were conducted to address these issues. / In conclusion, the solutions to several major problems in IMRT planning for advanced-stage NPC were investigated and established. It has been demonstrated in this research that, by applying these methods and tools, significant improvement in the dosimetry and efficiency of IMRT treatment planning can be accomplished as compared with conventional IMRT planning techniques. It is expected that such would translate into an improvement in treatment throughput, better tumor control and reduction in normal tissues complications. The methods developed have potential to be applied to all stages of NPC and to other tumor sites. / The first study was to improve the efficacy in target coverage and organs sparing using an "organ-splitting" approach. The OARs which overlapped with targets were split into target-overlapping and non-overlapping segments and each segment was assigned with different constraints parameters to increase the degree of flexibility during optimization. As a result, a steep gradient in the dose distribution at the regions of interface between the targets and normal critical organs could be achieved and treatment quality was improved. In the second study, a thorough dosimetric comparison between conventional 2-dimensional (2D) RT and IMRT plans was conducted to determine, with reference to outcome of 2D treatments, the extended tolerance dose limits for the critical organs, especially that of the brainstem and spinal cord, and their planning organ at risk volume. Such data could then serve as reference in IMRT planning when the dose of critical organs need be exceeded in order to allow adequate dose to a very close by target. In the third study, the feasibility of using interpolated contours for segmentation of targets and OARs in IMRT planning was investigated. The result indicated that the use of interpolated contours in IMRT planning could significantly reduce the contouring time by about 50% without degrading the target coverage and OARS sparing. In the final study, an array of dose constraint templates that could accommodate different degrees of overlap between the targets and OARs, together with a template selection program, were developed to improve the efficiency of IMRT planning. By applying the methods and tools developed, IMRT treatment planning of advanced NPC could become more efficient and less dependent on planner's experience. / Chau, Ming Chun. / Adviser: Anthony Chan Tak Cheung. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-02, Section: B, page: 0948. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 118-128). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Este trabalho apresenta os principais fenômenos que regem a propagação de trincas em anéis de rolamentos, por meio da aplicação de conceitos da Mecânica da Fratura Elástica Linear e Fadiga. O estado complexo de tensões atuante sobre o anel do rolamento culmina em carregamento modo misto sobre as paredes da trinca. Para o problema de rolamento proposto, são considerados os modos de abertura e de cisalhamento puro no plano do defeito, sob regime cíclico. O fator de intensidade de tensões K e a integral J são parâmetros que estabelecem condições de fratura e são suficientes, para caracterizar a criticidade de trincas instaladas em anéis de rolamentos. A avaliação da criticidade de defeitos é baseada na aplicação de Critérios de Falha distintos, oriundos de literaturas especializadas. A partir dos parâmetros de fratura, K e J , e da avaliação da criticidade de defeitos é possível determinar a vida remanescente à fadiga, por meio de modelos que descrevem a taxa de propagação de trincas. Os resultados indicam que o modo misto de carregamento de trinca considerado na dissertação, é um dos parâmetros mais importantes a considera-se na nucleação e propagação de defeitos em rolamentos, e são responsáveis por uma redução significativa da vida à fadiga originalmente estipulada. / This work presents the main phenomenon that governs the crack propagation in bearing rings, through the application of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue concepts. The complex stress state acting on the bearing ring produces a mixed mode loading over the crack faces. The proposed bearing problem considers a tensile mode and pure shear mode in the plane of the defect, both under a cyclic regime. The stress intensity factor K and the J -integral parameters define the fracture conditions and suffice to characterize the severity of cracks developed in bearing rings. The procedure for defect assessment is based on the application of different failure criteria. Using parameters, K and J, coupled to the defect assessment procedures, it is possible to estimate the remaining fatigue life, through models that describe the crack propagation rate. The results indicate that the mixed mode loading considered in this work is one of the most important parameters in nucleation and propagation of bearing defects and are responsible for a significant reduction in the original estimation of fatigue life.

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No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_hs_me_rcla.pdf: 3105261 bytes, checksum: 69873282054967688d17b367cf3341fc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-17 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / O objetivo principal do presente estudo foi comparar o consumo de oxigênio (VO2) medido em jogo treino (J-T) de futsal com o VO2 estimado através das equações de regressão geradas a partir da relação entre frequência cardíaca (FC) e VO2 (FC-VO2), obtidas nos testes contínuo em esteira (CONT) e intermitente com recuperação em quadra (IT-R). Com base no VO2 foi calculado o dispêndio energético (DE) no J-T, considerando somente a demanda aeróbia e a demanda total, aeróbia, anaeróbia alática e lática, estimadas a partir do VO2, componente rápido do VO2 pós exercício e o equivalente de 1 mmol•L-1 de lactato sanguíneo ([La-]) para 3 mL de O2•kg-1, respectivamente. Além disso, a intensidade do J-T foi comparada com um jogo oficial (J-O), através da FC. Dez jogadores de futsal profissionais participaram do estudo (22,20 ± 3,22 anos). Nos testes para verificação da FC-VO2, foram realizados o CONT e IT-R, e comparado com as informações do J-T. O VO2 estimado a partir da FC-VO2 foi calculado por 2 métodos, usando a média do consumo estimado (VO2-M), e considerando a aérea integral do consumo estimado (VO2-A). A estimativa do VO2 pela FC-VO2 não diferiu estatisticamente do VO2 medido durante o J-T, tanto quando estimado por CONT ou IT-R. Na análise de correlação de Pearson, a estimativa do VO2 através das equações geradas pelo CONT apresentou correlação classificada como muito fraca e sem significância estatística (P>0,05) com o J-T, por ambos os métodos (VO2-M, r = 0,10; VO2-A, r = -0,01). Já na estimativa do VO2 a partir do IT-R, apresentou correlação moderada e sem significância estatística (P>0.05) (VO2-M, r = 0,47; VO2-A, r = 0,42). A análise de Bland Altman, demonstrou que a estimativa do VO2 por meio da FC-VO2 possui baixa associação com o J-T, tanto quando realizada a partir de teste CONT quando por IT-R. O metabolismo predominante durante a partida (J-T) foi o aeróbio (93%), seguido do anaeróbio alático (5%) e anaeróbio lático (2%). Além disso, foi verificado que o J-T teve intensidade 6% menor do que um J-O. O DE em atividade de futsal (J-T) apresentou 12,92 ± 1,15 kcal•min-1 (MET: 10,66 ± 1,48) quando considerado só o metabolismo aeróbio, e 13,89 ± 1,33 kcal•min-1 (MET: 11,46 ± 1,66) quando considerado aeróbio mais anaeróbio. O DE energético da análise de jogos não oficiais devem ser corrigidos pela intensidade do jogo real, caso se pretenda calcular o DE do J-O de futsal, uma vez que o J-T subestimou o J-O em 6%. A estimativa do VO2 e DE com base na FC-VO2 não deve ser utilizada para estimar o VO2 individualmente. No entanto, considerando que o teste IT-R apresentou correlação moderada e resultados mais próximos ao do J-T, em comparação ao CONT (correlação muito fraca), o teste intermitente com recuperação em quadra (IT-R) pode ser uma alternativa para estimar o VO2 médio de grupos de sujeitos com características similares. / The main objective of the present study was to compare the oxygen consumption (VO2) measured in futsal training game (T-G) with the estimated VO2 through the regression equations generated from the relation between heart rate (HR) and VO2 (HR-VO2) obtained in continuous treadmill (CONT) and intermittent with recovery on court (IT-R) tests. Based on VO2, the energy expenditure (EE) in the T-G was calculated, considering only the aerobic demand and the total demand, aerobic, anaerobic, alatic and lactic, estimated from VO2, fast component of VO2 post exercise and the equivalent of 1 mmol•L-1 of blood lactate ([La-]) para 3 mL de O2•kg-1, respectively. In addition, the intensity of the T-G was compared with an official game (O-G) through HR. Ten professional futsal players participated in the study (22.20 ± 3.22 years). In the tests for HR-VO2 verification, the CONT and IT-R were performed, and compared to T-G information. The estimated VO2 from the HR-VO2 was calculated by 2 methods, using the estimated average consumption (VO2-M), and considering the integral area of the estimated consumption (VO2-A). The estimation of VO2 by HR-VO2 did not differ statistically from VO2 measured during T-G, either when estimated by CONT or IT-R. In the Pearson correlation analysis, the estimation of VO2 through the equations generated by CONT showed a very weak correlation and without statistical significance (P> 0.05) with T-G, by both methods (VO2-M, r = 0, 10; VO2-A, r = -0.01). In the estimation of VO2 from the IT-R, it presented moderate correlation and no statistical significance (P> 0.05) (VO2-M, r = 0.47, VO2-A, r = 0.42). The analysis by Bland Altman, showed that the estimation of VO2 by HR-VO2 has a low association with T-G, both when performed from the CONT test and by IT-R. The predominant metabolism during the game (T-G) was aerobic (93%), followed by alactic anaerobic (5%) and lactic anaerobic (2%). In addition, it was verified that the T-G had intensity 6% smaller than an official game (O-G). The EE in futsal (T-G) activity showed 12.92 ± 1.15 kcal•min-1 (MET: 10.66 ± 1.48) when considering only the aerobic metabolism, and 13.89 ± 1.33 kcal•min-1 (MET: 11.46 ± 1.66) when considered aerobic plus anaerobic. The EE of the analysis of unofficial games must be corrected by the intensity of the real game, if you want to calculate the EE of the futsal O-G, since the T-G underestimated the O-G by 6%. The estimation of VO2 and EE based on HR-VO2 should not be used to estimate VO2 individually. However, considering that the IT-R test presented moderate correlation and results closer to that of the T-G, compared to the CONT (very weak correlation), the intermittent with recovery on court test (IT-R) may be an alternative to estimate VO2 average in groups of subjects with similar characteristics. / CNPq: 160137/2014-4

Land ecosystems absorb about a quarter of all human emissions of carbon (C) by fossil fuel burning and land use change. This percentage varies greatly within years due to the land ecosystem response to climate variability and disturbance. Significant uncertainties remain in our knowledge of the magnitude and spatio-temporal changes in the land C sinks. The aims of my thesis are 1) to evaluate the capacity of different dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) to reproduce the fluxes and stocks of the land C cycle and 2) to analyse the drivers of change in the land C over the last two decades (1990-2009). In the first part of this thesis I evaluated the DGVM results over two regions: the Northern Hemisphere (NH) and the Tropics. Over the NH DGVMs tend to simulate longer growing seasons and a greater positive leaf area index trend in response to warming than that observed from satellite data. For the tropical region we found a high spatial correlation between the DGVMs and the observations for C stocks and fluxes, but the models produced higher C stocks over the non-forested areas. In the second part I studied the processes controlling the regional land C cycle. The findings can be summarized as: (1) the land CO2 sink has increased over the study period, through increases in tropical and southern regions with negligible change in northern regions; (2) globally and in most regions, the land sinks are not increasing as fast as the growth rate of excess atmospheric CO2 and (3) changes in water availability, particularly over the dry season, played a fundamental role in determining regional trends in NPP. My work seeks to improve our understanding of the relationship between the C cycle and its drivers, however considerable research is needed to understand the role of additional processes such as land use change, nitrogen deposition, to mention just a few.

O presente trabalho avaliou os efeitos provocados pela laserterapia de baixa intensidade (LTBI) no \'lâmbda\' 780 nm, 30 mW de potência e tempo de exposição de 150 segundos, resultando em uma fluência de 112,5 J/\'CM POT.2\' e energia total de 4,5 J, sobre o comportamento osteocondutor da vitrocerâmica elaborada a partir do genérico do biovidro de composição: 45% \'SI\'O IND.2\', 24,5% \'NA IND.2\'O\', 24,5% \'CA\'O\' e 6% \'P IND.2\'O IND.5\' em perfurações ósseas em tíbias de ratos. O biovidro foi recozido em cuba de inox acima de sua temperatura de transição vítrea, a 620 graus Celsius por 30 minutos e mantido a 790 graus Celsius por 60 minutos, em seguida foi realizada a espectroscopia Raman para verificar a cristalinidade. Foram realizadas perfurações abaixo da tuberosidade da tíbia direita de 64 machos de ratos da raça Wistar (Rattus norvegicus albinus) na idade adulta. Os mesmos foram divididos aleatoriamente em 4 grupos sendo eles: um controle e três submetidos à procedimento experimental de implante e/ou irradiação laser de baixa intensidade. Em todos os grupos foram utilizados 16 indivíduos. Posteriormente, os animais de cada grupo foram subdivididos em dois subgrupos cada, de acordo com o tempo de vida antes da eutanásia, que ocorreu com 7 e 13 dias P.O. A análise das características das fibras colágenas para determinar a neoformação tecidual, bem como seu estado de maturação, foi realizada através de corpos de prova em forma de lâminas coradas com HE observadas à microscopia de luz comum para verificar a presença de células no foco de lesão, lâminas coradas com Picro Sirius sob luz polarizada a fim de verificar o estado organizacional e microscopia eletrônica de varredura, utilizando métodos técnico-experimentais para avaliar a interação do biomaterial com o tecido ósseo. Os valores de birrefringência demonstraram uma melhor organização tecidual dos grupos irradiados com ou sem o implante de vitrocerâmico (p < 0,05), os grupos com vitrocerâmico apresentaram o tecido mais difuso, até mesmo nas regiões mais centrais da lesão aos 13 dias. O vitrocerâmico estimulou a proliferação osteoblástica (p < 0,05), assim como a radiação laser (p < 0,01). Pode-se concluir que o vitrocerâmico utilizado apresenta capacidade osteocondutora e que a radiação laser acelerou o processo de reparo na presença ou não do vitrocerâmico. / The present study evaluated the effects caused by the low level laser therapy (LLLT) at \'lâmbda\' 780 nm, power of 30 mW and dose of 112.5 J/\'CM POT.2\' and total energy of 4.5 J on the behavior osteoconductor of the glass-ceramic drafted from generic of bioglass of composition: 45% \'SI\'O IND.2\', 24.5% \'NA IND.2\'O\', 24.5% \'CA\'O\' and 6% \'P IND.2\'O IND.5\' in drillings in tibia bone of rats. The bioglass was anneal in cuba of stainless above its glass transition temperature, to 620 Celsius degrees for 30 minutes and maintained at 790 Celsius degrees for 60 minutes, then was held to Raman spectroscopy to verify the crystallinity. Drillings were made below the tuberosity of the right tibia of 64 males of the race Wistar rats (Rattus Norvegicus Albinus) in adult age. They were randomly divided into 4 groups which are: a control and three underwent experimental procedure to implant and/or of low intensity laser irradiation. In all groups were used 16 individuals. Later, the animals in each group were further divided into two subgroups each, according to the time of life before euthanasia, which occurs with 7 and 13 days postoperative. The analysis of the characteristics of collagen fibers was conducted through: slides stained with HE seen the light microscopy, to quantify the presence of cells in the focus of injury, slides stained with Picro Sirius Red under polarized light to verify the organizational state, microscope electronic scanning, using technical experimental methods to evaluate the interaction of biomaterial with the bone tissue. The values of birefringence showed better tissue organization of groups irradiated with or without the implant of glass-ceramic (p < 0.05), the groups with glass-ceramic showed collagen fibers more diffuse, even in the most central of injury to 13 days. The glass-ceramic stimulated the osteoblast proliferation (p < 0.05) as well as laser radiation (p < 0.01). Thus it is possible to conclude that the glass-ceramic has osteoconductive capacity and that laser radiation accelerated the process of repairing in the presence or not of glass-ceramic.