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Maize (Zea mays L.) production is constrained by a number of stresses, amongst the most important are gray leaf spot (GLS) caused by a fungus Cercospora zeaemaydis Tehon and E.Y. Daniels and Phaeosphaeria leaf spot (PLS) caused by Phaeosphaeria maydis (Henn.). The diverse germplasm comprising farmer collections and exotic material used in the medium and highland altitudes maize breeding programmes in western Kenya has not been improved for resistance to the two diseases. Heterotic patterns of germplasm from this region have also not been studied. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to (i) assess the prevalence, importance, and farmers’ perceptions of GLS and PLS, (ii) characterize maize germplasm collections into their heterotic groups and (iii) improve four maize populations for GLS and PLS resistance through recurrent selection. The participatory rural appraisal (PRA) was conducted at three sites in western Kenya during the 2005/2006 cropping season. Data was generated using a checklist in group discussions with 109 male and 123 female farmers as well as key informants. Constraints were identified and prioritised. The five most limiting, in order of importance, were low soil fertility, poor varieties and seed, drought, Striga, pests and diseases (GLS and PLS). Gray leaf spot and PLS were reported in all sites but farmers did not know the causes of these diseases. Farmers preferred local varieties Tiriki, Anzika and Kipindi due to their greater resistance to diseases than commercial hybrids. Farmer criteria for variety selection were low fertilizer, Striga and disease resistance, drought tolerance, closed tips, and high yield potential. Due to the high cost of hybrid seed farmers selected and planted their own seed from advanced generations from previous seasons. Across all the sites, yield gap between on-farm and expected yield potential was estimated as ranging from 4.73t ha-1 to 5.3t ha-1 mainly due to the identified constraints. Therefore maize breeding should focus on addressing important maize production constraints and farmers’ preferences identified in this study in developing varieties that will increase maize yields on-farm. During 2005/2006, seventy 77 testcrosses were developed through crossing 47 germplasm collections with four population testers, Kitale synthetic II (KSII), Ecuador 573 (EC 573), Pool A and Pool B. Crosses and testers were evaluated at Kakamega during 2006/2007 in a 9 x 9 triple lattice design. Significant (p < 0.05) differences in grain yield, ear height, days to 50% anthesis, GLS and PLS resistance were observed. Both general and specific combining ability effects (GCA and SCA, respectively) were significant (p < 0.01), with SCA accounting for more than 50% of the variation for GLS, PLS and yield and less than 50% for ear height, days to 50% anthesis and silk. This indicated that both additive and non-additive gene effects were important but non-additive gene effects were more important in conditioning these traits. High SCA effects indicated high heterosis between collections and populations. Both yield heterosis and SCA were used to study heterotic patterns, but percentage yield heterosis data was used to classify these materials into heterotic groups. Based on significance (p < 0.05) of percentage yield heterosis as a primary factor for classification, seven collections were classified to Pool A, 17 to Pool B, 12 to KSII and 6 to EC 573 heterotic groups. The study indicated that germplasm collections belong to distinct heterotic groups therefore they can be infused into these populations (Pool A, Pool B, KSII and EC 573). Four populations, KSII, EC 573, Pool A and Pool B were subjected to one cycle of reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS) and two cycles of simple recurrent selection (SRS) during the 2004-2006 cropping seasons at Kakamega. Response to selection was assessed by evaluating C0, C1 and C2 and four commercial checks in a randomised complete block design in three replications at Kakamega and Kitale during 2007. All cycles except C0 of Pool A were more resistant to GLS than the three checks, H623, KSTP94 and PHB3253. Response to selection for GLS was significant (p < 0.01) in the desired direction. Gains ranged from -32.2% to 6.4% cycle-1 for RRS and 0.0% to -61.3% cycle-1 for SRS. Heritability estimates of between 59% and 76.3% for GLS and 39% and 80% for PLS were observed indicating that both GLS and PLS can be improved through selection. Significant negative correlations between GLS and yield were observed in Pool A C0 (r = -0.947, p < 0.01) and between yield and PLS in Pool A C0 (r = -0.926, p < 0.01). These indicated gain in yield as GLS and PLS were selected against. Generally, SRS out performed RRS method both in genetic gain and time, as indicated by gain of -61% for SRS and -32.2% for RRS, respectively. Two cycles of selection were achieved in two years with SRS as compared to only one with RRS. These results clearly demonstrated that it is possible to improve for GLS resistance using simple and reciprocal recurrent selection methods. The main constraints to maize production in Western Kenya were low soil fertility, Striga, drought, lack of seed and diseases. Farmers preferred varieties that can do well under the constraints mentioned. Local collections belonged to distinct heterotic groups with good resistance to GLS and PLS and were highly heterotic to four maize population testers with both SCA and GCA effects being important in conditioning GLS and PLS resistance. Recurrent selection methods were found to improve maize resistance to GLS and PLS. Breeding should therefore, focus in development of hybrids and improvement of populations using these local collections by employing SRS and RRS selection methods with identified constraints and farmer preferences in mind. / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.

Magistro baigiamajame darbe nagrinėjama ES ir NVS kelių eismo saugumo politika, sprendžiant kelių eismo įvykių ir “juodųjų dėmių” problemas. Pasirinkti Lietuvos ir Rusijos atvejai. Pirmoje dalyje aptarta avaringumo problema šiuolaikiniame pasaulyje, pateikti statistiniai duomenys apie kelių eismo įvykiuose žuvusių žmonių skaičių ES ir NVS valstybėse, aptartos prevencinės priemonės, nurodytos kelių eismo įvykių ir „juodųjų dėmių“ atsiradimo priežastys Lietuvos ir Rusijos keliuose, pateiktos „juodųjų dėmių“ sąvokos bei jų nustatymo metodikos. Antroje dalyje nagrinėjami ES kelių transporto ir eismo saugumo reguliavimo teisiniai aspektai, nagrinėjami Lietuvos ir Rusijos svarbiausi kelių eismo saugumą reguliuojantys teisės aktai, analizuojama institucijų veikla bei finansavimas. / The master’s thesis covers the road safety policy of the EU and the CIS countries in solving the problems of road traffic accidents and “accident black spots”. The Lithuanian and Russian cases have been selected. Part One covers the discussion of the accident rate problem in a modern world, presentation of statistical data on the number of people, who died during the road traffic accidents in the EU and the CIS states, discussion of preventive measures, indication of the causes of road traffic accidents and “accident black spots” on Lithuanian and Russian roads, presentation of “accident black spots” terms as well as their identification methods. Part Two covers the analysis of legal aspects of the EU road transport and road safety regulation, fundamental legal acts governing traffic safety of Lithuania and Russia, as well as activities and financing of institutions.

As Mucopolissacaridoses são erros inatos do metabolismo, fazem parte das doenças lisossômicas de depósito e ocorrem devido à deficiência na atividade de enzimas que catalisam a degradação de glicosaminoglicanos. O objetivo desse estudo foi aperfeiçoar o diagnóstico bioquímico das Mucopolissacaridoses dos tipos I, VI e VII, estabelecendo o uso do tampão fosfato de sódio 20 mmol/L pH 7,0 (tampão universal - TU) e outros parâmetros bioquímicos. Nesse trabalho foi aprimorada a técnica de medida de atividade da beta-glicuronidase (GUSB), enzima deficiente na MPS VII, reduzindo a quantidade de reagentes em 4 vezes e a utilização do tamanho dos picotes de sangue impregnado em papel filtro (SPF) para 1,2 mm. Estudamos a cinética da atividade da GUSB determinando o pH ótimo (4,4), Km (1,25 mM), Vmáx (594,48 nmol/h/mL), termoestabilidade (inativação significante da enzima a partir de 60 min a 60 ºC) e tempo e temperatura de armazenamento (até 30 dias à 4, 25 e 37 ºC, acima de 60 dias à -20 ºC) e estabelecemos um intervalo de referência para a atividade da GUSB em amostras de indivíduos saudáveis nessa metodologia (174,4 nmol/h/mL a 781,9 nmol/h/mL). Estabelecemos o uso do TU para determinação das atividades da alfa-iduronidase (IDUA), arilsulfatase B (ASB) e GUSB medindo a atividade enzimática em SPF eluído nesse tampão e correlacionamos com a técnica espectrofluorimétrica já padronizada para cada enzima em SPF de 1,2 mm em amostras de indivíduos saudáveis As correlações foram positivas e os coeficientes de validação da técnica estavam dentro dos limites aceitáveis. As médias de atividade determinadas para indivíduos saudáveis foram: 14,65 + 4,35 nmol/h/mL (IDUA), 22,51 + 5,09 nmol/h/mL (ASB) e 531,92 + 121,05 nmol/h/mL (GUSB). Foram analisados parâmetros bioquímicos envolvidos em estresse oxidativo no plasma de indivíduos com MPS VI e comparados com MPS I e controles saudáveis. A medida da atividade da SOD não diferiu entre os grupos, a atividade de CAT encontrava-se diminuída tanto em MPS VI quanto em MPS I e a dosagem de TBARS estava aumentada em ambas as MPS em relação aos controles. A partir desse estudo, foi possível padronizarmos e aperfeiçoarmos novas técnicas para o diagnóstico laboratorial para a MPS I, VI e VII além de introduzir o estresse oxidativo como um possível marcador no uso da terapia de reposição enzimática. / Mucopolysaccharidoses are inborn errors of metabolism, being part of lysosomal storage diseases and occuring due to deficiency in the activity of enzymes that catalyze the degradation of glycosaminoglycans. The aim of this study was to improve the biochemical diagnosis of Mucopolysaccharidoses of types I, VI and VII, establishing the use of 20 mmol/L sodium phosphate buffer pH 7.0 (universal extraction buffer - UEB) and other biochemical parameters. In this work, the activity measurement technique of beta-glucuronidase (GUSB), enzyme deficient in MPS VII, has been improved, reducing the amount of reagents in 4 times and using the size of dried blood spots (DBS) for 1.2 mm. We studied the kinetics of GUSB activity by determining the optimum pH (4.4), Km (1.25 mM), Vmax (594.48 nmol/h/mL), thermostability (significant inactivation of the enzyme from 60min at 60 ºC) and storage time and temperature (up to 30 days at 4, 25 and 37 °C, above 60 days at -20 °C) and established a reference range for GUSB activity in samples from healthy subjects in this methodology (174.4 nmol/h/mL at 781.9 nmol/h/ mL). We established the use of TU to determine the activities of alpha-iduronidase (IDUA), arylsulfatase B (ASB) and GUSB by measuring the enzymatic activity in DBS eluted in this buffer and correlated with the standardized spectrofluorometric technique for each enzyme in DBS of 1.2 mm in samples from healthy individuals Correlations were positive and the validation coefficients of the technique were within acceptable limits. The activity means determined for healthy individuals were 14.65 ± 4.35 nmol/h/mL (IDUA), 22.51 ± 5.09 nmol/h/mL (ASB) and 531.92 ± 121.05 nmol/h/mL (GUSB). Biochemical parameters involved in oxidative stress in the plasma of individuals with MPS VI and compared to MPS I and healthy controls were analyzed. Measurement of SOD activity did not differ between groups, CAT activity was decreased in both MPS VI and MPS I and the TBARS dosage was increased in both MPS compared to controls. From this study, it was possible to standardize and improve new techniques for laboratory diagnosis for MPS I, VI and VII, besides introducing oxidative stress as a possible marker in the use of enzyme replacement therapy.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:13:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CiceroFF.pdf: 3167978 bytes, checksum: d9de3f0c1f071f112b7a1ab53a79b32c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-08-14 / The objective of this clinical study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the toothbrushing with and without fluoride and the daily fluoride rinse (NaF 0.05%) on produced white spot, in vivo. This was a clinical study, controlled, randomized and triple blind. Thirty patients were selected for orthodontics reasons from Orthodontics Specialization Course at the Brazilian Dental Association - Section of Rio Grande do Norte. In this study it was used 4 bicuspid upper and lower. They had orthodontic reason for extractions, in 35 days, at least. The sample had one hundred and twenty teeth that received orthodontic bands. The bands were fixed with polycarboxylate cement, and there was a space standardized between bands and one surface of teeth. The four bicuspid of each patients were randomized and nominated as A, B, C and D. These nominations determinated the sequence of the extractions and what was done in each tooth. All the patients had been submitted to the toothbrushing with or without fluoride for 35 days. After this period, the A tooth of each patient was extracted to serve as control. The others teeth (B, C and D) were extracted one by each week. The entire sample was analyzed through the clinical examination and by laser fluorescence (DIAGNOdent?) in three different times: before orthodontic bands, 28 days after fixed and then removed the bands and, the last one, 07 days after one of the three treatments (toothbrushing with or without fluoride, tooth paste with fluoride and mouth rinse with fluoride). At the beginning all groups (A, B, C and D) had the same conditions, no significant difference was found. The same situation was found in a clinical examination. The results of the DIAGNOdent? for the groups that used tooth paste without fluoride, with fluoride and mouth rinse with fluoride, after 28 days, there was no significant difference. Clinically, the white spot was formed in all teeth after 28 days. When it was compared the three treated groups, the group without fluoride in tooth paste had worst result than the others groups. But there was no significant association between the number of active and inactive white spots and the type of treatment that the teeth had received. The demineralization of the enamel surface, under the orthodontic bands, it happened in a few weeks. The exposition of the white spots in oral environmental resulted in an improvement, but it was not enough to return to the values from the base line, either for the toothbrushing and/or the use of fluorite mouth rinse. Mouth rinse and toothpaste with fluoride have showed to reduce the incidence of demineralization in the enamel, but none seems to be superior to another one in an in vivo study / O objetivo desse estudo cl?nico foi avaliar a efetividade da escova??o com e sem dentifr?cio fluoretado e o enxaguat?rio bucal fluoretado na forma de bochecho di?rio (NaF 0,05%) associado a escova??o com dentifr?cio fluoretado sobre as les?es brancas de esmalte produzidas in vivo. Este estudo se constituiu em um ensaio cl?nico controlado e randomizado. Para tanto, foram selecionados 32 pacientes do Curso de Especializa??o em Ortodontia da Associa??o Brasileira de Odontologia Sec??o do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, que necessitavam como parte do tratamento de exodontias. Os cento e vinte e oito dentes receberam an?is ortod?nticos, cimentados com cimento de policarboxilato, com espa?o padronizado na superf?cie vestibular, S?tio Cariog?nico . Os quatro premolares de cada paciente foram aleatorizados individualmente, em dente A, B, C e D, com a finalidade de se determinar a seq??ncia das exodontias e os tipos de procedimentos a serem realizados para cada dente. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos ? escova??o com dentifr?cio sem fl?or por um per?odo de 35 dias. Ap?s esse per?odo, o dente A de cada paciente foi extra?do para servir como controle. Os demais dentes B, C e D foram extra?dos ap?s uma, duas e tr?s semanas, respectivamente. Os esp?cimes foram analisados atrav?s do exame cl?nico e da fluoresc?ncia a laser (DIAGNOdent?) antes da cimenta??o dos an?is ortod?nticos, 28 dias ap?s o desafio cariog?nico e 07 dias ap?s ter sido submetido a um dos tr?s tratamentos (escova??o com dentifr?cio sem fl?or, dentifr?cio com fl?or e bochecho com enxaguat?rio bucal fluoretado associado a escova??o com dentifr?cio com fl?or) institu?dos nesse estudo. Clinicamente, a les?o branca foi formada em todos os elementos dent?rios analisados ap?s 28 dias do desafio cariog?nico. Observou-se que n?o houve diferen?a estat?sticamente significativa entre as medianas para os valores do DIAGNOdent? e para os valores dos escores relacionados ao exame cl?nico entre os grupos de tratamentos ap?s 07 dias. Quando comparou-se os tr?s grupos tratados, o grupo dentifr?cio sem fl?or apresentou um n?mero de les?es brancas ativas maior que os grupos dentifr?cio com fl?or e bochecho com fl?or, nos quais ocorreu um predom?nio do n?mero de les?es brancas inativas. No entanto, n?o houve associa??o significativa entre o n?mero de les?es brancas ativas e inativas e o tipo de tratamento que os dentes receberam. A desmineraliza??o do esmalte subjacente aos an?is ortod?nticos mal adaptados ? um processo r?pido e ocorre dentro de poucas semanas. A exposi??o das les?es brancas de esmalte, ativas ao meio bucal, resulta em uma r?pida inativa??o das mesmas, mas n?o o suficiente para retornar aos valores da linha base, seja por dist?rbios mec?nicos da escova??o e/ou a utiliza??o de enxaguat?rio bucal fluoretado associado ao dentifr?cio fluoretado. Os dentifr?cios a base de fl?or e os enxaguat?rios bucais fluoretados t?m mostrado reduzir a incid?ncia de desmineraliza??o do esmalte, mas nenhum parece ser superior ao outro tomando como base o modelo de c?rie in vivo

As Mucopolissacaridoses são erros inatos do metabolismo, fazem parte das doenças lisossômicas de depósito e ocorrem devido à deficiência na atividade de enzimas que catalisam a degradação de glicosaminoglicanos. O objetivo desse estudo foi aperfeiçoar o diagnóstico bioquímico das Mucopolissacaridoses dos tipos I, VI e VII, estabelecendo o uso do tampão fosfato de sódio 20 mmol/L pH 7,0 (tampão universal - TU) e outros parâmetros bioquímicos. Nesse trabalho foi aprimorada a técnica de medida de atividade da beta-glicuronidase (GUSB), enzima deficiente na MPS VII, reduzindo a quantidade de reagentes em 4 vezes e a utilização do tamanho dos picotes de sangue impregnado em papel filtro (SPF) para 1,2 mm. Estudamos a cinética da atividade da GUSB determinando o pH ótimo (4,4), Km (1,25 mM), Vmáx (594,48 nmol/h/mL), termoestabilidade (inativação significante da enzima a partir de 60 min a 60 ºC) e tempo e temperatura de armazenamento (até 30 dias à 4, 25 e 37 ºC, acima de 60 dias à -20 ºC) e estabelecemos um intervalo de referência para a atividade da GUSB em amostras de indivíduos saudáveis nessa metodologia (174,4 nmol/h/mL a 781,9 nmol/h/mL). Estabelecemos o uso do TU para determinação das atividades da alfa-iduronidase (IDUA), arilsulfatase B (ASB) e GUSB medindo a atividade enzimática em SPF eluído nesse tampão e correlacionamos com a técnica espectrofluorimétrica já padronizada para cada enzima em SPF de 1,2 mm em amostras de indivíduos saudáveis As correlações foram positivas e os coeficientes de validação da técnica estavam dentro dos limites aceitáveis. As médias de atividade determinadas para indivíduos saudáveis foram: 14,65 + 4,35 nmol/h/mL (IDUA), 22,51 + 5,09 nmol/h/mL (ASB) e 531,92 + 121,05 nmol/h/mL (GUSB). Foram analisados parâmetros bioquímicos envolvidos em estresse oxidativo no plasma de indivíduos com MPS VI e comparados com MPS I e controles saudáveis. A medida da atividade da SOD não diferiu entre os grupos, a atividade de CAT encontrava-se diminuída tanto em MPS VI quanto em MPS I e a dosagem de TBARS estava aumentada em ambas as MPS em relação aos controles. A partir desse estudo, foi possível padronizarmos e aperfeiçoarmos novas técnicas para o diagnóstico laboratorial para a MPS I, VI e VII além de introduzir o estresse oxidativo como um possível marcador no uso da terapia de reposição enzimática. / Mucopolysaccharidoses are inborn errors of metabolism, being part of lysosomal storage diseases and occuring due to deficiency in the activity of enzymes that catalyze the degradation of glycosaminoglycans. The aim of this study was to improve the biochemical diagnosis of Mucopolysaccharidoses of types I, VI and VII, establishing the use of 20 mmol/L sodium phosphate buffer pH 7.0 (universal extraction buffer - UEB) and other biochemical parameters. In this work, the activity measurement technique of beta-glucuronidase (GUSB), enzyme deficient in MPS VII, has been improved, reducing the amount of reagents in 4 times and using the size of dried blood spots (DBS) for 1.2 mm. We studied the kinetics of GUSB activity by determining the optimum pH (4.4), Km (1.25 mM), Vmax (594.48 nmol/h/mL), thermostability (significant inactivation of the enzyme from 60min at 60 ºC) and storage time and temperature (up to 30 days at 4, 25 and 37 °C, above 60 days at -20 °C) and established a reference range for GUSB activity in samples from healthy subjects in this methodology (174.4 nmol/h/mL at 781.9 nmol/h/ mL). We established the use of TU to determine the activities of alpha-iduronidase (IDUA), arylsulfatase B (ASB) and GUSB by measuring the enzymatic activity in DBS eluted in this buffer and correlated with the standardized spectrofluorometric technique for each enzyme in DBS of 1.2 mm in samples from healthy individuals Correlations were positive and the validation coefficients of the technique were within acceptable limits. The activity means determined for healthy individuals were 14.65 ± 4.35 nmol/h/mL (IDUA), 22.51 ± 5.09 nmol/h/mL (ASB) and 531.92 ± 121.05 nmol/h/mL (GUSB). Biochemical parameters involved in oxidative stress in the plasma of individuals with MPS VI and compared to MPS I and healthy controls were analyzed. Measurement of SOD activity did not differ between groups, CAT activity was decreased in both MPS VI and MPS I and the TBARS dosage was increased in both MPS compared to controls. From this study, it was possible to standardize and improve new techniques for laboratory diagnosis for MPS I, VI and VII, besides introducing oxidative stress as a possible marker in the use of enzyme replacement therapy.

The focus of this report is to discuss graphical password systems and how they can contribute to handle security problems that threaten authentication processes. One such threat is shoulder-surfing attacks, which are also reviewed in this report. Three already existing systems that are claimed to be shoulder-surfing resilient are described and a new proposed system is presented and evaluated through a user study. Moreover, the system is compared to the mentioned existing systems to further evaluate the usability, memorability and the time it takes to authenticate. The user study shows that test subjects are able to remember their chosen password one week after having registered and signed in once. It is also shown that the average time to sign in to the system after five minutes of practice is within a range of 3.30 to 5.70 seconds. The participants in the experiments gave the system an average score above 68 on the System Usability Scale, which is the score of an average system.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Sunflower is an alternative specie to the system of no-tillage and crop rotation. His inclusion in this system provides soil improvements and interruption on cycle of pests and diseases, which are responsible for losses of productivity of the mainly sown crops. In addition to these benefits this specie has characteristics of increased tolerance to drought than traditional crops such as soybean and corn, maintaining satisfactory yields even in dry years considereds. For inclusion in the rotation and maintaining satisfactory yields the knowledge of the best sowing dates is necessary. As the weather has interannual variability, the risk analysis for the sowing dates is required, through a study of probability with a long series of weather data for better definition. This study aims to determine the sowing date of sunflower in which lower severity of alternaria and septoria leaf spots in the RS Central Region occurs. For it has adapted and calibrated an algorithm providing a forecasting system diseases, based on data from leaf wetness duration, air temperature during the leaf wetness period and rain, calculating the accumulated severity values (VSCA) throughout the cycle. In this adaptation and calibration data from six experiments performed at the Department of Plant Science since 2007. Hourly values of weather data from 1968 to 2011 was estimated from the default readings, and use this algorithm were simulated for 14 different dates of sowing spaced in 15 days, beginning on August 1 and ending on February 16 of each year. Due to the interannual variability of ENSO and their influence on weather conditions, crop seasons years was apart in Neutral, La Niña and El Niño. The data generated from the analysis of variance and the means of Scott- Knott test at 5% probability of error was taken. In addition, the VSCA were subjected to analysis of probability distribution, verifying that the Weibull, lognormal and normal distributions has the best represent the distribution of values of severity of leaf spots on sunflower, both for the entire cycle and for the subperiods emergency-end of anthesis and early reproductive-final stage of anthesis sunflower. It was also found that the period between early February and late April is more favorable to leaf spots, while sowing dates from August 1 to October 16, resulting in lower severity values, differing significantly from later sowings. In El Niño years suffer the greatest severities of disease, followed by La Niña years, and finally with the lowest values of VSCA for Neutrals years. / O girassol é uma espécie alternativa para o sistema de plantio direto e rotação de culturas. Sua inserção neste sistema proporciona melhorias edáficas e interrupção do ciclo de pragas e doenças causadoras de perdas de produtividade nas culturas agrícolas mais semeadas. Além destes benefícios, esta espécie possui características de maior tolerância ao déficit hídrico do que culturas tradicionais como a soja e o milho, mantendo produtividades satisfatórias mesmo em anos considerados secos. Para a sua inclusão no sistema de rotação e manutenção de produtividades satisfatórias é necessário o conhecimento das melhores datas semeadura. Como as condições meteorológicas tem variabilidade interanual, é necessária a análise de risco para uma mesma data de semeadura, através de um estudo de probabilidade com uma série longa de dados meteorológicos para sua melhor definição. Este trabalho objetiva determinar a data de semeadura do girassol na qual ocorre menor severidade das manchas foliares de alternária e septória, na Região Central do RS. Para isso adaptou-se e calibrou-se um algoritmo provendo um sistema de previsão de doenças, baseado em dados de duração do molhamento foliar, temperatura do ar durante o período de molhamento foliar, e chuva, obtendo-se os valores de severidade calculada acumulados (VSCA) durante todo o ciclo. Nesta adaptação e calibração utilizaram-se dados de seis experimentos realizados no Departamento de Fitotecnia desde o ano de 2007. Os dados meteorológicos estimados para valores horários de 1968 até 2011, a partir das leituras padrão, e a utilização deste algoritmo, foram simuladas para 14 diferentes datas de semeadura espaçadas em 15 dias, iniciando em 01 de agosto e finalizando em 16 de fevereiro de cada ano. Devido à variabilidade interanual do fenômeno ENOS e sua influência sobre as condições meteorológicas, os anos separados em Neutros, La Niña e El Niño. A partir dos dados gerados foi feita a análise de variância e o teste de médias de Scott-Knott a 5% de probabilidade de erro. Além disso, os VSCA obtidos foram submetidos a análise de distribuição de probabilidade, verificando-se que as distribuições Weibull, lognormal e normal representam melhor a distribuição dos valores de severidade máxima das manchas foliares no girassol, tanto para o ciclo completo quanto para os subperíodos emergência-final da antese e início da fase reprodutiva-final da antese do girassol. Verificou-se ainda que o período entre o início de fevereiro e o final de abril é mais favorável às manchas foliares, enquanto que as datas de semeadura de 01 de agosto a 16 de outubro resultam nos menores valores de severidade, diferindo significativamente das semeaduras posteriores. Em anos El Niño ocorrem as maiores severidades das doenças, seguido pelos anos de La Niña, e finalmente com os menores valores de VSCA para os anos Neutros.

L'une des principales barrières à la prise en charge optimale des patients sous traitement antirétroviral est l'accès limité aux tests de charge virale (CV) et de génotypage particulièrement en milieu décentralisé. Ces tests ne sont généralement disponibles qu'au niveau des structures sanitaires centrales de grandes villes et le plasma en est l'échantillon de référence. Or, son transfert des régions périphériques vers les laboratoires de références est difficile, voire impossible. Pour rapprocher les patients du laboratoire, nous avons démontré la possibilité d'assurer un suivi virologique complet (CV et génotypage) à partir des DBS collectés et acheminés dans des conditions de terrain. Nous avons également pour la première fois, documenté la réponse virologique au traitement antirétroviral et la diversité génétique du VIH-1 chez des patients adultes suivis en milieux décentralisés au Sénégal, au Mali et en Guinée Conakry. Globalement, malgré les défauts d'observance au traitement souligné, les résultats de nos travaux ne montrent pas de différences significatives dans la survenue de l'échec virologique entre patients suivis dans les structures sanitaires centrales et périphériques, ceci quelque soit le pays considéré. Au Sénégal, chez les enfants nés de mères séropositives, la résistance vis à vis des INNTI était plus prépondérante, probablement du fait de l'utilisation systématique de la Névirapine durant la PTME. Par ailleurs, aucune mutation de résistance aux inhibiteurs d'intégrase n'a été observée malgré des taux de résistance élevés chez des patients en échec de première et deuxième ligne de traitement. Nos travaux confirment également une grande diversité génétique des sous-types viraux avec cependant la prédominance du CRF02_AG dans la sous région Ouest Africaine. Ces travaux de thèse mettent en évidence la faisabilité et la pertinence du DBS comme support pour le suivi virologique des patients en milieux décentralisés. Son utilisation a permis de montrer d'autre part des taux d'échecs virologiques élevés indiquant la nécessité de renforcer l'adhérence au traitement. Enfin, nos résultats soulignent l'utilité de prendre davantage en considération les profils de résistance pour initier un traitement de relais. / One of the major barriers to the optimal care of patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy is the limited access to viral load (VL) and genotyping tests, especially in remote areas. These technologies are usually available only at central health facilities in larger cities and plasma is the reference sample. However, plasma or whole blood samples shipment from remote areas to reference lab faces several constraints or even impossible. In order to bring closer patients to reference lab, we have demonstrated the ability of DBS (Dried Blood Spots) collected and shipped in field conditions to provide complete virological monitoring (VL and genotyping). We also documented for the first time, virological outcome of ART and HIV-1 genetic diversity in adult patients followed up in decentralized settings in Senegal, Mali and Guinea Conakry. Overall, despite the low treatment adherence noted sometimes, our findings show no significant differences in the occurrence of virological failure among patients followed up in the central and peripheral health facilities, whatever the country. In Senegal, no integrase inhibitors associated DRM has been found despite the high rate of resistance in patients failing first and second-line treatment. Furthermore, among children born to HIV infected mothers, NNRTI-associated drug resistant mutations (DRM) were more predominant, probably because of systematic use of Nevirapine in MTCT. Our studies also confirm the high genetic diversity of viral subtypes, with the dominance of CRF02_AG in West Africa. This work presented here highlights the feasibility and relevance of DBS as support for the virological monitoring of patients in decentralized settings in West Africa. Furthermore, its use showed high rate of virological failure indicating the need to reinforce adherence to treatment. Finally, our results highlight the utility to considering carefully drug resistance patterns before switching to another ART regimen.

The master thesis is focused on mapping of all the processes that customer goes through before achieving the skiing activity in ski resort Špindlerův Mlýn, currently operated by MELIDA, a.s. In the theoretical part services specifications, Six Sigma methodology and Key Performance Indicators basics are briefly described. The practical part consists of introduction of the ski area, measuring and mapping processes in combination with weak points identification. In order to eliminate weak points previously identified, the process of getting feedbacks from customers was introduced. As a result of this process, actions to eliminate the weak spots, were proposed and will be implemented. In order to maintain the appropriate structure of the thesis, Six Sigma methodology procedures and instruments, were used.