Técnicas de aquisição paralelas e hardware dedicados vem sendo desenvolvidos desde a década de 1980 para reduzir o tempo de aquisição de imagens via ressonância magnética (IRM). Uma bobina do tipo phased array é um dispositivo do tipo receptor, que usa múltiplas bobinas (canais) cada qual com seu próprio circuito de detecção para adquirir simultaneamente os sinais que formam uma imagem ou espectro via IRM. Exemplos de técnica de imagem paralela que usa bobinas tipo phased array são Sensitivy Enconding (SENSE) e GeneRalized Autocalibrating Partial Parallel Acquisition (GRAPPA). Sampled array é o nome de um método proposto neste trabalho em que cada canal de uma bobina multicanal é responsável por adquirir de forma independente o sinal da sua amostra de modo que cada sinal de amostra é endereçado ao seu canal específico. Neste trabalho, descrevemos o desenvolvimento de uma bobina phased array de quatro canais para anatomia de cabeça de rato usando circuito impresso flexível para operar em um sistema de IRM pré-clínico de 2T com objetivo de validar o método de construção e uso de circuito flexível como bobina de recepção. Também desenvolvemos uma bobina de quatro canais para realizar simultaneamente a imagem de quatro sementes na mesma varredura para validar o método Sampled Array com objetivo de melhorar a qualidade da imagem e simultaneamente acelerar experimentos de múltiplas amostras. Os resultados mostram que a bobina de circuito impresso phased array, em comparação com uma bobina de enrolamento de fio regular, forneceu uma boa relação sinal / ruído (RSR) e possui geometria mais adequada à anatomia por ser flexível. Além disso, o processo de fabricação da bobina seja facilitado desde que toda a bobina é construída como um protótipo de circuito impresso. Os bons resultados da bobina sampled array mostraram o método como promissor para imageamento de múltiplas amostras com aumento de RSR e diminuição de tempo de experimentos em relação ao uso de bobinas de canal único. / Parallel techniques and dedicated hardware has been developed since the 1980s to reduce acquisition time on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners. A phased array is a receiver only mode device concept, which uses multiple channels (coils) with their own detection circuits to simultaneously acquire MRI or localized spectroscopic signals. An example of parallel imaging technique that uses phased array coils is Sensitivy Enconding (SENSE). Sampled array is the name proposed in this work for a method in which each channel of a multichannel coil is responsible to acquire independently the signal from its sample so that each sample signal is addressed to its specific channel. In this work, we describe the development of a four-channel phased array coil for rat head anatomy using flexible printed circuit board (PCB), to operate on a 2T pre-clinical MRI scanner to validate the construction method and usage of flexible PCB as a receiver coil. We also developed a four-channel sample array coil to simultaneously perform the imaging of four seeds at the same scan, to validate the proposed method to improve image quality at the same time accelerating multiple seed imaging for agriculture studies. The results show that phased array PCB coil as compared to a regular wire winding coil provide good signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) imaging with more adequate geometry to the anatomy by being flexible. In addition, the coil manufacturing process is facilitated since the entire coil is constructed as a PCB prototype. The sample array imaging showed as a promising method for multiple sample increasing SNR and time to do experiments.

FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / Understanding the processes related to the movement of water in soil profile is relevant to the management of soil and water resources. Hydraulic conductivity is an important soil property that affects this movement, but its determination in laboratory conditions requires that samples are contained in cylinders which can cause the presence of preferential flow through the soil wall interface. So, the goal of this work was to test the effect of increasing perimeter and height of the sample on saturated hydraulic conductivity in confined soil samples of different textures. Soil samples were collected and the following physical analyzes were performed: particle density, particle-size, water dispersed clay, soil porosity, and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ko). Experimental data were analyzed in a randomized design for all variables, adopting a 4 x 5 factorial arrangement (four diameters x five heights of the cylinders), with six replications. The Shapiro- Wilk test was used to verify the normality of the data, F test for analysis of variance, and TukeyÂs test for comparison of means (p<0.05). Classical descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis techniques were also employed. It was conclude that: a) the results support the hypothesis that the increase of the perimeter causes an increase of the saturated hydraulic conductivity; b) for the same increase of preferential flow area, the effect on the saturated hydraulic conductivity was higher for clay soil; c) the hypothesis that increased water path causes a change in the Ko values was rejected; d) for both soil classes increased water path did not affect the values of the saturated hydraulicconductivity. / A compreensÃo dos processos relacionados ao movimento da Ãgua no perfil do solo à relevante para o manejo do solo e dos recursos hÃdricos. A condutividade hidrÃulica à um importante atributo do solo que interfere nesse movimento, sendo que sua determinaÃÃo na condiÃÃo de laboratÃrio requer que as amostras estejam confinadas em cilindros, o que pode causar a presenÃa de fluxo preferencial pela interface solo/parede do cilindro. Objetivou-se nesse trabalho testar o efeito do aumento do perÃmetro e da altura da amostra sobre a condutividade hidrÃulica do solo saturado em amostras confinadas de terra de diferentes texturas. Foram coletadas amostras de terra para realizaÃÃo das anÃlises fÃsicas, a saber: densidade de partÃculas, granulometria, argila dispersa em Ãgua, porosidade do solo e condutividade hidrÃulica do solo saturado (Ko). Os dados experimentais foram analisados em delineamento inteiramente casualizado para todas as variÃveis, adotandose o esquema fatorial 4 x 5 (quatro diÃmetros e cinco alturas dos cilindros), com seis repetiÃÃes. Foram aplicados os testes de Shapiro-Wilk para verificar a normalidade dos dados, o F para anÃlise de variÃncia e o de Tukey para a comparaÃÃo da mÃdias (todos a 5% de probabilidade). TambÃm foi empregada a estatÃstica descritiva clÃssica para algumas variÃveis e tÃcnicas multivariadas de anÃlises. Conclui-se que a) aceita-se a hipÃtese de que o aumento do perÃmetro da amostra provoca aumento nos valores de condutividade hidrÃulica do solo saturado; b) para o mesmo aumento de Ãrea de fluxo preferencial, o efeito sobre a condutividade hidrÃulica do solo saturado para o solo argiloso foi maior; c) a hipÃtese de que o aumento do percurso da Ãgua causa alteraÃÃo nos valores de Ko foi refutada; d) para ambas as classes de solos o aumento do percurso da Ãgua nÃo foi determinante nos valores obtidos para condutividade hidrÃulica do solo saturado.

O presente estudo investigou comportamentos simbólicos nos portadores de Síndrome de Apert por meio do paradigma da equivalência de estímulos, uma vez que este pode fornecer subsídios para a compreensão do comportamento humano complexo, tais como o comportamento simbólico e a linguagem. Foram propostos três experimentos cujos participantes, com idades entre 16 e 21 anos, foram submetidos aos Experimentos 1 e 2 (P1, P2 e P3) e submetidos ao Experimento 3 (P4 e P5). No Experimento 1, o objetivo foi verificar a formação de classes de estímulos equivalentes após o treino de relações condicionais, por meio de uma tarefa de matching to sample (MTS) com atraso de 0 s e três estímulos de comparação. Após o participante atingir um percentual de acerto de 94% no bloco, foram conduzidos testes de equivalência (CA), simetria (BA e CB) e transitividade (AC). De maneira geral, houve falha nos testes, com relativa preservação do teste de simetria. No Experimento 2, os participantes foram expostos à tarefa de MTS com atraso de 0 s e três estímulos de comparação, mas estes e o estímulo modelo apresentavam-se inicialmente cobertos, tornando-se visíveis somente após a emissão de respostas de observação (ROs). Foram introduzidas ROs na tarefa de MTS, com o objetivo de identificar que tipos de controle (seleção ou rejeição) poderiam estar em operação na formação de classes de estímulos equivalentes. Nos testes, o participante P3 formou classes de equivalência, contudo, os participantes P1 e P2 continuaram a apresentar falha na formação de equivalência, com preservação do teste de simetria. No Experimento 3, foram apresentadas variações metodológicas com o objetivo de favorecer o estabelecimento de um ou de outro tipo de controle (seleção ou rejeição), durante o treino das relações condicionais e verificar os efeitos destas variações no desempenho obtido nos testes. O participante P4 foi submetido primeiramente à situação na qual a terceira RO produzia o estímulo correto em 80% das tentativas (80%/3ª S+). Posteriormente 9 à realização das tarefas sob esta condição, foi submetido à situação na qual a primeira RO produzia o estímulo correto em 80% das tentativas (80%/1ª S+). O participante P5 foi exposto à ordem inversa: primeiramente à situação 80%/1ª S+ e posteriormente à situação 80%/3ª S+. Nos testes, em ambas as situações, o participante P4 foi capaz de aprender as relações de equivalência propostas pelo experimentador. Diferentemente, o responder do participante P5 não se apresentou sob controle discriminativo das contingências programadas pelo experimentador. De um modo geral, os resultados obtidos pelo presente estudo acrescidos das análises do teste PEABODY, sugerem que as dificuldades para a formação de classes de equivalência em participantes com baixo funcionamento lingüístico podem decorrer, em grande parte, de preparação e adaptação insuficiente de procedimentos para esse tipo de população / The present study investigated the symbolic behaviors of patients with Apert Syndrome through the paradigm of stimulus equivalence, since it may provide a basis for understanding complex human behavior, such as symbolic behavior and language. It had been proposed three experiments which participants, aged between 16 and 21 years, were submitted to Experiments 1 and 2 (P1, P2 and P3) and to Experiment 3 (P4 e P5). In Experiment 1, the objective was to assess the formation of classes of equivalent stimuli after training of conditional relations, through a task of matching to sample (MTS) and delay of 0s and three comparison stimuli. After the participant reaches a 94% criterion for accuracy in the block, tests were conducted for equivalence (CA), symmetry (BA and CB) and transitivity (AC). In general, the participants failed the tests, with relative preservation of the symmetry test. In Experiment 2, the participants were exposed to the task of MTS with delay of 0s and three comparison stimuli, but these and the sample stimulus were initially covered, becoming visible only after the observation responses (OR´s) issuance. ORs were introduced in the MTS task, with the objective to assess what kind of different controls (selection and rejection) could be involved in the formation of classes of equivalent stimuli. In tests, participant P3 showed the formation of classes of equivalent stimuli; however, participants P1 and P2 had failed to form equivalence, preserving the symmetry test. In Experiment 3 were presented methodological variations with the objective of encouraging the establishment of one or another type of control (selection or rejection) during the training of conditional relations and verify the effects of these variations in performance obtained in tests. Participant P4 was, at first, subjected to the situation which the third OR produced the correct stimulus in 80% of attempts (80% / 3rd S +). After the tasks under this condition were performed, P4 underwent a situation which the first OR produced the correct stimulus in 80% of attempts (80% / 1st S +). The participant P5 was exposed to the reverse order: first of all to the situation 80% / 1st S + and subsequently to the situation 80% / 3rd S +. In the tests, in both situations, the participant P4 was able to learn the equivalence 11 relations proposed by the experimenter. In contrast, the response of the participant P5 was not under discriminative control of the contingencies programmed by the experimenter. In general, the results obtained by this study plus the analysis of the PEABODY data suggests that difficulties in the formation of equivalence classes in participants with low language functioning may be due, in large part from inadequate preparation and adjustment procedures for this type of population

The method development process in liquid chromatography (LC) involves optimization of a variety of method parameters including stationary phase chemistry, column temperature, initial and final mobile phase compositions, and gradient time when gradient mobile phases are used. Here, a general simulation program to predict the results (i.e., retention time, peak width and peak shape) of LC separations, with the ability to study various complex chromatographic conditions is described. The simulation program is based on the Craig distribution model where the column is divided into discrete distance (Δz) and time (Δt) segments in a grid and is based on parameterization with either the linear solvent strength or Neue-Kuss models for chromatographic retention. This algorithm is relatively simple to understand and produces results that agree well with closed form theory when available. The set of simulation programs allows for the use of any eluent composition profile (linear and nonlinear), any column temperature, any stationary phase composition (constant or non-constant), and any composition and shape of the injected sample profile. The latter addition to our program is particularly useful in characterizing the solvent mismatch effect in comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC), in which there is a mismatch between the first dimension (1D) effluent and second dimension (2D) initial mobile phase composition. This solvent mismatch causes peak distortion and broadening. The use of simulations can provide a better understanding of this phenomenon and a guide for the method development for 2D-LC. Another development that is proposed to have a great impact on the enhancement of 2D-LC methods is the use of continuous stationary phase gradients. When using rapid mobile phase gradients in the second dimension separation with diode array detection (DAD), refractive index changes cause large backgrounds such as an injection ridge (from solvent mismatch) and sloping baselines which can be problematic for achieving accurate quantitation. Use of a stationary phase gradient may enable the use of an isocratic mobile phase in the 2D, thus minimizing these background signals. Finally, our simulator can be used as an educational tool. Unlike commercially available simulators, our program can capture the evolution of the chromatogram in the form of movies and/or snapshots of the analyte distribution over time and/or distance to facilitate a better understanding of the separation process under complicated circumstances. We plan to make this simulation program publically available to all chromatographers and educators to aid in more efficient method development and chromatographic training.

In 1998, it was proved by Ben-David and Litman that a concept space has a sample compression scheme of size $d$ if and only if every finite subspace has a sample compression scheme of size $d$. In the compactness theorem, measurability of the hypotheses of the created sample compression scheme is not guaranteed; at the same time measurability of the hypotheses is a necessary condition for learnability. In this thesis we discuss when a sample compression scheme, created from compression schemes on finite subspaces via the compactness theorem, have measurable hypotheses. We show that if $X$ is a standard Borel space with a $d$-maximum and universally separable concept class $\m{C}$, then $(X,\CC)$ has a sample compression scheme of size $d$ with universally Borel measurable hypotheses. Additionally we introduce a new variant of compression scheme called a copy sample compression scheme.

Attempts to control various aspects of response requirements and sample viewing durations of sample stimuli show that an increase in both facilitates acquisition of conditional discriminations. Despite these attempts, few empirical data exist that demonstrate the relative contributions of both response- and time-dependent schedules. In addition, viewing opportunities of sample stimuli are present outside of the researchers' control, allowing for 'unauthorized sample viewing.' This study employed a titrating delay matching-to-sample procedure to systematically control various aspects of response requirements and sample viewing durations to independently assess their relative contributions towards conditional discrimination performance. Four pigeons worked on a titrating delay matching-to-sample procedure in which the delay between sample offset and comparison onset continuously adjusted as a function of the accuracy of the pigeons' choices. Results show sample viewing durations contribute most toward conditional discrimination performance. The data show 'unauthorized sample viewing' improved acquisition of conditional discriminations and should be a consideration in design of future research.

The Computerized Profiling (CP) software extracts several quantitative measures from a transcribed sample of a client's language. These analyses include the Mean Length of Utterance in Words (MLU-W) and in Morphemes (MLU-M), the Mean Syntactic Length (MSL), the Syntactic Complexity Score (SCS), Developmental Sentence Scoring (DSS), the Index of Productive Syntax (IPSyn), and the Picture-Elicited Screening Procedure for LARSP (PSL). The validity of these measures was examined by comparing them to the number of finite nominal, adverbial, and relative clauses contained in samples from 54 first-, 48 third-, and 48 fifth-grade students and 24 young adults. The DSS and SCS correlated highly with the frequency of complex constructions; MLU-W, MLU-M, and MSL correlated moderately; and IPSyn and PSL correlated minimally at best.

abstract: In many biological research studies, including speech analysis, clinical research, and prediction studies, the validity of the study is dependent on the effectiveness of the training data set to represent the target population. For example, in speech analysis, if one is performing emotion classification based on speech, the performance of the classifier is mainly dependent on the number and quality of the training data set. For small sample sizes and unbalanced data, classifiers developed in this context may be focusing on the differences in the training data set rather than emotion (e.g., focusing on gender, age, and dialect). This thesis evaluates several sampling methods and a non-parametric approach to sample sizes required to minimize the effect of these nuisance variables on classification performance. This work specifically focused on speech analysis applications, and hence the work was done with speech features like Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) and Filter Bank Cepstral Coefficients (FBCC). The non-parametric divergence (D_p divergence) measure was used to study the difference between different sampling schemes (Stratified and Multistage sampling) and the changes due to the sentence types in the sampling set for the process. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Electrical Engineering 2020

The purpose of the current study was to examine and compare relative and absolute reliability estimates between brief, linguistically compact narrative retells and longer, more linguistically diffuse narrative retells. The participants included 190 school-age children in firstsixth grade from Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. Participants completed two brief narrative retells using the Narrative Language Measures (NLM) Listening subtest of the CUBED assessment and one longer narrative retell using the wordless picture book Frog, Where Are You? (FWAY). These language samples were then analyzed for language productivity, complexity, and story grammar elements using the Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts software program and the NLM Flow Chart. Analyses of relative reliability reveal that there are significant differences across all measures, when controlled for length, except for mean length of utterance in words. The language measures are higher in the shorter narrative NLM condition, while inclusion of story grammar is higher in the longer FWAY narrative retell. Additionally, all productivity and complexity measures have moderate to strong correlations between the NLM and FWAY narrative retells. Analyses of absolute reliability shows the FWAY narrative retell to demonstrate less variance across all measures when compared to the NLM, indicating that measures are more stable in the longer sample. Although the brief narrative retells does not demonstrate a sufficient degree of relative or absolute reliability, this study indicates that clinicians may be able to elicit brief narrative retells from school-age children without losing meaningful information on language complexity and productivity measures.

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