With advances in molecular technology, the study of human ageing has turned to DNA for answers as to how humans age. Due to the size of the human genome and the longevity of humans, organisms with smaller genomes and shorter lifespans have frequently been the center of research studies in ageing. Studies of Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, yeast, and mice have uncovered specific genes that up and down regulate with age and stress. Research has yet to produce, however, results from an organism known for its longevity. Amblyomma americanum is an excellent candidate for this, as it can survive for years unfed. Two groups of 75 unfed adult A. americanum were monitored in a control environment of 85% relative humidity and an experimental environment designed to induce physiological stress at 75% relative humidity. Five ticks were tested for transcript abundance of five candidate ageing genes initially and at the 25th, 75th, and 95th percent mortality. These tests provided evidence that Amblyomma americanum undergoes changes in gene expression with age on a genetic level.

With advances in molecular technology, the study of human ageing has turned to DNA for answers as to how humans age. Due to the size of the human genome and the longevity of humans, organisms with smaller genomes and shorter lifespans have frequently been the center of research studies in ageing. Studies of Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, yeast, and mice have uncovered specific genes that up and down regulate with age and stress. Research has yet to produce, however, results from an organism known for its longevity. Amblyomma americanum is an excellent candidate for this, as it can survive for years unfed. Two groups of 75 unfed adult A. americanum were monitored in a control environment of 85% relative humidity and an experimental environment designed to induce physiological stress at 75% relative humidity. Five ticks were tested for transcript abundance of five candidate ageing genes initially and at the 25th, 75th, and 95th percent mortality. These tests provided evidence that Amblyomma americanum undergoes changes in gene expression with age on a genetic level.

Background: Parameters of carotid atherosclerosis dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) are associated with stroke risk indices, but studies have only evaluated symptomatic arteries. I hypothesized that DCE-MRI parameters are different between carotid atherosclerotic plaques at high and low risk for precipitating ischemic stroke. Methods: High and low risk carotid plaques undergoing nonmodel-based DCE-MRI (n=18) were compared using two independent schema: 1) clinical standard (high risk defined as ipsilateral stroke/TIA <1 week old or stenosis >70%); 2) MRI standard (high risk defined as presence of intraplaque hemorrhage [IPH]). Results: IPH-positive plaques (n=9) exhibited greater area under the curve, early and late enhancement rate, and peak enhancement than IPH-negative plaques (n=9) (p<0.05 for all). High (n=8) and low (n=7) risk plaques defined by clinical criteria were not differentiated by any DCE-MRI parameters. Conclusions: Nonmodel-based DCE-MRI discriminates high versus low risk carotid plaque based on the presence of IPH, but not by clinical criteria.

Background: Parameters of carotid atherosclerosis dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) are associated with stroke risk indices, but studies have only evaluated symptomatic arteries. I hypothesized that DCE-MRI parameters are different between carotid atherosclerotic plaques at high and low risk for precipitating ischemic stroke. Methods: High and low risk carotid plaques undergoing nonmodel-based DCE-MRI (n=18) were compared using two independent schema: 1) clinical standard (high risk defined as ipsilateral stroke/TIA <1 week old or stenosis >70%); 2) MRI standard (high risk defined as presence of intraplaque hemorrhage [IPH]). Results: IPH-positive plaques (n=9) exhibited greater area under the curve, early and late enhancement rate, and peak enhancement than IPH-negative plaques (n=9) (p<0.05 for all). High (n=8) and low (n=7) risk plaques defined by clinical criteria were not differentiated by any DCE-MRI parameters. Conclusions: Nonmodel-based DCE-MRI discriminates high versus low risk carotid plaque based on the presence of IPH, but not by clinical criteria.

No description available.

A risk assessment study is conducted in a denim manufacturing plant in Turkey. The study is carried out within the framework of a project on adopting the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive of the European Union. The scope of the assessment is fire or explosion risk with regards to hazardous chemicals present in the plant. The receptor of the study is defined as &ldquo / people&rdquo / which include the employees in the plant, employees of nearby plants and people in residential around the mill. A semi-quantitative risk assessment is carried out using checklist, a risk matrix and risk evaluation forms. The highest risks in the plant are identified as dust explosions, natural gas jet fires, natural gas explosions. Also, it is identified that due to several causes, in case of a fire or explosion the scale of an accident may enlarge instantaneously. The main warehouse is determined to carry the highest risk value in the plant. Mathematical modelling studies are conducted to calculate the hazard radius for dust explosions and natural gas fire and explosion. According to the results of mathematical modelling, the highest consequences could lead to destruction of buildings or severe injuries/fatalities of people within large hazard radius up to 700 m. The risk present at the manufacturing mill is communicated to the facility management throughout the study. Several suggestions are proposed to the facility management and some of them are already implemented.

Dans un contexte de recherche de solutions pour une agriculture à la fois productive et durable, les principes, théories et méthodes de l’écologie semblent offrir des pistes à explorer pour comprendre le fonctionnement biologique des agro-écosystèmes. Notre cas d’étude concernait les informations collectées par un réseau d’observatoires de la flore adventice à l’échelon national (‘Biovigilance Flore’) sur lequel nous avons recherché les règles sous jacentes à l’assemblage et la dynamique des communautés adventices au sein des parcelles de grandes cultures annuelles. Nous avons en particulier étudié les relations qui peuvent exister au sein des espèces d’une même communauté ainsi que celles affectant les relations des communautés à leur environnement. Pour tenir compte de son importance avérée dans la constitution des assemblages, nous avons conduit notre étude en tenant compte de l’abondance de la population de chaque espèce. Les principaux résultats issus des travaux réalisés au cours de cette thèse sont : Un assemblage non aléatoire des abondances et une structuration conduisent à une homogénéisation des abondances observées à l’échelle des parcelles. Selon la densité totale d’adventices sur une parcelle, on observe des structurations opposées selon qu’une espèce domine, ou non, dans la communauté. Même si la méthodologie employée pour réaliser les relevés nous empêche d’en avoir la preuve, nous suspectons que l’abondance des adventices répond à la compétition qui s’exerce dans certaines conditions directement entre espèces adventices.Le choix du modèle nul servant de base de comparaison dans les situations où il n’y a pas de témoin joue un rôle important dans la conduite des analyses des observations issues d’inventaires. L’échelle semi-quantitative pour rendre compte des variations d’abondance pose problème puisque aucun modèle nul n’a été développé pour ce format particulier. Un modèle adapté à notre situation, mais malgré tout générique, a été développé. Il apporte une amélioration sensible par rapport à l’existant pour étudier le degré de co occurrence (ainsi que la dispersion de traits) dans le cas de données semi-quantitatives. Ceci a des conséquences sur notre capacité à distinguer les facteurs ayant un rôle de filtre sur la flore potentielle qui s’exprime. La modélisation de la dynamique d’une espèce au sein d’une parcelle au fil des successions culturales nécessite de rendre compte de la dynamique du stock de graines dans le sol. Inconnu, ce stock de graines a été considéré comme une variable cachée, modélisable par l’utilisation d’un modèle de Markov caché. Cette approche s’est trouvée être remarquablement adaptée à la biologie des espèces annuelles. Nous avons ainsi pu appréhender l’effet des pratiques culturales sur la dynamique du stock de graines et de la flore levée. Cette étude a des retombées tant sur l’identification des traits d’histoire de vie que sur leur variabilité face à des stratégies de gestion qui seraient déployées pour assurer le contrôle d’une flore spécifique. Nous avons ainsi pu appliquer avec succès quelques principes théoriques et améliorer les méthodes d’analyse afin de tenir compte des spécificités des espèces adventices, de l’amplitude des fluctuations du milieu dans lequel elles évoluent et des spécificités de nos données. Il existe une marge de progrès sur la collecte des données à réaliser sur les réseaux d’observatoires si l’on veut maîtriser la connaissance des leviers les plus à même d’aider au contrôle de la flore adventice / To develop solutions for a productive and sustainable agriculture, principles, theories, andmethods of ecology may contribute to understand the biological processes governing the agroecosystem.The present case study was based on data collected by a network of observatories of weeds covering the whole of France (‘Biovigilance Flore’) and aimed at establishing forrules governing the assemblage and dynamics of weed communities in fields grown with annual crops. We particularly studied the possible relationships between species within acommunity, as well as the relationships between communities and their environment. Analyses were based on species abundances to take account of their effect on community assemblages. The main results of this PhD thesis are: Abundances of weed species are not randomly distributed within a field, and this distribution as well as the community pattern result into a homogenization of observed weed abundances at the field scale. The community pattern depends on the total weed abundance in the field and on whether the species is dominant in the community. We concluded that weed abundances responded to weed-weed competition in certain conditions though the sampling methodology was not adapted to prove this assumption. The choice of the null model for comparisons in situations without a control greatlyinfluences the procedure for analysing assemblages. This problem arises particularly at the semi-quantitative scale since no null model has yet been developed for this particular case. Hence, a generic null model was developed for our particular situation. It considerably improved the study of co-occurrences and trait dispersal in case of semi-quantitative datasets and thus our ability to identify factors and processes determining flora composition.Modelling the weed dynamics of a field over the crop succession needs to take into account the dynamics of the weed seed bank in the soil. As it was unknown, the seedbank wasconsidered as a hidden variable and modelled using a Hidden Markov Model (HMM). This approach was well adapted for predicting the life cycle of annual species. We thus identified effects of cultural practices on the dynamics of the seedbank and of the emerged flora. Thisstudy allowed us to identify life-history traits and weed management strategies adapted to aspecific weed flora.We successfully applied various ecological theories and improved methods to take into account the specificities of weed species, the variations in their environment as well as the specificities of our data-set. The quality and reliability of the data collected in the observatory network must be increased if we want to correctly identify management levers likely to contribute to sustainable weed management

As hepatites crônicas por vírus são as mais frequentes, destacando-se os vírus das hepatites B (VHB) e C (VHC). O estudo anatomopatológico da biópsia hepática é considerado o padrão ouro para avaliar com precisão a distorção arquitetural e o grau de fibrose do parênquima do fígado, importantes fatores prognósticos para os pacientes portadores de hepatites crônicas virais. Na avaliação histopatológica atual, em adição aos relatos subjetivos das alterações histológicas, escores semiquantitativos que correlacionam achados morfológicos com graus numéricos são usados, tais como os reconhecidos escores de Ishak e METAVIR. Entretanto, em todos estes sistemas há a desvantagem da subjetividade do examinador e da incorporação de alterações categóricas, sem referências às mudanças quantitativas do colágeno hepático. Técnicas de análise de imagens digitais (AID) que fornecem quantificação objetiva dos graus de fibrose em amostras histológicas têm sido desenvolvidas. Todavia, o alto custo e dificuldade ao acesso das tecnologias descritas restringem seu uso a poucos centros especializados. Este estudo visa o desenvolvimento de uma técnica de custo acessível para a análise de imagens digitais da fibrose hepática em hepatites crônicas virais. Foram estudadas 304 biópsias de pacientes com hepatite crônica por vírus B e C, obtidas através de agulhas Menghini. Todas as amostras tinham pelo menos 15 mm de comprimento ou cinco espaços-porta completos e foram coradas pelo método Tricrômico de Masson. O estadiamento foi feito por um único hepatopatologista experiente, sem o conhecimento dos dados clínicos dos pacientes. Os escores de Ishak e METAVIR foram aplicados. As imagens microscópicas foram digitalizadas. Os índices de fibrose foram determinados de forma automatizada, em técnica desenvolvida no programa Adobe Photoshop. Para o escore de Ishak, observamos os seguintes índices de Fibrose (IF) médios: 0,8% 0,0 (estágio 0), 2.4% 0,6 (estágio 1), 4,7% 1,6 (estágio 2), 7,4% 1,4 (estágio 3), 14,9% 3,7 (estágio 4), 23,4% 2,9 (estágio 5) e 34,5% 1,5 (estágio 6). Para a classificação METAVIR: 0,8% 0,1 (estágio F0), 3,8% 1,8 (estágio F1), 7,4% 1,4 (estágio F2), 20,4% 5,2 (estágio F3) e 34,5% 1,5 (estágio F4). Observamos uma excelente correlação entre os índices de fibrose da AID e os escores de Ishak (r=0,94; p<0,001) e METAVIR (r=0,92; p<0,001). Em relação à indicação de tratamento antiviral, foi observado IF médio de 16,4%. Em relação ao diagnóstico de cirrose, foi observado IF médio de 26,9%, para o escore de Ishak, e 34,5% para a classificação METAVIR. A reprodutibilidade intra-observador foi excelente. Este novo método de análise de imagens digitais para a quantificação de fibrose hepática tem custo acessível e foi desenvolvido com tecnologia que está disponível em todo o mundo, permitindo identificar com precisão todos os estágios de fibrose, com excelente reprodutibilidade intra-observador. / The hepatitis caused by viruses are the most frequent, principally the virus B (HBV) and C (HCV) hepatitis. The anatomopathologic study of the liver biopsy is considered the gold standard for the evaluation of architectural distortion and degree o fibrosis of the livers parenchyma, important prognostic factors for the patients with chronic viral hepatitis. In the actual histopathological evaluation, in addition to subjective reports of histological alterations, semiquantitative scores that correlate morphological findings with numeric degrees are used, such as the renowned Ishak and METAVIR scores. However, in all of these systems there is the disadvantage of the subjectiveness of the examinator and the incorporation of categorical description of architectural changes without reference to quantitative changes in liver collagen. Digital Image Analysis techniques (DIA) that provide objective quantification of the degrees of liver fibrosis in histological samples have been developed. But the high cost and worldwide unavailability of the technologies described restrained their use to a few specialized centers. This study aims at developing an affordable technique for livers fibrosis DIA in chronic viral hepatitis. Three hundred and four core needle biopsies obtained by Menghini needles from patients with virus B and virus C hepatitis were studied. All samples had at least 15 mm in length or five complete portal tracts and were stained with the Massons Trichrome Method. The staging by Ishaks and METAVIRs scores was done by a single experienced hepatopathologist, without the knowledge patients clinical data. The microscopic images were digitalized. The fibrosis indexes were calculated in an automated way by a new technique developed in the Adobe Photoshop software. For the Ishak score the following median Fibrosis Indexes (FI) were observed: 0,8% 0,0 (stage 0), 2.4% 0,6 (stage 1), 4,7% 1,6 (stage 2), 7,4% 1.4 (stage 3), 14,9% 3.7 (stage 4), 23,4% 2.9 (stage 5) e 34,5% 1,5 (stage 6). For the METAVIR classification: 0,8% 0,1 (stage F0), 3,8% 1.8 (stage F1), 7,4% 1.4 (stage F2), 20,4% 5,2 (stage F3) e 34,5% 1,5 (stage F4). We found an excellent correlation between the DIA fibrosis indexes and the Ishaks (r=0.94; p<0.001) and METAVIR (r=0.92; p<0.001) stages. In relation to the indication for antiviral treatment, the mean FI observed was 16.4% for both classifications. In relation to cirrhosiss diagnosis, the mean FI observed was 26.9% for Ishaks score, and 34.5% for METAVIRs classification. There was excellent intraobserver reproducibility. This new method of digital image analysis for liver fibrosis quantification is affordable and was developed using technology that is available worldwide, allowing the precise identification of all the stages of fibrosis in the group of patients studied, with excellent intraobserver reproducibility.

A erosão costeira é um processo de grande poder destrutivo e que afeta pelo menos 70% da zona costeira no mundo. Entender as causas e os processos que levam à erosão, bem como as regiões mais ou menos sensíveis a ela, é essencial para o correto manejo costeiro. O presente trabalho visa identificar as áreas vulneráveis à erosão através da aplicação de um Índice de Vulnerabilidade Costeira em praias do norte do Espírito Santo (Pontal do Ipiranga, Conceição da Barra) e sul da Bahia (Mucuri, Nova Viçosa, Caravelas, Prado, Cumuruxatiba, Corumbau, Arraial d\'Ajuda, Porto Seguro). O cálculo do índice se deu pela análise de treze indicadores ambientais: número de frentes frias, regime de tempestade, força de ondas, ângulo de incidência das ondas, estimativa de deriva potencial, morfologia da praia, exposição às ondas, presença de rios e/ou desembocaduras, elevação do terreno, vegetação, taxa de ocupação, obras de engenharia costeira e evidências de erosão. Os resultados mostraram que os indicadores \"morfologia da praia\" e \"exposição às ondas\" parecem ser os principais contribuintes para a erosão costeira nos municípios em que foram observados grandes prejuízos na infraestrutura urbana e perigo iminente à população local. Já nos demais municípios que também apresentaram focos de erosão, a combinação entre os indicadores \"estimativa de deriva potencial\" e \"regimes de tempestade\" parece ser a principal influência ao processo erosivo. Com exceção de Pontal do Ipiranga (que obteve um resultado de baixa vulnerabilidade), todas as praias apresentaram um IVC correspondente à vulnerabilidade moderada à erosão. O estudo se mostra eficiente para a determinação do nível de vulnerabilidade relativo entre as praias estudadas. / Coastal erosion is a process with great destructive power and affects more than 70% of worldwide coastlines. In order to achieve an effective coastal management, it is important to find and understand not only the causes and process that leads to erosion, but also areas that are more or less vulnerable to it. This study aims to identify erosion vulnerable areas through application of a Coastal Vulnerability Index in Brazilian beaches in north Espírito Santo (Pontal do Ipiranga, Conceição da Barra) and south Bahia (Mucuri, Nova Viçosa, Caravelas, Prado, Cumuruxatiba, Corumbau, Arraial d\'Ajuda, Porto Seguro). The index was calculated using 13 indicators: number of cold fronts, storm impact scale, wave power, angle of wave approach, longshore drift estimation, beach morphology, wave exposure, presence of inlets or river mouths, terrain elevation, vegetation, occupation rate, coastal engineering structures and erosion evidences. In places where great urban infrastructure destruction and imminent danger to local community were observed, both \"beach morphology\" and \"wave exposure\" seem to be the main contributors to coastal erosion. In other locations where erosion evidences were also observed, the combination between the indicators \"longshore drift estimation\" and \"storm impact scale\" seems to be the main influence to erosive process. IVC results showed that all the beaches are in a moderate vulnerability context, except in Pontal do Ipiranga, where the result was for low vulnerability. The study has proven to be effective in defining the relative vulnerability of the studied beaches.

A erosão costeira é um processo de grande poder destrutivo e que afeta pelo menos 70% da zona costeira no mundo. Entender as causas e os processos que levam à erosão, bem como as regiões mais ou menos sensíveis a ela, é essencial para o correto manejo costeiro. O presente trabalho visa identificar as áreas vulneráveis à erosão através da aplicação de um Índice de Vulnerabilidade Costeira em praias do norte do Espírito Santo (Pontal do Ipiranga, Conceição da Barra) e sul da Bahia (Mucuri, Nova Viçosa, Caravelas, Prado, Cumuruxatiba, Corumbau, Arraial d\'Ajuda, Porto Seguro). O cálculo do índice se deu pela análise de treze indicadores ambientais: número de frentes frias, regime de tempestade, força de ondas, ângulo de incidência das ondas, estimativa de deriva potencial, morfologia da praia, exposição às ondas, presença de rios e/ou desembocaduras, elevação do terreno, vegetação, taxa de ocupação, obras de engenharia costeira e evidências de erosão. Os resultados mostraram que os indicadores \"morfologia da praia\" e \"exposição às ondas\" parecem ser os principais contribuintes para a erosão costeira nos municípios em que foram observados grandes prejuízos na infraestrutura urbana e perigo iminente à população local. Já nos demais municípios que também apresentaram focos de erosão, a combinação entre os indicadores \"estimativa de deriva potencial\" e \"regimes de tempestade\" parece ser a principal influência ao processo erosivo. Com exceção de Pontal do Ipiranga (que obteve um resultado de baixa vulnerabilidade), todas as praias apresentaram um IVC correspondente à vulnerabilidade moderada à erosão. O estudo se mostra eficiente para a determinação do nível de vulnerabilidade relativo entre as praias estudadas. / Coastal erosion is a process with great destructive power and affects more than 70% of worldwide coastlines. In order to achieve an effective coastal management, it is important to find and understand not only the causes and process that leads to erosion, but also areas that are more or less vulnerable to it. This study aims to identify erosion vulnerable areas through application of a Coastal Vulnerability Index in Brazilian beaches in north Espírito Santo (Pontal do Ipiranga, Conceição da Barra) and south Bahia (Mucuri, Nova Viçosa, Caravelas, Prado, Cumuruxatiba, Corumbau, Arraial d\'Ajuda, Porto Seguro). The index was calculated using 13 indicators: number of cold fronts, storm impact scale, wave power, angle of wave approach, longshore drift estimation, beach morphology, wave exposure, presence of inlets or river mouths, terrain elevation, vegetation, occupation rate, coastal engineering structures and erosion evidences. In places where great urban infrastructure destruction and imminent danger to local community were observed, both \"beach morphology\" and \"wave exposure\" seem to be the main contributors to coastal erosion. In other locations where erosion evidences were also observed, the combination between the indicators \"longshore drift estimation\" and \"storm impact scale\" seems to be the main influence to erosive process. IVC results showed that all the beaches are in a moderate vulnerability context, except in Pontal do Ipiranga, where the result was for low vulnerability. The study has proven to be effective in defining the relative vulnerability of the studied beaches.