Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy afflicting Canadian men in 2011. Physicians use digital rectal exams (DRE), blood tests for prostate specific antigen (PSA) and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsies for the initial diagnosis of prostate cancer. None of these tests detail the spatial extent of prostate cancer - information critical for using new therapies that can target cancerous prostate. With an MRI technique called proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI), biochemical analysis of the entire prostate can be done without the need for biopsy, providing detailed information beyond the non-specific changes in hardness felt by an experienced urologist in a DRE, the presence of PSA in blood, or the “blind-guidance” of TRUS-guided biopsy. A hindrance to acquiring high quality 1H-MRSI data comes from signal originating from fatty tissue surrounding prostate that tends to mask or distort signal from within the prostate, thus reducing the overall clinical usefulness of 1H-MRSI data. This thesis has three major areas of focus: 1) The development of an optimized 1H-MRSI technique, called conformal voxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy (CV-MRS), to deal the with removal of unwanted lipid contaminating artifacts at short and long echo times. 2) An in vivo human study to test the CV-MRS technique, including healthy volunteers and cancer patients scheduled for radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy. 3) A study to determine the efficacy of using the 1H-MRSI data for optimized radiation treatment planning using modern delivery techniques like intensity modulated radiation treatment. Data collected from the study using the optimized CV-MRS method show significantly reduced lipid contamination resulting in high quality spectra throughout the prostate. Combining the CV-MRS technique with spectral-spatial excitation further reduced lipid contamination and opened up the possibility of detecting metabolites with short T2 relaxation times. Results from the in vivo study were verified with post-histopathological data. Lastly, 1H-MRSI data was incorporated into the radiation treatment planning software and used to asses tumour control by escalating the radiation to prostate lesions that were identified by 1H-MRSI. In summary, this thesis demonstrates the clinical feasibility of using advanced spectroscopic imaging techniques for improved diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy afflicting Canadian men in 2011. Physicians use digital rectal exams (DRE), blood tests for prostate specific antigen (PSA) and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsies for the initial diagnosis of prostate cancer. None of these tests detail the spatial extent of prostate cancer - information critical for using new therapies that can target cancerous prostate. With an MRI technique called proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI), biochemical analysis of the entire prostate can be done without the need for biopsy, providing detailed information beyond the non-specific changes in hardness felt by an experienced urologist in a DRE, the presence of PSA in blood, or the “blind-guidance” of TRUS-guided biopsy. A hindrance to acquiring high quality 1H-MRSI data comes from signal originating from fatty tissue surrounding prostate that tends to mask or distort signal from within the prostate, thus reducing the overall clinical usefulness of 1H-MRSI data. This thesis has three major areas of focus: 1) The development of an optimized 1H-MRSI technique, called conformal voxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy (CV-MRS), to deal the with removal of unwanted lipid contaminating artifacts at short and long echo times. 2) An in vivo human study to test the CV-MRS technique, including healthy volunteers and cancer patients scheduled for radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy. 3) A study to determine the efficacy of using the 1H-MRSI data for optimized radiation treatment planning using modern delivery techniques like intensity modulated radiation treatment. Data collected from the study using the optimized CV-MRS method show significantly reduced lipid contamination resulting in high quality spectra throughout the prostate. Combining the CV-MRS technique with spectral-spatial excitation further reduced lipid contamination and opened up the possibility of detecting metabolites with short T2 relaxation times. Results from the in vivo study were verified with post-histopathological data. Lastly, 1H-MRSI data was incorporated into the radiation treatment planning software and used to asses tumour control by escalating the radiation to prostate lesions that were identified by 1H-MRSI. In summary, this thesis demonstrates the clinical feasibility of using advanced spectroscopic imaging techniques for improved diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

The eye lens grows continuously throughout life and changes its shape as the eye changes focus from a distant to a near object (the process of accommodation). These changes are complex because they may affect not only the shape of the lens, but also its refractive index distribution. To date there has been no satisfactory technique for directly and non-invasively measuring these changes. In this study the refractive index distribution through the isolated lens was measured non-invasively using a novel MRI technique. The dependence of the refractive index value of lens tissue on its transverse relaxation rate (R2) was determined empirically from measurements on lens homogenate samples. Using a multi-spin-echo imaging sequence, data were acquired for constructing R2 maps of a central slice through the isolated lens. These R2 maps were transformed to refractive index maps using the empirically determined dependence of refractive index on R2. Using a standard algorithm for ray tracing through gradient index media, the propagation of light rays through the index map were simulated. The optical properties of the lens, such as focal length, were then measured. The technique was validated by also directly measuring the focal length of each lens using laser ray tracing. The subtle changes in refractive index distribution that are responsible for the dramatic change in the optical properties of the isolated lens with age, were observed for the first time. The decrease in surface power of the isolated lens with age accounted only partially for the decrease in total lens power with age, the remainder resulting from a reduction in the gradient of refractive index (GRIN) power. It is likely that this reduction in GFUN power is the mechanism by which the eye maintains emmetropia (good distant vision) with age despite the increasing curvature of its surfaces. The reduction in the GRIN power of the lens was found to be mainly due to a flattening of the refractive index profile in the central region of the lens, accompanied by steepening of the profile near the edge of the lens. In agreement with a previous MRI study of the isolated human eye lens, this study found a decrease in the refractive index of the nucleus with age. However the age related change in this study was not as large and not found to be statistically significant. The results demonstrate that existing simple models for the optics of the eye lens are inadequate to accurately describe its properties. Several more sophisticated models were considered in an attempt to describe better the age-dependent changes that occur in both the power of the lens and its longitudinal aberration. Mathematical modelling was also used to simulate the accommodative process and investigate possible changes in the index distribution of the lens that may occur with accommodation. A preliminary in vivo study was performed aimed at observing the change in the refractive index distribution of the eye lens with age and accommodation. These results demonstrated the feasibility of the technique for in vivo applications and showed that within experimental error there is little change in the central refractive index of the lens with age. However the resolution achievable with standard clinical imaging sequences and signal detection hardware was not optimal for in vivo refractive index mapping of changes in the human eye lens with accommodation. Finally therefore, methods for refining the technique for in vivo applications are discussed which may make it possible to directly and simultaneously measure both the shape and refractive index distribution of the lens with age and accommodation.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:28:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1715165 bytes, checksum: ba96ef5c3249cefde8551b95cd57d667 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-11-25 / With developments in recent years, methods for bathymetric surveys using acoustic sensors (echo sounders) and signals transmitted by satellite navigation receivers, it becomes possible to describe the submerged same level of detail which is embossed with the surface relief describes terrestrial. A graphical representation of the underwater relief occurs from Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) generated by interpolating seeking, from measurements, predict the depth at unsampled locations. The geometrical information taken from bathymetric surveys, the volume of liquid water or mud present, for example in a reservoir, is the most relevant. This study sought to determine the products generated by single beam bathymetric survey, as well as the methods of kriging interpolation and Topo to Raster. The study areas were a box of decanting of the water treatment plant and a dam lake of Furnas, where surveys were conducted, with total station and bathymetric surveys, with a single beam echo sounder which operates at frequencies 33 kHz and 210 kHz . In the settling box, first bathymetric survey was conducted (Lbat 1). Then be emptied and cleaned the box and before filling it again, surveying, (Ltop) was performed with total station. Immediately after filling, without water and mud decanted, another bathymetric survey (Lbat 2) was performed. To survey the dam lake of Furnas, held automated bathymetric survey, ie, using the GNSS technology for positioning. First, the data from the survey, we evaluated the methods of kriging interpolation and Topo to Raster in the DEM generation of the settling box. The conclusion was that the interpolator Top to Raster conditioning showed remarkable deformations at the edges and in the center of the study area and should be discarded. The next stage of this work was to evaluate the accuracy of DEMs generated by applying kriging on data from single beam bathymetric survey, Lbat 2, using the frequencies of 33 kHz and 210 kHz. Possession of DEMs were calculated discrepancies between information from them and points of surveying. The results showed an accuracy of about 5 cm in mean depths of 3.21 m, and that as the surveys were conducted after cleaning the box, with clean water, there was no significant difference in the accuracy of DEMs generated with depths raised to the frequencies 33 kHz and 210 kHz. Then the DEMs were generated by kriging for the first bathymetric survey, Lbat 1, when solid waste resulting from the settling process still existed. Volumes were calculated and compared to evaluate the frequency of 33 kHz echo sounder to determine the volume of mud in the box. After analyzing the results, it was found that using only the first bathymetric survey, with the frequencies 33 kHz and 210 kHz, there was detected 186 m3 of sludge, in a total volume of 799 m3 of water and mud which, with the clean water the volume is determined by accurate bathymetry, showing discrepancy of 0.63% for the frequency of 210 kHz and 0.12% for the frequency of 33 kHz. To survey the lake of Furnas DEMs were generated by kriging interpolation method and the Top to Raster, varying the spacing between the regular survey lines using horizontal scan lines to the regular survey lines. Through statistical analysis of the discrepancies between estimated by interpolating depths and depths observed in the scan lines of the bathymetric survey, the kriging showed better results for spacings of 40 and 80 meters. Considering the isobatimétricas between different DEMs created, it is observed that for larger spacings the interpolator to Top Raster presented smoother features when compared to the DEMs generated by kriging. / Com a evolução, nos últimos anos, dos métodos de levantamentos batimétricos utilizando sensores acústicos (ecobatímetros) e receptores de sinais transmitidos por satélites de navegação, torna-se possível descrever o relevo submerso com mesmo nível de detalhe com que se descreve o relevo da superfície terrestre. A representação gráfica do relevo submerso se dá a partir de Modelos Digitais de Elevação (MDEs) gerados por interpoladores que buscam, a partir das medidas realizadas, predizer a profundidade em locais não amostrados. Das informações geométricas extraídas de levantamentos batimétricos, o volume de água ou lama líquida presente, por exemplo em um reservatório, é a mais relevante. Este trabalho busca avaliar produtos gerados pelo levantamento batimétrico monofeixe, assim como os métodos de interpolação krigagem e Topo to Raster. As áreas de estudo foram uma caixa de decantação de estação de tratamento de água e um lago da represa de furnas, onde foram realizados levantamentos topográficos, com estação total e levantamentos batimétricos, com ecobatímetro monofeixe que opera nas frequências 33 kHz e 210 kHz. Na caixa de decantação, primeiramente foi realizado levantamento batimétrico (Lbat 1). Em seguida, esvaziou-se e limpou-se a caixa e, antes de enchê-la novamente, foi realizado um levantamento topográfico, (Ltop), com estação total. Logo após o enchimento, com água e sem lama decantada, foi realizado outro levantamento batimétrico (Lbat 2). Para o levantamento no lago da represa de furnas, realizou-se levantamento batimétrico automatizado, ou seja, empregando a tecnologia GNSS para o posicionamento. Primeiramente, com os dados do levantamento topográfico, se avaliou os métodos de interpolação krigagem e Topo to Raster na geração do MDE da caixa de decantação. A conclusão foi que o interpolador Topo to Raster condicionado apresentou notáveis deformações nas bordas e no centro da área de estudo, devendo ser descartado. A próxima etapa do trabalho foi avaliar a acurácia dos MDEs gerados aplicando krigagem nos dados do levantamento batimétrico monofeixe, Lbat 2, utilizando as frequências de 33 kHz e 210 kHz. De posse dos MDEs foram calculadas as discrepâncias entre informações extraídas deles e os pontos do levantamento topográfico. Os resultados apresentaram uma acurácia em torno de 5 cm, em profundidades médias de 3,21 m, e que, como os levantamentos foram realizados após a limpeza da caixa, com água limpa, não se verificou diferença significativa na acurácia dos MDEs gerados com as profundidades levantadas com as frequências 33 kHz e 210 kHz. Em seguida foram gerados os MDEs pela krigagem para o primeiro levantamento batimétrico, Lbat 1, quando ainda existiam resíduos sólidos resultantes do processo de decantação. Os volumes foram calculados e comparados a fim de avaliar a frequência de 33 kHz do ecobatímetro para determinar o volume de lama na caixa. Após analisar os resultados verificou-se que usando somente o primeiro levantamento batimétrico, com as frequências 33 kHz e 210 kHz, não se detectou 186 m3 de lama, num volume total de 799 m3 de água e lama, e que, com a água limpa, o volume determinado pela batimetria é acurado, apresentando discrepância de 0,63% para a frequência de 210 khz e 0,12% para a frequência de 33 khz. Para o levantamento do lago de furnas foram gerados MDEs pelo método de krigagem e pelo Topo to Raster, variando o espaçamento entre as linhas regulares de sondagem, utilizando linhas de verificação transversais às linhas regulares de sondagem. Através da análise estatística das discrepâncias entre as profundidades estimadas pelos interpoladores e as profundidades observadas nas linhas de verificação do levantamento batimétrico, a krigagem apresentou melhores resultados para espaçamentos de 20 a 80 metros. A diferença entre os volumes determinados para os espaçamentos de 20 a 40 metros foi menor que 2%,. Considerando as isobatimétricas entre os diversos MDEs criados, observa-se que para espaçamentos maiores o interpolador Topo to Raster apresentou feições mais suavizadas quando comparado com os MDEs gerados pela krigagem.

Orientador: Nilton Nobuhiro Imai / Banca: Maria de Lourdes Bueno Trindade Galo / Banca: Júlia Celia Mercedes Strauch / Resumo: Este trabalho relata um estudo de caso, no qual se procedeu a um levantamento ecobatimétrico para se obter dados de profundidade do corpo de água e da altura da vegetação aquática submersa, realizado num trecho do Rio Uberaba, que faz parte do Reservatório de Porto Colômbia, abrangendo uma área de aproximadamente 360 mil m². Os dados foram processados e avaliados com o objetivo principal de desenvolver uma abordagem de inferência espacial no mapeamento de macrófitas submersas presentes na região pesquisada. Para isso, verificou-se a viabilidade do uso de interpoladores convencionais para mapear as variáveis coletadas pelo ecobatímetro, avaliou-se o potencial de imagem multiespectral de alta resolução espacial (QuickBird) na detecção da vegetação estudada, realizou-se uma análise espacial para avaliar tendência para esse tipo de ocorrência e, finalmente, estudou-se a possibilidade de se utilizar técnica de geoestatística na inferência da altura de macrófitas submersas da área de estudo. As interpolações convencionais não se mostraram satisfatoriamente adequadas para mapear a variável altura da vegetação submersa, porém, a utilização da interpolação linear por triangulação foi suficiente para representar adequadamente o relevo submerso. A imagem multiespectral se mostrou capaz de detectar aproximadamente 21% de macrófitas submersas. Com relação à análise espacial, os resultados indicaram que a dependência espacial é uma tendência que deve ser levada em consideração, daí ter sido utilizada a geoestatística na abordagem de inferência espacial da vegetação. A análise dos semivariogramas forneceu conhecimento relacionado aos métodos de levantamentos ecobatimétricos. A inferência espacial por krigagem apresentou resultado satisfatório, comparado às interpolações convencionais mencionadas anteriormente... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In this work was accomplished a case study in which an echo sounder survey was conducted to obtain data of water body depth and submerged aquatic vegetation height. The study was realized specifically on a region of Uberaba River with approximately 360.000 m². This river is part of the Porto Colombia reservoir. The data was processed and evaluated with main objective to develop an approach of spatial inference for map submersed macrophyte in the region studied. For this, it was verified the availability of using conventional interpolation to map the variables collected by the echo sounder, it was evaluated the potential of multispectral image with high spatial resolution (QuickBird) to detect the vegetation, it was done a spatial analysis and finally it was verified the possibility of using geostatistic technique to infer the submerged macrophytes height in the study area. The use of linear interpolation by triangulation was enough to represent rightly the underwater topography; however, the conventional interpolations were not satisfactorily to map the submerged vegetation height. The multispectral image was able to detect approximately 21% of submerged macrophytes. About spatial analysis, the results indicated that the spatial dependence must be considered, therefore, it was used the geostatistic in the spatial inference of submerged vegetation. Semivariograms analysis provided important knowledge about methods of echo sounder survey. The spatial inference by kriging showed satisfactory results if compared with conventional interpolations mentioned above. Finally, the approach used to mapping submerged macrophytes height can be applied in other regions and this can help the reservoirs management, allowing improve the knowledge about the local ecosystem and therewith developing an action strategy to contain the spread of submerged aquatic vegetation / Mestre

Helium-3 surface spin echo spectroscopy (HeSE) has been used to measure the diffusive dynamics of adsorbates on close-packed metal surfaces, namely hydrogen on Cu(111), Pd(111) and Ru(0001), carbon and oxygen on Ru(0001), and oxygen on Cu(111). Chapter 2 reviews the HeSE technique and describes the relevant dynamical models and statistical methods used to interpret data in later chapters. The performance of the ionizing detector is analysed, with a focus on the signal-to-noise ratio. In Chapter 3 expressions for the classical intermediate scattering function (ISF) are introduced for open and closed systems. The effects of corrugation and surface-perpendicular motion on the amplitude of different components in the ISF are modelled analytically and compared with simulation. The exact ISF for a particle on a flat surface, obeying the Generalized Langevin Equation with exponential memory friction, is calculated analytically. In Chapter 4 the analytical ISF is calculated for quantum Brownian motion and for coherent tunneling dynamics in a tight binding system. The bounce method for calculating quantum mechanical hopping rates in dissipative systems is applied to model diffusion of hydrogen on Ru(0001). Chapter 5 presents the first HeSE measurements of carbon and oxygen diffusion. C/Ru(0001) diffusion is assigned to a small carbon cluster. The jump rate has an activation energy $E_{A}=292\pm7\,$meV in the temperature range $550\,\textrm{K}\leq T \leq 1300\,$K. Oxygen diffusion is significantly slower. By comparison of literature data with the new HeSE results, the activation energy for oxygen diffusion at low coverage is estimated as $650\pm10$meV. Oxygen measurements at high coverage $\theta\approx0.22\,$ML are consistent with strong mutual O-O interactions. Surface diffusion is also observed after exposing Cu(111) to oxygen. Chapter 6 presents low-coverage measurements of protium (H) and deuterium (D) diffusion on Ru(0001), Pd(111) and Cu(111). In the quantum activated regime there is evidence for multiple jumps in all three systems, suggesting a low dynamical friction. The measurements on Ru(0001) indicate that the deep tunneling rate is much slower for D than for H.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2001-02-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:48:52Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 rotta_lhs_me_prud.pdf: 9845813 bytes, checksum: 8afe01cd2ab27aa9636ee65187b34e5d (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Este trabalho relata um estudo de caso, no qual se procedeu a um levantamento ecobatimétrico para se obter dados de profundidade do corpo de água e da altura da vegetação aquática submersa, realizado num trecho do Rio Uberaba, que faz parte do Reservatório de Porto Colômbia, abrangendo uma área de aproximadamente 360 mil m². Os dados foram processados e avaliados com o objetivo principal de desenvolver uma abordagem de inferência espacial no mapeamento de macrófitas submersas presentes na região pesquisada. Para isso, verificou-se a viabilidade do uso de interpoladores convencionais para mapear as variáveis coletadas pelo ecobatímetro, avaliou-se o potencial de imagem multiespectral de alta resolução espacial (QuickBird) na detecção da vegetação estudada, realizou-se uma análise espacial para avaliar tendência para esse tipo de ocorrência e, finalmente, estudou-se a possibilidade de se utilizar técnica de geoestatística na inferência da altura de macrófitas submersas da área de estudo. As interpolações convencionais não se mostraram satisfatoriamente adequadas para mapear a variável altura da vegetação submersa, porém, a utilização da interpolação linear por triangulação foi suficiente para representar adequadamente o relevo submerso. A imagem multiespectral se mostrou capaz de detectar aproximadamente 21% de macrófitas submersas. Com relação à análise espacial, os resultados indicaram que a dependência espacial é uma tendência que deve ser levada em consideração, daí ter sido utilizada a geoestatística na abordagem de inferência espacial da vegetação. A análise dos semivariogramas forneceu conhecimento relacionado aos métodos de levantamentos ecobatimétricos. A inferência espacial por krigagem apresentou resultado satisfatório, comparado às interpolações convencionais mencionadas anteriormente... / In this work was accomplished a case study in which an echo sounder survey was conducted to obtain data of water body depth and submerged aquatic vegetation height. The study was realized specifically on a region of Uberaba River with approximately 360.000 m². This river is part of the Porto Colombia reservoir. The data was processed and evaluated with main objective to develop an approach of spatial inference for map submersed macrophyte in the region studied. For this, it was verified the availability of using conventional interpolation to map the variables collected by the echo sounder, it was evaluated the potential of multispectral image with high spatial resolution (QuickBird) to detect the vegetation, it was done a spatial analysis and finally it was verified the possibility of using geostatistic technique to infer the submerged macrophytes height in the study area. The use of linear interpolation by triangulation was enough to represent rightly the underwater topography; however, the conventional interpolations were not satisfactorily to map the submerged vegetation height. The multispectral image was able to detect approximately 21% of submerged macrophytes. About spatial analysis, the results indicated that the spatial dependence must be considered, therefore, it was used the geostatistic in the spatial inference of submerged vegetation. Semivariograms analysis provided important knowledge about methods of echo sounder survey. The spatial inference by kriging showed satisfactory results if compared with conventional interpolations mentioned above. Finally, the approach used to mapping submerged macrophytes height can be applied in other regions and this can help the reservoirs management, allowing improve the knowledge about the local ecosystem and therewith developing an action strategy to contain the spread of submerged aquatic vegetation

Den här studien undersöker hur diskussioner på ekokammare ser ut i sociala medier. Mer specifikt undersöks kommentarsfälten i två olika länkar från den sociala länkaggregatorn Reddit och underforumet /r/Politics. Undersökningen görs i syfte att se hur diskussioner tar form på Reddit för att ge en klarare bild av ekokammare som fenomen på internet. Studiens teoretiska grund ligger i teorierna om selektiv exponering och partisk assimilering, samt i en teoretisering av hur grupper formas på de sociala medierna Twitter och Reddit. Studien använder sig av både en kvantitativ innehållsanalys och en kvalitativ textanalys, vilka främst grundar sig i argumentationsanalysen. Innehållsanalysen används först för att jämföra /r/Politics användares ställningstagande till de länkar som de kommenterar på och sedan för att möjliggöra en korrelationsanalys av arguments styrka och dess användargivna poäng på Reddit. Textanalysen görs med hjälp av begrepp från argumentationsanalysen och används för att sätta in studiens material i fem olika teman. Det mest framträdande temat får namnet Kommentarer av papegojor och beskriver kommentarer som konstrueras likadant som tidigare kommentarer utan försök till att föra något nytt till diskussionen. Överlag visar studiens resultat att responsen ser likadan ut för båda länkarna och att en stor majoritet av kommentarerna är på samma sida i argumentet. Resultatet visar också att argumentens styrka är oberoende av om en kommentar får en positiv respons eller inte. / This study explores how discussions in echo chambers take form on social media. More specifically, the study explores the comment section of two different links on the social news-aggregator website Reddit and the sub-forum /r/Politics. The purpose of the aforementioned exploration is to give a clearer picture of echo chambers as a phenomena on the Internet. The study’s theoretical background is based on selective exposure and biased assimilation theory, as well as a theorization of how groups form on Twitter and Reddit. The study uses a quantitative content analysis and a qualitative text analysis, which are both based on argumentation theory. The content analysis is first used to compare the viewpoint of /r/Politics users with the subject of the links they comment on, and then to make a correlation analysis of the strength of arguments and the arguments’ user-given points on Reddit. Last a qualitative text analysis is done using concepts from argumentation theory, which allows for the observation of five different themes. The most prominent of these themes was given the name Comments by parrots and describes comments that are constructed in a similar fashion to older comments, without an attempt to bring something new to the discussion.  Overall, the study’s result shows that the response to the two links is similar, and that both have an overwhelming majority of comments supporting one side. The result also shows that a strong argument does not necessarily mean that the comment will get a positive response.

The sector of civil construction is one of impactantes, responsible mostly of the residues generated in the planet. The sped up growth of the cities comes causing ambient disequilibrium and reduction of the quality of life of population and one of the probable solutions is the implantation of sustainable cities, of echo-efficient constructions, stimulates it to the structure of the one productive chain of the sector with ecological principles, the use of alternative constructive and matter methods, or either, the search of the sustentabilidade of the sector. The companies are being pressured for the society to adopt measured of protection to the environment and social responsibility. So that the company takes decisions more possible adjust and can analyze the present situation of the company in relation to its customers, competitors and to the environment if make necessary the formularization of pointers. The use only of financial pointers, can generate a little real situation of that really the ideal is happening is, to use beyond the financial pointers, to get information of pointers of management, quality and ambient. For this study, we use as instrument of research, surveys in bibliographical sources and research effected in the area and study of case. Questionnaires had been applied that had served as exploratory instrument and of survey of questions, and had as objective, to evaluate the degree of importance of the ambient questions and quality in the companies of civil construction of Aracaju, as well as, of the practical ones of management come back to the environment. The research identified, among others questions, that in subtle way, the great concerns them studied companies had turned around the management of the quality and the strategical planning, and that for what we can observe, it did not include the variable ambient. / O setor de construção civil é um dos mais impactantes, responsável por grande parte dos resíduos gerados. O crescimento acelerado das cidades vem causando desequilíbrios ambientais e redução da qualidade de vida da população e uma das prováveis soluções são a implantação de cidades sustentáveis, de construções ecoeficientes; o estimulo à estruturação da uma cadeia produtiva do setor com princípios ecológicos; a utilização de métodos construtivos e materiais alternativos; ou seja, a busca da sustentabilidade do setor. As empresas estão sendo pressionadas pela sociedade a adotar medidas de proteção ao meio ambiente e de responsabilidade social. Para que a empresa tome decisões o mais acertadamente possível e possa analisar a situação presente da empresa em relação aos seus clientes, concorrentes e ao meio ambiente se faz necessário a formulação de indicadores. A utilização somente de indicadores financeiros, pode gerar uma situação pouco real do que está acontecendo, o ideal é, utilizar além dos indicadores financeiros, obter informações de indicadores de gestão, de qualidade e ambientais. Para esse estudo, utilizamos como instrumento de pesquisa, levantamentos em fontes bibliográficas e pesquisas efetuadas na área e estudo de caso. Foram aplicados questionários que serviram como instrumento exploratório e de levantamento de questões, e teve como objetivo, avaliar o grau de importância das questões ambientais e de qualidade nas empresas de construção civil de Aracaju, como também, das práticas de gestão voltadas ao meio ambiente. A pesquisa identificou, entre outras questões, que de maneira sutil, as grandes preocupações das empresas estudadas giraram em torno da gestão da qualidade e do planejamento estratégico, e que pelo que podemos observar, não incluiu a variável ambiental.

Dissertação(Mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, 2006. / Submitted by Cristiane Gomides (cristiane_gomides@hotmail.com) on 2013-10-17T12:34:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Stefan.pdf: 1989770 bytes, checksum: 0cfdf3653fbd708f4597e22268dfad34 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Sabrina Andrade (sabrinabeatriz@ibest.com.br) on 2013-10-17T16:31:43Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Stefan.pdf: 1989770 bytes, checksum: 0cfdf3653fbd708f4597e22268dfad34 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-10-17T16:31:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Stefan.pdf: 1989770 bytes, checksum: 0cfdf3653fbd708f4597e22268dfad34 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Montes submarinos são as principais feições topográficas de fundo oceânico. Com uma gama considerável de alturas e profundidades de topo, dispondo de uma variedade de tipos de substratos e habitats, constituem importantes ecossistemas para a biota de regiões oceânicas. Ao longo da ZEE das regiões Central e Nordeste registra-se a presença de diversos bancos e ilhas oceânicas, as quais compreendem a área de estudo do presente trabalho. Essas áreas foram prospectadas com metodologia hidroacústica ao longo de dois cruzeiros, executados nas regiões Central e Nordeste do Brasil. Os dados hidroacústicos, ambientais e biológicos provenientes desses dois cruzeiros foram analisados a fim de classificar os eco-registros detectados, estudar possíveis alterações na estrutura termohalina decorrentes da presença de bancos e ilhas, e avaliar a relação entre a presença destas feições e a distribuição e abundâncias de organismos pelágicos. Os eco-registros detectados pela sonda, na região Nordeste do Brasil, nos setores Bancos Oceânicos do Ceará, Atol das Rocas e Arquipélagos de Fernando de Noronha e de São Pedro e São Paulo, foram classificados nos ecotipos Camada Oceânica, Myctophidae, Camada Oceânica com Myctophidae e Nuvem de Quebra. Efeitos da presença dos bancos e ilhas, provocando alterações nas características termohalinas locais, não foram evidenciados a partir dos dados ambientais disponíveis. Não foi observado um padrão claro na distribuição dos valores de densidade acústica nos entornos das feições consideradas no presente estudo, indicando diferenças locais associadas às mesmas. Eventos de migração nictemeral foram frequentemente observados e hidroacusticamente registrados. Essas migrações estabelecem importantes diferenças nos níveis de densidades acústicas durante o dia e a noite. No período noturno as densidades são mais elevadas entre a superfície e os 500 m, limite das prospecções, do que no período diurno. Tais eventos são, provavelmente, de destacada importância ecológica para a região. / Seamounts are the main topographical features of the oceanic bottom. With a considerable range of heights and top depths, and a variety of substrata and different habitats, constitute important ecosystems. Along the Exclusive Economic Zone (ZEE) of the Central and Northeast coasts of Brazil several oceanic banks and islands exist and are the geographical area of the present study where two acoustic assessment cruises were carried out. The aims of this study are the classification of the echo records, to evaluate possible alterations in the thermohaline structure due the presence of banks and islands, and the analysis of the relationship between the presence of these features and the distribution and abundance of pelagic organisms. Hydroacoustic, environmental and biological data derived from such cruises were used. The echo records were classified in the Oceanic Layer, Myctophidae, Oceanic Layer with Myctophidae and Cloud of Break echo types. Evidences were not found of the effects of the presence of banks and islands in the local thermohaline structure, with the available data. A clear pattern was not observed in the distribution of the recorded acoustic density around the features, indicating local differences associated to the same ones. Strong and important vertical migration events were frequently observed and recorded. Acoustic densities observed from the surface down to 500 m, maximum assessed depth, were higher during the night compared to daylight hours. Such events are, probably, ecologically very important in the studied area.