Os sistemas de condicionamento de ar exercem função importante em uma sala cirúrgica, que é proteger a ferida cirúrgica e os equipamentos estéreis dos microrganismos carreados pelo ar. Essa proteção é feita pelo controle simultâneo da movimentação e distribuição do ar, da temperatura, da umidade, da filtragem, das infiltrações de ar de outros setores, entre outros. Esses são fatores que afetam diretamente a quantidade de partículas aéreas presentes em uma sala cirúrgica. Dentro deste contexto, no presente trabalho foi desenvolvido um modelo matemático para predição da concentração de partículas em salas cirúrgicas e para determinação da importância relativa dos fatores que interferem na geração e remoção dessas partículas. O modelo proposto baseia-se no balanço de massa para o cálculo da concentração de partículas, que foi aplicado e validado com os dados obtidos em salas cirúrgicas com diferentes tipos de sistemas de condicionamento de ar. Nessas salas cirúrgicas foram realizadas medições de variáveis ambientais considerando diferentes situações que normalmente ocorrem na rotina de salas cirúrgicas. Para cada uma das condições analisadas, é proposto um determinado conjunto de parâmetros relativos ao ambiente, ao sistema de condicionamento de ar e às concentrações de partículas provenientes das diversas fontes, que são utilizados como dados de entrada no modelo. O modelo que está sendo proposto também pode ser utilizado como uma importante ferramenta para auxiliar na análise específica dos fatores que afetam tanto a geração como a remoção de partículas. / Air conditioning systems exert an important function in surgical rooms, to protect the surgical wound and the sterile equipments from airborne infected particles. This protection is achieved by means of a simultaneous control of the movement and distribution of the air, of the temperature, of the humidity, of the filtering, of air infiltrations from other sections etc. Those factors directly affect the amount of airborne particles present in a surgical room. Within this context, the present work aimed to develop a mathematical model for the prediction of particle concentrations in surgical rooms and for the determination of the relative importance of the factors that interfere in the generation and removal of those particles. The proposed model, based on mass balance for the calculation of the particle concentrations, has been applied and validated with the data obtained from different types of air conditioning systems in which the measurements were carried out, as well as with different conditions that commonly occur in the routine of surgical rooms. For each one of these conditions, a certain group of relative parameters is proposed to the environment, to the air conditioning system, and to the concentrations of particles originated from the different sources, which are used as input data to the model. The proposed model can also be used as an important tool to aid in the specific analysis of the factors that affect both particle generation and removal.

Orientador: Antonio Maria Garcia Tommaselli / Banca: Roberto da Silva Ruy / Banca: Aluir Porfirio Dal Poz / Resumo: Devido ao elevado custo de Sistemas de Varredura a LASER Aerotransportados (SVLA) e a miniaturização de sensores, sistemas de varredura a LASER (SVL) de menor peso e custo têm sido uma alternativa para estudos florestais. Aliado a estes sistemas, a crescente utilização de Veículos Aéreos Não Tripulados (VANT) possibilita a aquisição de dados com maior flexibilidade e rapidez, o que permite a utilização de SVL mais leves neste tipo de plataforma. Todavia, a integração e sincronização dos dispositivos do sistema demanda árduo trabalho de conexão eletrônica e computacional. Em casos que não seja possível realizar a sincronização eletrônica entre os dispositivos do sistema, uma alternativa é a sincronização por pósprocessamento, estabelecida por meio da relação entre os dados temporais obtidos com o LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) e com o GNSS (Global Navigation Sattelite Systems), durante a trajetória de voo do SVL embarcado em VANT. Para relacionar estes dados, são realizadas manobras de voo na forma senoidal durante a decolagem e pouso com o sistema, a fim de gerar pontos de máximos e mínimos. Com isso, os dados LASER e as posições da plataforma, coletados pelos dispositivos LASER e GNSS/IMU em sistemas de tempo diferentes, são relacionados por meio da diferença de distância e altura em função do tempo. Posteriormente, o tempo dos dados LASER é corrigido para tempo GPS, caracterizando a sincronização por pós-processamento, e refinado pelo Método dos Mínimos Quadrado. Desse... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Due to the high cost of Airborne LASER Scanning (ALS) and the miniaturization of sensors, low-cost and low-weight LASER systems have been an alternative for forestry studies. Together with these systems, the increasing use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) platforms, also low cost, enables the acquisition of data with greater flexibility and speed, which allows the use of low-weight SVL in this type of platform. However, the integration and synchronization of the devices of the system demands specialised work for electronic and computational connections. In cases where it is not possible to perform electronic synchronization between the devices of the system, an alternative is the post-processing synchronization, established through the relationship between the signals obtained with LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and GNSS (Global Navigation Sattelite Systems), during the flight path of the SVL boarded in UAV. To relate these signals, flight maneuvers are performed in the a sinusoidal form shape during takeoff and landing with the system in order to obtain peaks of maximum and minimum. Thus, the LASER data and platform positions collected by the LASER and GNSS / IMU devices in different time systems are related by distance and height as a function of time. Subsequently, the LASER data time is corrected to match GPS time, characterizing the post-processing synchronization, and latter refined by the Least Square Method. In this way, the point cloud can then be generated. Th... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

O Maciço Alcalino máfico-ultramáfico Ponte Nova localiza-se no setor norte da Província Serra do Mar, junto à porção oriental da Serra da Mantiqueira, na fronteira dos Estados de São Paulo e Minas Gerais. Caracteriza-se por dois afloramentos de áreas 5 km² e 1 km². Dados magnéticos obtidos dos aerolevantamentos realizados para a CPRM pela Microsurvey Aerogeofísica e Consultoria Científica Ltda evidenciaram a presença de uma anomalia magnética extensa e de grande amplitude sobre os afloramentos. Este trabalho apresenta os resultados da interpretação geofísica e de modelagem direta integrando os dados aeromagnéticos com dados geológicos e gravimétricos do maciço visando uma caracterização do maciço em subsuperfície. Para uma determinação mais eficaz da localização e das dimensões da fonte da anomalia magnética, foram utilizadas técnicas de redução ao polo, amplitude do sinal analítico da anomalia magnética de campo total e aplicação de derivadas direcionais. Em laboratório, foram medidas as susceptibilidades magnéticas e intensidade da magnetização remanente natural de 14 amostras retiradas da região. Os resultados confirmaram a presença de magnetização remanescente em algumas das amostras, e susceptibilidade magnética média da ordem de 10-2 SI. A partir da conjunção dos dados do aerolevantamento e de dados geológicos, foi feita a modelagem direta 3-D com as propriedades magnéticas parametrizadas pelas medidas em laboratório. Os modelos consideraram a discriminação das fácies petrográficas do maciço, com susceptibilidades magnéticas variando de 0,1 a 0,9 SI. Os corpos modelados atingiram profundidades da base de pelo menos 3 km e seus volumes foram da ordem de 25 km³. Com base nas dimensões obtidas nos modelos magnéticos diretos, foi realizado um modelo gravimétrico direto com valores de densidade variando entre 2,77 g/cm³ e 3,30 g/cm³. Os resultados obtidos pelos modelos diretos foram discutidos e comparados com o modelo geológico e com outros modelos gravimétricos desenvolvidos. Apesar dos resultados alcançados pelos modelos apresentarem valores compatíveis com os observados nos levantamentos, os modelos não permitiram discriminar entre as duas hipóteses de trabalho sobre a configuração do maciço em subsuperfície: um corpo único que aflora em duas regiões ou dois corpos desconectados em subsuperfície. / The Ponte Nova mafic-ultramafic alkaline massif is located in the northern sector of the Serra do Mar Province, near the eastern portion of the Serra da Mantiqueira, on the border of the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais. It is characterized by two outcrops measuring 5 km² and 1 km² of area. Magnetic data obtained from the airborn surveys carried out for the CPRM by Microsurvey Aerogeofísica and Consultoria Científica Ltda. evidenced the presence of an extensive magnetic anomaly with great amplitude on the outcrops. This work presents the results of geophysical interpretation and direct modeling integrating the aeromagnetic data with geological and gravimetric data of the massif, aiming a characterization of the massif in the subsurface. To determine a better location and shape values of the magnetic anomaly\'s source, we use pole reduction techniques, amplitude of the analytical signal of the total field magnetic anomaly and directional derivative applications. Magnetic susceptibilities and natural remanent magnetization intensity of 14 samples from the region were measured in laboratory. The results confirm the presence of remanent magnetization in some samples, and the average magnetic susceptibility about 10-2 SI. From the conjunction of the aero-survey data and the geological data, two direct 3-D model were developed with the magnetic properties parameterized by the laboratory measurements. These models considered different petrographic facies, with magnetic susceptibilities ranging from 0.1 to 0.9 SI. The modeled bodies reached depths of the base of at least 3 km and their volumes were about 25 km³. Based on the dimensions obtained from direct magnetic models, a direct gravimetric model was performed, with density values ranging from 2.77 g / cm³ and 3.30 g / cm³. The results obtained by the direct models were discussed and compared with the geological model and with other existing gravimetric models. Although the direct models yielded results compatible with those observed in the surveys, the results do not allow for discrimination of the following working hypotheses on the configuration of the subsurface massif: a single body outcropping in two regions or two bodies disconnected in the subsurface.

As regiões de cultivo de eucalipto apresentam um grande número de variações ambientais em nível microrregional, como pode ser facilmente constatado quando se observam as diferenças expressivas entre as produtividades florestais de cada área. No entanto, para se avaliar um ambiente, é necessário identificar segmentos específicos dentro de uma paisagem, tratando-se de uma propriedade florestal e, dentro desse estudo, buscar a compreensão das interações que aí se processam. Este trabalho contribui para entender o efeito da face de exposição solar no crescimento de plantios comerciais de Eucalyptus. A proposta metodológica apresentada leva em consideração o conhecimento do meio físico - tendo como base a fisiografia para distinção das faces de exposição solar- além disso, a interação dos fatores fisiográficos com os fatores biológicos são discutidos para subsidiar a tomada de decisão. A acentuada interação genótipo x ambiente presente em muitas culturas faz com que estudos de adaptabilidade a ambientes específicos sejam parte integrante dos programas de pesquisa florestal. A resposta diferenciada dos genótipos a ambientes favoráveis e desfavoráveis pode auxiliar o gestor florestal na alocação assertiva dos materiais genéticos para maximizar a produtividade. O escaneamento a laser aerotransportado, ferramenta de uso precoce no Brasil, é um sensor óptico ativo que mede a distância até os objetos-alvo e foi utilizado para a obtenção da altura das árvores. A área de estudo está localizada na região sudoeste do estado de São Paulo. Dentre as métricas disponíveis do processamento utilizou o percentil 90 de altura para estimar a altura de plantios comerciais homogêneos de Eucalyptus. Elaborou-se a análise de variância considerando um delineamento fatorial contemplando a face de exposição solar (norte e sul) e o material genético (clones comerciais), além da interação entre ambos para observar o efeito da face no crescimento em altura do povoamento. Para florestas abaixo de quatro anos de idade observou-se que os plantios de face sul cresceram menos que os da face norte. Para florestas acima de 5 anos essa diferença entre face continua, contudo, quando concluído o desdobramento da interação fatorial observou-se que os materiais genéticos plantados em face norte não diferem entre si, mas a diferença se mantém para florestas em face sul. / The eucalyptus cultivation regions boast a large number of environmental variables in micro-regional level, as can easily be seen when studying the expressive differences between the productivity of each forest area. To evaluate an environment, however, it is necessary to identify specific segments within a landscape with regards to a forest property and within that landscape study to seek the understanding of the interactions that takes place in the process. This work contributes to a better understanding of the effect of the aspect on growth in commercial plantations of Eucalyptus. The methodological approach presented in this work takes into account the knowledge of the physical environment, based on physiography, for distinction of aspect on environments, in addition to showing the interaction of physiographic factors with biological factors to support the decision-making process. The sharp interaction genotype x environment present in many cultures leads to studies of adaptability to specific environments to become integral parts of forestry research programs. The differentiated response of genotypes to favorable and unfavorable environments can assist forest managers in the allocation of assertive genetic materials to maximize productivity. The airborne laser scanning, which is an early tool used in Brazil, is an active optical sensor that measures the distance to the target objects, was used to obtain the height of the trees. The study area is located in the southwestern region of the State of São Paulo in Brazil. Among the available processing metrics, it was used 90 percentiles in height to estimate the height of homogeneous commercial plantations of Eucalyptus. A variance analysis was devised considering a factorial design contemplating the aspect (North and South) and genetic material (commercial clones), besides the interaction between both to observe the effect of the exposure on the height growth of the settlement. To forests below four years of age, it was observed that the plantations of the South exposure grow less than the north exposure. For forests above five years, this difference between aspect continues, however, when the deployment of factorial interactions is done, it\'s observed that the genetic materials planted in the north exposure do not differ with each other, but the difference stands within forests in the South exposure.

According to recommendations from the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), World Health Organization (WHO) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a common engineering approach to isolation room design is to maintain the air ventilation rate at a minimum of 12 air changes per hour (ACH) for mixing and dilution, and a negative pressure in the room to direct airflow inwards, instead of leaking outwards. / In collaborations with physicians in the Respiratory Division and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), a series of experiments were carried out to verify the ventilation performance of an All room at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). Experiments investigated the effects of ACH, the control of airflow direction, the air tightness of the automatic swing door and the application of positive pressure ventilation procedures, such as high flow rate oxygen masks, jet nebulizers and NPPV. These were extensively tested in two different isolation rooms of the Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) and PMH, under common clinical circumstances and environmental conditions. / Many patients with severe respiratory infection require supportive therapy for respiratory failure. Common interventions involve supplemental oxygen to improve tissue oxygenation. In the worst scenario, mechanical ventilation via non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) may be required. Since a large amount of aerosols is generated during these interventions, there is a great risk of spreading infectious aerosols from the respiratory tract of the patient to the surrounding environment. / The aerodynamic data in this thesis infonns architects and engineers on how to improve the hospital ward ventilation design so as to avoid aerosol and ventilation leakage. Ultimately, it is hoped that this work may play a role in preventing devastating nosocomial outbreaks in the future. / The design of airborne infection isolation (AII) room has become one of the major research domains following the emergence of the global concern of acute respiratory diseases in this century. These include severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003, H5N1 avian influenza, and pandemic influenza H1N1 in 2009. All of which have claimed thousands of lives. Even with the current stringent design and practice guidelines, nosocomial infection of healthcare workers (HCWs) and inpatients continues to occur. This implies that there might be limitations in current isolation ward designs. / The experiments implemented a high-fidelity human patient simulator (HPS) which could be programmed with different lung breathing conditions and oxygen flow rate settings. The patient exhaled air dispersion distances and airflow patterns were captured in detail with a non-intrusive, laser light sheet, smoke particle scattering technique, designed for this thesis. Thin laser light sheets were generated by a high energy YAG laser with custom cylindrical optics. Smoke concentration in the patient exhaled air and leakage jets was estimated from the intensity of light scattered, which was then expressed as nonnalized particle concentration contours using computer programs developed for this study. / The study quantitatively revealed the distinctive patient exhaled airflow patterns and the extent of bioaerosol, generated directly from the patient source with the application of different oxygen delivery interventions for different patient lung conditions and oxygen flow rates. It was found that contamination was more critical during the administration of oxygen therapies, which is common in clinical circumstances. Source control is therefore the most efficient and effective approach to the reduction and even elimination of patient exhaled bioaerosol contaminants. Thus, when working in an isolation room environment, full preventive measure should be taken and it is essential to consider the location of mechanical vents and the patient exhaled airflow patterns. It has also been shown in experiment that applications of bacterial viral filter could be a solution to the problem. / Chow, Ka Ming. / Advisers: Puay Peng Ho; Jin Yeu Tsou. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-09(E), Section: A. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-147). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Orientador: Mauricio Galo / Resumo: Um Levantamento Hidrográfico (LH) tem como principal meta a obtenção de dados para a edição e atualização de documentos náuticos, estes, voltados à segurança das atividades de navegação. Objetivando padronizar parâmetros de incerteza das cartas náuticas, a Organização Hidrográfica Internacional (OHI) define níveis mínimos de confiança para diferentes ordens. A sugestão dessas especificações foi internalizada pela Marinha do Brasil, responsável pela produção das cartas náuticas brasileiras, na NORMAM-25. Um desses parâmetros é a Incerteza Vertical Total máxima permitida, um indicador de qualidade da medição da profundidade. A informação de profundidade influencia no calado máximo permitido a uma embarcação para transitar em uma região com segurança, o que pode impactar inclusive nas limitações de transações comerciais em terminais portuários, uma vez que as profundidades estimadas com acurácia potencializam os parâmetros de operação dos portos. Por se tratar de um ambiente dinâmico, seja por ação da própria natureza ou devido a atividades antrópicas, a atualização de uma carta náutica deve ser uma preocupação constante. Como complemento à tradicional técnica de levantamento por meio de um ecobatímetro acoplado a embarcações, há a opção de se realizar um LH com o emprego da tecnologia LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) a partir de aeronaves, por meio de um aerolevantamento batimétrico por LiDAR (ALB – Airborne LASER Bathymetry), que operam com pulsos LASER na região verde do e... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: A Hydrographic Survey (HS) has as main goal to obtain data for editing and updating nautical documents, these, focused on the safety of navigation. In order to establish a standard of uncertainty parameters for nautical charts, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) defines minimum levels of confidence for different orders. The suggestion of these specifications was acknowledged by the Brazilian Navy, institution responsible to produce Brazilian nautical charts, as described in NORMAM-25. One such parameter is the maximum allowed Total Vertical Uncertainty, a quality indicator of the depth measurement. Depth information influences the maximum operational draft for a vessel to safely travel in a region, causing impact on port operations and limiting the commercial transactions. Accurately estimated depths enhance the operational parameters of the ports. Due to the aim of representing a dynamic environment, whether as consequence of the action of nature itself or because of anthropic activities, updating a nautical chart must be a constant concern. As a complement to the traditional survey technique conducted with a boat-coupled echosounder, there is the option of performing a HS using LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) technology from aircraft, through LiDAR aerial bathymetry (ALB - Airborne LASER Bathymetry), which operate with LASER pulses in the green region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Considering these points, this work analyzed the differences between the... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Orientador: Luiz Fernando de Oliveira e Silva Carvalho / Banca: Raul José Silva Girio / Banca: Rosangela Zacarias Machado / Banca: Aníbal de Sant'Anna Moretti / Banca: José Soares Ferreira Neto / Resumo: Os suínos e seus produtos são considerados importantes fontes de salmonelose humana. Desta forma, o controle das infecções nas granjas é considerado essencial para a prevenção de Salmonella na cadeia produtiva de suínos. No entanto, o maior entrave na profilaxia da infecção é, principalmente, a falta de conhecimentos sobre sua epidemiologia em sistemas de produção intensivos de criação de suínos, principalmente em relação às possíveis vias de transmissão desse agente. Este estudo testou a hipótese da transmissão nasonasal (E1) e aerógena (E2) de Salmonella Derby na espécie suína. Os experimentos foram realizados em isoladores construídos em aço inoxidável e vidro e totalmente controlados. No E1, os isoladores dos suínos inoculados e dos suínos sentinela estavam conectados por pequena fenda que permitia apenas o contato naso-nasal. Em E2 os isoladores estavam conectados por condutores de ar que permitiam o fluxo de ar unidirecional do isolador 1 (suínos controle) ao isolador 3 (suínos sentinela), passando pelo isolador 2 (suínos inoculados). A duração de ambos experimentos foi de 15 dias. Nesse período, amostras dos sacos de dejetos, dos suabes retais, das fezes do piso e do ar foram colhidas diariamente e avaliadas quanto a presença de Salmonella. A hipótese de transmissão naso-nasal e aerógena de S. Derby não foi corroborada pelo isolamento e detecção do agente nos animais sentinela. / Abstract: Pork and pork products are recognized as one of the major sources for human salmonellosis. Howeveri the infection control in the farms is considered essential for the Salmonella prevention in the productive swine chain. However, the most impediment in the infection prophylaxis is, mainly, the lack of knowledge on its epidemiology in intensives production systems, mainly related to the transmission possible ways of this agent. This study has tested the hypothesis of nose-to-nose and airborne transmission of Salmonella Derby in the swine species. The trials were performed using stainlesssteel and glass isolation cabinets and totally controlled. In the trial 1, inoculated pigs and sentinel pigs isolation cabinets were connected by small crack that allowed only the nose-to-nose contact. In the trial 2 isolation cabinets were connected by air ducts that allowed an unidirectional airflow from cabinet 1 (control pigs) to cabinet 3 (sentinel pigs), passing through cabinet 2 (inoculated pigs). The duration of both trials were 15 days. At this period, slurry bags, rectal swabs, pooled faecal from the floor and air samples were collected daily and assessed by culture and PCR. The nose-to-nose and airborne transmission hypothesis of S. Derby was not corroborated by the agent isolation and detection in the sentinel pigs. / Doutor

Em bibliotecas, a grande concentração de matéria orgânica, associada a uma climatização deficiente propicia um ambiente favorável ao crescimento fúngico. O objetivo deste trabalho é desenvolver um teste para detectar a biorreceptividade ao crescimento fúngico de papéis utilizados na confecção de livros. Os gêneros de fungos foram amostrados nos períodos do inverno e verão, em seis bibliotecas da Universidade de São Paulo, três com climatização artificial e três sem. Não houve diferença no número de gêneros encontrados entre as bibliotecas com e sem climatização artificial, mas o inverno mostrou maior diversidade que o verão. Os fungos Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Chaetomium e Trichoderma foram inoculados em quatro tipos de papéis e estes foram testados em câmaras com 95% e 100% de umidade relativa, a 25 oC, por 30 dias. O crescimento ou não dos fungos nos papéis foi avaliado, assim como a alteração de cor. Nas condições do teste conclui-se que o melhor crescimento ocorreu com Cladosporium, na concentração de 106cél/mL e umidade relativa de 100%. / Libraries are very propitious environments for the growth of fungi. The great concentration of organic material available for these microorganisms, and often the lack of adequate ventilation or climate control, favors this situation. The main aim of this study is to develop a test to detect fungal growth bioreceptivity in papers used in books. Firstly, fungi genera where sampled in the summer and winter in six libraries of University of São Paulo, three with artificial acclimatization and three without. There was no difference in number between the libraries with and without artificial acclimatization but the diversity was higher in the winter than in the summer. Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Trichoderma and Chaetomium where inoculated in papers and tested in chambers with 95% and 100% of relative humidity, at 25°C for 30 days. The fungal growth was evaluated, as well the color alteration. The conclusion based on the tests is that the highest growth occurred with Cladosporium, with 106 cel/mL concentration and relative humidity of 100%.

A database of likely sinkholes in Pinellas County, Florida, created using airborne laser swath mapping (ALSM a.k.a LIDAR for light detection and ranging), correlates poorly with other databases of likely sinkholes created from modern and historic aerial photographs. Urbanization appears to be the cause of the poor correlation. Buildings obscure much of the ground surface in urban areas, and many man-made depressions can be confused with natural sinkholes. Additionally, the lack of air photos contemporaneous with the ALSM data hinders ALSM analysis in rapidly developing areas. Selecting a lightly-developed portion of the county for further study reduced the effects of urbanization. Air photos of this focus area, taken two years after the ALSM data were collected, image essentially the same surface as the ALSM data; therefore, ALSM and the air photos can be considered concurrent. While correlations among the two databases in the focus area were better than in the county-wide comparisons, the incongruencies were still numerous and the validity of the databases was unsubstantiated. An additional database of likely sinkholes in the focus area, created using all available information, represents the most exhaustive search for sinkholes in Pinellas County to date. By assuming it is correct (i.e. it identifies true sinkholes), this composite analysis is used to assess the validity of the ALSM database and the air photo databases. Measuring the ALSM and air photo databases against the composite analysis reveals that, while ALSM outperforms the air photo methods, the ALSM and air photo analyses each fail to recognize true sinkholes more than 50% of the time. However, it also demonstrates that, while flawed, using the databases allows for a better-than-random chance of selecting a site free of sinkholes.

L'occupation quasi constante des environnements intérieurs (en moyenne 90% du temps), expose en permanence les occupants à une large variété de microorganismes présents dans l'air de ces espaces. En raison de difficultés technologiques liées à la collecte et à l'analyse, ce domaine scientifique reste pourtant quasiment vierge et ce, malgré les retombées possibles dans le domaine de la santé. Le manque est particulièrement marqué, en ce qui concerne l'exposition des individus aux aérosols microbiens et plus globalement la gestion sanitaire de la qualité de l'air des espaces clos. Cette étude a pour objectif la caractérisation de la diversité microbienne de l'air de différents espaces clos collectifs par une approche qualitative et quantitative. L'ensemble de l'étude a porté sur des environnements sensibles d'un point de vue des occupants (Hôpital), de la densité de fréquentation (Le Musée du Louvre) ou d'un temps d'exposition prolongé (Bureau).L'originalité de cette thèse a résidé dans l'association d'une stratégie d'échantillonnage représentative des environnements étudiés et d'outils analytiques pertinents permettant d'étudier la microflore de l'air indépendamment de la cultivabilité des micro-organismes. Pour la première fois, un séquençage haut débit (pyroséquençage 454) a été appliqué à des échantillons d'air intérieur permettant d'accéder à une diversité microbienne rare comme le sont les espèces pathogènes. Les résultats montrent une diversité microbienne plus riche que celle habituellement observée par des méthodes culturales. Plusieurs micro-organismes impliqués dans des problématiques sanitaires ont été retrouvés (Borrelia spp., Burkholderia spp., Legionella spp., Neisseria spp. et Mycobacterium spp.). Les résultats mettent en évidence une stabilité à la fois spatiale et temporelle pour les bactéries retrouvées dans l'air intérieur. Cette stabilité est à la fois qualitative (structure des communautés microbiennes) et quantitative (abondance des microorganismes). La forte présence de séquences d'origine humaine permet de considérer l'Homme comme le principal élément orientant la microflore bactérienne de l'air intérieur. Des « cores species » signant l'air intérieur anthropisé ont pu être identifiées. / The constant occupation of indoor environments (average 90% of the time), constantly confront the occupants to a wide variety of microorganisms from the air of these spaces. Due to technological difficulties related to the collection and the analysis of airborne microorganisms, this field of study remains scanty, despite the potential health impact. The lack is particularly pronounced in terms of understanding of the risks of contamination of people by bioaerosols and overall health management of air quality of confined spaces.This study aims to characterize dynamics of the microbial diversity of different indoor environments. The entire study involved representative environments (hospital, office and museum).The originality of this thesis is the combination of a representative sampling strategy on environments studied and of analytical tools relevant to study the microflora of the indoor air regardless of the culturability of microorganisms.. For the first time, a high throughput sequencing (454 pyrosequencing) was applied to samples of indoor air in order to assess microbial diversity and pathogenic species..Several microorganisms implicated in health problems were found (Borrelia spp., Burkholderia spp. ,Legionella spp., Neisseria spp. and Mycobacterium spp.).The results give a different and more varied qualitative picture than that usually observed by cultural methods. The results show a stability of both spatial and temporal microflora of indoor air. This stability is both qualitative (microbial community structure) and quantitative (abundance of microorganisms). Man can be considered as the main factor driving the indoor air microflora due to the strong presence of sequences of human origin.'Cores species' signing the antropogenic indoor air were identified.