This thesis consists of four research papers. In the first paper we study whether certain properties of sets (functions) are separably determined. In our results we use the "method of elementary submodels". In the second paper we generalize some results concerning Valdivia compacta (equivalently spaces with a commutative retractional skeleton) to the context of spaces with a retractional skeleton (not necessarily commutative). The third paper further studies the structure of spaces with a projectional (resp. retractional) skeleton. Under certain conditions we prove the existence of a "simultaneous projectional skeleton" and we use this result to prove other statements concerning the structure of spaces with a projectional (resp. retractional) skeleton. In the last paper we study the method of elementary submodels in a greater detail and we compare it with the "method of rich families". 1

Submitted by Claudia Rocha (claudia.rocha@udesc.br) on 2018-03-06T15:11:17Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCS15MA137.pdf: 3420930 bytes, checksum: aa5c526673feff1b400c7c772499cd77 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-06T15:11:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCS15MA137.pdf: 3420930 bytes, checksum: aa5c526673feff1b400c7c772499cd77 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-31 / Capes / The retractable character is typical of some very clayey soils found in humid subtropical weather of the highland plateaus from Southern Brazil, especifically for Latossolos Brunos and Nitossolos Brunos. These soils, there is a pronounced shrinkage soil mass after exposure and drying of soil profile for a certain period, resulting in the formation of pronounced vertical slits and large and very large prismatic structures that fall apart when handled in blocks. It is speculated that these characteristics are related to clay mineralogy, but there are no conclusive studies in this respect, the present work motivation. Based on the master's degree thesis developed with Latossolos soils and Nitossolos Brunos from Southern Brazil, which was held to quantify the retractable character, this work was done detailed mineralogical characterization of these soils, to evaluate possible relationships fraction mineralogy with the clay soil shrinkage properties, 4 were used (four) Nitossolos Brunos and two (2) Latossolos Brunos with evidence of retractable character belonging to the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, comparing their characteristics with those of one Latossolo Vermelho (Cascavel) from Paraná, without the presence of shrinkage character, all very clayey, developed from basalt and similar clay contents. To identify clay minerals, employed in techniques of X-ray diffraction, combined with use of software for evaluation of mineralogical details. The Newmod software was used to discriminate and for semiquantification of the presence of interstratified. The results revealed that most of the retractable soil presented similar mineralogical composition, composed of kaolinite, kaolinite-smectite interstratifieds (K-Sm) and smectite with hydroxy-Al interlayered, all in relatively large amounts, unlike Latossolo Vermelho not retractable, that showed low amount of interstratified and expressive amounts of gibbsite. The mineralogical assembly present in soils retractables was related with the retraction soil properties, especially with the amount of K-Sm interstratifieds / O caráter retrátil é típico de alguns solos de textura muito argilosa encontrados em clima subtropical úmido dos planaltos altimontanos do Sul do Brasil, notadamente nos Latossolos Brunos e Nitossolos Brunos. Nesses solos, observa-se uma retração acentuada da massa do solo após a exposição dos perfis ao secamento por determinado período, resultando na formação de fendas verticais pronunciadas e estruturas prismáticas grandes e muito grandes, que se desfazem em blocos quando manuseadas. Especula-se que tais características estejam relacionadas com a mineralogia da fração argila, porém não há estudos conclusivos a esse respeito, motivação do presente trabalho. Este estudo objetivou avaliar a relação da mineralogia com as propriedades de retração dos solos. Foram utilizados 4 (quatro) Nitossolos Brunos e 2 (dois) Latossolos Brunos com evidência do caráter retrátil, pertencentes aos estados de Santa Catarina e Rio Grande do Sul, comparando suas características com as de um Latossolo Vermelho não retrátil do Estado do Paraná, todos com textura argilosa e muito argilosa, desenvolvidos de basalto e com conteúdos similares de argila. Para identificar os minerais da fração argila, empregaram-se técnicas de difratometria de raios-X. A análise dos resultados revelou que a maioria dos solos retráteis apresentou composição mineralógica similar, composta de caulinita, interestratificados caulinita-esmectita (C-E) e esmectitas com polímeros de hidróxi-Al entrecamadas, todos em quantidades relativamente elevadas, diferentemente do Latossolo Vermelho não retrátil, que apresentou baixa quantidade de interestratificados e expressivas quantidades de gibbsita. A assembleia mineralógica presente nos solos retráteis mostrou-se relacionada com as propriedades de retração dos solos, notadamente com a quantidade de interestratificados C-E

A qualidade de uma reconstrução protética depende, primordialmente, de sua integração biológica e da sua adaptação. O afastamento gengival serve para se obter espaço para o material de moldagem e também para a visualização e acesso aos limites gengivais dos preparos, que são essenciais para a confecção de próteses com uma justeza de adaptação clínica. No entanto, a inserção de um material (fio retrator ou casquete) pode romper o sistema de fibras gengivais que conectam a margem gengival à superfície do cemento causando recessão gengival. Ocasionalmente, ocorre significativa inflamação ou perda de inserção. O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar a resposta inflamatória decorrente das diferentes técnicas de moldagem para prótese fixa, em termos da quantidade de IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, presentes no fluido gengival dos dentes com necessidade protética. A amostra foi composta por 10 dentes moldados pela técnica de afastamento gengival com fio retrator e um grupo de 10 dentes moldados pela técnica do casquete. Os pacientes foram selecionados considerando-se a necessidade de prótese parcial fixa, higiene bucal satisfatória e não possuírem sinais clínicos de doença periodontal. Previamente à moldagem, uma tira de periopaper foi inserida no sulco gengival do paciente e foi mantida por 30 segundos. A coleta foi repetida 4 vezes para as faces mesiovestibular, distovestibular, mesiolingual e distolingual. Terminado o procedimento da moldagem, após 2 horas, 4 horas e 24 horas, respectivamente, foi repetido o procedimento de inserção do periopaper nos 4 sítios dos dentes. A amostra foi preparada para a citometria de fluxo (CBA - cytometric beads array). Os resultados foram analisados pelo teste de Tukey. Na análise de variância a 3 critérios, por meio da comparação entre técnica de moldagem, paciente e tempo para os valores de TNF-α, a relação tempo e paciente versus tempo foi estatisticamente significante (p?0,05). Na comparação entre a técnica de moldagem com casquete e o fio retrator, não houve superioridade entre uma técnica e outra(p?0,05). O teste Tukey para a comparação intragrupo tempo (4 tempos), independente de técnica e paciente, mostrou relevância estatística entre os períodos antes da moldagem e após 24 horas (p=0,016) e, no período entre 2 horas e 24 horas após a moldagem (p=0,06). Portanto, foi possível concluir que não existe evidência científica que demonstre alguma superioridade das técnicas estudadas. Com isso, a escolha pelo método de afastamento gengival depende da situação clínica e habilidade do profissional. / The quality of a prosthetic reconstruction depends mostly on its integration and its biological adaptation. The gingival retraction serves to provide space for the impression material and also for visualize and give access to the gingival limit of tooth preparations, which are essential for making prostheses with a reliable clinical precision fit. However, the inclusion of a material (retractor cord or acrilic resin coping) can break the system of gingival fibers that connect the gingival margin to cementum´s surface, causing gingival recession. Occasionally, inflammation or significant insertion loss occurs. The aim of this study was to quantify the inflammatory response resulting from differents impression techniques for fixed prosthodontics in terms of the quantity of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, found in gingival fluid of tooths needing prosthetic restorations. The sample consisted of 10 teeth impressed by gingival retraction cord technique and a group of 10 teeth using acrilic resin coping technique. Patients were selected considering the need for fixed partial denture, good oral hygiene and absence of periodontal disease´s clinical signs. Prior taking impressions, a Periopaper strip was inserted into the gingival sulcus of patients and was maintained for 30 seconds. The collect was repeated 4 times to the mesiobuccal, distovestibular, mesiolingual and distolingual sides: After the impression procedure, collecting was repeated after 2 hours, 4 hours and 24 hours respectively. the Periopaper strip was inserted on the teeth´s four sites. The sample was prepared for flow cytometry examination (CBA - cytometric beads array). The results were evalueted by Tukey test. The 3-way analysis of variance criteria,comparing impression technique, patient and time to values of TNF-α, the relationship between time and patient versus time was statistically significant (p ? 0.05). Comparing the acrilic resin coping and retraction cord impression techniques, there was no superiority between each other (p ? 0.05). The Tukey test for intragroup comparison time (4 times) irrespective of technique and patient showed statistical significance between periods before the impression and after 24 hours (p=0,016) and the period between 2 and 24 hours after impressions (p=0,06). Therefore, it was concluded that there is no scientific evidence that exists any superiority between the techniques studied. Thus, the choice of gingival retraction method depends on the clinical situation and professional´s skills.

If X is a simply connected CW complex, then it has a unique (up to isomorphism) minimal Sullivan model. There is an important rational homotopy invariant, called the rational Lusternik–Schnirelmann of X, denoted cat0(X), which has an algebraic formulation in terms of the minimal Sullivan model of X. We study another such numerical invariant called the rational retraction index of X, denoted r0(X), which is defined in terms of the minimal Sullivan model of X and satisfies 0 ≤ r0(X) ≤ cat0(X). It was introduced by Cuvilliez et al. as a tool to estimate the rational Lusternik–Schnirelmann category of the total space of a fibration. In this thesis we compute the rational retraction index on a range of rationally elliptic spaces, including for example spheres, complex projective space, the biquotient Sp(1) \ Sp(3) / Sp(1) × Sp(1), the homogeneous space Sp(3)/U(3) and products of these. In particular, we focus on formal spaces and formulate a conjecture to answer a question posed in the original article of Cuvilliez et al., “If X is formal, what invariant of the algebra H∗(X;Q) is r0(X)?”

Digital image processing is widely used in the field of time-lapse microscopy and biological research to provide statistical data of cellular dynamics. The data can provide more comprehensive understanding of the molecular phenomenon. Further, digital image processing enables rapid and consistent quantification of qualitative observations. The image processing model examined here provides a study to identify structures called retraction fibers (RFs) that are formed during epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) [1], an important developmental process which also occurs during cancer metastasis. Quantifying RF formation is an important task for biologists studying cellular regulation of EMT. This thesis work uses digital image processing and computer vision algorithms to detect and track each RF in image sequences of cells undergoing EMT that are captured using time-lapse microscopy. The algorithms isolate the RFs with reasonable precision. Statistical information is generated about these automatically detected RFs, such as the number formed during a particular time window, lifetime of each, and their geometric dimension. This information can in turn be used by biologists to quantitatively measure the extent of EMT under different test conditions. Biologists feel that the information thus obtained may help clarify the molecular interactions of cell migration and will aid in developing methods of preventing cancer metastasis. Experimental results show that this methodology has significant potential in helping biologists determine RF behavior during EMT.

No description available.

Objetivos: descrever um novo método, baseado nas curvas de Bézier, de obtenção e análise quantitativa do contorno da pálpebra inferior de pacientes com orbitopatia de Graves. Casuística e Métodos: Foram estudados dois grupos de sujeitos, pareados por sexo e idade, sendo 41 pacientes portadores de orbitopatia de Graves e 43 sujeitos normais. Foi realizada exoftalmometria de Hertel em todos os integrantes do estudo e empregados cortes coronais de ressonância magnética orbitária para medir a área do músculo reto inferior de 17 pacientes e 16 controles. O programa ImageJ, com a ferramenta da curva de Bézier, foi usado para obtenção do contorno palpebral inferior de um dos olhos de todos os integrantes dos dois grupos da partir de fotografias digitais da fenda palpebral. O programa MatLab foi utilizado para se obterem, de ambos os grupos, o pico do contorno palpebral inferior, a distância margem reflexo 2 (MRD2), o índice de circularidade do contorno da pálpebra, o ângulo lacrimal, a área de exposição escleral delimitada pelo contorno palpebral bem como a razão entre as áreas temporal e medial dessa área. Resultados: A análise do contorno da porção ciliar da pálpebra inferior demonstrou que a retração palpebral está significativamente correlacionada ao grau de proptose do olho nos pacientes portadores de orbitopatia de Graves e ao deslocamento inferior do tubérculo lacrimal. Não houve correlação entre a magnitude da retração e o aumento da área do músculo reto inferior. O contorno da porção ciliar da palpebral inferior não apresentou deformações setoriais, achado este comprovado pela ausência de diferença significativa da posição do pico palpebral entre os dois grupos estudados, pela distribuição simétrica entre as áreas temporal e medial do contorno palpebral e pelo maior grau de circularidade detectado nas pálpebras dos portadores de orbitopatia de Graves. A retração deslocou significativamente o tubérculo lacrimal da pálpebra afetada. Conclusão: A curva de Bézier mostrou-se uma ferramenta útil para o estudo do contorno palpebral inferior. A análise do contorno evidenciou que não há flare temporal na retração palpebral inferior na orbitopatia de Graves. Os resultados possibilitaram melhor entendimento da retração palpebral, assim como planejamento cirúrgico mais preciso para correção dessa patologia palpebral. / Purpose: To describe a new method, based on the Bézier curves, to obtain and analyze quantitively the lower eyelid contour of patients with Graves orbitopathy. Magnetic. Casuistic and Methods: Two groups of sex and age matched subjects were studied: patients with Graves orbitopathy (n = 41) and normal controls (n= 43). Hertel exophthalmometry was performed in all subjects. Coronal slices of Magnetic resonance imaging were employed to estimate the area of the inferior rectus muscle of 17 patients and 16 controls. The Image J NIH software, equipped with the Bézier plugin, was used to obtain the lower eyelid contour of one eye of all participants from digital images of the palpebral fissure. With the software Matlab it was measured in all contours the following variables: margin reflex distance 2, the contour peak, the circularity index, the lacrimal angle and the total area of the lid contour as well the medial and lateral portions of this area. Results: The contour analysis of the ciliated portion of the lower eyelid showed that the lid retraction is significantly correlated with the degree of proptosis and with the displacement of the lacrimal tubercle of the lid. There is no correlation between the magnitude of retraction and the inferior rectus area. The ciliated portion of the lower eyelid does not show segmental deformities as demonstrated by the absence of difference between the temporal and medial areas of the contour as well by the highest index of circularity of the retracted lids. Lower eyelid retraction displaces significantly the lacrimal tubercle of the affected lid. Conclusions: The Bézier curve proved to be a useful tool for the study of the lower eyelid contour. The contour analyis showed that there is no lateral flare on the lower eyelid retraction of the Graves orbitopathy. The results allow a better understanding of the lid retraction and a precise surgical planning of this lid pathology.

O constante aumento do número de novos casos de câncer de mama vem despertando interesse na elaboração de módulos de esquemas CAD a fim de proporcionar um diagnóstico de maior precisão. Entretanto, a maioria das pesquisas está empenhada em detectar ou classificar fatores primários presentes em imagens mamográficas, como módulos e microcalcificações. Áreas assimétricas, retração de mamilo, linfonodos axilares, entre outros, são considerados como fatores secundários no diagnóstico do câncer de mama, apesar de poderem alertar para o surgimento não só dessa, mas de outras doenças no futuro. Por isso, essa pesquisa contempla a implementação de um sistema computacional capaz de auxiliar na detecção e classificação, conforme padrão BI-RADS®, de regiões que contenham sinais secundários capazes de levantar suspeitas da presença ou surgimento do câncer de mama, em imagens mamográficas digitais, utilizando técnicas inteligentes e automáticas de processamento de imagens e redes neurais artificiais. A acurácia alcançada em cada etapa foi: detecção de assimetria de 82,8%, retração de mamilo de 95% e Az = 0,93, detecção de linfonodos axilares = 74,9%. Objetiva-se que o resultado do trabalho seja inserido como um dos módulos de um protótipo de esquema CADx em mamografia, a fim de ampliar o conjunto de informações a serem usadas na classificação de cada caso sob análise, visando o aumento da precisão diagnóstica. / The increase in the number of cases of breast cancer have attracted interest in developing modules of CAD schemes to provider higher diagnostic accuracy. However, most researches are engaged in detect and classify primary factors present in mammographic images such as nodules and microcalcifications. Asymmetric areas, nipple retraction, axilary limph nodes, among other, are considered as secondary factors to diagnostic the breast cancer, although they may alert for the emergence not only of this but of other diseases in the future. Thus, this research includes the implementation of a computer system able to assist in the detection and classification, according to BI-RADS®, of regions that containing secondary signals able to arousing suspicion of the presence or appearance of breast cancer in digital mammographic images using intelligent and automatic techniques in the image processing and artificial neural networks. The accuracy obtained in each step was: detection of asymmetry of 82.8%, nipple retraction of 95% and Az = 0.93, detection of axilary lymph nodes = 74.9%. The purpose is that the result of the work is entered as one of the modules of a prototype of CADx schem in mammography in order to extend the range of information to be used in the classification of each case under analysis, aiming to increase diagnostic accuracy.

O constante aumento do número de novos casos de câncer de mama vem despertando interesse na elaboração de módulos de esquemas CAD a fim de proporcionar um diagnóstico de maior precisão. Entretanto, a maioria das pesquisas está empenhada em detectar ou classificar fatores primários presentes em imagens mamográficas, como módulos e microcalcificações. Áreas assimétricas, retração de mamilo, linfonodos axilares, entre outros, são considerados como fatores secundários no diagnóstico do câncer de mama, apesar de poderem alertar para o surgimento não só dessa, mas de outras doenças no futuro. Por isso, essa pesquisa contempla a implementação de um sistema computacional capaz de auxiliar na detecção e classificação, conforme padrão BI-RADS®, de regiões que contenham sinais secundários capazes de levantar suspeitas da presença ou surgimento do câncer de mama, em imagens mamográficas digitais, utilizando técnicas inteligentes e automáticas de processamento de imagens e redes neurais artificiais. A acurácia alcançada em cada etapa foi: detecção de assimetria de 82,8%, retração de mamilo de 95% e Az = 0,93, detecção de linfonodos axilares = 74,9%. Objetiva-se que o resultado do trabalho seja inserido como um dos módulos de um protótipo de esquema CADx em mamografia, a fim de ampliar o conjunto de informações a serem usadas na classificação de cada caso sob análise, visando o aumento da precisão diagnóstica. / The increase in the number of cases of breast cancer have attracted interest in developing modules of CAD schemes to provider higher diagnostic accuracy. However, most researches are engaged in detect and classify primary factors present in mammographic images such as nodules and microcalcifications. Asymmetric areas, nipple retraction, axilary limph nodes, among other, are considered as secondary factors to diagnostic the breast cancer, although they may alert for the emergence not only of this but of other diseases in the future. Thus, this research includes the implementation of a computer system able to assist in the detection and classification, according to BI-RADS®, of regions that containing secondary signals able to arousing suspicion of the presence or appearance of breast cancer in digital mammographic images using intelligent and automatic techniques in the image processing and artificial neural networks. The accuracy obtained in each step was: detection of asymmetry of 82.8%, nipple retraction of 95% and Az = 0.93, detection of axilary lymph nodes = 74.9%. The purpose is that the result of the work is entered as one of the modules of a prototype of CADx schem in mammography in order to extend the range of information to be used in the classification of each case under analysis, aiming to increase diagnostic accuracy.

Intravascular devices with engineered sharps injury protection (ESIP) are designed to reduce sharps injuries, but have not been investigated for blood splatter potential. In this laboratory-based experiment, which did not use human subjects, 100 intravenous catheters of the same type with a retraction mechanism, were tested for blood splatter. Once blood was obtained from a simulated brachial vein containing mock venous blood, the devices were placed in a testing chamber and scientific filters labeled A, B & C were used to capture blood splatter after activation. The blood splatter was examined visually and microscopically, and the filters were weighed pre- and post-activation on an analytical scale. The research questions in this study were: 1) do retractable intravenous devices produce blood splatter, and 2) does blood splatter frequency differ between visual methods vs. microscopy? The differences in filter mass, visual inspection, and microscopic analysis for presence of blood on filters were the units of analysis. Descriptive statistics, paired t-tests to determine pre and post activation filter weights and kappa statistics to assess degree of agreement between methods were used to analyze the data. For filters B and C, the proportions with blood detected by the naked eye were 12 and 13% respectively. However, for filter A, both visual and microscopic methods detected blood splatter on 70% and 71% of the time respectively. In addition, a statistically significant difference was observed in the mean mass of filter A between pre- and post-activation confirmed by the naked eye (t= - 0.0013, p= 0.01400) and confirmed microscopically (t= - 0.00014, p=0.0092). Substantial agreement between methods was observed for filter A (kappa=0.78; 95% CI: 0.64-0.92), filter B (kappa= 0.73; 95% CI: 0.51-0.95) and filter C (kappa= 0.75; 95% CI: 0.55-0.96). However, in 7 instances (7%), blood was detected by microscopy but not by the naked eye on filters A (5 %), B (1%), and C (1%), respectively. Also, in 6 instances (6%), blood was detected by the naked eye but now by microscopy on filter B (3%), and filter C (3%). Consequently, there is potential for a total of 13 % blood splatter. The findings indicate potential for bloodborne pathogen exposure with use of a specific retractable intravascular catheter. The finding that blood splatter was detected by microscopy in 7% of the instances has important occupational health implications. Healthcare workers (HCWs) may not be able to detect this blood splatter when it occurs and may not report a splash to mucous membranes or non-intact skin. This study therefore reinforces the need for HCWs to wear personal protective equipment, such as masks, face shields, goggles, when using intravascular catheters with retractable mechanisms. It is recommended that the research protocol used in this study be replicated by other investigators and tested on all brands of retractable intravascular devices.