Data Editing and Logic: The covering set method from the perspective of logic

Errors in collections of data can cause significant problems when those data are used. Therefore the owners of data find themselves spending much time on data cleaning. This thesis is a theoretical work about one part of the broad subject of data cleaning - to be called the covering set method. More specifically, the covering set method deals with data records that have been assessed by the use of edits, which are rules that the data records are supposed to obey. The problem solved by the covering set method is the error localisation problem, which is the problem of determining the erroneous fields within data records that fail the edits. In this thesis I analyse the covering set method from the perspective of propositional logic. ..

Características da morbidade de população atendida pelo Centro de Saúde-Escola, São José do Rio Preto, SP (Brasil), 1974

The methodology used by a University Health Center, during one year, in order to diagnose the morbidity of a population through the demand, is presented by the authors. A high prevalence of gastro-enteric parasites ivas observed with characteristics that are peculiar to the region, as giardiasis, hook-worm and strongiloidiasis in different age groups. Anemia was also observed, especially in the group under fourteen years of age. The results of serologic diagnosis of Chagas' Disease and Syphilis are discussed and compared with those of the whole 8th Administrative Region of the State of S. Paulo. The authors discuss the differences observed, during the year, among the frequency of three great groups of infectious diseases. The causes of such findings are also discussed especially as regards water and food borne diseases. The hospital demands resulting from this out-patient service are also analysed.Apresenta-se a metodologia seguida por um Centro de Saúde-Escola, São José do Rio Preto, SP (Brasil), durante um ano e a possibilidade da realização de um diagnóstico de morbidade de população através da demanda solicitada. Observa-se a alta prevalência das enteroparasitoses, com características peculiares à ecologia local, sobressaindo-se a giardíase, ancilostomose e estrongiloidíase, de acordo com a faixa etária estudada. Evidencia-se alta freqüência de anemia, especialmente na população abaixo de 14 anos, maior que nos grupos etários superiores. Estudam-se os valores encontrados para a sorologia da doença de Chagas e para Lues, relacionando-os com aquelas da 8ª Região. Discorre-se sobre as diferenças na freqüência da morbidade devida aos três grandes grupos de doenças transmissíveis e discute-se sobre a possível explicação para a diminuição observada em relação àquelas de origem hídrica e/ou alimentar. Comenta-se sobre a demanda, hospitalar gerada por um serviço ambulatorial que se revela baixa

Levantamento de características epidemiológicas do sarampo em São José do Rio Prêto (Brasil) - 1973

In this country measles is considered a very important infection from the sanitary point of view. Its incidence was studied in a cohort of 5 years (between 2 and 7 years old at present) in the urban area of São José do Rio Prêto. The progressive increase of incidence in the lower age patients, was showed. The prophylactie value of specific vaccination (96%) and the hospital demand due to measles (758 beds/day) were evaluated by means of the most accessible mean of investigation in this area - i.e., personnal interviews.Considerando-se o sarampo como infecção com grande importância médico-sanitária atual, estudou-se sua incidência numa cohorte de 5 anos (entre 2 -;½;7 anos atuais) em região urbana de São José do Rio Prêto (Brasil) evidenciando-se a elevação da incidência progressivamente em idades mais jovens. Utilizando-se de método de investigação acessível em noso meio - entrevistas - determinou-se a ação profilática da vacina específica (96%) e a demanda hospitalar devido ao sarampo (758 leitos/dia) na área estudada nos últimos 5 anos

Intelligent Foreign Particle Inspection Machine for Injection Liquid Examination Based on Modified Pulse-Coupled Neural Networks

A biologically inspired spiking neural network model, called pulse-coupled neural networks (PCNN), has been applied in an automatic inspection machine to detect visible foreign particles intermingled in glucose or sodium chloride injection liquids. Proper mechanisms and improved spin/stop techniques are proposed to avoid the appearance of air bubbles, which increases the algorithms' complexity. Modified PCNN is adopted to segment the difference images, judging the existence of foreign particles according to the continuity and smoothness properties of their moving traces. Preliminarily experimental results indicate that the inspection machine can detect the visible foreign particles effectively and the detection speed, accuracy and correct detection rate also satisfying the needs of medicine preparation

Acquired MET Expression Confers Resistance to EGFR Inhibition In a Mouse Model of Glioblastoma Multiforme

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor for which there is no cure. Overexpression of wild-type EGFR and loss of the tumor suppressor genes Ink4a/Arf and PTEN are salient features of this deadly cancer. Surprisingly, targeted inhibition of EGFR has been clinically disappointing, demonstrating an innate ability for GBM to develop resistance. Efforts at modeling GBM in mice using wild-type EGFR have proven unsuccessful to date, hampering endeavors at understanding molecular mechanisms of therapeutic resistance. Here, we describe a unique genetically engineered mouse model of EGFR-driven gliomagenesis that uses a somatic conditional overexpression and chronic activation of wild-type EGFR in cooperation with deletions in the Ink4a/Arf and PTEN genes in adult brains. Using this model, we establish that chronic activation of wild-type EGFR with a ligand is necessary for generating tumors with histopathological and molecular characteristics of GBMs. We show that these GBMs are resistant to EGFR kinase inhibition and we define this resistance molecularly. Inhibition of EGFR kinase activity using tyrosine kinase inhibitors in GBM tumor cells generates a cytostatic response characterized by a cell cycle arrest, which is accompanied by a substantial change in global gene expression levels. We demonstrate that a key component of this pattern is the transcriptional activation of the MET receptor tyrosine kinase and that pharmacological inhibition of MET overcomes the resistance to EGFR inhibition in these cells. These findings provide important new insights into mechanisms of resistance to EGFR inhibition and suggest that inhibition of multiple targets will be necessary to provide therapeutic benefit for GBM patients

MRP3: a molecular target for human glioblastoma multiforme immunotherapy.

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is refractory to conventional therapies. To overcome the problem of heterogeneity, more brain tumor markers are required for prognosis and targeted therapy. We have identified and validated a promising molecular therapeutic target that is expressed by GBM: human multidrug-resistance protein 3 (MRP3).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We investigated MRP3 by genetic and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of human gliomas to determine the incidence, distribution, and localization of MRP3 antigens in GBM and their potential correlation with survival. To determine MRP3 mRNA transcript and protein expression levels, we performed quantitative RT-PCR, raising MRP3-specific antibodies, and IHC analysis with biopsies of newly diagnosed GBM patients. We used univariate and multivariate analyses to assess the correlation of RNA expression and IHC of MRP3 with patient survival, with and without adjustment for age, extent of resection, and KPS.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Real-time PCR results from 67 GBM biopsies indicated that 59/67 (88%) samples highly expressed <it>MRP3 </it>mRNA transcripts, in contrast with minimal expression in normal brain samples. Rabbit polyvalent and murine monoclonal antibodies generated against an extracellular span of MRP3 protein demonstrated reactivity with defined <it>MRP3</it>-expressing cell lines and GBM patient biopsies by Western blotting and FACS analyses, the latter establishing cell surface MRP3 protein expression. IHC evaluation of 46 GBM biopsy samples with anti-MRP3 IgG revealed MRP3 in a primarily membranous and cytoplasmic pattern in 42 (91%) of the 46 samples. Relative RNA expression was a strong predictor of survival for newly diagnosed GBM patients. Hazard of death for GBM patients with high levels of <it>MRP3 </it>RNA expression was 2.71 (95% CI: 1.54-4.80) times that of patients with low/moderate levels (p = 0.002).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Human GBMs overexpress MRP3 at both mRNA and protein levels, and elevated MRP3 mRNA levels in GBM biopsy samples correlated with a higher risk of death. These data suggest that the tumor-associated antigen MRP3 has potential use for prognosis and as a target for malignant glioma immunotherapy.</p

Etude du coping des adolescents dans un contexte expérimental

Pour étudier en situation le coping des adolescents, un jeu d'ordinateur expérimental de type micromonde a été développé, qui comprend plusieurs situations stressantes. 45 comportements de coping ont été observés, dont la fonctionnalité a été évaluée pour chaque situation. Trois types de coping ont été mis en évidence, appelés respectivement coping de base, stratégique et de protection. Le coping stratégique a pour particularité de modifier durablement les propriétés de l'environnement. L'usage de ce type de coping est lié significativement à la capacité d'adaptation aux différentes situations et à une mesure d'intelligence fluide. Les adolescents qui, sur la base d'un questionnaire, auraient un coping fonctionnel face à des stresseurs de la vie quotidienne, ont aussi un coping fonctionnel dans le contexte expérimental. Ce travail montre l'utilité de la présente méthodologie pour la recherche sur le coping et invite à approfondir l'étude des mécanismes sous-jacents aux concepts de coping et d'intelligence fluide

Graphic computer resources in the working up of projects

A informática tem um amplo campo de atuação e sua evolução não tem sido apenas em direção à conquista de mais capacidade de memória e velocidade, mas principalmente no que tange aos três elementos básicos da comunicação: emissor, mensagem e receptor. As interfaces estão sendo otimizadas para que os usuários aumentem suas condições de concepção de projetos e diminuam o tempo necessário para adquirir conhecimento técnico e habilidade no manuseio. Sem dúvida, o computador ainda é motivo de travamento da fluidez do pensamento e ação sobre o mesmo, afinal investem-se tempo e memória para o aprendizado do manual de instrução ou tutoriais, se assim preferirem. Diante deste contexto em que todos se vêem acoplados a vários sistemas computacionais complexos, o recorte para este trabalho restringiu-se a um pequeno universo referente ao aprendizado da computação gráfica no curso de Arquitetura e Desenho Industrial da Faculdade de Artes Plásticas da Fundação Armando Álvares Penteado FAAP. Não houve a pretensão de se aprofundar a análise na área de ensino e aprendizado por falta de tempo para o domínio de um conhecimento no assunto, mas a essência é o alerta para os profissionais do ensino superior, no caso o curso de Arquitetura, se conscientizarem do amplo espectro de possibilidades de recursos computacionais como ferramenta didática para a concepção de modelos explorativos objetivando um aumento no tempo da investigação.Information Technology provides a large range and its development is not only to improve memory and speed capacity but mainly to get the three basic principles of connection : sender, message and receiver. Interfaces have been optimized for users to add their possibilities of projects conceiving and to shorten the necessary time to acquire technical knowledge and handling abilities. Certainly, computer restrains thought streams and proceedings about it, so it has been invested in time and report for learning the instruction manual or tutorials, whether it is preferred. Due to this argument it becomes known that people are attached to several systems , then the aim of this project has restricted to a limited subject referring to learning of graphic design in the Architecture Course and Industrial Draw at FAAP - Fundação Armando Alvares Penteados Plastic Arts College. The claim was not to make a profound analysis in educational area in default of time to research about it more, but the most important is the advice to all graduated professionals, mainly the Architecture course ones, to keep aware about the large computer resources possibilities as a pedagogical tool to develop models, resulting in more time for researching