Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Laboratory Techniques and Procedures'

Advanced laboratory techniques for Microbial and Molecular Biology at the graduate level are presented in this thesis. The procedures for the laboratory experiments are set forth in detail. This laboratory is conducted as two parts, each by a different professor. Part 1 covers the experiments conducted by Dr G.A.O. Donovan. These experiments include an introduction, staining procedures, biochemical reactions, mutagenesis experiment, essays,. preparation and analysis of plasmid DNA and various other topics. Part 2 covers the experiments conducted by Dr. Daniel Kunz and includes various topics like media preparation, phenotyping strains, conjugative transfer of plasmids, SDS-PAGE, induction and measurement of enzyme and transposon mutagenesis

Vinte e nove pacientes submetidos ao Transplante de Medula Óssea Alogênico foram analisados num estudo dirigido às transfusões de hemocomponentes, desde o período pré-transplante até o momento da alta hospitalar, que na maioria das vezes coincidiu com a independência às transfusões. Não houve um padrão único de requerimento transfusional e os fatores que determinaram este fato foram múltiplos. O tipo de doença de base, intercorrências clínicas e a presença da Doença do Enxerto Versus o Hospedeiro estiveram relacionados. As técnicas laboratoriais empregadas na rotina de avaliação dos pacientes ofereceram subsídio adequado, para em conjunto com o exame clínico, proporcionarem parâmetros decisivos na indicação das transfusões sangüíneas. Alguns pacientes apresentaram incompatibilidade ao sistema de grupo sangüíneo ABO com os seus respectivos doadores de medula, fato que não impediu a realização do transplante, devido ao emprego de métodos que permitiram superar esta dificuldade. Foi observada refratariedade às transfusões de concentrados de plaquetas em poucos pacientes da casuística, atribuída à presença de anticorpos contra antígenos do sistema de histocompatibilidade leucocitária humana (HLA). As transfusões de plaquetas obtidas de doadores com o sistema HLA compatível, membros familiares, foram eficazes nestes casos. O tempo de recuperação da função hematopoética da medula transplantada foi similar ao descrito na literatura.
29 patients who underwent Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation (Allo BMT) were analyzed regarding the need for transfusion of blood components from admission the date of discharge. Most of the time the discharge coincided with blood components transfusion independence. There was no specific pattern of blood products transfusion among these patients. The need for transfusion could be ascribed to the presence of several factors like baseline disease, clinical complications and graf versus host disease. Routine clinical parameters and laboratory techiniques were adequate to indicate the need for transfusion of blood components. Some of the patients were ABO incompatible with their respective marrow donors. We observed no adverse consequence for the outocome of these BMT procedures after the use of routine techiniques to overcome this incompatibility. Few patients were refractory to platelet transfusions that was ascribed to HLA directed antibodies. The use of HLA compatible platelet donors (family members) provided adequate platelet support in these cases. The time to hematopoietic recovery was compatible to the found in the international literature.

RESUMO: Esta dissertação pretende apresentar uma proposta para um programa de Controlo de Qualidade interno das hormonas tiroideias, segundo as boas práticas da qualidade. Para que se comprove o rigor e fiabilidade dos seus resultados analíticos, condição indispensável para que estes possam servir de base às mais diversas tomadas de decisão, toda a filosofia que envolve a qualidade assume um papel preponderante. Neste contexto a elaboração de um programa de controlo de qualidade adequado é muito importante e imprescindível. A realização do controlo de qualidade permite monitorizar o desempenho de todos os materiais, equipamentos, instrumentos e métodos analíticos bem como criar sinais de alerta para prevenir a emissão de resultados não-conformes e indicar a necessidade de ações corretivas. Permite também indicar a necessidade de melhorias em processos e em atividades ligadas aos operadores e consciencializar o pessoal de que o controlo da qualidade é um dever para com o cliente e tem a função de gerar confiança nos resultados obtidos. O controlo de qualidade interno abrange todos os procedimentos assumidos por um laboratório para avaliação contínua do seu trabalho. A sua finalidade é assegurar a consistência dos resultados diários e a sua conformidade com critérios definidos, avaliando a precisão dos ensaios e dando indicação do momento para se promoverem ações corretivas quando surge uma não conformidade. Segundo as melhores práticas da qualidade, serão calculados os valores do controlo de qualidade interno para as hormonas tiroideias, os seus limites e critérios (regras) de aceitabilidade, com base na relação entre o desempenho analítico e o Erro Máximo Admissível. Pretende-se assim, otimizar o desempenho do Controlo de Qualidade Interno, aperfeiçoando a capacidade de identificação do erro.-------- ABSTRACT: This paper intends to submit a proposal for a thyroid hormones internal quality Control program, according to the best quality practices. The whole philosophy involving quality plays a central role in order to prove the accuracy and reliability of the analytical results, a basic prerequisite for decision making. In this context the elaboration of an appropriate quality control program is essential and very important. Quality control allows the motorization of the performance of all materials, equipment, instruments and analytical methods, as well as the creation of warning signals indicating the need for corrective actions, to prevent the release of non-compliant results. It also indicates the need for improvements in the processes and operating activities as well as making the staff aware that quality control is a duty to the client and promotes confidence in the results. The internal quality control covers all procedures undertaken by a laboratory for a continuous evaluation of its performance. Its purpose is to ensure the consistency of the daily results and compliance with defined criteria, assessing the accuracy of the tests and indicating the moment to promote corrective actions when nonconformity appears. According to the best quality practices, the values of the internal quality control for the thyroid hormones, their limits and criteria (rules) of acceptability will be calculated, based on the relationship between analytical performance and the maximum allowable error. Thus, the aim is to optimize the performance of the Internal Quality Control, improving the ability for error detection and identification.

A prototype sensor array was developed for use with laboratory automation to permit closed-loop control of liquid-levels in a multiwell microplate geometry. A simple electrical model for non-contact capacitance-based fluid sensors was extended to describe a fluid-level dependency. The new model shows that a charge-transfer based capacitance transducer employing a liquid-specific calibration can be used to obtain an output signal that varies linearly with the liquid-level when fringe-field effects are negligible. The calibration also compensates for liquid-to-liquid conductivity and permittivity differences.
The sensor was tested using sodium chloride (NaCl) and ethanol solutions to simulate the range of conductivity and permittivity typical in biological and chemical research. Measured capacitance was a second-order function of liquid volume due to fringe-field effects and was compensated for by adding a hardware-based calibration. Liquid-volume measurement error averaged 0.2% of the 120mul fill volume with a standard deviation of 0.6% (< mul). The maximum absolute error for all liquids was 2.7% (3mul).

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O diagnóstico laboratorial da raiva em morcegos é realizado utilizando-se, principalmente, o encéfalo do animal suspeito. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi testar a hipótese de que o método de aspiração com pipeta plástica (tipo Pasteur) é eficaz na obtenção de encéfalo de morcegos para a realização do diagnóstico comparado com o método tradicional de abertura de crânio. Para tanto, estudaram-se quatro espécies diferentes de morcegos, Molossus rufus (E. Geoffroy, 1805), Molossus molossus (Pallas, 1766), Artibeus lituratus (Olfers,1818) e Myotis nigricans (Schinz, 1821), totalizando 200 amostras. A quantidade de massa encefálica obtida pelo método tradicional foi significativamente maior, contudo, o material colhido pela aspiração foi suficiente para a execução do diagnóstico da doença. Ambos os métodos detectaram indivíduos positivos, sendo que o método de aspiração teve a vantagem de preservar o crânio possibilitando melhor identificação das espécies.
Rabies diagnosis in bats is usually performed using the brain of suspected animals. The main hypothesis tested by this work was that aspiration method using plastic pipette (Pasteur type) was effective in the collection of bat brain sample for rabies diagnosis when compared to the opening skull method. A total of two hundred bats of four species were studied: Molossus rufus (E. Geoffroy, 1805), Molossus molossus (Pallas, 1766), Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818) and Myotis nigricans (Schinz, 1821). The proportion of brain weight compared to body weight was statistically higher when using the traditional method, although the brain mass collected by aspiration method was enough for rabies diagnosis. Results demonstrate that independently of the collecting method, both gated to detect positive samples and the aspiration method has the advantage of skull preservation, permitting the identification of the species.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior
Este trabalho teve como objetivo incentivar a implantaÃÃo de tÃcnicas de gerenciamento e procedimentos de boas prÃticas de laboratÃrio junto a Rede Brasileira de LaboratÃrios - REBLAS a partir da avaliaÃÃo de diagnÃstico situacional, a qual foi realizada atravÃs da aplicaÃÃo de questionÃrios em laboratÃrios de instituiÃÃes pÃblicas de ensino superior e pesquisa na Ãrea da saÃde em quatro capitais brasileiras. Metodologia: A pesquisa de campo foi realizada atravÃs de visitas em laboratÃrios de instituiÃÃes de ensino superior e pesquisa para diagnosticar a situaÃÃo dos mesmos por meio de entrevistas com aplicaÃÃo de questionÃrios. O tamanho da amostra foi estabelecido em cinqÃenta (50) pesquisadores, distribuÃdos em instituiÃÃes de ensino e pesquisa de quatro (04) capitais brasileiras. Em cada instituiÃÃo foram selecionados laboratÃrios e identificados os pesquisadores responsÃveis para serem entrevistados. Em seguida foi elaborado um diagnÃstico situacional dos laboratÃrios atravÃs dos quais foram comparados modelos de boas prÃticas de laboratÃrio previamente existentes na literatura com aqueles dos laboratÃrios entrevistados, os quais foram avaliados e conduzidos sob sigilo absoluto, de modo a manter a integridade dos laboratÃrios e instituiÃÃes em questÃo. Resultados: atravÃs do diagnÃstico situacional dos laboratÃrios foram desenvolvidos modelos de procedimentos de boas prÃticas de laboratÃrio e garantia da qualidade (procedimentos operacionais padrÃo e formulÃrios), os quais poderÃo ser implantados e implementados em laboratÃrios de instituiÃÃes pÃblicas de ensino superior e pesquisa existente no Brasil. ConclusÃo: As concepÃÃes teÃricas que fundamentaram a dissertaÃÃo foram analisadas e comparadas com as pesquisas teÃricas e de campo e viabilizaram a escolha e elaboraÃÃo de tÃcnicas de gerenciamento e procedimentos padronizados em funÃÃo do diagnÃstico situacional dos laboratÃrios entrevistados. Isso poderà refletir na comunidade cientÃfica uma confiabilidade em decorrÃncia da implantaÃÃo de procedimentos e tÃcnicas padronizadas e no futuro permitirà que os laboratÃrios possam ser credenciados na - REBLAS, conferindo seguranÃa aos pesquisadores, bem como, reprodutibilidade dos resultados.
To make possible the implantation of management techniques and good practice of laboratory on the Brazilian Net of Laboratories - REBLAS from an evaluation of diagnosis, for the application of questionnaires in laboratories of public institutions of superior education and health research, in four Brazilian capitals. Methodology: The research was carried through visits in laboratories of institutions of superior education and health research, to diagnosis the situation of them by interviews with application of questionnaires. The size of the sample was in fifty (50) researchers, distributed in institutions of education and research of four (04) Brazilian capitals. In each institution had been selected a laboratories and identified the responsible researchers to be interviewed. After that, a diagnosis of the situation of the laboratories was elaborated, and been compared with previously existing models of good practice of laboratory in literature, which had been evaluated and lead under absolute secrecy, in order to keep the integrity of the laboratories and institutions in question. Results: through the diagnosis of the laboratories were developed models of good practice of laboratory and quality warranty (operational procedures standard and forms), which could be implanted and be implemented in laboratories of institutions of existing health education and research in Brazil. Conclusion: The theoretical conceptions that had based the study had been analyzed and compared with the theoretical research and on field and had made possible the choice and elaboration of management techniques and standardized procedures in function of the diagnosis of the interviewed laboratories. This will be able to reflect trust in the scientific community through the implantation of procedures and standardized techniques and in the future those laboratories may be credential in the REBLAS, conferring security to the researchers, as well as, credibility of the results.

Since the Institute of Medicine highlighted the devastating impact of medical errors in their seminal report, “To Err is Human” (2000), efforts have been underway to improve patient safety. A portion of medical errors are due to medication errors, and a large portion of these can be attributed to inadequate laboratory monitoring. In this thesis, I attempt to address this small but important corner of this patient safety endeavor. Why are patients not getting their laboratory monitoring tests? Do they fail to complete them or do doctors not order the tests in the first place? Which prescribers and which patients are least likely to do what is needed for testing to happen and what interventions would be most promising? To address these questions, I conducted a systematic review of existing interventions. I then proceeded with three aims: 1) To identify reasons that patients give for missing monitoring tests; 2) To identify patient and provider factors associated with monitoring test ordering; and 3) To identify patient and provider factors associated with completion of ordered testing. To achieve these aims, I worked with patients and data at the Fallon Clinic. For aim 1, I conducted a qualitative analysis of their reasons for missing tests as well as reporting completion and ordering rates. For aims 2 and 3, I used electronic medical record data and conducted a regression with patient and provider characteristics as covariates to identify factors contributing to test ordering and completion. Interviews revealed that patients had few barriers to completion, with forgetting being the most common reason for missing a test. The quantitative studies showed that: older patients with more interactions with the health care system were more likely to have tests ordered and were more likely to complete them; providers who more frequently prescribe a drug were more likely to order testing for it; and drug-test combinations that were particularly dangerous, indicated by a black box warning, were more likely to have appropriate ordering, though for these combinations, primary care providers were less likely to order tests appropriately, and patients were less likely to complete tests. Taken together, my work can inform future interventions in laboratory monitoring and patient safety.

Orientador: Luzia Helena Queiroz da Silva
Banca: Wagner Andre Pedro
Banca: Elenice Maria Sequetin Cunha
Resumo: O diagnóstico laboratorial da raiva em morcegos é realizado utilizando-se, principalmente, o encéfalo do animal suspeito. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi testar a hipótese de que o método de aspiração com pipeta plástica (tipo Pasteur) é eficaz na obtenção de encéfalo de morcegos para a realização do diagnóstico comparado com o método tradicional de abertura de crânio. Para tanto, estudaram-se quatro espécies diferentes de morcegos, Molossus rufus (E. Geoffroy, 1805), Molossus molossus (Pallas, 1766), Artibeus lituratus (Olfers,1818) e Myotis nigricans (Schinz, 1821), totalizando 200 amostras. A quantidade de massa encefálica obtida pelo método tradicional foi significativamente maior, contudo, o material colhido pela aspiração foi suficiente para a execução do diagnóstico da doença. Ambos os métodos detectaram indivíduos positivos, sendo que o método de aspiração teve a vantagem de preservar o crânio possibilitando melhor identificação das espécies.
Abstract: Rabies diagnosis in bats is usually performed using the brain of suspected animals. The main hypothesis tested by this work was that aspiration method using plastic pipette (Pasteur type) was effective in the collection of bat brain sample for rabies diagnosis when compared to the opening skull method. A total of two hundred bats of four species were studied: Molossus rufus (E. Geoffroy, 1805), Molossus molossus (Pallas, 1766), Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818) and Myotis nigricans (Schinz, 1821). The proportion of brain weight compared to body weight was statistically higher when using the traditional method, although the brain mass collected by aspiration method was enough for rabies diagnosis. Results demonstrate that independently of the collecting method, both gated to detect positive samples and the aspiration method has the advantage of skull preservation, permitting the identification of the species.
Mestre

As células sangüíneas originam-se da medula óssea através da célula tronco que sofre processo de proliferação, diferenciação e maturação no microambiente hematopoiético. O microambiente hematopoiético é uma estrutura altamente organizada composta de células estromais, moléculas da matriz extracelular (MEC) e citocinas. A desnutrição protéico-energética diminui a produção de células sangüíneas e interfere na defesa do organismo. Neste trabalho estudamos os efeitos da desnutrição protéica (dieta contendo 4% de caseína) sobre a MEC da medula óssea em camundongos. Avaliamos a composição da MEC através de SDS-PAGE 7,5% e Western blot para Fibronectina (FN), laminina (LN) e trombospondina (TSP). Verificamos a capacidade da MEC aderir e sustentar proliferação da célula mielóide FDC-P1, na ausência e na presença de citocinas (GM-CSF e IL3). Avaliamos também a capacidade de ligação destas citocinas na MEC. O perfil eletroforético mostrou diferenças nas proteínas da MEC do animal desnutrido em relação ao controle. Através da densitometria dos géis observamos nas amostras obtidas do animal desnutrido, maior intensidade nas bandas de peso molecular 220, 182, 108 e 56 KDa em relação ao controle. Em 72 KDa a banda foi mais intensa nas amostras dos animais controles. A banda de 60 KDa foi evidenciada apenas nas amostras obtidas dos animais desnutridos. As bandas de 123 e 49 KDa foram evidenciadas apenas nas amostras dos animais controles. A expressão de FN, LN e TSP foi maior nas amostras obtidas dos animais desnutridos. Os ensaios de adesão e proliferação na presença e ausência de citocinas não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre as amostras. Quando avaliamos a capacidade da MEC ligar-se ao GM-CSF, houve maior interação com a MEC proveniente do animal desnutrido do que a MEC do animal controle. O teste de ligação para o IL3 não mostrou diferenças entre as amostras. Esses achados sugerem que a desnutrição protéica induz modificações na MEC, alterando o microambiente hematopoiético.
Blood cells have their origin at the bone marrow through the stem cell which undergoes a proliferation, differentiation and maturation process in the hematopoietic microenvironment. The hematopoietic environment is a highly organized structure formed by stromal cells, extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules, and cytokines. Protein-energy malnutrition reduces the production of blood cells, interfering with the defense of the organism. In the present work we have studied the effects protein malnutrition has on the ECM of bone marrow in mice. We have evaluated ECM composition by means of SDS PAGE 7,5% and Western blot for fibronectin (FN), laminin (LN) and thrombospondin (TSP). We assessed the capacity ECM has in adhesion and support of proliferation of the FDC-P1 myeloid cell both in the absence and in the presence of GM-CSF and IL3 cytokines. We have also measured the binding capacity of these cytokines in the ECM. The electrophoresis profile showed the existence of differences between the ECM proteins in the undernourished animal and the control. Using gel densitometry, we observed in samples from the undernourished animal a greater intensity of bands of 220, 182, 108, 60 and 56 KDa molecular weight as compared to control. At 72 KDa the band was more intense on samples from control animals. The 60 KDa band was evident only on samples taken from undernourished animals. The 123 and 49 KDa bands were evident on control animals only. Expression of FN, LN, and TSP was greater on samples from undernourished animals. Adhesion and proliferation assays, both in the presence and in the absence of cytokines, did not show significant differences among samples. When we evaluated the capacity ECM has to bind to GM-CSF, a greater interaction was seen with the ECM from the undernourished animal than the ECM from the control. Binding test for IL3 showed no differences existed among samples. Such findings suggest protein malnutrition causes alterations of the ECM, modifying the hematopoietic microenvironment.

FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico
RESUMO A confirmaÃÃo diagnÃstica de leishmaniose visceral ou calazar à realizada atravÃs da detecÃÃo do parasito por mÃtodos diretos, atravÃs do encontro de formas amastigotas no interior de macrÃfagos ou monÃcitos, em aspirado esplÃnico, hepÃtico, medula Ãssea, histopatolÃgico de linfonodo e esfregaÃo do sangue perifÃrico, com ampla variaÃÃo de sensibilidade de acordo com o sÃtio pesquisado, constituindo-se o padrÃo-ouro a visualizaÃÃo de Leishmania sp. A pesquisa de anticorpos especÃficos para triagem diagnÃstica da leismaniose visceral atravÃs do ELISA, reaÃÃo de imunofluorescÃncia indireta e os testes de aglutinaÃÃo direta possuem sensibilidade alta e especificidade limitada pelas reaÃÃes cruzadas com tripanosomatÃdeos e micobactÃrias, incluindo-se tuberculose, hansenÃase, doenÃa de Chagas, e ainda, leishmaniose tegumentar e histoplasmose. O teste intradÃrmico de Montenegro à sempre negativo durante a fase ativa da doenÃa, e baseia-se na memÃria imunolÃgica dependente de linfÃcitos Th1. O ojetivo deste trabalho foi evidenciar a relevÃncia do teste rÃpido para detecÃÃo de anticorpo anti-leishmania chagasi utilizando o antÃgeno recombinante rK39 que apresentou sensibilidade de 99,2%. Foram realizados testes sorolÃgicos pelo ELISA que apresentou sensibilidade de 80%, e a reaÃÃo de imunofluorescÃncia indireta para calazar com sensibilidade de 82%. O gold-standard diagnÃstico empregado para todos exames foi a pesquisa microscÃpica direta do parasito no aspirado de medula Ãssea e a positividade foi de 71%, em uma pesquisa realizada em hospitais terciÃrios de Fortaleza-CE. A reaÃÃo imunoenzimÃtica para teste rÃpido em fita contendo antÃgeno rK39 apresentou elevada sensibilidade e especificidade permitindo diagnÃstico imediato e inÃcio precoce do tratamento, alÃm de confirmar alta densidade de epÃtopos exclusivamente para o gÃnero Leishmania, pois nÃo houve reaÃÃes cruzadas dentre vÃrias doenÃas testadas. Detectamos tÃtulos de anticorpos IgG anti-leishmania chagasi persistentemente positivos em pacientes tratados adequadamente para calazar, corroborando com evidÃncias de que o rK39 nÃo define doenÃa em atividade e nem estabelece critÃrios de cura, fortalecendo que outras possibilidades diagnÃsticas sejam investigadas mediante um resultado positivo em indivÃduo procedente de zona endÃmica para calazar, em paciente portador de hepatoesplenomegalia febril e pancitopenia. O teste rÃpido rk39 deverà ter sua leitura imediatamente relizada e interpretada em atà no mÃximo 10 minutos, objetivando tomada de decisÃes clÃnicas, e que sua implantaÃÃo como mÃtodo auxiliar de diagnÃstico deveria fazer parte da rotina laboratorial, particularmente de serviÃos secundÃrios e terciÃrios de saÃde em regiÃes endÃmicas para leshmaniose visceral.
ABSTRACT The visceral leishmaniasis diagnostic confirmation or Kala-azar is performed by detection of the parasite through direct methods of amastigotes within macrophages or monocytes, spleen aspirated, hepatic, bone marrow, lymph node histopathological and peripheral blood smear, with wide variation in sensitivity in accordance with the site searched, being the gold standard of Leishmaniasis sp . The specific antibodies for diagnostic of visceral leishmaniasis by ELISA, indirect immunofluorescence reaction and direct agglutination tests have high sensitivity and specificity cross reactions with limited by trypanosomatids and mycobacterium, including tuberculosis, leprosy, Chagas disease , leishmaniasis cutaneous and histoplasmosis. The Montenegro intradermal test is always negative during the active phase of the disease, and is based on immune memory bound on lymphocyte Th1. The purpose of this work was to highlight the importance of quick test for the detection of antibody anti-leishmania chagasi using recombinant rK39 antigen that presented sensitivity of 99.2%. There were serological by ELISA tests that presented sensitivity of 80%, and the indirect immunofluorescence reaction to Kala-azar with sensitivity of 82%. The gold-standard diagnosis made for all examinations was the direct microscopic search on parasite bone marrow aspirated and positivity was 71%, in a survey in tertiary hospitals in Fortaleza-CE. The immunoenzymatic reaction to quick test in tape containing rK39 Antigen has high sensitivity and specificity allowing immediate diagnosis and in the early beginning of treatment, in addition to confirm high-density epitopes exclusively for the Leishmaniasis genus, because there was no cross reactions among several diseases tested. We found evidence of IgG anti-leishmaniasis chagasi antibodies persistently -positive in patients treated appropriately for kala-azar, supporting with evidence that rK39 does not define disease activity and establishes criteria for cure, strengthening that other homogenizing are investigated by a positive result in individual from endemic area of Kala-azar, in disease carrier of febrile hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia . The quick test Rk39 must be read and interpreted immediately up to a maximum of 10 minutes driving clinical decision-making, and that its deployment as diagnostic helper method should be part of the laboratorial routine services, particularly in secondary and tertiary health endemic regions of visceral leshmaniasis . Keywords: American visceral leishmaniasis. Kala-azar. Recombinant K39 Antigen. Kala-azar through rK39 antigen diagnostic.

RESUMO: A Diabetes Mellitus é uma doença metabólica crónica, com deficiência a nível do metabolismo dos hidratos de carbono, lípidos e proteínas, resultante de deficiências na secreção ou ação da insulina, ou de ambas, que quando não tratada antecipadamente e de modo conveniente, pode ter consequências muito graves. Dado a incidência a nível mundial da Diabetes Mellitus, torna-se de elevada importância avaliar toda a sua envolvência e estudar bem quais os critérios a ter em consideração. Este trabalho propõe-se estudar para além dos parâmetros bioquímicos relacionados com a doença - Glicose e Hemoglobina Glicada A1c (HbA1c), analisar os resultados dos últimos cinco anos (2008-2012) dos ensaios interlaboratoriais do PNAEQ, do Departamento de Epidemiologia, do Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge. Foram também analisadas as metodologias utilizadas e as variações interlaboratoriais, de forma a entender qual ou quais são os parâmetros mais adequados para o seu diagnóstico e controlo. Este estudo utilizou a população de laboratórios portugueses, públicos e privados, de Portugal Continental e Ilhas, um laboratório de Angola e outro de Macau que se inscreveram no PNAEQ nestes cinco anos, sendo a amostra composta pelo n.º de participações. No programa de Química Clinica foram distribuídas 38 amostras e no programa de HbA1c foram distribuídas 22 amostras. Para a glicose, o nível de desempenho nos ensaios é na globalidade das amostras de Excelente, no entanto verifica-se que sempre que a concentração da amostra é de nível patológico, que a maioria dos ensaios o desempenho foi inferior – Bom. O método de eleição e com CV% mais baixos foi o método da hexoquinase. Para a HbA1c, o nível de desempenho nos ensaios é na globalidade das amostras de Excelente. O método de eleição e com CV% mais baixos foi o método de HPLC. O CV% para a glicose ronda desde 2010 a 2012, os 3% e para a HbA1c foi de aproximadamente 4,0% em 2012. A HbA1c tem mostrado ser uma ferramenta muito útil, importante e robusta na monitorização da Diabetes, sendo hoje em dia quase sempre requisitada em análises de rotina a diabéticos de modo a prevenir complicações que possam vir a acorrer. No futuro poderá ser um importante, senão o parâmetro de futuro, para o diagnóstico da Diabetes, no entanto, mesmo já tendo sido muito trabalhada a sua padronização, ainda existem questões por responder como quais são na realidade todos os seus interferentes, qual a verdadeira relação da HbA1c com a glicose média estimada, em todas as populações e com estudos epidemiológicos. Também a própria educação do diabético e clínico deve ser aprimorada, pelo que neste momento as PTGO e os doseamentos de glicose em jejum devem ser utilizados e encontrando-se a Norma da DGS N.º 033/2011 de acordo com as necessidades e com o estado da arte deste parâmetro. A implementação da glicose média estimada será uma mais-valia na monitorização dos diabéticos pelo que deverá ser uma das prioridades a ter em conta no futuro desta padronização, uniformizando a decisão clinica baseada nela e minimizando a dificuldade de interpretação de resultados de laboratório para laboratório. --------------ABSTRACT: Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease, with a deficit in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins, resulting from deficiencies in insulin secretion or action, or both, which if, when not early treated in a proper way, may result in very serious consequences. Given the worldwide incidence of diabetes mellitus, it is highly important to evaluate all its background and study specifically all the criteria to take into consideration. The aim of this thesis is to study and evaluate beyond the biochemical parameters related to the disease - Glucose and Glycated Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), analyze the results of the last five years (2008-2012) of the PNAEQ interlaboratorial tests, in the Department of Epidemiology of National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge. It is also intended to analyze the methodologies used and the interlaboratorial variations, in order to understand the most suitable parameters for the diagnosis and control. This study was based in a population of Portuguese laboratories, public and private, of Portugal mainland and islands, a laboratory of Angola and other from Macau, who enrolled in PNAEQ in these five years, and the sample was composed by the n. º of holdings. In the Clinical Chemistry Program there were distributed 38 samples and in the program HbA1c were distributed 22 samples. For glucose, the level of performance in the total nº of the samples was Excellent; however, it was found that when the concentration level of the sample was pathological, in most of the tests the performance was Good. The most preferred method with the lowest CV% is the hexokinase method. For the HbA1c, as a whole, the samples’ tests were Excellent, at the level of performance. The method of election with the lower CV% was the HPLC. The CV% for glucose was around 3%, from 2010 to 2012 and the HbA1c was approximately 4.0% in 2012. The HbA1c method has demonstrated to be a very useful tool, important and robust for monitoring diabetes, being nowadays, almost always required in routine analysis to prevent future complications. In the future it may be an important parameter, if not the most important, for the diagnosis of diabetes. However, despite it has already been standardized, there are still some questions that need to be answered, such as, which are in fact all their interferences, which is the true connection of HbA1c, when compared with the estimated average glucose, in all populations and epidemiological studies. Moreover, the education of the patient and the doctor concerning diabetes should be improved. Nowadays, the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) and fasting glucose determinations should be used and, the needs and the state of the art of this parameter, should be in accordance with the Standard DGS N. º 033/2011. The Implementation of the estimated average glucose will be an added value in monitoring diabetics and, therefore, should be a priority to consider in its future standardization and clinical decision based on it, will be uniform and the difficulty of interpreting results from laboratory to laboratory will be minimal.

Os diversos aspectos da cadeia de transmissão da malária autóctone são importantes para o estabelecimento de estratégias de intervenção. Entre abril de 2001 e março de 2004, 65 pacientes e 1.777 habitantes foram avaliados em nove municípios da região montanhosa do Espírito Santo. Foram realizados: gota espessa, esfregaço fino, PCR Multiplex, reação de imunofluorescência indireta (IFI) para detecção de anticorpos contra antígenos de estágios eritrocitários de Plasmodium e ELISA para detecção de anticorpos contra peptídeos sintetizados a partir da porção repetitiva da proteína circunsporozoíta (CSP) das variantes de P. vivax e do P. malariae. Foram capturados anofelíneos no peridomicílio, com pesquisa, por PCR Multiplex, de DNA de Plasmodium. O mesmo foi pesquisado também em alguns símios locais. Os pacientes tinham 35,11 + 16 anos, em média. A maioria era do gênero masculino (51 ou 78,5%), 42 (64,6%) residiam em área rural, 23 (35,4%) eram agricultores e oito (12,3%) estudantes. Não houve viagens relevantes. Sessenta e dois (95,4%) nunca haviam tido malária. Vinte e quatro (36,9%) declararam ter entrado na mata. Predominaram a febre, a cefaléia e os calafrios. A febre era episódica em 63 (96,9%), a cada 48 horas em 48 (73,8%) e a cada 24 horas em 15 pacientes (23,1%). O baço foi impalpável em 26 (42,6%). Foi evidenciado o P. vivax em 47 de 48 pacientes e o P. malariae naquele restante, por características morfológicas e pela PCR Multiplex. Esta foi positiva para P. vivax em 45 dos 48, para P. malariae em um e negativa em dois. A IFI foi positiva, para P. malariae, em seis de sete testados, para IgM, e em todos os sete para IgG. Para o P. vivax, entre 50, 47 (94%) foram positivos para IgM e 48 (96%) para IgG. Entre 50 pacientes, pelo ELISA, 25 (50%) tinham anticorpos contra variantes do P. vivax ou contra o P. malariae. As freqüências individuais foram: 22 (44%) para a VK 210, 11 (22%) para a VK 247, 10 (20%) para o P. vivax-like e 10 (20%) para o P. malariae. Entre 253 amostras dos habitantes testadas na IFI para o P. malariae, o resultado foi positivo em 15,8% (40/253) para IgM e em 44,6% (113/253) para IgG. Para o P. vivax , em 1.701, foram 6,2% (105/1701) para IgM e 37,7% (641/1.701) para IgG. Foram detectados anticorpos contra a CSP em 615 de 1.702 amostras (36,1%). Foram 433 (25,4%) para a VK210, 258 (15,1%) para P. malariae, 108 (6,3%) para a VK 247 e 182 (10,7%) para P. vivax -like. A PCR Multiplex, em 1.527 amostras, detectou P. vivax em 23, P. malariae em 15, P. falciparum em nove e P. falciparum e P. malariae em um. Entre 785 espécimes de anofelíneos, com 10 espécies, foi encontrado DNA de P. vivax em um conjunto de exemplares de A. evansae. O P. malariae/brasilianum foi identificado pela PCR Multiplex em dois de cinco símios da região, em um também pelo esfregaço fino. Existem dois possíveis cenários para a transmissão. No primeiro, ela seria inter-humana, com vetores Nyssorhynchus secundários. Em um segundo, viria do reservatório símio, por indivíduos adentrando o ambiente florestal.
The several aspects of the transmission cycle of the indigenous malaria are important to base on the intervention strategies. From April 2001 to March 2004, 65 patients and 1,777 inhabitants were evaluated in nine Municipalities of the highlands of Espírito Santo State. Laboratory methods included: thick and thin smears, Multiplex PCR, imunnofluorescent assay to detect antibodies against crude blood-stages antigens of the Plasmodium genus (IFA) and ELISA to detect antibodies against synthetic peptides corresponding to the repetitive region of the Circumsporozoite protein of P. vivax variants and P. malariae. Anopheline mosquitoes were captured nearby the houses, being screened by Multiplex PCR in the search for Plasmodium DNA. The same test was also applied to some local wild monkeys. Patients had 35.11 + 16 years old in average. Most of them were males (51 or 78.5%), 42 (64,6%) lived in the rural environment, 23 (35.4%) were farmers and eight (12.3%) were students. There was no relevant history of travel. Sixty-two (95.4%) of them had never experienced malaria before. Twenty- four (36.9%) of them informed excursions inside the forest. The predominant symptoms were fever, headache and chills. Fever was periodic in 63 patients (96.9%), recurring each 48 hours in 48 of them (73.8%) and each 24 hours in 15 (23.1%). Spleen was not palpable in 26 patients (42.6%). Morphologic aspects and PCR results disclosed P. vivax as the agent involved in 47 of the 48 cases so screened. Multiplex PCR was positive for P. vivax in 45 of 48 tested, for P. malariae in another one and negative for the two remaining. IFA tested positive for IgM against P. malariae in six of seven evaluated samples, and for IgG against the same parasite in all of the seven. For P. vivax , the figures were 47 of 50 (94%) for IgM antibodies and 48 of 50 (96%) for IgG antibodies. From fifty patients whose samples were screened by ELISA, 25 (50%) were positive for P. vivax variants or P. malariae. The results considering each one of the tested peptides were: 22 (44%) for VK 210, 11 (22%) for VK 247, 10 (20%) for P. vivax -like e 10 (20%) for P. malariae. Among 253 population samples screened in search for P. malariae antibodies at IFA, 40 (15.8%) were positive for IgM antibodies and 113 (44,6%) for IgG antibodies. The search for P. vivax antibodies by the same technique in1,701 samples, resulted in 105 (6.2%) positive for IgM antibodies and in 641 positive for IgG antibodies. Anti-CSP antibodies were detected in 615 of 1,702 tested samples (36.1%). Among these 615, the positive results for each one of the tested peptides were: 433 (25,4%) for VK210, 258 (15,1%) for P. malariae, 108 (6,3%) for VK 247 e 182 (10,7%) for P. vivax-like. Multiplex PCR detected P. vivax DNA in 23 out of 1,527 tested samples, as it did for P. malariae in 15 of them, for P. falciparum in nine of them and both for P. malariae and P. falciparum in one of them. Among 785 mosquito specimens, representing 10 Anopheline species, P. vivax DNA was found in a set of some A. evansae specimens. P. malariae/brasilianum was identified by Multiplex PCR in two of five wild monkeys screened, in one of them also by thin smear. There are two possible scenarios to explain this transmission cycle. The first one bears malaria as a disease transmitted exclusively among human beings by secondary Nyssorhynchus vectors present nearby the houses. In a second scenario, the malaria is acquired after the simian reservoir when the human beings make excursions inside the forest.

Os antibióticos beta-lactâmicos, principalmente as aminopenicilinas (ampicilina e amoxicilina) são causa freqüente de exantema maculo papular e urticária tardia em pacientes tratados com estes medicamentos. Entretanto, a falta de métodos para diagnóstico destas reações constitui uma lacuna na abordagem destes indivíduos. Objetivos: Os objetivos deste estudo foram determinara a freqüência e significância de testes cutâneos positivos em pacientes com história de exantema maculo-papular e urticária tardias induzidos por antibióticos beta-lactâmicos e determinar a sensibilidade e especificade dos testes diagnósticos in vitro para o diagnóstico de alergia a drogas: proliferação linfocitária e dosagem de citocinas no sobrenadante da cultura linfocitária.. Métodos: Os pacientes foram submetidos à dosagem de IgE específica para os seguintes determinantes: benzilpeniciloil, amoxiciloil e ampiciloil. Testes cutâneos de puntura e intradérmico com benzilpeniciloil polilisina, mistura de determinantes menores da penicilina, benzilpenicilina (10.000 UI/ml), amoxicilina (2 mg/ml) e ampicilina (2mg/ml) foram realizados em todos os pacientes com leituras após 20 minutos, 48 horas e 72 horas. Foi realizado teste de contato com os mesmos medicamentos (amoxicilina 5%, ampicilina 5% e penicilina G 5000UI/g de vaselina sólida). Todos os testes foram feitos em duplicata com controles positivo e negativo. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas para a proliferação linfocitária (incorporação de timidina triciada) e dosagem de citocinas no sobrenadante da cultura (IL-5, IFN-gama e TNF- 17 alfa) através de ELISA. Resultados: Foram estudados 20 pacientes e 15 controles. Nenhum dos pacientes ou controles apresentou teste cutâneo de leitura imediata positivo. Três pacientes reagiram positivamente aos testes cutâneos de leitura tardia nas leituras de 48 e 72 horas. Não houve nenhum resultado positivo dos testes cutâneos no grupo controle. A proliferação linfocitária mostrou-se positiva em somente 2 controles (13%) e 10 pacientes (50%). A sensibilidade dos experimentos de proliferações linfocitária variou entre 25% com penicilina na concentração de 250 ?g/ml até 55% com ampicilina 1000 ?g/ml. Sua especificidade foi de 80% a 100%. Conclusão: os testes cutâneos de leitura tardia não constituíram métodos diagnósticos eficazes para as reações tardias aos antibióticos beta-lactâmicos. A proliferação linfocitária apresentou baixa sensibilidade, porém, alta especificidade para o diagnóstico das mesmas reações. A detecção de IFN-gama e IL-5 evidenciaram alta especificidade e baixa sensibilidade, enquanto a dosagem de TNF-alfa mostrou-se altamente sensível (95%), porém, pouco específica (40%)
The beta-lactam antibiotic, mainly aminopenicillins: ampicillin (AMP) and amoxicillin (AMX), are frequently cited as causes of morbiliforme eruptions and late onset urticaria. A major problem with existing data on beta-lactam reactions of the delayed type includes a lack of standardized testing methods. Objectives: The goal of this study is to establish the frequency and significance of positive skin testing in patients with history of beta-lactam induced maculo-papular exanthema and late onset urticaria and the sensibility/specificity of in vitro tests for drug allergy investigation: lymphocyte proliferation assay and cytokine detection. Methods: Patients were submitted to complete penicillin (PEN) allergy test: specific detection for serum IgE antibody to benzyl penicilloyl polylysine, amoxicilloyl polylysine and ampicilloyl polylysine; puncture and intradermal skin test with benzyl penicilloyl polylysine and minor determinants mixture, benzylpenicillin (10.000 UI/ml), amoxicillin (2mg/ml), ampicillin (2mg/ml) were performed and read at 20 minutes, 48hours and 72 hours. All patients had epicutaneous patch testing done with the same drugs (5% amoxicillin, 5% ampicillin and 5000 IU/g penicillin G all in petrolatum). All tests were performed in duplicate with positive and negative controls. All subjects had blood collected for lymphocyte proliferation assay (H3-thymidine incorporation assay) and IL-5, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma profile were analyzed in culture supernatant by ELISA. Results: None of the patients or controls had positive immediated skin test. Only three patients reacted positively to the 48 and 72 hours 15 reading of intradermal skin test and patch test with the same reagents. There was no positive skin test result among the control group. The lymphocyte proliferation test (LTT) was positive in only two control subjects, while in the study group, 10 patients had positive proliferation tests (50%). The LTT sensitivity varied from 25% to 55% depending on the drug and concentration tested. The specificity ranged from 80% to 100%. IFN-gamma and IL-5 detection had a high specificity, but low sensitivity, while TNF-alpha showed high sensitivity (95%) and low specificity (40%)

A giardíase é uma doença entérica de alta prevalência particularmente nos países em desenvolvimento. Diferentes espécies foram descritas em função de seus hospedeiros. A G. duodenalis é a espécie que parasito não só o homem, mas também animais domésticos e silvestres. Recentemente, com a aplicação de técnicas moleculares, foi possível identificar sete diferentes agrupamentos sendo que cada um deles tem predileção por determinadas espécies de hospedeiro. Essa discriminação não é possível por meio da microscopia. A identificação do(s) agrupamento(s) presente(s) na população de determinada região pode ser de grande importância na elaboração de políticas de saúde pública já que revela o perfil de transmissão desse protozoário. Este estudo teve por objetivos verificar o grau de positividade de enteroparasitos, a contribuição de cada um deles nesse índice e o genótipo dos cistos de G. duodenalis presentes em amostras de fezes de indivíduos atendidos no Hospital Universitário da Universidade de São Paulo. Foram analisadas 6717 amostras com positividade para algum enteroparasito de 12,5%, sendo S.stercoralis e G. duodenais respectivamente o helminto e protozoário patogênico mais frequentes. A maioria dos casos de G. duodenalis genotipada era dos agrupamentos AII e B.
Giardiasis is a very prevalent enteric disease occurring mainly in developing countries. Different species have been described concerning their hosts. G. duodenalis parasites not only men but also domestic and wild animals. Recently molecular techniques have been used to identify seven different assemblages which parasites specific hosts. The microscopic analysis do not allows that discrimination. It can be useful to know the assemblage profile of specific population in order to provide some important information to built public health politicies once it reveals the transmition of the protozoan The aim of this study was to verify the enteroparasites infection degree, the individual contribution of each one in this picture and to genotyping G. duodenalis cysts from human faecal samples of individuals from University Hospital from Universty of São Paulo. So, 6717 faecal samples were analysed and 12,5% were positive for some enteroparasite and S.stercoralis and G. duodenais were the helminth e pathogenic protozoan more frequently found. Most of the cases of G. duodenalis were from the assemblages AII and B.

Recentemente, foi descrito um grupo de alterações no metabolismo da creatina denominado Síndromes de Deficiência de Creatina. Há três formas da doença geneticamente determinadas que cursam com deficiência de creatina, seja por comprometimento de sua síntese ou por defeito na proteína transportadora. O espectro de apresentação clínica dessa condição é inespecífico e inclui atraso ou estagnação do desenvolvimento neuromotor, hipotonia muscular, movimentos involuntários do tipo coreoatetose, retardo ou ausência do desenvolvimento da fala, retardo mental de grau variável, comportamento autista e epilepsia. Neste trabalho, foi desenvolvida e validada uma alternativa metodológica àquelas disponíveis na literatura, com a utilização de extração por troca catiônica forte e separação e detecção por cromatografia líquida de interação hidrofílica acoplada a espectrometria de massas em tandem em que foram exploradas as características químicas das moléculas de creatina e guanidinoacetato, metabólito intermediário da síntese de creatina. Os valores de referência para o método foram definidos pela sua aplicação a 150 amostras de urina e 197 amostras de soro de indivíduos de ambos os sexos e idades entre 0 e 16 anos. Foram também analisadas amostras de urina, soro e plasma de 54 pacientes com clínica compatível com a síndrome de deficiência de creatina sendo que 3 deles apresentaram perfil bioquímico característico de uma das formas dessa condição
Recently, a new group of inborn errors of metabolism, collectively named as creatine deficiency syndrome, was identified. Three genetically determined presentations are currently known, affecting both creatine synthesis and transport. Clinical presentation spectrum is non-specific and includes developmental delay, hypotonia, involuntary movements as choreoathetosis, delay or lack of speech acquisition, mental retardation of variable severity, autistic behavior, and epilepsy. Herein, we developed and validated an innovative method for determination of creatine and of its metabolic intermediate, guanidinoacetate, based on cation-exchange solid-phase extraction and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Reference values for the method were defined testing 150 urine and 197 serum samples in males and females with age ranging from 0 to 16 years. Urine and serum samples from 54 patients with some clinical features that might be attributable to creatine deficiency were also evaluated, and in three, biochemical profile characteristic of one of the disorders was detected

O Laboratório de Análises Clínicas (LAC) vem buscando, no decorrer dos anos, alternativas quanto à sua capacidade em gerar receita. A busca por melhores resultados incrementou a parceria com as organizações chamadas de \"convênios médicos\" ou \"medicina de grupo\" que, em geral, remuneram as análises laboratoriais com base em tabelas de procedimentos criadas pela Associação Médica Brasileira AMB. Destas, a mais utilizada é a Tabela AMB 92, devido a utilizar valores de Coeficiente de Honorários (CH), que convertidos em reais, são mais interessantes para os LAC. Este estudo teve como base o método recomendado pelo \"National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards\" - NCCLS, que normatiza a apuração do custo baseado na atividade desempenhada durante a sua realização. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estabelecer o custo das análises laboratoriais e verificar se, em comparação à tabela AMB 92, a opção pelos contratos com os \"convênios médicos\" realmente gera lucro a um laboratório de pequeno porte. Para tanto foram selecionadas as análises mais solicitadas no mês de agosto de 2004 em um laboratório de pequeno porte, que presta atendimento a pacientes conveniados a planos de saúde e particulares. O ressarcimento aos laboratórios prestadores de serviço é efetuado com base no valor do CH, que pode variar de acordo com o contrato firmado com os convênios médicos. Os resultados mostraram que na comparação dos custos unitários das 69 análises apuradas com a Tabela AMB-92 houve lucro em 52% das análises quando o valor de CH foi de R$ 0,2610 e quando atribuído um valor de CH de R$ 0,1800, houve lucro em apenas 28% das análises.
The Clinical Laboratory (CL) has been seeking, throughout these years, alternative forms of increasing budget. The search for better results has flourished partnerships with organizations named \"prepaid group practice\" or \"group medicine\" which usually reward the clinical analysis based on tables of procedures established by the Brazilian Medicai Association - BMA. Among them, the most employed is the BMA 92 Table, due to the use of payment coefficient values (PC) which, expressed in Brazilian currency (reais), are in CLs interests. This study was carried out based on the method recommended by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards - NCCLS, who draws up the regulation of the cost estimate of a procedure while it is carried out. The objective of this study was to establish the cost of clinical analysis and to verify if, comparing to the BMA 92 Table, the contracts with prepaid group practices are actually profitable for a small size laboratory. In order to achieve it, most requested analysis during August 2004 in a small size laboratory which offers services to patients affiliated with prepaid health plans and private health plans. The payment to the laboratories which offer services is made regarding the PC values, which may change according to the contract with the health plans. The results demonstrated that in comparison to the cost of each one of 69 analysis verified according to the BMA 92 Table, 52% of the analysis were profitable when the PC value was R$ 0.2610 and for the PC value of R$ 0.1800 only 28% of the analysis were profitable.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior
Os agrotÃxicos estÃo entre os mais importantes fatores de risco para a saÃde dos trabalhadores. No PiauÃ, a expansÃo agrÃcola implementada nos cerrados, por intermÃdio da intensificaÃÃo do plantio de soja, a partir da dÃcada de 1990, consistiu em um forte fator para o aumento do uso de agrotÃxicos. A utilizaÃÃo indiscriminada dos agrotÃxicos, geralmente, està associada a intoxicaÃÃes agudas e crÃnicas. A dosagem de colinesterase plasmÃtica e eritrocitÃria sÃo parÃmetros relevantes para diagnÃstico de casos cuja exposiÃÃo se deu, principalmente, de forma aguda. A genotoxicidade associada ao uso destes produtos vem sendo estudada, sendo fortes as evidÃncias que estes produtos sÃo carcinogÃnicos. No estado do PiauÃ, em setembro de 2005, no municÃpio de Ribeiro GonÃalves, ocorreram mortes cuja suspeita principal era de intoxicaÃÃo por uso dos pesticidas agrÃcolas. Este fato desencadeou uma investigaÃÃo nos municÃpios produtores de soja (UruÃuÃ, Ribeiro GonÃalves e Baixa Grande do Ribeiro). O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o impacto do uso de agrotÃxicos sobre a saÃde dos trabalhadores rurais dos municÃpios de UruÃuÃ, Ribeiro GonÃalves e Baixa Grande do Ribeiro. Dividiu-se, metodologicamente, o estudo em trÃs etapas. Na primeira, aplicou-se questionÃrio sÃcio epidemiolÃgico de acordo com OrganizaÃÃo Mundial de SaÃde (OMS) e coletaram-se amostras de material biolÃgico para anÃlises bioquÃmicas, hematolÃgicas e enzimÃticas (acetil colinesterase plasmÃtica e eritrocitÃria) de 120 trabalhadores agrÃcolas da regiÃo sul do PiauÃ. Na segunda etapa, estudou-se 75 indivÃduos. Estes se submeteram a uma segunda avaliaÃÃo, tendo como ferramenta os mesmos exames anteriormente realizados. Como terceira etapa, realizou-se o teste de micronÃcleo em 31 indivÃduos que encontravam-se com os parÃmetros alterados. Fez-se coleta de cÃlulas da mucosa oral, para avaliaÃÃo do nÃvel de lesÃo de DNA atravÃs de contagem de micronÃcleos. Quanto ao questionÃrio sÃcio epidemiolÃgico os resultados encontrados indicaram que 100% da populaÃÃo estudada pertencia ao sexo masculino, com idade mÃdia de 35 anos. Ainda sobre o questionÃrio, 66% eram casados, 76,67% trabalhavam em fazendas (lavradores, operadores de mÃquinas e tÃcnicos agrÃcolas), 16,67% eram agentes de endemias ou servidores pÃblico, sendo que 21,3% tomavam medicamento sem prescriÃÃo mÃdica e que 71,67% nÃo realizaram exames mÃdicos nos Ãltimos 06 meses. A investigaÃÃo evidenciou ainda que, quanto ao estilo de vida e trabalho, 33,33% dos trabalhadores possuem o hÃbito de fumar, 55,83% de consumir bebidas alcoÃlicas, 29,9% entraram em contato direto com o agrotÃxico durante o preparo do produto, 38% atravÃs da aplicaÃÃo do produto por pulverizaÃÃo, 10% atravÃs da limpeza e manutenÃÃo dos equipamentos, 17,5% nÃo utilizavam nenhuma proteÃÃo, sendo que a grande maioria utilizavam apenas 01 tipo de EPI. Outro achado relatado refere-se que os trabalhadores utilizaram mais de 34 diferentes formulaÃÃes, sendo as classes mais utilizadas os inseticidas (45,18%), herbicidas (27,68%) e fungicidas (6,21%). Quanto ao tempo de exposiÃÃo dos trabalhadores aos pesticidas, 50,84% estavam expostos a menos de 2 anos e 10% estavam expostos a mais de 10 anos. Dentre os sintomas mais relatados, os efeitos no SNC destacaram-se com 230 queixas relatadas durante a aplicaÃÃo do questionÃrio sÃcio-epidemiolÃgico. Sobre o destino final das embalagens, 84,21% dos mesmos eram queimados, enterrados e deixados a cÃu aberto, sendo 15,79% entregues na central de recebimento. Em relaÃÃo Ãs anÃlises bioquÃmicas e hematolÃgicas dos indivÃduos submetidos à primeira coleta, os resultados indicaram que 11,67%; 4,17%; 10,83%; 0,83% ; 5,83%; 5% e 9,17% encontravam-se com nÃveis respectivamente alterados de Gama GT, Fosfatase Alcalina e TGO/ TGP, UrÃia, Creatinina componentes protÃicos, acetilcolinesterase plasmÃtica e eritrocitÃria . Na segunda etapa, os achados indicaram que os indivÃduos estavam com os nÃveis alterados de: gama GT ( 4,00%); fosfatase alcalina e TGO/TGP ( 4,00%); urÃia (4,00%); creatinina (5,33%); proteÃnas totais (17,33%); acetilcolinesterase plasmÃtica (4,00%) e acetilcolinesterase eritrocitÃria (2,67%). Com relaÃÃo à terceira etapa, dos 31 indivÃduos que realizaram teste de micronÃcleo 84,00% encontravam-se com danos citogenÃticos. Os danos citogenÃticos evidenciados nÃo apresentaram correlaÃÃes com idade, fumo, bebidas, equipamentos de proteÃÃo, medicamentos e doenÃas, confirmando a correlaÃÃo dos danos citogenÃticos evidenciados, com a exposiÃÃo aos agrotÃxicos (P<0,05)
The pesticides are some of the main risky factors for agricultural laborersâ health. In the state of PiauÃ, the agricultural expansion which was implemented in the cerrados through the growth of the soy crops in the 90âs was a relevant factor that increased the use of pesticides. The unbalanced usage of pesticides is often related to acute and chronic poisonings. The dosage of plasma cholinesterase and erythrocyte cholinesterase are relevant parameters to diagnose mainly cases in which an acute contact has occurred. The genotoxicity related to the use of these kinds of products has been studied and there are strong evidences that they are carcinogenic. Deaths which the main suspicion was poisoning by the misuse of agricultural pesticides happened in September of 2007 in the city of Ribeiro GonÃalves, state of PiauÃ. The fact unchained an investigation in the cities that produce soy (UruÃuÃ, Ribeiro GonÃalves and Baixa Grande do Ribeiro). The purpose of this study was evaluating the impact of the use of pesticides on agricultural laborerâs health in the cities of UruÃuÃ, Ribeiro GonÃalves and Baixa Grande do Ribeiro. The study was divided in three steps. Firstly, a social epidemiologic questionnaire Word Health Organization (WHO) was applied and samples and collected material to biochemical, hematological and enzymatic plasma acetylcholinesterase and erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase analysis of 120 agricultural laborers from the region. The second step was a study of these workers. These ones submitted salf of Piauà to a second evaluation which used, as a tool, the tests which had been previously discribed. In the third step 31 individuals with irregular parameters were submitted to a micronucleus test. Cells from the oral mucosa were collected to evaluate the level of DNA injury through micronucleus counting. The results of the social epidemiologic questionnaire pointed that 100% of the subjects who had benn studied were males with an average age of 35 years old. 66% were married, 76.67% worked in farms (farmers, machinists and agricultural technicians), 16.67% worked as endemic diseases agents or civil servants. 21.3% of them used non-prescribed medication and 71.67% had not did medical tests for the last 6 months. About life and work style the investigation showed that 33.33% of the workers is smokers, 55.83% drink alcohol, 29.9% has direct contact with the pesticide while it was being prepared to be use, 38% during the pulverization process, 10% during the equipment cleaning and maintenance, 17.5% did not take any safety protection measure, while the most used only a single kind of EPI. Another related discovery about the workers showed that they used more than 34 different formulations. Insecticides (45.18%), herbicides (27.68%) and fungicides (6.21%) were the most used products. Concerning the time of exposure the workers had to the pesticides, 50.84% were exposed to them for less than 2 years and 10% for more than 10 years. The effects on the SNC detached themselves among the most related symptoms with a 230 complaints reported during the application of the social epidemiologic questionnaire. Concerning the final destination of the containers, 84.21% were burned, buried and left outdoors while 15.79% were brought to the appropriate organ headquarter. The results from the biochemical and hematological analysis indicated that 11.67%; 4.17%; 10.83%; 0.83%; 5.83%; 5% e 9.17% of the individuals who were submitted to the first sample collection had, respectively, irregular levels of Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT); Alkaline Fosfatase and Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase/ Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase; Urea; Creatinine; Proteic components; Plasma acetylcholinesterase and Erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase. The findings in the second step indicated that the individuals had irregular levels of: Gamma GT (4.00%); Alkaline Fosfatase and GOT/GPT (4.00%); Urea (4.00%); Creatinine (5.33%); Total Protein (17.33%); Plasma acetylcholinesterase (4.00%) and Erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (2.67%). In the third step, 84.00% of the 31 subjects who had a micronucleus test presented cytogenetic injuries. The cytogenetic injuries which could be observed were not related to age, smoke, alcohol consumption; safety equipment, medications and diseases which confirms the co-relation between the presented cytogenetic injuries and the exposure to pesticides ( P<0.05)

Refinements were devised for husbandry systems and routine experimental techniques with each tested against current best practice. Hand picking of male mice for experimental group formation was found not to be random. A random number generator provided a more consistent dispersion of dominant males throughout groups. Environmental enrichment reduced aggressive interactions between male mice, suggesting that these animals can be group housed with a reduced risk of injury. The addition of oxygen to euthanasia mixtures of carbon dioxide was found to cause lung haemorrhage in mice, suggesting this refinement is not appropriate when killing mice. The adverse effects of sodium pentobarbitone killing of mice and rats were found to be reversible when lignocaine hydrochloride was added to the euthanasia mixture. Administering acetyl-promazine on completion of surgery eliminated post-operative disturbance following ketamine/medetomidine anaesthesia of rats. Rats showed a clear preference for a darkened environment during recovery from anaesthesia but only preferred 'warmed environments if they had become hypothermic while anaesthetised. Transponder chips were shown to otfer no welfare benefits over rectal probes for determining rat body-temperature. Warming or chilling the injectate reduced injection pain. A novel temperature datalogger was tested and found have potential for use in laboratory animal welfare science.

Clinical wavefront-guided corneal ablation has been now the most technologically advanced method to reduce the dependence of glasses and contact lenses. It has the potential not only to eliminate spherocylindrical errors but also to reduce higher-order aberrations (HOA). Recent statistics show that more than 96% of the patients who received laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) treatment reported their satisfaction about the improvement on vision, six months after the surgery. However, there are still patients complaining that their vision performance did not achieve the expectation or was even worse than before surgery. The reasons causing the unexpected post-surgical outcome include undercorrection, overcorrection, induced HOA, and other postoperative diseases, most of which are caused by inaccurate ablation besides other pathological factors. Therefore, to find out the method to optimize the LASIK procedures and provide a higher surgical precision has become increasingly important. A proper method to calculate ablation profile and an effective way to control the laser beam size and shape are key aspects in this research to resolve the problem. Here in this Master of Philosophy degree thesis, the author has performed a meticulous study on the existing methods of ablation profile calculation and investigated the efficiency of wavefront only ablation by a computer simulation applying real patient data. Finally, the concept of a refractive surgery system with dynamical beam shaping function is sketched, which can theoretically overcome the disadvantages of traditional procedures with a finite laser beam size.

Clinical wavefront-guided corneal ablation has been now the most technologically advanced method to reduce the dependence of glasses and contact lenses. It has the potential not only to eliminate spherocylindrical errors but also to reduce higher-order aberrations (HOA). Recent statistics show that more than 96% of the patients who received laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) treatment reported their satisfaction about the improvement on vision, six months after the surgery. However, there are still patients complaining that their vision performance did not achieve the expectation or was even worse than before surgery. The reasons causing the unexpected post-surgical outcome include undercorrection, overcorrection, induced HOA, and other postoperative diseases, most of which are caused by inaccurate ablation besides other pathological factors. Therefore, to find out the method to optimize the LASIK procedures and provide a higher surgical precision has become increasingly important. A proper method to calculate ablation profile and an effective way to control the laser beam size and shape are key aspects in this research to resolve the problem. Here in this Master of Philosophy degree thesis, the author has performed a meticulous study on the existing methods of ablation profile calculation and investigated the efficiency of wavefront only ablation by a computer simulation applying real patient data. Finally, the concept of a refractive surgery system with dynamical beam shaping function is sketched, which can theoretically overcome the disadvantages of traditional procedures with a finite laser beam size.
Thesis (Masters)
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
School of Engineering
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This study was designed to determine (a) the nature and extent of planning and programmatic changes that occurred in Indiana schools that have incorporated the Ball State University (BSU) Professional Development School (PDS) model; (b) how the implementation of these changes had impacted the school principal's roles and responsibilities; (c) whether the principal serving as site coordinator effected the school or principal's work; and (d) whether geographic classification effected process or outcomes. Interviews were conducted with the principal, site coordinators and teachers during March 1999. Findings:1.The principals, teachers, and university faculty were continuously involved in planning.2.Although the duration of planning varied, all schools used planning committees, research and multiple planning processes.3.The most notable changes were instructional modifications and collaborative teaching.4.Half of the principals (two urban and one suburban) became more facilitative and more inclined to use shared decision making.5.Half of the schools had a change in the principalship during planning; one school had four different principals during this period.6.Site coordinators had a positive influence on shared decision making.7.More change occurred in the urban schools. Conclusions:1. Ongoing communication and shared decision making helped diminish possible negative consequences of principal turnover during planning.2.Differences in planning duration and frequency did not appear to affect outcomes.3.Transition to a PDS had more effects on the urban schools, suggesting that climates and cultures in suburban schools were initially more congruous with the PDS philosophy.4.The philosophy of the PDS requires a collaborative leadership style on the part of the principal. Those unwilling to assume this role are likely to withdraw from the principalship. Having the principal not serve as the site coordinator promotes collaboration and shared authority.5.Suburban educators were inclined to view PDS issues politically, while the urban educators were inclined to view them economically.Recommendations:1. The leadership style of a principal should be a primary consideration in selecting possible PDS sites.2.Longitudinal studies of PDSs should be conducted in the areas of student academic growth, curriculum, and faculty satisfaction.
Department of Educational Leadership

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University
A critical overview of forensic science was performed by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in 2009 which resulted in several recommendations for the advancement of the hair analysis discipline within the field of trace evidence examination. Among them included improvements to training and proficiency testing requirements, adaptation of uniform protocols between all laboratories, and enhanced research and development efforts aimed at reducing the subjectivity between multiple analysts or within the same analyst. A survey was created for forensic hair analysts to determine what current microscopic hair examination procedures are being used and to identify variability between characteristics of individual examiners and laboratory practices in the field, three years following the NAS report. The survey was completed by 117 members of the American Society of Trace Evidence Examiners (ASTEE) and contained questions about the experience and training of the analyst, impact of the NAS report findings, type of hair examinations performed, and hair features referenced during microscopic hair comparisons. Most analysts surveyed received the same substantial amount of training and have several years of experience; however, very few reported that any laboratory procedures were affected as a result of the NAS report. Though hair analysis is not structured by mandated, uniform standard operating procedures, largely the same number and type of hair features are being referenced when microscopic hair comparisons are performed, indicating that little variability exists between laboratories or individual examiners. A trend toward more frequent root screenings for DNA viability and less frequent full microscopic hair comparisons was detected and supplemented by a shift of hair analysis from trace evidence sections to biology or DNA sections. Several technologies new to forensic hair analysis are currently being explored to supplement hair analyses with numerical data and, therefore, reduce subjectivity of forensic hair analysis.

Clinical Problem. Medical image analysis plays a crucial role in all the stages included in endovascular surgery, from screening to follow-up monitoring. Given the growing availability of clinical images, automatic tools that can process data in a quick and effective way are essential for clinical support. Methods. In this thesis, deep learning (DL) methodologies are designed to support clinicians in three different phases of endovascular surgery: the preoperative phase, the intraoperative phase, and the postoperative phase. In the preoperative phase, deep learning is exploited to perform automatic segmentation of aortic lumen and thrombus dealing with spatial coherence. Then, geometric measurements are extracted from the segmentation, allowing geometric evaluation and aneurysm screening. For the intraoperative phase, a deep learning model is used as a surrogate of finite-element analysis to predict the intraoperative aortic deformations induced by tools-tissue interaction. Finally, for the postoperative phase, deep learning is exploited to perform aortic lumen segmentation and geometric analysis is performed on multiple follow-up patient acquisitions. Results. For the preoperative stage, the developed segmentation pipelines provided better results compared to state-of-the art approaches. Automated geometric measurements showed comparable results to manual ones, and aneurysm screening provided promising results. For the intraoperative stage, the deep learning model showed good accuracy in predicting intraoperative aortic deformations. For the postoperative stage, the preliminary longitudinal analysis of aortic geometry showed that landing zone diameters tend to change over the follow-up acquisitions. Conclusions. This work presents a platform for the automatic analysis of CTA scans of patients affected by aortic diseases. The developed methodologies allow to rapidly process large image databases; the results of such analysis (e.g., thrombus and lumen segmentation, geometric measurements) can be useful in the research field as well as in clinical practice.

The purpose of this project is to produce a complete and thorough notebook that may be used to supplement laboratory coursework. Its intent is to be used primarily by the students to aid them in understanding background information and the proper laboratory procedures involved in various types of experiments. The laboratory notebook is a summation of all the experiments and procedures used in the six-credit hour Advanced Microbial and Molecular Biology (BIOL 5160) course offered during the summer semester at the University of North Texas. This class is a team taught effort by Professors O'Donovan and Kunz. The course is constructed as an intensive practice exercise to teach the student about gene mutations, biosynthetic pathways, preparation and analysis of plasmid DNA, and many other topics included in the notebook.

The satellite ERS-1 was launched in July 1991 in a period of high solar activity. Sparse laser tracking and the failure of the experimental microwave system (PRARE) compounded the orbital errors which resulted from mismodelling of atmospheric density and hence surface forces. Three attempts are presented here to try and refine the coarse laser orbits of ERS-1, made prior to the availability of the full altimetric dataset. The results of the first attempt indicate that by geometrically modelling the satellite shape some improvement in orbital precision may be made for any satellite; especially one where no area tables already exist. The second and third refinement attempts are based on the introduction of data from some second satellite; in these examples SPOT-2 and TOPEX/Poseidon are employed. With SPOT-2 the method makes use of the orbital similarities to produce along-track corrections for the more fully tracked SPOT-2. Transferring these corrections to ERS-1 produces improvements in the precise orbits thus determined. With TOPEX/Poseidon the greater altitude results in a more precise orbit (gravity field and atmospheric errors are of less importance). Thus, by computing height differences at crossover points of the TOPEX/Poseidon and ERS-1 ground tracks the poorer orbit of ERS-1 may be improved by the addition of derived radial corrections. In the positive light of all three results several potential modification are suggested and some further avenues of investigation indicated.

Masonry has been used for millennia to build all sort of constructions. As a result, a significant part of the building stock around the world is made of masonry. In the need of structural assessment, structural analysis tools, as well as strength criteria proposed in building codes, require the knowledge of the mechanical properties of the materials. However, the mechanical characterisation of masonry is still difficult and challenging, due to its composite nature and its complex mechanical behaviour. In fact, it is possible to find contradictions among standards, lack of definition for certain procedures, or even lack of standards for certain tests. This thesis aims to contribute with the critical analysis of some of these testing procedures and provide possible improvements for a specific type of masonry. Four lines of research have been identified, which cover tests in laboratory and in situ to characterise the behaviour in compression and in shear. The specific type of masonry on which the experimental campaigns are carried out is the traditional type of brickwork that was extensively used in Barcelona during the 19th and 20th c. In spite of its relevance, this type of masonry is in need of further characterisation. A preliminary research was necessary to find a historical-like mortar with a relatively fast hardening and low mechanical properties. The modification of hydraulic lime based commercial mortars with the addition of limestone filler is investigated. Small amounts of filler enhance the mechanical properties of the mortar. High amounts of filler reduce the mortars’ strengths and make it suitable to replicate historical-like masonry in laboratory. The first line of research on testing procedures covered the compressive characterisation of masonry on prismatic standard specimens. European and American standards differ in the type of specimen to consider, running bond walls and stack bond prisms, respectively. This work compares experimental results obtained from both types of specimen and also obtained from two types of loading, monotonic and cyclic. The second line of research involves an experimental campaign that investigates the possibility of using 90 mm cylinders extracted from existing walls to characterise the compressive behaviour of masonry. Four examples of masonry have been investigated, including cylinders extracted from three existing buildings of Barcelona. The results obtained with 90 mm cylinders compare well to those obtained with the well-known 150 mm cylinders. The third line of research deals with the characterisation of the shear response of masonry in laboratory. The standard triplet specimen consisting of three units and two mortar joints present some interpretation problems related to the non-simultaneous failure of the two joints. This experimental campaign studies the possibility of using couplet specimens of only one mortar joint to determine the shear parameters. For the two types of brickwork investigated, couplets provide higher estimations of the shear parameters with respect to triplets. The last line of research investigates the diagonal compression test, a testing procedure applicable both in situ and in laboratory for shear characterisation. First, an experimental campaign is presented. The experimental results are used to calibrate a numerical model, which is applied to investigate the actual states of stresses and to find correlating coefficients between the test results and the mechanical properties of masonry. The combination of all the former researches provides a set of reference values for the mechanical properties of the traditional brickwork of Barcelona. Nevertheless, the scientific findings, methods, and criteria presented in this thesis, even if derived for a specific type of brickwork, may be of application for the characterisation of other types of masonry around the world.
L’obra de fàbrica ha estat utilitzada durant mil·lennis per construir tota mena d’estructures. Davant la necessitat de verificacions estructurals, les eines d’anàlisi, així com els criteris de resistència dels codis de construcció, requereixen el coneixement de les propietats mecàniques dels materials. Malauradament, la caracterització mecànica de l’obra de fàbrica no es tasca fàcil i continua suposant un desafiament, per la seva natura composta i el seu complex comportament. De fet, és possible trobar contradiccions entre normes, manca de definició per alguns procediments i, inclús, inexistència de normes per alguns tipus de test. Aquesta tesi aspira a contribuir a l’anàlisi crítica d’algunes d’aquestes tècniques d’assaig i proveir-ne possibles millores per a un tipus d’obra de fàbrica específic. Quatre línies de recerca s’han identificat, que abasten tests en laboratori i in situ per caracteritzar el comportament a compressió i a tallant. El tipus específic de material sobre el qual es duran a terme les campanyes experimentals és la fàbrica de maó tradicional que va ser extensament utilitzada a Barcelona durant els segles XIX i XX. Tot i la seva rellevància, aquest tipus de material continua necessitant una caracterització més detallada. Una recerca preliminar fou necessària per trobar un morter pseudo-històric amb febles propietats mecàniques. La modificació de morters comercials de calç hidràulica amb l’addició de filler calís és investigada. Petites quantitats de filler milloren les propietats mecàniques del morter. Majors quantitats de filler redueixen les resistències del morter i el fan apropiat per replicar fàbriques de tipus històric al laboratori. La primera línia de recerca sobre tècniques d’assaig va estudiar la caracterització a compressió amb espècimens prismàtics estàndards. Les normes americanes i europees difereixen en el tipus d’espècimen considerat, prismes apilats i petits murets, respectivament. Aquest treball compara resultats experimentals obtinguts amb els dos tipus d’espècimen i també obtinguts amb dos tipus d’aplicació de càrrega, monòtona i cíclica. La segona línia de recerca desenvolupa una campanya experimental que investiga la possibilitat d’utilitzar cilindres de 90 mm de diàmetre extrets de murs existents per caracteritzar la resposta a compressió. Quatre exemples d’obra de fàbrica s’han investigat, incloent cilindres xvi extrets de tres edificis de Barcelona. Els resultats obtinguts amb els cilindres de 90 mm es comparen satisfactòriament amb els obtinguts amb els ja coneguts cilindres de 150 mm. La tercera línia de recerca tracta la caracterització en laboratori de la resposta a tallant de l’obra de fàbrica. La tripleta estàndard formada per tres maons i dos junts de morter presenta alguns problemes d’interpretació relacionats amb la fallada no simultània dels dos junts. La campanya estudia la possibilitat d’utilitzar bipletes composades de tan sols un junt de morter per determinar els paràmetres a tallant. Pels dos tipus de material estudiats, les bipletes proporcionen majors estimacions de les propietats a tallant que les tripletes. L’última línia de recerca estudia el test de compressió diagonal, una tècnica aplicable in situ i al laboratori per caracteritzar el comportament a tallant. Es presenta una campanya experimental, els resultats de la qual s’utilitzen per calibrar un model numèric. Aquest s’aplica per investigar els estats de tensions reals i trobar coeficients de correlació entre els resultats del test i les propietats mecàniques de l’obra de fàbrica. La combinació de les investigacions prèvies proporciona un conjunt de valors de referència per a les propietats mecàniques de la fàbrica de maó tradicional de Barcelona. Les conclusions científiques, mètodes i criteris presentats en aquesta tesi, tot i haver estat derivats per un tipus específic de fàbrica, poden ser d’aplicació per a la caracterització d’altres tipus de fàbrica arreu del món
La obra de fábrica ha sido utilizada durante milenios para construir toda clase de estructuras. Ante la necesidad de verificaciones estructurales, las herramientas de análisis, así como los criterios de resistencia de los códigos de construcción, requieren el conocimiento de las propiedades mecánicas de los materiales. Desafortunadamente, la caracterización mecánica de la obra de fábrica no es una tarea fácil y continúa suponiendo un desafío, por su naturaleza compuesta y su complejo comportamiento. De hecho, es posible encontrar contradicciones entre normas, falta de definición en algunos procedimientos o, incluso, inexistencia de normas para algunos tipos de test. Esta tesis aspira a contribuir en el análisis crítico de algunas de estas técnicas de ensayo y proveer posibles mejoras en ellas para un tipo de obra de fábrica específico. Se han definido cuatro líneas de investigación que abarcan ensayos en laboratorio e in situ para caracterizar el comportamiento a compresión y a cortante. El tipo específico de material sobre el que se llevan a cabo las campañas experimentales es la fábrica de ladrillo tradicional que se usó extensamente en Barcelona durante los siglos XIX y XX. A pesar de su relevancia, este tipo de material continúa necesitando una caracterización más detallada. Una investigación preliminar fue necesaria para encontrar un mortero pseudo-histórico con débiles propiedades mecánicas. La modificación de morteros comerciales de cal hidráulica con la adición de filler calizo es investigada. Cantidades pequeñas de filler mejoran las propiedades mecánicas del mortero. Mayores cantidades de filler reducen sus resistencias y lo hacen apropiado para replicar obras de fábrica de tipo histórico en el laboratorio. La primera línea de investigación sobre técnicas de ensayo estudió la caracterización a compresión con especímenes prismáticos estandarizados. Las normas americanas y europeas difieren en el tipo de espécimen considerado, prismas apilados y pequeños muretes, respectivamente. Este trabajo compara resultados experimentales obtenidos con los dos tipos de espécimen y también obtenidos con dos tipos de aplicación de carga, monótona y cíclica. La segunda línea de investigación gira sobre una campaña experimental que investiga la posibilidad de utilizar cilindros de 90 mm de diámetro extraídos de muros existentes para caracterizar la respuesta a compresión. Se han investigado 4 ejemplos de fábrica, incluyendo cilindros extraídos de 3 edificios de Barcelona. Los resultados obtenidos con los cilindros de 90 mm se comparan satisfactoriamente con los obtenidos en los ya aceptados cilindros de 150 mm. La tercera línea de investigación trata la caracterización en laboratorio de la respuesta a cortante de la obra de fábrica. La tripleta estándar formada por tres ladrillos y dos juntas de mortero presenta algunos problemas de interpretación relacionados con el fallo no simultáneo de las juntas. La campaña estudia la posibilidad de utilizar bipletas con una sola junta de mortero para determinar los parámetros a cortante. Para los dos tipos de material estudiados, las bipletas proporcionan mayores estimaciones de las propiedades a cortante que las tripletas. La última línea de investigación estudia el ensayo de compresión diagonal, una aplicable in situ y en laboratorio para caracterizar el comportamiento a cortante. Se presenta una campaña experimental cuyos resultados se utilizan para calibrar un modelo numérico. Este se aplica para investigar los estados reales de tensiones y encontrar coeficientes de correlación entre los resultados del ensayo y las propiedades mecánicas de la obra de fábrica. La combinación de las investigaciones previas proporciona un conjunto de valores de referencia para las propiedades mecánicas de la fábrica de ladrillo tradicional de Barcelona. Las conclusiones científicas, métodos y criterios presentados en esta tesis, aun habiendo sido derivados para un tipo específico de fábrica, pueden ser aplicados para la caracterización de otros tipos de fábrica en otras áreas geográficas.

The understanding of soil behavior is the foundation where the geotechnical engineering is built on. Experimentation is essential to improve this comprehension, and then to be able to translate it into models, theories, or laws. In a proper scientific method, experimentation is present in all phases of model development from conception to validation. This Thesis focuses on laboratory experimentation. The experiments are interesting because they are an abstraction of reality, focusing on the objective of the investigation. The main advantage of laboratory experiments is the high reproducibility, which, together with the control of the initial and contour conditions, enables to analyze the effects of different variables on the soil behavior. This Thesis focuses on the development and improvement of methodologies and techniques to provide more and better information from the laboratory experiments in a massive and non-invasive way. The developed methodologies are based on the analysis of sequential images of experiments which are able to provide the spatial distribution through the domain of the analyzed variables. The first technique presented and validated is the Particle Image Velocimetry - Numerical Particle (PIV-NP). This is a post-process to enhance the image correlation methods (PIV). The method is able to transform the instantaneous displacements measured by PIV between two consecutive images on fixed points in the space into accumulated displacements and strains on points (Numerical Particles) which represent portions of the moving soil analyzed. The method is especially suitable for the analysis of large displacements and strains experiments and combines the advantages of Eulerian and Lagrangian scheme. The validation of the method is done by means of synthetic examples and laboratory tests. For application on unsaturated soils, the Thesis presents a methodology to measure the degree of saturation (Sr) using Short-Wave InfraRed images (SWIR). The methodology is based on the relatively high absorbance of light by water in specific wavelengths of the SWIR spectrum (1400 -1550 nm and 1900 – 2000 nm) respect to the solid particles of soils. The methodology is created to be applied in a sequence of images to analyze the spatial distribution of degree of saturation and its evolution in time. The average Pixel Intensity is measured in a grid of points in each image. The Pixel Intensity is normalized and translated into its correspondent degree of saturation using the calibration curve previously calibrated. Both techniques, PIV-NP and Sr measurements from SWIR image, are combined into an integrated methodology. The result provides the position, velocity, acceleration, strains, and degree of saturation in time of the analyzed moving soil discretized into numerical particles. This allows to compare and correlate directly all the variables. The methodology offers different options to display the results: surface (2D), line (1D), and particle (0D). The information that provides each display dimension is complementary and useful for a complete understanding of the soil behavior. Finally, the integrated methodology is also applied combining the PIV-NP with a more mature technique to measure the degree of saturation in transparent soils developed in Canada. The study of the dry footprints on the seashore is the chosen case to show the capability of the combined techniques on the analysis of soil behavior. The three different options of results display are crucial to understanding the correlation between the degree of saturation and the velocity of failure. The methodology and techniques developed can be used in any geotechnical laboratory and conform a base to extend the volume of data that can be obtained from the experiments, but especially enhancing the utility of the information deduced from the data.
La comprensió del comportament del sòl és el fonament sobre el qual es construeix l'enginyeria geotècnica. L'experimentació és essencial per millorar aquesta comprensió, i després poder traduir-la en models, teories o lleis. En un mètode científic adequat, l'experimentació està present en totes les fases del desenvolupament del model, des de la concepció fins a la validació. Aquesta tesi se centra en l'experimentació de laboratori. Els experiments són interessants perquè són una abstracció de la realitat, centrant-se en l'objectiu de la investigació. El principal avantatge dels experiments de laboratori és l'alta reproductibilitat, que, juntament amb el control de les condicions inicials i de contorn, permet analitzar els efectes de diferents variables en el comportament del sòl. Aquesta tesi es centra en el desenvolupament i la millora de metodologies i tècniques per a proporcionar més i millor informació dels experiments de laboratori de forma massiva i no invasiva. Les metodologies desenvolupades es basen en l'anàlisi d'imatges seqüencials d'experiments que poden proporcionar la distribució espacial de les variables analitzades en tot el domini. La primera tècnica presentada i validada és el Particle Image Velocimetry - Numerical Particle (PIV-NP). Aquest és un post-procés per millorar els mètodes de correlació d'imatges (PIV). El mètode és capaç de transformar els desplaçaments instantanis mesurats per PIV entre dues imatges consecutives en punts fixos en l'espai en desplaçaments acumulats i deformacions en punts (Partícules Numèriques) que representen parts del sòl analitzat en moviment. El mètode és especialment adequat per a l'anàlisi de grans desplaçaments i experiments de deformació, combina els avantatges dels esquemes eulerià i lagrangià. La validació del mètode es realitza mitjançant casos sintètics i experiments de laboratori. Per aplicacions en sòls no saturats, la Tesi presenta una tècnica per mesurar el grau de saturació (Sr) utilitzant imatges infraroges d'ona curta (SWIR). La metodologia es basa en l'alta absorció de la llum per l'aigua comparativament a les partícules sòlides dels sòls, en longituds d'ona específiques de l'espectre SWIR (1400-1550 nm i 1900-2000 nm). La tècnica es crea per ser aplicada a una seqüència d'imatges, per analitzar la distribució espacial del grau de saturació i la seva evolució en el temps. La intensitat de píxel mitjana es mesura en una quadrícula de punts en cada imatge. La intensitat del píxel es normalitza i es tradueix en la seva corresponent grau de saturació utilitzant la corba de calibratge prèviament calibrada. Les dues tècniques, els mesuraments PIV-NP i Sr a partir d'imatges SWIR, es combinen en una metodologia integrada. El resultat proporciona l'evolució en el temps de la posició, la velocitat, l'acceleració, les deformacions i el grau de saturació del sòl analitzat en moviment, discretitzat en partícules numèriques. Això permet comparar i correlacionar directament totes les variables. La metodologia ofereix diferents opcions per mostrar els resultats: superfície (2D), línia (1D) i partícula (0D). La informació que proporciona cada dimensió de visualització és complementària i útil per a una comprensió completa del comportament del sòl. Finalment, la metodologia integrada també s'aplica combinant el PIV-NP amb una tècnica més madura desenvolupada al Canadà per mesurar el grau de saturació en sòls transparents. L'estudi de les petjades seques a la vora de la platja és el cas triat per mostrar la capacitat de les tècniques combinades en l'anàlisi del comportament del sòl. Les tres diferents opcions de visualització de resultats són crucials per comprendre la correlació entre el grau de saturació i la velocitat de trencament. La metodologia i les tècniques desenvolupades es poden utilitzar en qualsevol laboratori geotècnic i conformen una base per ampliar el volum de dades que es poden obtenir dels experiments, però especialment millorant la utilitat de la informació deduïda de les dades
La comprensión del comportamiento del suelo es el cimiento sobre el cual se construye la ingeniería geotécnica. La experimentación es esencial para mejorar esta comprensión, y luego poder traducirla en modelos, teorías o leyes. En un método científico adecuado, la experimentación está presente en todas las fases del desarrollo del modelo, desde la concepción hasta la validación. La experimentación comprende dos tipos diferentes de datos: datos de campo y de laboratorio. Ambos enfoques son esenciales y complementarios, considerando sus debilidades y fortalezas. Esta tesis se centra en la experimentación de laboratorio. Los experimentos son interesantes porque son una abstracción de la realidad, centrándose en el objetivo de la investigación. La principal ventaja de los experimentos de laboratorio es la alta reproducibilidad, que, junto con el control de las condiciones iniciales y de contorno, permite analizar los efectos de diferentes variables en el comportamiento del suelo. Esta tesis se centra en el desarrollo y la mejora de metodologías y técnicas para proporcionar más y mejor información de los experimentos de laboratorio de forma masiva y no invasiva. Las metodologías desarrolladas se basan en el análisis de imágenes secuenciales de experimentos que pueden proporcionar la distribución espacial a través del dominio de las variables analizadas. La primera técnica presentada y validada es la Particle Image Velocimetry – Numerical Particle (PIV-NP). Este es un postproceso para mejorar los métodos de correlación de imágenes (PIV). El método es capaz de transformar los desplazamientos instantáneos medidos por PIV entre dos imágenes consecutivas en puntos fijos en el espacio en desplazamientos acumulados y deformaciones en puntos (Partículas Numéricas) que representan partes del suelo analizado en movimiento. El método es especialmente adecuado para el análisis de grandes desplazamientos y experimentos de deformación, combina las ventajas del esquema euleriano y lagrangiano. La validación del método se realiza mediante ejemplos sintéticos y pruebas de laboratorio. viii Para aplicaciones en suelos no saturados, la Tesis presenta una metodología para medir el grado de saturación (Sr) utilizando imágenes infrarrojas de onda corta (SWIR). La metodología se basa en la alta absorción de la luz por el agua con respecto a las partículas sólidas de los suelos, en longitudes de onda específicas del espectro SWIR (1400-1550 nm y 1900-2000 nm). La metodología se crea para ser aplicada en una secuencia de imágenes, para analizar la distribución espacial del grado de saturación y su evolución en el tiempo. La intensidad de píxel promedio se mide en una cuadrícula de puntos en cada imagen. La intensidad del píxel se normaliza y se traduce en su correspondiente grado de saturación utilizando la curva de calibración previamente calibrada. Ambas técnicas, las mediciones PIV-NP y Sr a partir de imágenes SWIR, se combinan en una metodología integrada. El resultado proporciona la evolución en el tiempo de la posición, la velocidad, la aceleración, las deformaciones y el grado de saturación del suelo analizado en movimiento, discretizado en partículas numéricas. Esto permite comparar y correlacionar directamente todas las variables. La metodología ofrece diferentes opciones para mostrar los resultados: superficie (2D), línea (1D) y partícula (0D). La información que proporciona cada dimensión de visualización es complementaria y útil para una comprensión completa del comportamiento del suelo. Finalmente, la metodología integrada también se aplica combinando el PIV-NP con una técnica más madura desarrollada en Canadá para medir el grado de saturación en suelos transparentes. El estudio de las pisadas secas en la orilla de la playa es el caso elegido para mostrar la capacidad de las técnicas combinadas en el análisis del comportamiento del suelo. Las tres opciones diferentes de visualización de resultados son cruciales para comprender la correlación entre el grado de saturación y la velocidad de rotura. La metodología y las técnicas desarrolladas se pueden utilizar en cualquier laboratorio geotécnico y conforman una base para ampliar el volumen de datos que se pueden obtener de los experimentos, pero especialmente mejorando la utilidad de la información deducida de los datos

In this study, the generalized and traditional interferometric techniques (GINTY and TINTY) are used to investigate some of the important aspects of Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) phenomenon in optical fibres. Measurements of PMD and chromatic dispersion (CD) are performed on buried optical fibre cable in the Pretoria Telkom’s metropolitan network. The upgradeability of this network was investigated, and it was observed that just over a half of the fibres are upgradeable to 10 Gb.s-1 transmissions. Long-haul aerial network in the Northern Cape was also tested for upgradeability to 10 Gb.s-1. It was found that 41 percent of the fibres tested are upgradeable to 10 Gb.s-1. Long-term monitoring showed that PMD varies rapidly in aerial fibres and, on the other hand, it is relatively stable in buried cables. Investigations on the accuracy of the techniques showed that polarization scrambling is essential for the reduction of the measurements uncertainties. Furthermore, it was observed that TINTY underestimates the single scan PMD distributions. The study on the effect of the change in mode coupling on various fibre configurations was performed, and fibres showed a reduction in PMD after the introduction of mode coupling. Measurements of PMD conducted in the laboratory on cabled fibre with low PMD showed the floor sensitivity of TINTY. Comparison between GINTY and Jones Matrix Eigeanalysis (JME) PMD measurements methods were performed on an emulator, and the results showed a good agreement in the measured PMD.

Thesis (m.s.)--University of Kentucky, 2004.
Title from document title page (viewed Jan. 5, 2005). Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 77p. : ill. Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 74-76).

La sismicité anthropique a augmenté depuis les dernières décennies en raison de l’intense activité humaine pour la production d’énergie. Cependant, malgré le fait que la simple injection de fluides peut induire/ déclencher des tremblements de terre, dans cette thèse, nous montrons que l’interaction stratégique entre les extractions et les injections de fluides peut contrôler de tels événements sismiques et éventuellement les prévenir. Plus précisément, nous construisons un nouveau cadre mathématique de contrôle robuste des tremblements de terre, qui est ensuite exploité dans des simulations numériques de failles de glissement et de réservoirs de gaz, ainsi que dans de nouvelles expériences de laboratoire à l’échelle décimétrique. Tout d’abord, les paramètres clés qui constituent une stratégie conventionnelle d’atténuation des séismes sont identifiés. Des expériences de substitution sur du papier poreux absorbant montrent que sans la connaissance précise des propriétés de la faille, les injections de fluide risquent de nucléer plus rapidement un grand événement sismique. Afin de faire face à de telles incertitudes, des outils mathématiques rigoureux sont développés en utilisant la théorie moderne du contrôle. Ces outils nécessitent un minimum d’informations sur les propriétés de la faille et les caractéristiques de frottement pour assurer la robustesse. Des simulations numériques sur des failles à glissement latéral vérifient que la prévention des séismes est possible, même en présence de processus de diffusion et en l’absence de mesures suffisantes dans le temps et l’espace. En allant plus loin, les techniques de contrôle développées peuvent également être appliquées dans les grands réservoirs de gaz, où la production de gaz souhaitée peut être atteinte en garantissant des niveaux de sismicité acceptables. Enfin, au cours de cette thèse, un nouvel appareil à triplets d’échelle décimétrique a été conçu, construit et calibré en conséquence. Le contrôle de la pression peut être réalisé, dans cet appareil, en temps réel, grâce à un régulateur de pression électro-pneumatique à réponse rapide. Comme preuve de concept, le régulateur développé est branché dans cet appareil et en utilisant des spécimens imprimés en 3D à base de sable (pour promouvoir la répétabilité expérimentale), nous parvenons, pour la première fois, à prévenir les tremblements de terre en laboratoire et à conduire le système de manière asismique vers un point d’équilibre de plus faible énergie
Anthropogenic seismicity has been increased since the last decades due to the intense human activity for energy production. However, despite the fact that merely injection of fluids can induce/trigger earthquakes, in this thesis, we show that the strategic interplay between fluid extractions and injections can control such seismic events and eventually prevent them. More specifically, a novel mathematical framework of robust earthquake control is built which in turn is exploited in numerical simulations of strike-slip faults and gas reservoirs, as well as in new laboratory experiments of decimetric scale. First, the key parameters which constitute a conventional earthquake mitigation strategy are identified. Surrogate experiments on absorbent porous paper show that without the precise knowledge of the fault properties, fluid injections risk to nucleate faster a large seismic event. In order to tackle such uncertainties, rigorous mathematical tools are developed using modern control theory. These tools require minimal information of fault’s properties and frictional characteristics to assure robustness. Numerical simulations on strike-slip faults verify that earthquake prevention is possible, even in the presence of diffusion processes and the absence of sufficient measurements both in time and space. Going a step further, the developed control techniques can also be applied in large gas reservoirs, where the desired gas production can be achieved assuring acceptable seismicity levels. Finally, during this thesis, a novel triplet apparatus of decimetric scale has been designed, constructed and calibrated accordingly. Pressure control can be achieved, in this machine, in real-time, through a fast response electro-pneumatic pressure regulator. As a proof of concept, the developed controller is plugged in this apparatus and by using sand-based 3D-printed specimens (to promote experimental repeatability), we manage, for the first time, to prevent laboratory earthquakes and drive the system aseismically to an equilibrium point of lower energy

The modulus of aggregate base layers in pavement structures can potentially be increased through the use of geogrid. However, methods for determining how much structural benefit can be expected from a given geogrid product have not been standardized. A laboratory testing protocol is therefore needed to enable evaluation, in terms of modulus or California bearing ratio (CBR), for example, of the degree of improvement that may be achieved by a given geogrid. Consequently, the objective of this research was to identify a laboratory test method that can be used to quantify improvements in structural capacity of aggregate base materials reinforced with geogrid. For this research, National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 598 repeated load triaxial, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) T 307 quick shear, and CBR testing protocols were used to test unreinforced and geogrid-reinforced aggregate base materials from northern Utah. Biaxial and triaxial geogrid were investigated in multiple reinforcement configurations. Several statistical analyses were performed on the results of each test method to identify the test that is most likely to consistently show an improvement in the structural capacity of aggregate base materials reinforced with geogrid. The results of this research indicate that, for the methods and materials evaluated in this study, calculation of the modulus at 2 percent strain from the AASHTO T 307 quick shear data is the test method most likely to consistently show an improvement in structural capacity associated with geogrid reinforcement. Of the three configurations investigated as part of this research, placing the geogrid at an upper position within a specimen is preferred. Given that the end goal of the use of geogrid reinforcement is to improve pavement performance, additional research is needed to compare the results of the AASHTO T 307 quick shear test obtained in the laboratory with the structural capacity of geogrid-reinforced aggregate base materials measured in the field. In addition, correlations between the results of the AASHTO T 307 quick shear test and resilient modulus need to be investigated in order to incorporate the findings of the AASHTO T 307 quick shear test on reinforced base materials into mechanistic-empirical pavement design.

COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DO PESSOAL DE ENSINO SUPERIOR
O propósito deste estudo in vitro foi avaliar a qualidade de obturações endodônticas em relação ao selamento apical e marginal, comparando duas técnicas de obturação: Condensação Lateral (CL) e Condensação Vertical (CV) da guta-percha aquecida. Foram utilizadas 40 amostras que foram submetidas à penetração passiva de solução de nitrato de prata a 50% e divididas em dois grupos. Para cada grupo de amostras infiltradas foi utilizada uma metodologia diferente. O grupo 1, com cada metade das amostras obturadas com um tipo de técnica de obturação, foi preparado para microscopia Óptica (MO), processamento digital de imagens (PDI) e espectrometria de absorção atômica (EAA). O grupo 2, com metade das amostras obturadas por cada uma das técnicas, foi preparado para microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Através da MO e PDI, as amostras foram avaliadas quanto à qualidade das obturações, quantificando o percentual de guta-percha e cimento presentes. Através da utilização da EAA, a massa de prata infiltrada na obturação foi quantificada e finalmente, com o uso da MEV, a adaptação marginal dos materiais obturadores às paredes do canal radicular foi avaliada. Nas condições experimentais em que este trabalho foi conduzido e através da análise estatística, concluiu-se que houve diferença estatisticamente significante em relação ao selamento apical produzido pelas duas técnicas de obturação avaliadas e quanto à qualidade de preenchimento das obturações. Nas observações ao MEV, a CV mostrou uma melhor adaptação do material obturador às paredes dentinárias quando comparada com a CL em algumas regiões do canal radicular.
The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the quality of endodontics obturations in relation to apical and marginal sealing comparing two obturation techniques: lateral condensation and vertical condensation of warm gutta-percha. Forty samples were used and submitted to passive penetration of a 50% silver nitrate solution. The samples were divided in two equal-sized groups. For each group a different methodology was used. Group 1, with half of the samples obturated by each different technique, was prepared for optical microscopy (OM), digital image processing (DIP) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Group 2, again with half of the samples obturated by each technique, was prepared for scanning electron microscope (SEM). Using OM and DIP, the quality of the obturation was evaluated and the percent of gutta-percha and sealer present was quantified. Using AAS, the leakage of silver was quantified. Finally, the marginal adaptation of obturation materials in the root canal walls was evaluated with SEM. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in apical sealing produced by the two obturation techniques and in the quality of obturation fillings. In SEM observations, the vertical condensation method showed a better adaptation to the dentin walls when compared with lateral condensation at some regions of the root canal.

A time-based password generating technique has been adopted and applied to protect sensitive datasets as the first technique used in this thesis. It specifically mitigates attacks and threats by adding time as a part of the password, which is generated using the shift-key. This in turn raises the possible combinations for the password and enhances the system's security. The Password Quality Indicator (PQI) was implemented to evaluate security improvement. Results showed that contemporary password techniques were up to 200% more secure than the traditional methods. The second method, 'honeypot', is based on web-session management. The authentication process is triggered if the web-session is initiated correctly when the first webpage is requested; legitimate users must perform the correct session through a precise links' sequence to be compatible with the session management that has been saved in the server side. The honeypot will present a sequence of links to lure the attacker into performing the authentication procedure directly from the login box. When compared to conventional methods, it was found that using the new method has improved user security by 200%. Additionally, a multi-factor authentication approach was tested, where combination of the timing password and the honeypot techniques was used. The outcomes were calculated and the results demonstrated that the passwords' strength was enhanced when using and increasing the number of links and the quantity of dwell time periods as a result of probabilities and complication. This approach yielded passwords that are 300% more secure than traditional methods would generate. Finally, a honeywords-generation method (decoy passwords) was also applied to detect attacks against the databases of hashed passwords. With an aim of achieving flatness, the original password for each user account was stored with many honeywords in order to confuse and mislead cyber-attackers. This technique relies on the abnormal generation method to achieve flatness among real password. A survey involving 820 participants was conducted to quantify how many users were able to recognise the real password among several honeywords. The results have shown that the new generation method was an improvement on traditional methods by 89.634% and attained sufficient flatness to confuse the attackers.

Denna rapport presenterar de kritiska parametrarna inom isproduktion, en utvärdering av dessa samt dess inflytande på isens kvalitet. För isens kvalitet är syftet att finna objektiva kriterier för vad som är bra eller dåligt, föreslåolika metoder för att utvärdera dem samt vilken typ av vattenbehandling som kan vara till nytta.När man talar om iskvalitet tänker de flesta människor på isens hårdhet som en del av det och det är den som mest beskrivna och diskuterade egenskapen. Förutom detta är även isens och vattnets mineralinnehåll, mängden av innesluten luft, temperatur, mängden producerad snö, samt transparens. Många parametrar som alla är kopplade till isens hårdhet. Antingen påverkar de isens hårdhet eller påverkas av den.Testerutfördes huruvida vattnets elektriska ledningsförmågan påverkar isens elektriska ledningsförmåga. Syftet var att kontrollera om mineralinnehållet i isen kan mätas på ett snabbt och enkelt sätt utan att behöva ta prover, smälta snön och sedan mäta vatten-konduktiviteten bara genom att använda en anordning för att mäta isytans ledningsförmåga. En korrelation mellan de två värdena kunde visas även om variansen mellan de olika testkörningarna var ganska hög.Därefter togs prover från ishallar för att bestämma korrelationen mellan mineralinnehållet i det utspillda kranvattnet och mineralinnehållet på isytan. Mot antagandet att färre mineraler i vattnet skulle leda till ett lägre mängd på isytan, kan en direkt korrelation inte fastställas. Även på samma isbana var skillnaderna mycket högt.Vid provning av inverkan av mineralhalten i vattnet på isens hårdhet kunde endast en liten negativ korrelation fastställas. Resultatet bör inte värderas för högt, eftersom provningsmetoden kunde ha varit olämpligt.Baserat på alla testresultat kan ingen förbättring av iskvaliteten förväntas vid avsaltning av vattnet som förbehandling. På andra sidan, att sprida varmvatten vid nytillverkning av is verkar ha ett högre inflyttande och leder till mycket bättre resultat
This report is about to find crucial parameters in the ice making process, evaluate them and determine their influence on the ice quality. For the ice quality it is supposed to find objective criteria what is good or bad and propose methods to evaluate them objectively and what kind of water treatment could be useful.When speaking about ice quality most people have ice hardness at a part of it in mind and it is the most described and discussed property as well. Then there is the mineral content in the ice and water, amount of trapped air, temperature, amount of produced snow, transparency. A lot of parameters that are all linked to the ice hardness. Either they influence the ice hardness or are influenced by it.Test if the electric conductivity of the water influences the electric conductivity of the ice have been made. The aim was to check if the mineral content of the ice can be measured in a fast and easy way without having to take samples, melting the snow and then measure the water conductivity just by using a device to measure the ice surface conductivity. A correlation between the two values could be shown even though the variance between the different test runs was quite high.Then samples from ice rinks have been taken to determine the correlation between mineral content in the spilled tap water and the mineral content at the ice surface. Against the assumption that fewer minerals in the water would lead to a lower amount at the ice surface, a direct correlation could not be ascertained. Even in the same ice rink the differences were very high.When testing the influence of the mineral content in the water on the ice hardness just a small negative correlation could be determined. The results should not be valuated too high, because the test method could have been unsuitable.Concluding all the results an improvement of the ice quality is not expected when desalinating the water as a pre-treatment. Spilling hot water when resurfacing the ice seems to have a higher influence and lead to much better results.

The aim of this thesis is to twofold, in order to demonstrate the variabilities that can be faced within the compressive strength of blended cements, one blended cement namely CEM IV / B (P-V) 32.5N is selected and the 28-day compressive strength is obtained by 16 different laboratories following TS EN 196-1 standard. Later, to show the variabilities that could be faced by different standards, three different cement types were selected and their compressive strengths are determined following two procedures first with TS EN 196-1, later with similar procedure described in ASTM. The strength of cement is determined by TS EN 196-1 in Turkey that is the same for all types of cements. However, American cement producers use different standards for testing the strength of Portland cement and blended cements. The main difference is the amount of water utilized in producing the cement mortar. It was observed that for Portland and Portland composite cements
there is not any significant difference in between the compressive strength results of cement mortars prepared by both methods. However, for pozzolanic cements, there is much deviance in the compressive strength results of cement mortars prepared by TS EN 196-1.