Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is a cardiac hormone that helps maintain cardiovascular homeostasis. ANF secretion is linked to the constitutive, regulated and constitutive-like pathways. Presence of a monensin-sensitive pool that may follow constitutive-like secretion has previously been identified in an isolated atrial perfusion study. The intracellular ANF storage pools linked to each secretory pathway have not been identified. In this study, ANF storage and secretion was characterized in HL-1 atrial cardiomyocytes through the use of pharmacological agents, density gradient and RP- HPLC analysis. Treatment of HL-1 cells with monensin followed by cell fractionation was unsuccessful in identifying the monensin-sensitive pool. RP-HPLC analysis identified presence of low molecular weight ANF in low density gradient fractions that were defined by the presence of organelle markers of Golgi, early endosome, clathrin and corin. Since the monensin-sensitive pool was thought to be of a constitutive-like nature, targeting this pathway with pharmacological inhibitors of clathrin coat vesicle (CCV) formation and endosomal trafficking failed to prevent stimuli-independent secretion. Based on an inability to prevent ANF secretion by targeting the constitutive-like pathway and the presence of low molecular weight ANF in low density gradient fractions, stimuli- independent ANF secretion seems to be through a constitutive pathway.

High-performance variable-speed drives, such as PMSM and BLDC, rely on instantaneous torque control. Over the years, several strategies have been investigated in this domain, with the prominent strategies being field-oriented control and direct torque control. Regardless of the strategy employed, a precise rotor position during operation is an essential requirement. While a wide range of sensing technologies to monitor the rotor position have been employed, industries at large presently focus on Hall effect sensors for this application because they are highly cost-effective, low maintenance, noninvasive, and occupy very little space compared to its alternatives. However, the downside of using Hall effect sensors is their low accuracy. In particular, in the application of handheld battery-powered tools, output signals are affected by vibrations and harmonics from the electromagnetic field. Approaches that are being investigated to reduce or eliminate this noise from the signals can be broadly categorized into 1) installation position optimization, 2) filter methods, and 3) measurement model methods. As they are widely cited and easy to implement in the application of handheld battery-powered tools, four filter structures, namely, ANF with PLL, only PLL, SFE, and SFE with PLL, have been investigated in this thesis. This thesis evaluated the filter’s performance when applied to a real-world application of battery-powered tools. The filters were evaluated for their ability to preserve fundamental frequency components and reject harmonic content up to the 5th order. Visual inspections of Lissajous curves, rotor angle curves and generated reference signals provided insights into peculiarities during operation. Operations were categorized into four scenarios to facilitate the examination of filter response during acceleration and steady state in forward and reverse directions. Only performances of ANFPLL and SFE-PLL proved to be satisfactory with some limitations. The SFE filter yielded insignificant results which could be attributed to a lack of feedback mechanism. While the findings presented in this thesis contribute to the understanding of the viability of filter applications in batterypowered tools, additional testing is imperative. This entails the conversion of filter structures into algorithms suitable  for integration within software frameworks, ensuring their practical applicability and efficacy in real-world scenarios. / Högpresterande frekvensomriktare, såsom Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) och Brushless DC Electric Motor (BLDC), förlitar sig på momentan vridmomentkontroll. Under årens lopp har flera strategier undersökts inom detta område, där de framträdande strategierna är fältorienterad kontroll och direkt vridmomentkontroll. Oavsett vilken strategi som används är en exakt rotorposition under drift ett väsentligt krav. Medan ett brett utbud av avkänningstekniker för att övervaka rotorns position har använts, fokuserar industrier i stort på Hall-effektsensorer för denna applikation eftersom de är mycket kostnadseffektiva, låga underhållskostnader, ickeinvasiva och upptar mycket lite utrymme jämfört med dess alternativ. Men nackdelen med att använda Hall-effektsensorer är deras låga noggrannhet. I synnerhet vid tillämpning av handhållna batteridrivna verktyg påverkas utsignalerna av vibrationer och övertoner från det elektromagnetiska fältet. Tillvägagångssätt som undersöks för att minska eller eliminera detta brus från signalerna kan brett kategoriseras i 1) installationspositionsoptimering, 2) filtermetoder och 3) mätmodellmetoder. Eftersom de är allmänt citerade och lätta att implementera i tillämpningen av handhållna batteridrivna verktyg, fyra filterstrukturer, nämligen Adaptive Notch Filter (ANF) med Phase Locked Loop (PLL), endast PLL, Synchronous Frequency Extractor (SFE) och SFE med PLL, har undersökts i denna avhandling. Denna avhandling utvärderade filtrets prestanda när det tillämpades på en verklig tillämpning av batteridrivna verktyg. Filtren utvärderades med avseende på förmågan att bevara grundfrekvenskomponenten och avvisa övertonsinnehåll upp till 5:e ordningen. Visuella inspektioner av Lissajous-kurvor, rotorvinkelkurvor och genererade referenssignaler gav insikter om egenheter under drift. Operationer kategoriserades i fyra scenarier för att underlätta undersökning av filterrespons under acceleration och stationärt tillstånd i framåt- och bakåtriktning. Endast prestanda av ANF-PLL och SFE-PLL visade sig vara tillfredsställande med vissa begränsningar. SFE-filtret gav obetydliga resultat som kunde tillskrivas bristen på återkopplingsmekanism. Även om resultaten som presenteras i denna avhandling bidrar till förståelsen av användbarheten av filtertillämpningar  i batteridrivna verktyg, är ytterligare tester absolut nödvändiga. Detta innebär omvandling av filterstrukturer till algoritmer lämpliga för integration inom mjukvaruramverk, vilket säkerställer deras praktiska tillämpbarhet och effektivitet i verkliga scenarier.

A mensuração da Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde (QVRS) tem se tornado um componente integrado na avaliação clínica e também na avaliação de resultados de novos tratamentos, inclusive em crianças e adolescentes. Estudos sobre o processo de adaptação transcultural de instrumentos são importantes para a obtenção de medidas válidas e confiáveis. Este estudo metodológico, transversal, teve como objetivo descrever o processo de tradução, adaptação cultural e validação do instrumento DISABKIDS-37 para o Brasil, incluindo a análise de suas propriedades psicométricas iniciais. A pesquisa foi conduzida em ambulatórios pediátricos e a amostra incluiu 118 crianças e adolescentes com asma ou diabetes e seus pais ou cuidadores. Além do DISABKIDS-37 foram utilizados dois outros instrumentos, relativos à validação semântica. Os softwares Multitrait Analysis Program e Statistical Package for Social Sciences, 10.0 auxiliaram as análises, que revelaram valores para a estatística alfa de Cronbach de = 0,92 e = 0,93, para a versão crianças/adolescentes e pais/cuidadores, respectivamente. A análise das correlações entre itens e dimensões, mostrou validade convergente e discriminante satisfatórias. A versão adaptada do DISABKIDS 37 para a cultura brasileira pode constituir-se em instrumento válido e confiável para mensuração da Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde de crianças e adolescentes com condições crônicas. / The Quality of Life Related to Saúde (QVRS) has became a component in the clinical evaluation and also in the evaluation of results of new treatments, included children and adolescents. Studies about the process of cross-cultural adaptation of instruments are important for the obtain valid and confiable measures. This methodological study, cross-sectional, aims to analyse the translation, cultural adaptation and validation process of the DISABKIDS 37 and its beginnings psychometric analysis. The study was conducted in pediatric ambulatories in a sample of 118 children and adolescents with asthma or diabetes and their parents or carengivers. Another two instruments was utilized to analyze the semantic validation. The internal consistency of the DISABKIDS 37 was calculed using Cronbach´s alpha with the softwares Multitrait Analysis Program and Statistical Package for Social Sciences 10.0. For the overall score the values were = 0.92 for child version and = 0.93 for proxy version. The DISABKIDS 37 discriminates well chronic conditions. It distinguishes between differences in the impairment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with different chronic conditions. We believe that the finally versions of the DISABKIDS 37 for Brazil could be a useful tool for analyse HRQoL in children/adolescents with chronic conditions.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-14T13:09:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 419311.pdf: 1361781 bytes, checksum: b2420e6628557cca585fc9b340850f47 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-03-27 / O presente estudo foi desenvolvido em uma ?rea elevada do Escudo Sul-Riograndense localizada entre os Munic?pios de S?o Jer?nimo e Bar?o do Triunfo e teve como objetivo descrever a composi??o, ciclos de atividade sazonal, padr?es alimentares e reprodutivos de uma taxocenose de escamados. O per?odo de amostragem ocorreu de abril de 2004 a abril de 2006, onde os escamados foram procurados ativamente na ?rea (PV) e recolhidos por colaboradores residentes (CR). Considerando os dois m?todos aplicados, foram amostradas tr?s esp?cies de Amphisbaenidae, seis esp?cies de lagartos (Anguidae (1), Gymnophtalmidae (1), Scincidae (1) e Teiidae (3)) e 24 esp?cies de serpentes (Colubridae (20), Elapidae (1), Lepthotyphlopidae (1) e Viperidae (2)), totalizando 33,7 % da fauna de escamados do Rio Grande do Sul. Para as duas esp?cies mais freq?entes de Amphisbaenidae, Amphisbaena munoai e Anops kingii foi observado um padr?o unimodal de distribui??o sazonal, dimorfismo sexual no comprimento rostro cloacal (CRC) (f?meas > machos, Teste-t p < 0,001) e um ciclo reprodutivo sazonal ocorrendo na primavera e ver?o. Ambas as esp?cies apresentaram diversas categorias alimentares na composi??o de suas dietas, entretanto t?rmites (Isoptera) parecem compor um elemento base. Dados reprodutivos foram analisados para as duas esp?cies mais freq?entes de lagartos, Cnemidophorus lacertoides e Cercosaura schreibersii, que apresentaram reprodu??o tipicamente sazonal ocorrendo na primavera e ver?o. Em ambas as esp?cies, f?meas maduras apresentaram CRC significativamente maiores que machos (Teste t; p < 0,001). Por outro lado, machos maduros de ambas as esp?cies apresentaram comprimento e largura da cabe?a (Ancova; p < 0,001) maiores do que f?meas. Foram capturadas 325 serpentes, sendo as mais freq?entes: Bothrops pubescens (27,69%), Philodryas patagoniensis (12,31%), Philodryas olfersii (12%) e Tantilla melanocephala (8,62%), que juntas corresponderam a 60,62% do total da amostra. Utilizando-se apenas as serpentes capturadas por PV, pode-se observar correla??o significativa entre a freq??ncia relativa de serpentes ativas/m?s e a temperatura (Anova, p < 0,001) e, de car?ter inverso, foi observada correla??o significativa (Anova, p < 0,001) entre a freq??ncia relativa de serpentes capturadas abrigadas/m?s e a temperatura. Foram obtidas informa??es sobre a dieta de 17 esp?cies e anf?bios anuros (incluindo girinos) foi o item alimentar mais utilizado. O per?odo reprodutivo foi marcadamente sazonal ocorrendo na primavera e ver?o. Analisando a dieta das esp?cies de serpentes foi observado o primeiro registro de ofiofagia para Echinanthera occipitalis (= Taeniophallus occipitalis), que ingeriu um exemplar de Tantilla melanocephala. Por ocasi?o dos trabalhos de campo foi redescoberta a esp?cies de anf?bio anuro Melanophryniscus pachyrhynus conhecida at? ent?o por apenas dois s?ntipos coletados no sul do Brasil a cerca de 100 anos atr?s. A esp?cie foi redescrita e teve sua distribui??o geogr?fica ampliada.

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2017-03-09T23:07:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 IaponiraSalesDeOliveira_TESE.pdf: 7423751 bytes, checksum: d1f0076be8615e4ab0d4436b4bd0fb6a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-03-14T00:22:33Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 IaponiraSalesDeOliveira_TESE.pdf: 7423751 bytes, checksum: d1f0076be8615e4ab0d4436b4bd0fb6a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-14T00:22:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 IaponiraSalesDeOliveira_TESE.pdf: 7423751 bytes, checksum: d1f0076be8615e4ab0d4436b4bd0fb6a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-06-30 / Historicamente, a agricultura praticada na regi?o semi?rida do nordeste brasileiro ? n?made, itinerante ou migrat?ria; os agricultores desmatam, queimam, fertilizam o solo, plantam por um curto per?odo e migram para outras ?reas, onde repetem a mesma pr?tica, al?m de utilizarem uma quantidade significativa de agroqu?micos para o combate de pragas. Esta atividade tem provocado perda significativa de qualidade de vida e da biodiversidade local. No contexto da biodiversidade, destacam-se os Anf?bios Anuros, que compreendem os sapos, r?s, pererecas e jias, s?o relevantes nas cadeias e teias ecol?gicas, especialmente por serem bioindicadores de qualidade ambiental e biocontroladores de popula??es de insetos, estabelecendo um controle natural de pragas em ?reas agr?colas. Apesar de suas import?ncias, nas duas ?ltimas d?cadas t?m ocorrido decl?nio e desaparecimento de algumas esp?cies de Anuros no Brasil e em todo o mundo, por seres sens?veis; uma vez que s?o sens?veis a mudan?as ambientais. A redu??o de esp?cies pode ser decorrente de a??es antr?picas relacionadas ? devasta??o de ?reas naturais para utiliza??o agr?cola, garimpos ou pastagens. Nesse contexto, inexistem estudos que abordem as intera??es e reconhecimento de comunidades agr?colas e os anf?bios anuros, em especial em regi?o semi?rida do nordeste brasileiro, a exemplo daquelas sob influ?ncia da Bacia Hidrogr?fica do Rio S?o Francisco, onde comunidades vivem da agricultura e pecu?ria como principais atividades econ?micas, utilizando a ?gua daquele rio para irriga??o. A regi?o de Itaparica e respectivos sistemas agr?colas constituem parte de um projeto de pesquisa amplo e binacional, Brasil ? Alemanha (INNOVATE Project), o qual tem por objetivo geral identificar os m?ltiplos usos da ?gua do reservat?rio e analisar as inova??es referentes ao manejo dos recursos aqu?ticos e terrestres, e de cujo subprojeto, SP-4 - Biodiversidade e Servi?os do Ecossistema, esta tese ? decorrente. Neste cen?rio e contexto, o objetivo geral desta tese foi registrar, descrever e analisar qualitativamente o conhecimento de comunidades locais sobre as esp?cies de anf?bios anuros e sua biologia, visando o reconhecimento destes como biocontroladores de insetos pragas nos sistemas agr?colas, em substitui??o aos agroqu?micos, a fim de promover a conserva??o dos anuros e melhorar a qualidade de vida dos agricultores locais, em prol da sustentabilidade. As comunidades estudadas, Petrol?ndia e Itacuruba, est?o situadas ?s margens do m?dio Rio S?o Francisco, Estado de Pernambuco, onde o trabalho de campo foi efetuado durante quatro excurs?es, duas a cada um dos munic?pios estudados, entre os meses de novembro/2012 a abril/2013. Foram entrevistados 369 agricultores, com idades entre 18 e 65 anos, todos do sexo masculino, sobre as pr?ticas agr?colas e biologia das esp?cies de anf?bios anuros. Para a identifica??o das esp?cies de anf?bios anuros, foram inicialmente realizados est?mulos visuais, com o aux?lio de fotografias de esp?cies comuns em ?reas de caatinga. Este m?todo serviu para nortear os entrevistados contextualmente, assegurando que as entrevistas fossem direcionadas ao mesmo objeto (esp?cies de anf?bios anuros), a fim de coletar dados etnobiol?gicos precisos. Posteriormente, as esp?cies de anf?bios anuros mais citadas nas entrevistas foram coletadas atrav?s de busca ativa ao longo das ?reas agr?colas e Caatinga circunvizinha (parte dos dados secund?rios do Innovate Project). Para caracterizar os locais de reprodu??o e desenvolvimento dos anf?bios anuros nas ?reas agr?colas, foram elaborados mapas orais, obtidos a partir de turn?s guiadas com os agricultores que citaram a exist?ncia de s?tios reprodutivos em suas ?reas de cultivo, os quais foram georreferenciados. Os agricultores reconheceram e nomearam oito etnoesp?cies, que correspondem a 13 esp?cies de anf?bios anuros, bem como seus principais locais de reprodu??o e desenvolvimento. A partir destas informa??es, foram elaborados dois mapas georreferenciados, relacionados principalmente aos locais de reprodu??o, os quais demonstram 13 s?tios de reprodu??o em Itacuruba e seis em Petrol?ndia/PE. As respostas dos agricultores tamb?m possibilitaram identificar os valores atribu?dos aos anf?bios nas ?reas agr?colas, por meio do conhecimento acerca dos seus h?bitos alimentares, ao citarem que os anf?bios comem principalmente insetos (65% dos agricultores de Petrol?ndia, n=238; 58% em Itacuruba, n=131), demonstrando conhecimento acerca da participa??o destes animais no equil?brio ambiental e poss?vel controle de pragas agr?colas. N?o se constataram diferen?as de concep??o local, quanto ? import?ncia dos anf?bios no controle de pragas, entre sistemas irrigados e n?o irrigados. Os agricultores de Petrol?ndia (83%, n=238) e de Itacuruba (78%, n=131) relataram ter identificado, por observa??es in loco, que os anf?bios se alimentam de pragas agr?colas locais, possibilitando inferir que s?o biocontroladores dessas pragas. Tamb?m foram bastante enf?ticos ao afirmarem que os anf?bios devem ser preservados (78%, n=238 em Petrol?ndia; 73%, n=131 em Itacuruba), principalmente por se alimentarem de insetos pragas, e por n?o constituir amea?a ?s comunidades agr?colas. Estas respostas possibilitaram a elabora??o de uma cartilha ilustrada, em literatura de Cordel, a qual ser? distribu?da e divulgada em escolas, cooperativas agr?colas e associa??es comunit?rias dos munic?pios estudados, como instrumento de populariza??o da Ci?ncia sobre a import?ncia dos anf?bios no biocontrole de pragas agr?colas, em substitui??o ao uso de Agroqu?micos. Entretanto, apesar de os agricultores locais destacarem a import?ncia dos anf?bios e de sua preserva??o para controle de insetos pragas, ainda n?o os aceitam como aliados no controle natural de pragas em substitui??o aos agroqu?micos. A populariza??o da Ci?ncia por meio do Cordel Ilustrado ? o primeiro passo em prol da sustentabilidade por meio de alternativas vi?veis e pr?ticas agr?colas sustent?veis, que visem ? conserva??o das esp?cies e das atividades locais. / Historically, agriculture in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil is nomadic, traveling or migration ; farmers deforestation, burn, fertilize the soil, plant for a short period and migrate to other areas where repeat the same practice , and use significant amounts of pesticides for combating pests. This activity has caused significant loss of quality of life and local biodiversity. In the context of biodiversity, Amphibian Anura stand out, which include frogs, toads and jewelry, are relevant in chains and ecological webs, especially because they are bio-indicators of environmental quality and biocontrol of insect populations, establishing a natural control pests in agricultural areas. Despite their importance in the last two decades there has been decline and disappearance of some species of Anura in Brazil and around the world; since they are sensitive to environmental changes, reducing species may be due to human activities related to the devastation of natural areas for use of agricultural land, mining or pasture. In this context, there are no studies that address on the interactions and recognition of agricultural communities and amphibians, especially in semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil, like those under the influence of River Basin San Francisco, where communities living from agriculture and livestock as main economic activities using the water of this river for irrigation. Itaparica region and their agricultural systems are part of a broad research project and binational, Brazil - Germany (INNOVATE Project), which has the objective to identify the multiple reservoir water uses and analyze innovations for the management of resources water and land, and whose subproject, SP-4 - Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, this thesis is integral. In this scenario and context, the general objective of this thesis was to record, describe and qualitatively analyze the knowledge of local communities on the species of amphibians and their biology, aimed at recognizing these as insect biocontrol pests in agricultural systems in place to agrochemicals, to promote the conservation of frogs and improve the quality of life of local farmers for sustainability. The communities studied, Petrol?ndia and Itacuruba, are situated to the average margins S?o Francisco River, State of Pernambuco, where the fieldwork was carried out for four trips, two to each of the cities studied, between the months from November / 2012 to April / 2013. A total of 369 male farmers were interviewed, whose ages ranged from 18 to 65 years old.They were asked about agricultural practices and biology of species of amphibians. For the identification of the species, they were initially made visual stimuli, with the help of photographs of common species in areas of caatinga. This method served to guide respondents contextually, ensuring that the interviews were directed to the same object (anurans) in order to collect accurate data ethnobiological. Later, the species of amphibians most mentioned in the interviews were collected by active search throughout the agricultural areas and Caatinga surrounding (part of secondary data from Project Innovate). To characterize the breeding sites and development of anurans in agricultural areas were prepared oral maps obtained from conducted tours to farmers who cited the existence of breeding sites in their areas of cultivation, which were georeferenced. Local farmers recognized and named eight ethnospecies, which correspond to 13 species of amphibians, as well as major sites of reproduction and development. From this information, we were prepared two georeferenced maps, mainly related to breeding sites, which show 13 breeding sites in Itacuruba six in Petrol?ndia / PE. The responses of farmers also possible to identify the values assigned to amphibians in the agricultural areas, through knowledge about their eating habits, to cite that amphibians eat mostly insects (65% of farmers Petrol?ndia, n = 238; 58% in Itacuruba, n = 131), demonstrating knowledge of the participation of these animals in the environmental balance and can control agricultural pests. Not found-site design differences, the importance of amphibians in pest control, between irrigated and non-irrigated systems. Farmers Petrol?ndia (83%, n = 238) and Itacuruba (78%, n = 131) reported having identified by observations on the spot that amphibians feed on local agricultural pests, making it possible to infer that are biocontrol of these pests. They were also quite emphatic in stating that amphibians should be preserved (78%, n = 238 in Petrol?ndia, 73%, n = 131 in Itacuruba), mainly feed on insect pests, and not pose a threat to agricultural communities. These responses allowed for the creation of an illustrated booklet in Cordel literature, which will be distributed and disseminated in schools, agricultural cooperatives and community associations of municipalities studied, such as the Science popularization instrument on the importance of amphibians in biocontrol of agricultural pests, replacing the use of agrochemicals. However, although local farmers stress the importance of Amphibian and its preservation to control insect pests, they do not accept them as allies in natural pest control to replace agrochemicals. The popularization of science through the Cordel Illustrated is the first step towards sustainability by sustainable agricultural and viable alternatives practices aimed at the conservation of species and local activities.

A mensuração da Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde (QVRS) tem se tornado um componente integrado na avaliação clínica e também na avaliação de resultados de novos tratamentos, inclusive em crianças e adolescentes. Estudos sobre o processo de adaptação transcultural de instrumentos são importantes para a obtenção de medidas válidas e confiáveis. Este estudo metodológico, transversal, teve como objetivo descrever o processo de tradução, adaptação cultural e validação do instrumento DISABKIDS-37 para o Brasil, incluindo a análise de suas propriedades psicométricas iniciais. A pesquisa foi conduzida em ambulatórios pediátricos e a amostra incluiu 118 crianças e adolescentes com asma ou diabetes e seus pais ou cuidadores. Além do DISABKIDS-37 foram utilizados dois outros instrumentos, relativos à validação semântica. Os softwares Multitrait Analysis Program e Statistical Package for Social Sciences, 10.0 auxiliaram as análises, que revelaram valores para a estatística alfa de Cronbach de = 0,92 e = 0,93, para a versão crianças/adolescentes e pais/cuidadores, respectivamente. A análise das correlações entre itens e dimensões, mostrou validade convergente e discriminante satisfatórias. A versão adaptada do DISABKIDS 37 para a cultura brasileira pode constituir-se em instrumento válido e confiável para mensuração da Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde de crianças e adolescentes com condições crônicas. / The Quality of Life Related to Saúde (QVRS) has became a component in the clinical evaluation and also in the evaluation of results of new treatments, included children and adolescents. Studies about the process of cross-cultural adaptation of instruments are important for the obtain valid and confiable measures. This methodological study, cross-sectional, aims to analyse the translation, cultural adaptation and validation process of the DISABKIDS 37 and its beginnings psychometric analysis. The study was conducted in pediatric ambulatories in a sample of 118 children and adolescents with asthma or diabetes and their parents or carengivers. Another two instruments was utilized to analyze the semantic validation. The internal consistency of the DISABKIDS 37 was calculed using Cronbach´s alpha with the softwares Multitrait Analysis Program and Statistical Package for Social Sciences 10.0. For the overall score the values were = 0.92 for child version and = 0.93 for proxy version. The DISABKIDS 37 discriminates well chronic conditions. It distinguishes between differences in the impairment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with different chronic conditions. We believe that the finally versions of the DISABKIDS 37 for Brazil could be a useful tool for analyse HRQoL in children/adolescents with chronic conditions.

The purpose of the study is to examine how the image of the TV series Skam was constructed in the Swedish press during the winter of 2016-2017, with a focus on how Skam’s importance for individuals and society was expressed in the texts. To analyze how the discourse of Skam was constructed in the Swedish press, a discourse theoretical perspective based on Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe’s discourse theory was used, along with various theories of the media, the audience's production of meaning and pleasure, realism and psychology of religion. Different discursive tools from Laclau and Mouffe’s conceptual world are put into practice during the analysis part. Metaphors are also used as a method to understand and analyze the material.  In the analysis of the media discourse of Skam, four main themes emerged in the analyzed texts; Realism, identification, moralism and Norway and the Norwegian language. The discourse of realism raised the question whether Skam is realistic or not, and whether it is possible to understand teenagers by watching the series. The discourse of identification included questions like; whether participants could identify with the characters and situations in Skam or not, often from a nostalgic point of view. The discourse of moralism focused much on the different characters in the series and how they acted, or were portrayed. Topics such as feminism and homosexuality were discussed, along with other things. The discourse of Norway and the Norwegian language was a lot about the Swedish relations with Norway and the Norwegian language spoken in Skam. The discourse was very homogenous and notably it concerned the phenomena that Swedes have begun to speak Norwegian, and Swedish people creates a closeness and understanding of Norway and the Norwegians through the tv-series.  Skam was also constructed as something sacred that brings people together, in discussions as well as in cultural identity. A great majority of the texts discussed however adults should watch the tv-series or not.

The endocrine heart synthesises and secretes two polypeptide hormones: the natriuretic peptides (NP) atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). The biological actions of these hormones serve both acutely and chronically to reduce systemic blood pressure and hemodynamic load to the heart, thus contributing to the maintenance of cardiorenal homeostasis. Considerable effort has been focused on the elucidation of the mechanistic underlying ANF and BNP gene expression and secretion but much remains to be determined regarding specific molecular events involved in the cardiocyte secretory function. These hormones are produced by the atrial muscle cells (cardiocytes), which display a dual secretory/muscle phenotype. In contrast, ventricular cardiocytes display mainly a muscle phenotype. Comparatively little information is available regarding the genetic background for this important phenotypic difference with particular reference to the endocrine function of the heart. We postulated that comparison of gene expression profiles between atrial and ventricular muscles would help identify transcripts that underlie the phenotypic differences associated with the endocrine function of the heart as well as identify signaling pathways involved in its regulation. The cardiac atrial and ventricular transcriptomes were analyzed using oligonucleotide microarrays under normal or chronically induced aortocaval shunt volume-overload conditions. Transcriptional differences were validated by RT-PCR and transcripts of interest were knocked-down by RNAi. Comparison of gene expression profiles in the rat heart revealed a total of 1415 differentially expressed genes between normal atrial and ventricular tissues. Functional classification and pathway analysis identified numerous transcripts involved in mechanosensing, vesicle trafficking, hormone secretion, and G protein signaling. Volume-overloaded animals exhibited a progressive increase in cardiac mass over the four-week time course, an increase in expression of known hypertrophic genes, as well as the differential expression of 700 genes within the atria. Volume-overload specifically downregulated the accessory protein for heterotrimeric G protein signaling RASD1 in the atria. In vitro, knockdown of RASD1 in the atrial-derived HL-1 cells, significantly increased ANF secretion, demonstrating a previously unknown negative modulator role for RASD1. The data developed in this investigation provides insight into the expression profiles of genes particularly centered on the secretory function of the heart under normal and chronic hemodynamic overload conditions. Genome-wide expression profile analysis identified RASD1 as being differentially expressed between cardiac tissues as well as being modulated by chronic volume overload. RASD1 emerges as a tonic inhibitor of ANF secretion. The novel function identified herein for RASD1 in the atria is of considerable interest given the fact that secretory impairment of the cardiac natriuretic hormones can negatively impact cardiovascular homeostasis.

The endocrine heart synthesises and secretes two polypeptide hormones: the natriuretic peptides (NP) atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). The biological actions of these hormones serve both acutely and chronically to reduce systemic blood pressure and hemodynamic load to the heart, thus contributing to the maintenance of cardiorenal homeostasis. Considerable effort has been focused on the elucidation of the mechanistic underlying ANF and BNP gene expression and secretion but much remains to be determined regarding specific molecular events involved in the cardiocyte secretory function. These hormones are produced by the atrial muscle cells (cardiocytes), which display a dual secretory/muscle phenotype. In contrast, ventricular cardiocytes display mainly a muscle phenotype. Comparatively little information is available regarding the genetic background for this important phenotypic difference with particular reference to the endocrine function of the heart. We postulated that comparison of gene expression profiles between atrial and ventricular muscles would help identify transcripts that underlie the phenotypic differences associated with the endocrine function of the heart as well as identify signaling pathways involved in its regulation. The cardiac atrial and ventricular transcriptomes were analyzed using oligonucleotide microarrays under normal or chronically induced aortocaval shunt volume-overload conditions. Transcriptional differences were validated by RT-PCR and transcripts of interest were knocked-down by RNAi. Comparison of gene expression profiles in the rat heart revealed a total of 1415 differentially expressed genes between normal atrial and ventricular tissues. Functional classification and pathway analysis identified numerous transcripts involved in mechanosensing, vesicle trafficking, hormone secretion, and G protein signaling. Volume-overloaded animals exhibited a progressive increase in cardiac mass over the four-week time course, an increase in expression of known hypertrophic genes, as well as the differential expression of 700 genes within the atria. Volume-overload specifically downregulated the accessory protein for heterotrimeric G protein signaling RASD1 in the atria. In vitro, knockdown of RASD1 in the atrial-derived HL-1 cells, significantly increased ANF secretion, demonstrating a previously unknown negative modulator role for RASD1. The data developed in this investigation provides insight into the expression profiles of genes particularly centered on the secretory function of the heart under normal and chronic hemodynamic overload conditions. Genome-wide expression profile analysis identified RASD1 as being differentially expressed between cardiac tissues as well as being modulated by chronic volume overload. RASD1 emerges as a tonic inhibitor of ANF secretion. The novel function identified herein for RASD1 in the atria is of considerable interest given the fact that secretory impairment of the cardiac natriuretic hormones can negatively impact cardiovascular homeostasis.

The endocrine heart synthesises and secretes two polypeptide hormones: the natriuretic peptides (NP) atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). The biological actions of these hormones serve both acutely and chronically to reduce systemic blood pressure and hemodynamic load to the heart, thus contributing to the maintenance of cardiorenal homeostasis. Considerable effort has been focused on the elucidation of the mechanistic underlying ANF and BNP gene expression and secretion but much remains to be determined regarding specific molecular events involved in the cardiocyte secretory function. These hormones are produced by the atrial muscle cells (cardiocytes), which display a dual secretory/muscle phenotype. In contrast, ventricular cardiocytes display mainly a muscle phenotype. Comparatively little information is available regarding the genetic background for this important phenotypic difference with particular reference to the endocrine function of the heart. We postulated that comparison of gene expression profiles between atrial and ventricular muscles would help identify transcripts that underlie the phenotypic differences associated with the endocrine function of the heart as well as identify signaling pathways involved in its regulation. The cardiac atrial and ventricular transcriptomes were analyzed using oligonucleotide microarrays under normal or chronically induced aortocaval shunt volume-overload conditions. Transcriptional differences were validated by RT-PCR and transcripts of interest were knocked-down by RNAi. Comparison of gene expression profiles in the rat heart revealed a total of 1415 differentially expressed genes between normal atrial and ventricular tissues. Functional classification and pathway analysis identified numerous transcripts involved in mechanosensing, vesicle trafficking, hormone secretion, and G protein signaling. Volume-overloaded animals exhibited a progressive increase in cardiac mass over the four-week time course, an increase in expression of known hypertrophic genes, as well as the differential expression of 700 genes within the atria. Volume-overload specifically downregulated the accessory protein for heterotrimeric G protein signaling RASD1 in the atria. In vitro, knockdown of RASD1 in the atrial-derived HL-1 cells, significantly increased ANF secretion, demonstrating a previously unknown negative modulator role for RASD1. The data developed in this investigation provides insight into the expression profiles of genes particularly centered on the secretory function of the heart under normal and chronic hemodynamic overload conditions. Genome-wide expression profile analysis identified RASD1 as being differentially expressed between cardiac tissues as well as being modulated by chronic volume overload. RASD1 emerges as a tonic inhibitor of ANF secretion. The novel function identified herein for RASD1 in the atria is of considerable interest given the fact that secretory impairment of the cardiac natriuretic hormones can negatively impact cardiovascular homeostasis.