The mdx mouse is widely used as a model for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a fatal X-linked disease caused by a deficiency of the sub-sarcolemmal protein, dystrophin. This dissertation reports characterisation of the features of dystrophy in the mdx mouse, including parameters such as electrophysiological and contractile properties of dystrophic cardiac tissue, quantitative evaluation of kyphosis throughout the mdx lifespan, and contractile properties of respiratory and paraspinal muscles. Following these characterisation studies, the efficacy of antisense oligonucleotides (AOs) to induce alternative mRNA splicing in mdx skeletal muscles (diaphragm and paraspinal muscles) was evaluated. The left atria of younger (<6 weeks) and older (>15 months) mdx mice showed consistently lower basal forces and responsiveness to increased calcium, while action potential duration was significantly shorter in young mice (3 weeks) and older mice (9 and 12 months) (P<0.05). Cardiac fibrosis increased with age in mdx atria and ventricles and was elevated in young (6-8 weeks) and old (15 months) mdx compared to control mice (P<0.01). This study provided insights into DMD cardiomyopathy, and suggested that very young or old mdx mice provide the most useful models. Mdx mice show thoracolumbar kyphosis like boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. A novel radiographic index, the Kyphotic Index (KI), was developed and showed that mdx mice are significantly more kyphotic from 9 months of age, an effect maintained until 17 months (P<0.05). At 17 months, the paraspinal and respiratory muscles (latissimus dorsi, diaphragm and intercostal muscles) are significantly weaker and more fibrotic (P<0.05). Administration of AOs at four sites within the diaphragm at 4 and 5 months of age significantly increased twitch and tetanic forces compared to sham treated mdx (P<0.05). However, no difference in collagen was evident and dystrophin was not detected, possibly due to the low concentration of AO utilised. This study suggested that AOs can provide functional improvement in treated skeletal muscles. Monthly injections with AOs into the paraspinal muscles from 2 months to 18 months of age alleviated kyphosis, without significantly altering twitch and tetanic forces of latissimus dorsi, diaphragm and intercostal muscles. There was evidence of less fibrosis in diaphragm and latissimus dorsi muscles (P<0.05) and reduced central nucleation of the latissimus dorsi and intercostal muscles (P<0.05). Again, dystrophin was not detected by immunoblot. These studies indicate that very young and old mdx mice display previously uncharacterised dystrophic features, and are useful models for testing new therapies such as AOs. Low doses of AOs were shown to be safe and efficacious for long-term use, however there remains a need for testing higher concentrations and improved delivery strategies.

Indium-Gallium-Zinc-Oxide (a-IGZO) is an amorphous oxide semiconductor that has been attracting increasing attention for use in flat panel display and optoelectronic applications. This is largely due to IGZO’s high mobility at low processing temperatures. In this thesis, IGZO films were successfully grown on polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) substrates by RF magnetron sputtering at room temperature. These films were flexible, transparent and had a good Hall mobility (5-12 cm2/Vs). High quality metal oxide Schottky contacts were fabricated on these as-grown IGZO/PEN films with on-off rectification ratios of up to 108. These were then used as the gate contacts in transparent metal semiconductor field effect transistors (MESFETs). The performance and device stability of these IGZO/PEN MESFETs were investigated via a series of stress tests in both dark conditions and under illumination at different wavelengths in the visible spectrum. During constant voltage stress testing under illumination, the threshold voltage shifted by -0.54 V and 0.38 V for negative and positive gate biasing, respectively. These shifts proved reversible when devices were left in dark conditions for extended periods of time. The effect of persistent photoconductivity after exposure to different illumination sources was examined, with three potential passivation coatings to reduce this unwanted effect explored. Transparent IGZO/PEN MESFETs with an absolute transmission of up to 75% were achieved with the use of ITO ohmic contacts. These devices survived mechanical bending down to a radius of 7 mm with negligible variation in on-current and threshold voltage. This allows for the possibility of incorporating their use in future applications such as flexible transparent electronics.

Mestre -- Escola Nacional de Saude Publica, Rio de Janeiro, 2000.

Mestre -- Escola Nacional de Saude Publica, Rio de Janeiro, 2001.

Mestre -- Escola Nacional de Saude Publica, Rio de Janeiro, 2002.

Mestre -- Escola Nacional de Saude Publica, Rio de Janeiro, 2004.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-03-22Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:47:16Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 pereira_jm_dr_botfca.pdf: 1295918 bytes, checksum: f68afd1f3561ee4b65e51e0137d4d990 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Desde sua introdução no Brasil, em 2003, o psilídeo-de-concha Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) vem ocasionando sérios danos ao eucalipto, principalmente através de desfolha, desenvolvimento de fumagina e secamento de ponteiros. Como estratégia no controle deste inseto, o uso de genótipos resistentes pode ser uma ferramenta valiosa. Neste trabalho, avaliou-se a resistência das espécies Eucalyptus camaldulensis (VM e IPEF), E. grandis e E. urophylla e dos híbridos de E. grandis x E. camaldulensis – gracam ‘HGC’ (3025 e 1277), de E. urophylla x E. camaldulensis – urocam ‘HUC’ (VM-1), de E. urophylla x E. grandis – urograndis ‘HUG’ (H-13, I-144, C-219 e GG-100) e de E. grandis (EG-01, EG-02 e EG-03) a G. brimblecombei, através de testes de atratividade, preferência para oviposição e preferência para alimentação e/ou antibiose sob condições de laboratório e campo. Foram realizados testes preliminares, a fim de verificar a ocorrência de condicionamento pré-imaginal, além de ajustar a melhor densidade para infestação com adultos para testes de atratividade e a melhor posição nas mudas para avaliações de preferência para oviposição. Em laboratório, verificou-se que os adultos de G. brimblecombei não apresentaram condicionamento pré-imaginal, independentemente do hospedeiro de criação ser o híbrido 3025 ou E. camaldulensis IPEF. As densidades de 10 e 15 adultos de psilídeo-de-concha por muda de eucalipto proporcionaram maior número de ovos. As folhas próximas ao ápice foram preferidas para oviposição, sendo que o número de ovos decresceu do ápice para a base. No teste com chance de escolha, os genótipos E. grandis, E. urophylla, C-219 e H-13 foram menos atrativos ao psilídeo-de-concha, expressando não-preferência. Em teste com chance de escolha, o número de ovos depositados nas folhas dos genótipos H-13, E. grandis... / Since its introduction in Brazil in 2003, the red gum lerp psyllid Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) has been causing serious damages in eucalyptus trees, especially through defoliation, development of sooty mold and dieback. The use of resistant genotypes as a strategy to control this insect may be a valuable tool. In this study, the resistance of species Eucalyptus camaldulensis (VM e IPEF), E. grandis and E. urophylla and hybrids E. grandis x E. camaldulensis - gracam ‘HGC’ (3025 and 1277), E. urophylla x E. camaldulensis - urocam ‘HUC’ (VM-1), E. urophylla x E. grandis – urograndis ‘HUG’ (H-13, I-144, C-219 and GG-100) and E. grandis (EG-01, EG-02 and EG-03) on G. brimblecombei, through attractiveness, oviposition preference and feeding preference and/or antibiosis tests under laboratory and field conditions evaluated. Initially preliminary tests were carried out, using eucalyptus seedlings, in order to verify the occurrence of preimaginal conditioning, and also adjust the best density for adult infestation for attractiveness tests and the best position in the seedlings for the evaluation of oviposition preference. In laboratory conditions, that G. brimblecombei adults did not present preimaginal conditioning, despite the fact that the rearing host was a 3025 hybrid or E. camaldulensis IPEF. The densities of 10 and 15 psyllid adults per eucalyptus seedlings showed a higher number of eggs. The insects showed preference for the leaves close the apex for oviposition, being that the number of eggs decreased from the apex to the basis. In the choice test concerning attractiveness, genotypes E. grandis, E. urophylla, C-219 and H-13 were less attractive to psyllid, showing non-preference. In a choice test, the number of eggs oviposited in leaves of genotypes H-13, E. grandis and E. urophylla were lower when compared... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-13T14:50:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-08-16Bitstream added on 2014-08-13T18:01:08Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000737966_20150816.pdf: 69570 bytes, checksum: d8588e472005d8bc4a141fa6ca63f527 (MD5) Bitstreams deleted on 2015-08-17T11:07:09Z: 000737966_20150816.pdf,. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-08-17T11:07:54Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000737966.pdf: 897380 bytes, checksum: 2e97c5b664b0f0a918162f8ea4cbabb2 (MD5) / A necessidade de garantir o acesso de forma condinzente com os princípios e diretrizes da Política Nacional de Saúde, e considerar o atual contexto da utilização de leitos hospitalares, envolto à oferta insuficiente em relação à demanda, surge a necessidade de se pensar em propostas inovadoras de gestão, que comtemplem tais expectativas propostas pelo Sistema Único de Saúde, e consequentemente atenda às reais necessidades de saúde da população, proporcionando um cuidado oportuno e integral. Diante deste contexto, o que se questiona é se com a instalação de um Núcleo Interno de Regulação, enquanto instrumento de gestão, ocorreu melhoria com o fluxo de leitos? Os objetivos foram: conhecer a percepção dos gestores em relação ao processo de elaboração, implantação e implementação do NIR; conhecer a percepção dos médicos e enfermeiros, que atuam no NIR sobre a implantação e o funcionamento do NIR; compreender as fragilidades e potencialidades das ações desenvolvidas pelo NIR, a partir da percepção de médicos e enfermeiros que vivenciam a regulação de leitos no complexo HC. Os resultados da pesquisa evidenciam que apesar das dificuldades, há um impacto considerável deste serviço na gestão de leitos e vagas, e consequentemente na gestão hospitalar, porém destaca-se a necessidade de integração na rede de saúde, com o compartilhamento de novas propostas inovadoras de gestão, com vistas à superação das fragilidades no sistema de saúde, visando disponibilizar um cuidado contínuo e integral / The need the access so according to the principles and guidelines of the Health Policy and considering the current context of using the hospital beds, related to insufficient offer related to demand, arises the need to think of innovative proposals that management contemplate such expectations proposed by the Unified Health System, and consequently attend the real needs of health of the population, providing a comprehensive and timely integral. In this context, what is questioned is whether the installation of the Health care coordination and monitoring as a tool for management, improvement occurred in equating the beds? The objectives were to understand the perception of managers on the process of elaboration, implementation and deployment of NIR; to know the perception of doctors and nurses working in the NIR on its deployment and operation; understand the weaknesses and potential of the NIR already deployed, from the perception of doctors and nurses, who experience the regulation of t beds in HC institute. The survey results show that despite the difficulties, there is a considerable impact of this service in the management of beds and room, and consequently in hospital management, however we call the attention to the need for integration in the health system, with the sharing of innovative proposals management, aiming at overcoming the weaknesses in the health system, in order to provide a continuous and integral care

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2004-02-17Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:47:44Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 kurokawa_fa_me_sjrp.pdf: 780894 bytes, checksum: 390a7b1384b9ba488f563ec4dffed542 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:28:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-02-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:58:03Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_jpgf_me_botfca.pdf: 2329660 bytes, checksum: 9d73263f8a748ac3e9b408052e6630c7 (MD5) / Os percevejos pentatomídeos estão entre as pragas mais importantes da soja, Glycine max (L.) Merrill. Dentre esses percevejos, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood, 1837) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) é uma das espécies predominantes, apresentando danos mais severos que as demais espécies. Devido aos danos à produtividade e qualidade da soja ocasionados por esse inseto, e considerando-se a carência por métodos de controle eficientes e menos agressivos ao meio-ambiente, este trabalho avaliou a possível resistência de 17 genótipos de soja, pertencentes a três grupos de maturação frente ao ataque de P. guildinii. Avaliou-se a infestação a campo, além da atratividade, preferência alimentar e biologia em laboratório (Temp.= 26  2ºC, U.R.= 65  10% e fotoperíodo=14h). Adicionalmente, parâmetros de produtividade, classificação de danos em grãos, além da quantificação de tricomas nas vagens também foram analisados, visando correlações com a infestação do inseto. Dentre os genótipos de ciclo precoce, PI-171451, PI-229358 e D75-10169 foram os menos atrativos a P. guildinii e PI-171451 e ‘IAC-17’ foram os mais produtivos. PI-229358 e PI-171451 apresentaram os menores pesos de 100 grãos; PI-171451 também apresentou a menor porcentagem de grãos danificados. Para os genótipos semiprecoces, PI-227687, IAC-74-28 e IAC-782318 foram os menos atrativos a campo; em laboratório, ‘IAC-100’ e PI-227687 mostraram esta mesma característica. PI-227687, ‘IAC-100’ e IAC-782318 mantiveram boa produtividade mesmo sob infestação, indicando antixenose e/ou tolerância. PI-227687 e IAC-782318 mostraram valores inferiores para peso de 100 grãos e para grãos danificados. IAC-100, IAC-782318 e PI-22787 são menos consumidos por P. guildinii em laboratório, indicando antixenose para alimentação. Nos materiais tardios... / Stink bugs have been described among the major pests of soybean, Glycine max (L.). Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is one of the predominant species, showing damage more harmful than other stink bugs. Due to it is damage on the yield and on the quality of soybean grains, and also considering the lack of control methods more effective and less harmful to the environment, this work aimed to evaluate 17 soybean genotypes, with three different phenological cycles, to P. guildinii. We evaluated the infestation in the field, and the attractiveness, feeding preference and biological parameters at laboratory (T= 26  2ºC, R.U.= 65  10% and photoperiod=14h). We also evaluated yield, content of damaged grains and number of trichomes on the pods, aiming to correlate to stink bugs infestation. Among the genotypes of early cycle, PI-171451, PI-229358 and D75-10169 were the least attractive to P. guildinii and PI-171451 e ‘IAC-17’ were the most productive. PI-229358 and PI-171451 showed the lowest weight of 100 grains; PI-171451 also had the lowest index of damaged grains. For the semi-early cycle genotypes, PI-227687, IAC-74-28 and IAC-782318 were the least attractive to insects under field conditions; ‘IAC-100’ and PI-227687 showed the same characteristic in the laboratory. PI-227687, ‘IAC-100’ and IAC-782318 maintained the yield at satisfactory levels, even when infested by stink bugs, indicating nonpreference expression. PI-227687 and IAC-782318 displayed lower means for weight of 100 grains and for damaged grains. ‘IAC-100’, IAC-782318 e PI-22787 were the least consumed by P. guildinii at laboratory, indicating feeding nonpreference as resistance mechanism. Among the late cycle genotypes, PI-274453 and PI-274454 showed the lowest infestation, with smaller... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)