Master of Science / Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering / Punit Prakash / Microwave ablation (MWA) is a minimally invasive thermal therapy predominantly used in the treatment of localized cancer. Previous studies have demonstrated clinical use of MWA for treating lung tumors, however, these procedures have relied upon the use of rigid percutaneous MWA applicators which can limit the range of accessible tumors and may have inherent disadvantages for use in lung tissue. The objective of this work was to develop and characterize a bronchoscopic MWA applicator suitable for use in a system that enables bronchoscopic transparencymal nodule access (BTPNA). A 3D coupled FEM electromagnetic-heat transfer model was implemented to optimize the antenna design and evaluate the expected ablation size and shape. A prototype device was fabricated and experimentally evaluated in ex vivo tissue to verify simulation results and demonstrate proof-of-concept. Simulated and experimental results indicate the proposed device could create ablation zones 19.3 – 31.0 mm in diameter with 30 – 45 W of power applied for 5 – 10 minutes. Future bronchoscopic MWA applicators based on the design proposed in this study could allow physicians an even less invasive treatment option for lung cancer with increased accuracy and efficacy and reduced risk of procedural complications immediately following a positive bronchoscopic lung biopsy.

Various silicone elastomers have been evaluated for use in the prosthetic reconstruction of facial defects. Their strength, texture, flexibility, hardness, ease of preparation, pigment receptivity and retention, and their resistance to cleaning were compared and the data consulted when an elastomer was chosen to restore defects, improve aesthetics and reestablish the confidence of a selection of patients. Detailed case reports are provided, together with information on the adhesives or mechanical methods available for retaining the facial prosetheses. Cyanoacrylate adhesives for use on skin surfaces and as tissue adhesives have been studied in detail. A novel n-butyl 413 cyanoacrylate has been developed with a viscosity, haemostatic property and stability to make it particularly suitable for use in skin grafting and tissue repair. It has already been used with good results on patients with severe burns. An improved formulation, containing a fluorescent dye, can be precisely applied through a specially constructed foot-controlled dispenser illuminated by a fibre-optic supplying UV-light. Cyanoacrylates are already being used as tissue adhesives in place of the conventional but potentially disfiguring suture. The availability of improved, imperceptible adhesives and a precision applicator, which can be used in a modern operating theatre, will extend their effectiveness and satisfy some of the needs of Plastic, and Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgeons. Portable applicators have potential use in battlefield and in veterinary surgery and overcome the imprecision characteristic of earlier methods.

Various silicone elastomers have been evaluated for use in the prosthetic reconstruction of facial defects. Their strength, texture, flexibility, hardness, ease of preparation, pigment receptivity and retention, and their resistance to cleaning were compared and the data consulted when an elastomer was chosen to restore defects, improve aesthetics and reestablish the confidence of a selection of patients. Detailed case reports are provided, together with information on the adhesives or mechanical methods available for retaining the facial prosetheses. Cyanoacrylate adhesives for use on skin surfaces and as tissue adhesives have been studied in detail. A novel n-butyl 413 cyanoacrylate has been developed with a viscosity, haemostatic property and stability to make it particularly suitable for use in skin grafting and tissue repair. It has already been used with good results on patients with severe burns. An improved formulation, containing a fluorescent dye, can be precisely applied through a specially constructed foot-controlled dispenser illuminated by a fibre-optic supplying UV-light. Cyanoacrylates are already being used as tissue adhesives in place of the conventional but potentially disfiguring suture. The availability of improved, imperceptible adhesives and a precision applicator, which can be used in a modern operating theatre, will extend their effectiveness and satisfy some of the needs of Plastic, and Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgeons. Portable applicators have potential use in battlefield and in veterinary surgery and overcome the imprecision characteristic of earlier methods. / Loctite UK

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T13:17:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cassia Leal da Hora.pdf: 1433192 bytes, checksum: eaa1159b3d744fdef0688a3354bd0fa3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-11-18 / Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) interventions have been recommended for individuals with ASD since the 1980s as the main treatment for deficits arising from the disorder. There was a growing demand for professionals who can work with ABA interventions. At the same time, there have been several proposals for alternative treatments without sufficient evidences to their recommendation. Was established a controversial atmosphere about the effectiveness of ABA interventions and questions about the quality of the professionals who delivered such services. This thesis aims, in Study 1, critically evaluate and identify the criteria used by systematic reviews and meta-analysis research for generating conclusions about the effectiveness of ABA intervention for individuals with ASD. In Study 2, the goal was identifying behaviour analytic recommendations about minimum skills and competencies to delivery of high quality services by Supervisor/Planner and Applicator of ABA interventions. Results showed, from different criteria used by the meta-analysis research, most of the conclusions were moderate/medium or strong/large effect sizes of ABA interventions. The results of study1 showed that Baer, Wolf and Risley (1968) s criteria aren t considered by the meta-analysis for ABA interventions evidences evaluating, they are still proving effective and being considered as an evidence-based practice for the individuals with TEA treatment. Study 2 showed that there is little similarity between documents of recommendations about both professional s competencies who work at ABA intervention for ASD. This results indicating that Supervisor/Planner and Applicator s repertoire should be different. Based documents analysis and synthesis, this study presented a new proposal on possible skills, competencies, functions and expertise that the Supervisor/Planner and the Applicator of such intervention should have. In the face of several challenges to increase knowledge and effectiveness about ABA interventions and their professional s efficiency, future research should be realized to increase access and recognition of this kind of information to scientific community from other biomedical sciences and consumers of ABA s delivery services for individuals with ASD / Intervenções com base em Análise do Comportamento Aplicada (ABA) têm sido indicadas para indivíduos com TEA desde a década de 1980 como o principal tratamento para os déficits decorrentes do transtorno. Houve o crescimento da demanda por profissionais que trabalhassem com intervenções ABA. Em paralelo, surgiram muitas propostas de tratamentos alternativos sem evidências suficientemente comprovadas para sua recomendação. Estabeleceu-se um clima de controvérsia sobre a eficácia das intervenções baseadas em ABA e questionamentos sobre a qualidade dos profissionais que prestavam esse tipo de serviço. O presente trabalho tem como objetivos, no Estudo 1, identificar e avaliar criticamente os critérios utilizados por revisões sistemáticas com metanálise para gerar conclusões a cerca da eficácia de intervenções ABA para indivíduos com TEA. No Estudo 2, o objetivo foi identificar as recomendações analítico-comportamentais sobre as habilidades e competências mínimas para a prestação de serviços de qualidade pelo Supervisor/Planejador e pelo Aplicador de intervenções ABA. Os resultados mostraram que, a partir de diferentes critérios adotados pelas metanálises, a maioria das conclusões foi de que a magnitude dos efeito das intervenções baseadas em ABA eram moderada/média ou forte/grande. Os resultados do Estudo1 indicam que, apesar dos critérios de Baer, Wolf e Risley (1968) não serem considerados pelas metanálises para a avaliação das evidências, intervenções ABA continuam se mostrando eficazes e sendo consideradas como uma prática baseada em evidências para o tratamento de indivíduos com TEA. O Estudo 2 mostrou que existe pouca similaridade entre os documentos de recomendações sobre as competências dos dois tipos de profissionais que trabalham em intervenções ABA para TEA indicando que o repertório de ambos deve ser diferente. A partir da análise e síntese dos documentos, o presente estudo apresentou uma nova proposta sobre possíveis habilidades, competências, funções e conhecimentos que o Supervisor/Planejador e o Aplicador desse tipo de intervenção devem possuir. Diante de diversos desafios para ampliar os conhecimentos sobre a eficácia da intervenção e eficiência dos seus profissionais, futuros estudos devem ser realizados para ampliar o acesso e o reconhecimento desse tipo de informação para a comunidade científica de outras ciências biomédicas e para os consumidores da prestação de serviço em ABA para indivíduos com TEA

Ce travail de thèse a pour but de développer et de caractériser de nouveaux systèmes d'assurance qualité en curiethérapie, à base de sondes dosimétriques en Nitrure de Gallium (GaN). L'étude comprend d'une part la caractérisation et la simulation du transducteur GaN et de la sonde dosimétrique, et d'autre part la mise en œuvre et les tests de 2 systèmes d'assurance qualité.Les propriétés de radioluminescence du transducteur GaN ont été étudiées afin d'optimiser le signal dosimétrique des sondes. La sonde dosimétrique encapsulant un petit volume de cristal GaN a ensuite été caractérisée en vue de son intégration dans des systèmes d'assurance qualité. Des simulations Monte Carlo sur la sonde GaN ont également été effectuées et comparées aux mesures.Pour l'assurance qualité en curiethérapie, nous avons proposé une méthode utilisant plusieurs sondes GaN, pour permettre de déterminer en temps réel les principaux paramètres physiques d'un projecteur de source : la position, le temps de pause et l'activité de la source. Nous avons conçu et réalisé deux prototypes de systèmes d'assurance qualité mettant en œuvre cette méthode : un fantôme instrumenté pour le contrôle prétraitement et un applicateur gynécologique instrumenté pour le contrôle pendant le traitement. Ces deux prototypes ont été testés en conditions cliniques, et leurs principales caractéristiques sont satisfaisantes. Ils répondent aux besoins applicatifs et offrent une perspective intéressante pour de nouveaux outils de contrôle qualité en curiethérapie / This work aims to develop and characterize novel quality assurance systems based on Gallium Nitride (GaN) dosimeter probe for brachytherapy. It includes characterization and simulation studies of the GaN transducer and of the dosimeter probe as well as the implementation and testing of two quality assurance system prototypes.The radioluminescence properties of the GaN transducer have been studied for optimization of the dosimeter response. Characterization studies of dosimeter probes incorporating miniaturized GaN transducers have been carried out in the frame of the quality assurance systems development. Monte Carlo simulations of the GaN probe under irradiation has also been performed and compared with measurements.A method which processes simultaneously the output signals from several GaN probes has been proposed for real time determination of the projector’s physical parameters (dwell position, dwell time and activity of the source). Two quality assurance system prototypes implementing this method have been designed and fabricated: an instrumented phantom for pre-treatment quality assurance and an instrumented gynecological applicator for in vivo quality control. These two prototypes have been tested and evaluated in clinical conditions and their main characteristics are satisfactory. Both systems are in line with the application requirements and offers new perspectives for quality assurance in brachytherapy

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The primary sector development by the expansion of cultivation areas and the increase in the productive indices promoted the increase of pesticide uses. That reflect in problems related to application inefficiency, making a important point to be studied mainly related to spray precision. Taking account the necessity in reduced the environmental contamination and increase the pesticides application quality, this work aimed conduct a project for agricultural sprayers inspection based on the norm ISO 16122 in the first time in Brazil. For this, a team of Laboratório de Agrotecnologia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria moved in nine towns in central and west frontier of Rio Grande do Sul state. Sprayers coupled to the traction bars of tractors and to hydraulic system of three points, totaling 56 sprayers were evaluated using the ISO 16122 standard any its parts. Based on the obtained results, was possible observed that the state of use and conservation of agricultural sprayers inspected were considered serious because 67.85% were discontent with the used methodology, 26.79% showed partial compliance and only 5.35% were classified in accordance with the used metodology. The most serious problems were related to the operator security and environmental contamination that showed 41.07% of sprayers without the cardan shaft and 33.93% of sprayers did not have belts and pulleys. In addition, 46.43% of the sprayers evaluated showed static leaks, 87.50% showed dynamic leaks. Even in 71.43% did not have clean water tank to washing rigid packaging. Considering the most common problems related to application activity, was verified that in 64.29% the pressure gauge accuracy was considered grave and in 73.21% the distribution of the spray bar was considered grave too. This is related mainly to the high nozzle spacing error and due the spray nozzle wear that affect the equipment application volume in 76.79%. Besides the mentioned items, was also observed that 69.64% of inspection sprayers the PTO rotation was lower than recommended. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is a need for agricultural sprayer inspections to become mandatory in Brazil. / O desenvolvimento do setor primário, por meio da expansão das áreas de cultivo e o aumento dos índices produtivos, aumentaram a demanda do uso de agrotóxicos. Isso reflete em problemas relacionados à ineficiência das aplicações, tornando-se um ponto importante a ser estudado, principalmente, ao que se refere à precisão das pulverizações. Tendo em vista a necessidade de reduzir a contaminação ambiental e elevar a eficiência e qualidade das aplicações de agrotóxicos, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo a avaliação de pulverizadores agrícolas por meio da inspeção técnica, baseada na norma ISO 16122 de forma inédita no Brasil. Para isto, uma equipe do Laboratório de Agrotecnologia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria deslocou-se por nove municípios do estado do Rio Grande do Sul contemplando as regiões, Central e Fronteira Oeste. Foram inspecionados pulverizadores acoplados ao sistema hidráulico de três pontos e à barra de tração de tratores agrícolas, totalizando 56 pulverizadores, os quais foram avaliados utilizando a metodologia descrita na norma ISO 16122 e suas partes. Com base nos resultados obtidos, foi possível observar que o estado de uso e conservação dos pulverizadores agrícolas inspecionados é considerado grave, pois 67,85% dos casos apresentaram-se desconformes, 26,79% apresentaram conformidade parcial e somente 5,35% foram classificados como conformes à metodologia utilizada. Os problemas mais graves encontrados estão relacionados, principalmente, à segurança do operador e à contaminação ambiental, uma vez que 41,07% dos pulverizadores não apresentaram a proteção da árvore cardânica e 33,93% não possuíam a proteção de correias e polias. Além disso, em 46,43% das amostras houve a presença de vazamentos estáticos e 87,50% apresentaram vazamentos dinâmicos. Ainda, em 71,43% dos casos não havia o reservatório de água limpa para lavagem das embalagens rígidas. Considerando os problemas mais frequentes relacionados à atividade de aplicação, pode-se constatar que em 64,29% das avaliações a precisão do manômetro foi considerada grave e, em 73,21% das ocorrências, a distribuição transversal da barra de pulverização também foi considerada grave. Isso está relacionado, principalmente, ao elevado erro de espaçamento entre bicos e ao desgaste das pontas de pulverização, o que afetou o volume de aplicação em 76,79% dos equipamentos. Além dos itens já relacionados, também foi observado que em 69,64% dos pulverizadores inspecionados, a TDP era utilizada com rotação aquém da recomendada. Sendo assim, pode-se concluir que há necessidade de que as inspeções de pulverizadores agrícolas tornem-se obrigatórias no Brasil.

Um der Mikrowellenerwärmung als Single- oder Hybridanwendung im industriellen Ofenbau ein weiteres Anwendungsspektrum zu eröffnen, wird dem Anlagenkonstrukteur im Rahmen dieser Arbeit eine Aufstellung von Entwicklungsprioritäten und Konstruktionshinweisen übergeben. Für eine energieeffiziente Ausnutzung des technologischen Potenzials wird hierbei nicht - wie in der Vergangenheit - die Feldstärkenverteilung, sondern das Reflexionsverhalten in den Vordergrund gestellt. Durch die Entwicklung und den Aufbau eines Messplatzes zur Bestimmung temperaturspezifischer Dielektrizitätsparameter konnte die Realitätsnähe der Simulation für die anwendungsorientierte Applikatorentwicklung gesteigert werden. Die Anwendbarkeit der Auslegungskriterien wird im Rahmen der Projektierung und des Aufbaus einer Beispielanlage zur Entbinderung von keramischen Grünkörpern und bei der Entwicklung zahlreicher mikrowellenspezifischer Anlagenbauteile verifiziert.

Um der Mikrowellenerwärmung als Single- oder Hybridanwendung im industriellen Ofenbau ein weiteres Anwendungsspektrum zu eröffnen, wird dem Anlagenkonstrukteur im Rahmen dieser Arbeit eine Aufstellung von Entwicklungsprioritäten und Konstruktionshinweisen übergeben. Für eine energieeffiziente Ausnutzung des technologischen Potenzials wird hierbei nicht - wie in der Vergangenheit - die Feldstärkenverteilung, sondern das Reflexionsverhalten in den Vordergrund gestellt. Durch die Entwicklung und den Aufbau eines Messplatzes zur Bestimmung temperaturspezifischer Dielektrizitätsparameter konnte die Realitätsnähe der Simulation für die anwendungsorientierte Applikatorentwicklung gesteigert werden. Die Anwendbarkeit der Auslegungskriterien wird im Rahmen der Projektierung und des Aufbaus einer Beispielanlage zur Entbinderung von keramischen Grünkörpern und bei der Entwicklung zahlreicher mikrowellenspezifischer Anlagenbauteile verifiziert.

Исследовано поглощение мощности электромагнитного поля тканями головы человека в микроволновом диапазоне. Расчет электрического поля в тканях головы, индуцированного элементарной антенной, основано на применении функций Грина слоистых сред. Два вида излучателей, таких как полуволновый диполь и петлевая антенна сравниваются с точки зрения глубины проникновения электромагнитной энергии. Рассчитана мощность, поглощаемая в различных слоях модели головы человека. В заключении сделан вывод о преимуществе применения криволинейных токов, таких, как формируемых плоской спиралью. Рассмотрено влияние проводящего экрана на эффективность излучения антенны. Полученные результаты предполагается использовать при разработке эффективных сенсоров для микроволновой радиометрии мозга. / The power absorbed by human head tissues in the microwave range is investigated. Calculation of the electric field induced in the head tissues by antenna probe is based on the use of the Green’s functions of the stratified media. Two types of emitters such as a half-wave dipole and a loop antenna are compared in terms of the depth of electromagnetic energy penetration. The power absorbed by different layers of the human head model is calculated. The conclusion is made on the best efficiency of antenna with an annular current, such as a flat helix. The effect of the conducting screen on the efficiency of the antenna is studied. The data were obtained for designing effective field sensors for the microwave radiometry of the brain.