There is a chronic lack of donor hearts to meet the need for heart transplant both in the US and worldwide. Further, the use of available hearts is limited by the short period between collection and implantation during which the heart can be safely preserved ex vivo. Using mid-thermic Langendorff machine perfusion, we have been able to preserve the metabolic function of a healthy heart for up to 8 hours, twice the limit for current static cold storage. We have also been able to preserve the metabolic function of a damaged DCD Heart collected 30 minutes after cardiac arrest for a period of 8 hours. We further investigated whether it was possible to improve the preservation of DCD heart using treatment with 10 μM Triiodothyronine to stimulate the tissue metabolism and we did find a reduction in damage markers in the treated DCD hearts as compared to the untreated group.

Resumo: A escrita é uma forma de comunicação importante que se desenvolve com a idade e com a escolarização. Algumas crianças apresentam dificuldade em desenvolver uma escrita proficiente. Do ponto de vista do controle motor, uma escrita não proficiente pode estar vinculada à dificuldade da criança ativar adequadamente as sinergias motoras que dão suporte a esta habilidade. Portanto, estimular as sinergias motoras dos dedos pode proporcionar melhora na cinética e cinemática da escrita e, conseqüentemente, na qualidade da escrita. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi verificar os efeitos de um programa de intervenção, para crianças com dificuldades na escrita, composto por atividades manipulativas e pré-caligráficas que estimularam as sinergias motoras dos dedos por meio da variação da produção de força dos dedos. Trinta e duas crianças foram indicadas por suas professoras de classe para participarem do estudo. Dezesseis crianças, de 7 a 12 anos de idade, com baixa qualidade na escrita, formaram o Grupo Experimental (GE), e outras 16 crianças com boa qualidade na escrita, e com idade, gênero e preferência manual correspondentes ao GE, formaram o Grupo Controle (GC). O desempenho motor de todos os participantes foi avaliado pelo Movement Assessment Battery for Children, M-ABC (HENDERSON; SUDGEN, 1992). Todos os participantes tiveram a qualidade da escrita avaliada pelo Minnesota Handwriting Assessment (REISMAN, 1999) adaptado à língua portuguesa. Além disso, todos os participantes foram testados na produção gráfica e escrita sobre uma mesa digitalizadora (Wacom, Intuos2). Ambos, o Minnesota Handwriting Assessment adaptado e a produção gráfica e escrita sobre uma mesa digitalizadora foram administrados antes (pré-teste) e após (pós-teste) o programa de intervenção. Somente o GE foi submetido ao programa de intervenção. O programa de intervenção... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Handwriting is an essential manner of human communication which develops with the process of aging and schooling. Some children present difficulties in developing a proficient handwriting. From the motor control perspective, a non-proficient handwriting may be associated with the difficulty to appropriately activate specific motor synergies. Thus, the stimulation of motor synergies of the fingers can improve the kinetic, and kinematic parameters of handwriting, and consequently the quality of the product of handwriting. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of an intervention program involving manipulative and pre-calligraphic activities. The intervention activities were based on variation in the force production of the fingers for children with handwriting difficulties. A total of 32 children aged between 7 and 12 years were selected to participate in the study by the classroom teachers. The Experimental Group (EG) was composed by 16 children displaying poor quality of handwriting, and other 16 children matched by age, gender and handedness showing high quality of handwriting composed the Control Group (CG). The motor performance of the participants was assessed by the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, M-ABC (HENDERSON; SUDGEN, 1992). All participants had the quality of the handwriting assessed by the Minnesota Handwriting Assessment (REISMAN, 1999) adapted to the Portuguese language. Furthermore, participants were tested in the handwriting and graphic production on a digitizing tablet (WACOM - Intuos2). Both the Minnesota Handwriting Assessment adapted and the handwriting and graphic production on a digitizing tablet were administered before (i.e., pretest) and after (i.e., post test) the intervention program. Only the EG was submitted to the intervention program. The intervention program consisted of 27 sessions... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientador: Ana Maria Pellegrini / Coorientador: Cynthia Yukiko Hiraga / Banca: Luis Eduardo P.B.T. Dantas / Banca: Livia de Castro Magalhães / Doutor

M. Tech. Business Administration / The research reviews how the implementation of total productive maintenance (TPM), as a maintenance strategy, can be adopted at DCD Wind Towers (Pty) Ltd., a wind tower manufacturing company in South Africa. It also focuses on maintenance management programmes, identifies obstacles, barriers and challenges to the implementation of maintenance management programmes.

Ce travail exploratoire porte sur l’élaboration d'une échelle de repérage du Trouble de l’Acquisition des Coordinations (TAC) à destination des enseignants d'école maternelle pour des élèves de 5 ans en classe de Grande Section (GS).Les enfants TAC font l'objet de repérage et de dépistage tardifs ce qui a des conséquences lourdes dans les domaines émotionnel, social et scolaire pour eux-mêmes et leur famille. Un repérage précoce doit permettre la pose d'un diagnostic dès l'entrée à l'école élémentaire afin que des prises en charge s'organisent rapidement. Le modèle théorique de réponse à l'item, le modèle de Rasch employé, a permis d'élaborer une échelle d'intensité à 22 items, ajustée aux critères diagnostics de la dyspraxie développementale et des activités menées en maternelle : L’échelle d'adaptation à la viescolaire. Dans une première étude, cette échelle administrée à 144 sujets de 3 ans 2 mois à 9 ans 2 mois (répartis en 4 groupes à profil spécifique : en difficulté scolaire, en situation de handicap, avec TAC, avec TED) montre qu'elle est sensible aux effets de développement et qu’elle discrimine sur un unique trait latent le groupe des enfants TAC.L'échelle administrée à un second groupe de 185 enfants ordinaires de 3 ans 5 mois à 6 ans, montre un effet des variables « sexe » et « classe » pour les garçons. Cette seconde étude permet d'avancer un score seuil pour le dépistage et un autre pour l'aide en classe. Les tests statistiques mettent en évidence la fidélité et la validité de l'échelle. Des travaux complémentaires sont envisagés et des pistes d'évolution de l'échelle sont proposées. Deux DVD d'informations portant sur les BEP et sur les TAC, incluant l'échelle de repérage à destination des enseignants (utilisateurs de l'échelle) sont également élaborés. / This exploratory work is a study for teachers for 5-year-old children in a reception class, about an elaboration of a scale for identification of the Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Children DCD are victims of late tracking and detection, which have serious consequences in the emotional, social, school activities, for themselves and their families. An earlyidentification allows a diagnosis so that supports can be organized early in the entrance of the primary school. The theoretical reference of item response, model of RASH, has developed an intensity scale. It contains 22 items, fit the diagnostic criteria for developmental dyspraxia and school activities : the Adaptation Scale of School Life. This scale, has been applied to 144 children from 3 years 2 month to 9 years 2 month (divided into 4 groups with specific profiles : withlearning difficulties, living with disabilities, DCD, Persuasive Developmental Disorders). This shows that it’s sensitive to the effects of development. It discriminates on one single latent trait of children DCD. The scale applied to a second 185 children common group from 3 years 5 month to 6, shows a gender effect, a class effect for boys. This second study provides a further score threshold for screening and support in the classroom. Statistical tests highlight the reliability and the validity of the scale. Further work is planned and possible scale development proposed. A digital information (CD)on the DCD that proposes wide tracking for users of the scale (teachers) is also developed.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-05-21Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:40:23Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 calvo_ap_me_rcla.pdf: 8289286 bytes, checksum: f85345fb284e19be0f6978c8ace4bfd6 (MD5) / A escrita é uma forma de comunicação importante que se desenvolve com a idade e com a escolarização. Algumas crianças apresentam dificuldade em desenvolver uma escrita proficiente. Do ponto de vista do controle motor, uma escrita não proficiente pode estar vinculada à dificuldade da criança ativar adequadamente as sinergias motoras que dão suporte a esta habilidade. Portanto, estimular as sinergias motoras dos dedos pode proporcionar melhora na cinética e cinemática da escrita e, conseqüentemente, na qualidade da escrita. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi verificar os efeitos de um programa de intervenção, para crianças com dificuldades na escrita, composto por atividades manipulativas e pré-caligráficas que estimularam as sinergias motoras dos dedos por meio da variação da produção de força dos dedos. Trinta e duas crianças foram indicadas por suas professoras de classe para participarem do estudo. Dezesseis crianças, de 7 a 12 anos de idade, com baixa qualidade na escrita, formaram o Grupo Experimental (GE), e outras 16 crianças com boa qualidade na escrita, e com idade, gênero e preferência manual correspondentes ao GE, formaram o Grupo Controle (GC). O desempenho motor de todos os participantes foi avaliado pelo Movement Assessment Battery for Children, M-ABC (HENDERSON; SUDGEN, 1992). Todos os participantes tiveram a qualidade da escrita avaliada pelo Minnesota Handwriting Assessment (REISMAN, 1999) adaptado à língua portuguesa. Além disso, todos os participantes foram testados na produção gráfica e escrita sobre uma mesa digitalizadora (Wacom, Intuos2). Ambos, o Minnesota Handwriting Assessment adaptado e a produção gráfica e escrita sobre uma mesa digitalizadora foram administrados antes (pré-teste) e após (pós-teste) o programa de intervenção. Somente o GE foi submetido ao programa de intervenção. O programa de intervenção... / Handwriting is an essential manner of human communication which develops with the process of aging and schooling. Some children present difficulties in developing a proficient handwriting. From the motor control perspective, a non-proficient handwriting may be associated with the difficulty to appropriately activate specific motor synergies. Thus, the stimulation of motor synergies of the fingers can improve the kinetic, and kinematic parameters of handwriting, and consequently the quality of the product of handwriting. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of an intervention program involving manipulative and pre-calligraphic activities. The intervention activities were based on variation in the force production of the fingers for children with handwriting difficulties. A total of 32 children aged between 7 and 12 years were selected to participate in the study by the classroom teachers. The Experimental Group (EG) was composed by 16 children displaying poor quality of handwriting, and other 16 children matched by age, gender and handedness showing high quality of handwriting composed the Control Group (CG). The motor performance of the participants was assessed by the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, M-ABC (HENDERSON; SUDGEN, 1992). All participants had the quality of the handwriting assessed by the Minnesota Handwriting Assessment (REISMAN, 1999) adapted to the Portuguese language. Furthermore, participants were tested in the handwriting and graphic production on a digitizing tablet (WACOM - Intuos2). Both the Minnesota Handwriting Assessment adapted and the handwriting and graphic production on a digitizing tablet were administered before (i.e., pretest) and after (i.e., post test) the intervention program. Only the EG was submitted to the intervention program. The intervention program consisted of 27 sessions... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Uppsatsen är en litteraturstudie som syftar till att definiera begreppet dyspraxi och kartlägga de faktorer som ger upphov till dyspraktiska svårigheter. I arbetet framgår hur svårigheterna manifesteras i individens vardag samt hur man på bästa sätt kan möta och stödja individer med dyspraxi. Det som framkommit av vår studie är att dyspraxibegreppet är ett mångfacetterat begrepp med olika definitioner beroende på i vilket land man befinner sig. Det är i hjärnan och nervsystemet man kan finna de bakomliggande faktorer som ger upphov till svårigheter i främst tre specifika områden nämligen: perception, motorik och sensorisk integrering. Det har visat sig att det neuropedagogiska synsättet är ett ypperligt sätt att se på individens svårigheter men även att lyfta fram individens starka sidor och potentiella utvecklingsmöjligheter. Det neoropedagogiska förhållningssätt är brett och inkluderar flera olika sätt att tänka på, närma sig, se på utveckling och lärandet. Vi har funnit flera olika tips på övningar som kan utveckla individer med dyspraxi i olika avseenden som han/hon kanske inte fullt ut behärskar. För oss har det neuropedagogiska förhållningssättet blivit en självklar del i vårt arbete.

Mental retardation is a heterogeneous group of disorders with countless causes. It is characterised by cognitive and functional limitations in everyday skills, for example social skills, communication skills and motor skills and can be classified in behavioural, etiological and educational systems. Down's syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are two of the many syndromes defined under mental retardation. The goal of this dissertation was to determine the effect of a water activity intervention programme on the motor proficiency levels of children with Down's syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. These aims were addressed by structuring the dissertation in five chapters: Chapter one constituting the introduction and statement of the problem, Chapter 2 presenting a review of relevant literature, Chapters 3 and 4 consisting of two research articles, addressing the specific aims of the study, and Chapter 5 including the summary, conclusions and recommendations. All the children who participated in the study were intuitionalized in a school for the mentally and physically handicapped. The MABC-test was used as the main evaluation instrument, and components of the Charlop-Atwell test were used to evaluate the coordination skills of the children with Down's syndrome. The first aim of this study was to determine the effect of a specially designed water activity intervention programme on the motor proficiency levels of children with Down's syndrome. Six children classified as having Down's syndrome, formed part of the research group. Their chronological age ranged between 9 and 14 years while their mental age classification was that of a 4 to 5 year old. The data was analysed by means Summary of descriptive statistics, and effect sizes were determined. The second aim of the study was to determine the effect of a water activity intervention programme on the motor proficiency levels of children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Six children participated in the programme. Their chronological age ranged between 7 and 17 years while their mental age classification was that of a 4 to 11 year old. Reporting the results were in the form of case studies, and effect sizes of differences were determined. With regard to the first aim of the study the results indicated that the motor proficiency levels of the experimental group with Down's syndrome improved, especially regarding the MABC-total, balance- and total body coordination skills. With reference to the second aim of the study, the results indicated that improvement in the motor proficiency levels of the children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome had a lasting effect. The MABC total, ball skills and manual dexterity were the components that showed the best improvement. It can be concluded that a water activity intervention programme is a suitable method for rectifying motor deficiencies among children with Down's syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Recommendations for the improvement of the water activity programme were presented, as well as suggestions for further studies. / Thesis (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

Mental retardation is a heterogeneous group of disorders with countless causes. It is characterised by cognitive and functional limitations in everyday skills, for example social skills, communication skills and motor skills and can be classified in behavioural, etiological and educational systems. Down's syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are two of the many syndromes defined under mental retardation. The goal of this dissertation was to determine the effect of a water activity intervention programme on the motor proficiency levels of children with Down's syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. These aims were addressed by structuring the dissertation in five chapters: Chapter one constituting the introduction and statement of the problem, Chapter 2 presenting a review of relevant literature, Chapters 3 and 4 consisting of two research articles, addressing the specific aims of the study, and Chapter 5 including the summary, conclusions and recommendations. All the children who participated in the study were intuitionalized in a school for the mentally and physically handicapped. The MABC-test was used as the main evaluation instrument, and components of the Charlop-Atwell test were used to evaluate the coordination skills of the children with Down's syndrome. The first aim of this study was to determine the effect of a specially designed water activity intervention programme on the motor proficiency levels of children with Down's syndrome. Six children classified as having Down's syndrome, formed part of the research group. Their chronological age ranged between 9 and 14 years while their mental age classification was that of a 4 to 5 year old. The data was analysed by means Summary of descriptive statistics, and effect sizes were determined. The second aim of the study was to determine the effect of a water activity intervention programme on the motor proficiency levels of children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Six children participated in the programme. Their chronological age ranged between 7 and 17 years while their mental age classification was that of a 4 to 11 year old. Reporting the results were in the form of case studies, and effect sizes of differences were determined. With regard to the first aim of the study the results indicated that the motor proficiency levels of the experimental group with Down's syndrome improved, especially regarding the MABC-total, balance- and total body coordination skills. With reference to the second aim of the study, the results indicated that improvement in the motor proficiency levels of the children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome had a lasting effect. The MABC total, ball skills and manual dexterity were the components that showed the best improvement. It can be concluded that a water activity intervention programme is a suitable method for rectifying motor deficiencies among children with Down's syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Recommendations for the improvement of the water activity programme were presented, as well as suggestions for further studies. / Thesis (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

In the theoretical part, the diploma thesis summarizes the findings of developmental dyspraxia or rather developmental coordination disorder and deals with the issue of physical activities in this disorder. One section of the theoretical part are the characteristics of the activities, that probands from the practical part of this thesis regularly do, and their possible use in intervention. The practical part deals with an evaluation of motor skills in young cross-country skiers and in children from movement versatility section of Sokol union. We used the Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2 for evaluation. The next aim is to determine whether the level of motor skills correlates with the level of attention, that we tested using Test od attention d2. The last aim is to determine whether the level of motor skills is different for boys and girls engaged in the same sport. No difference in level of motor skills between cross-country skiers and children from Sokol union was found. However, statistically significant difference between performance in the single components of the test MABC-2 was revealed, this difference was found in the component of balance. The correlation between the level of motor skills and attention was not proved. Neither the difference between the level of motor skills of...

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The swine manure is a major source of nitrogen (N) to crops, although its inappropriate use can lead to N losses which in return pollute environment and reduces its value as organic fertilizer. The sustainability of pig farming depends on strategies that could improve crops N utilization from pig slurry and mitigate harmful environmental impact caused by its use. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of full and split pig slurry (PS) application in no-till corn and wheat, with and without nitrification inhibitor (NI), on: N accumulation, productivity, and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. The study was conducted from November 2010 to November 2011 on a typic Hapludalf. The treatments used in corn and wheat were: 1) control; 2) PS full (pre-planting); 3) PS split (1/3 at pre-planting and 2/3 sidedressing); 4) PS full + NI; 5) PS split + IN; 6) mineral NPK. Agrotain Plus was used as NI as it contains 81 % of dicyandiamide (DCD). It was used at a rate of 7 kg ha-1. The use of PS increased N accumulation and yield of maize/wheat crops and were at par with NPK mineral fertilizer. However, N2O emission was increased with PS and NPK application. Split application of PS and NI did not affected N accumulation and yield of maize and wheat crops however splitting of PS reduced N2O emissions from wheat crop. The use of NI reduced N2O soil emissions in both crops and in the two methods of PS application. On an average, N2O emission was reduced by 15.5% and 45.0 % in maize and wheat, respectively. From the results it was apparent that, the strategy of combining NI with PS could reduce environmental implications associated with the sole use of PS. / Os dejetos de suínos constituem uma importante fonte de nitrogênio (N) às culturas, embora o seu uso inadequado possa acarretar em perdas de N que poluem o ambiente e reduzem o poder fertilizante dos dejetos. A sustentabilidade da suinocultura depende de estratégias que melhorem o aproveitamento do N dos dejetos líquidos de suínos pelas culturas e que possam mitigar o impacto ambiental negativo provocado pelo seu uso agrícola. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da forma de aplicação dos dejetos líquidos de suínos (Dls) e do uso de inibidor de nitrificação (IN) sobre o acúmulo de N, a produtividade e as emissões de óxido nitroso (N2O) no cultivo do milho e do trigo em plantio direto. A pesquisa foi conduzida de novembro de 2010 a novembro de 2011 em um Argissolo Vermelho Alumínico úmbrico. Os tratamentos aplicados no milho e no trigo foram: 1) testemunha; 2) Dls em dose única (pré-semeadura); 3) Dls em dose parcelada (1/3 pré-semeadura e 2/3 cobertura); 4) Dls em dose única + IN; 5) Dls em dose parcelada + IN e 6) N-uréia + PK. O produto Agrotain Plus , que contém em sua formulação 81 % do inibidor de nitrificação dicianodiamida (DCD), foi misturado aos dejetos na dose de 7 kg ha-1. A aplicação dos dejetos aumentou o acúmulo de N e a produtividade do milho e do trigo, apresentando resultados similares à uréia. Todavia, as emissões de N2O aumentaram com a aplicação dos dejetos de suínos e da uréia. O parcelamento da dose de Dls e o uso do inibidor de nitrificação não afetaram o acúmulo de N e a produtividade do milho e do trigo, mas o parcelamento da dose de dejetos mostrou-se eficiente na redução das emissões de N2O no trigo. O inibidor de nitrificação reduziu os fluxos de N2O no milho e no trigo, nas duas modalidades de aplicação dos dejetos. Em média, o uso do inibidor de nitrificação reduziu as emissões de N2O em 15,5 % no milho e 45,0 % no trigo. Os resultados deste trabalho mostram que a estratégia de adicionar a dicianodiamida (DCD) no momento da aplicação dos dejetos de suínos no campo pode reduzir o impacto ambiental negativo provocado pelo uso agrícola dos dejetos.