Projetar aerodinamicamente, asas supersônicas será sempre uma tarefa complexa, cara e demorada. Sabendo disso, metodologias de cálculo são concebidas e integradas de modo a orientar e agilizar a obtenção da configuração desejada. O presente trabalho é um método dos painéis de primeira ordem que emprega dipólos supersônicos e condição de contorno cinemática no plano da corda, com objetivo de determinar o diferencial de pressões e arqueamento na asa. Ou seja, é voltado para a resolução dos probelmas de análise e projeto. Os resultados obtidos, inclusive coeficientes aerodinâmicos, apresentam concordância muito boa com os valores analíticos e experimentais (asa seta). Além disso, deve-se ressaltar que foi implementado um código computacional (distcarg) de modo a facilitar e tornar mais rápida a comparação dos resultados de asas com formas em planta e carregamentos especificados, diferentes. Desta feita, conseguiu-se um conjunto integrado de códigos computacionais que corresponde às expectativas.

The effects of active flow control by oscillatory blowing at the leading edge of a nonslender delta wing with a Λ=50° sweep angle have been investigated. Pressure measurements and Particle Image Velocimetry measurements were conducted on a half wing to investigate the formation of leading edge vortices for oscillatory blowing, compared to the stalled flow for the no blowing case. Stall has been delayed by up to 8, and significant increases in the upper surface suction force have been observed. Velocity measurements show that shear layer reattachment is promoted with forcing, and a vortex flow pattern develops. The time averaged location of the centre of the vortical region moves outboard with increased excitation. The near-surface flow pattern obtained from the PIV measurements shows reattachment in the forward part of the wing. There is no measurable jet-like axial flow in the vortex core, which seems to break down at or very near the apex. This highlights that unlike slender delta wings, vortex breakdown is not a limiting factor in the generation of lift for nonslender delta wings. Phase averaged measurements reveal the perturbation due to the pulsed blowing, its interaction with the shear layer and vortex, apparent displacement of the vortex core, and relaxation of the reattachment region. The flow in a phase averaged sense is highly three dimensional. Experiments indicate that unsteady blowing at Strouhal numbers in the region of St=0.5 to St=0.75, and in the region of St=1.25 to St=1.5 can be a highly effective. Reattached flow can develop from stalled flow after pulsing has been initiated with a time constant of tU/c=5 for unsteady blowing at St=0.75, and tU/c=7 for St=1.5. Experiments with excitation from finite span slots located in the forward half of the wing show that partial blowing can be more effective at low momentum coefficients. Force measurements of a full delta wing confirmed that the effectiveness of this method of flow control was not only confined to half delta wings.

This thesis explores the complex voices of militants, associated with the capture of oil resources in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The persistent violent conflict involving militant groups in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria is a major concern for many within the country and the international community. Understanding the conflict in the Niger Delta has triggered a wide range of discussions and debates among researchers, politicians and policy makers. However, these debates have overlooked the views of the militants, who are actively engaged in the conflict over resource governance in the region. Moreover the ideology of self-determination and resource control, which these militants use to legitimise their actions, seem to generate different meanings and labelling that tend to cloud an understandings of the conflict in the region. In this thesis, I adopt the theoretical assumptions of the New Social Movement literature and the epistemological views of the Interpretivist Social Constructionist approach to explore (a) what features shaped the emergence of militancy and its diverse forms (b) how do militias make sense of their role as militants? (c) how does the role of militias impact on the politics of oil governance in the Niger Delta? I argue that militia actions that appear to challenge the legitimacy and authority of the Nigerian state to control oil resources, are embedded in complex webs involving formal and informal interactions of political elites and militia leaders. From analysis of this research, key dominant concepts such as Identity, opportunism and competition, emerged to give insight as to why and how militancy has become significant in the region.

" Electroencephalogram (EEG), Electrocardiogram (ECG), and Electromyogram (EMG) bio-potential signals are commonly recorded in clinical practice. Typically, patients are connected to a bulky and mains-powered instrument, which reduces their mobility and creates discomfort. This limits the acquisition time, prevents the continuous monitoring of patients, and can affect the diagnosis of illness. Therefore, there is a great demand for low-power, small-size, and ambulatory bio-potential signal acquisition systems. Recent work on instrumentation amplifier design for bio-potential signals can be broadly classified as using one or both of two popular techniques: In the first, an AC-coupled signal path with a MOS-Bipolar pseudo resistor is used to obtain a low-frequency cutoff that passes the signal of interest while rejecting large dc offsets. In the second, a chopper stabilization technique is designed to reduce 1/f noise at low frequencies. However, both of these existing techniques lack control of low-frequency cutoff. This thesis presents the design of a mixed- signal integrated circuit (IC) prototype to provide complete, programmable analog signal conditioning and analog-to-digital conversion of an electrophysiologic signal. A front-end amplifier is designed with low input referred noise of 1 uVrms, and common mode rejection ratio 102 dB. A novel second order sigma-delta analog- to-digital converter (ADC) with a feedback integrator from the sigma-delta output is presented to program the low-frequency cutoff, and to enable wide input common mode range of ¡Ãƒâ€œ0.3 V. The overall system is implemented in Jazz Semiconductor 0.18 um CMOS technology with power consumption 5.8 mW from ¡Ãƒâ€œ0.9V power supplies. "

INTRODUCTION: Congenital clinodactyly is a condition characterized by the deviation of a digit or digits in the coronal plane. Angulation is often due to the presence of a delta phalanx. There is a scarcity of long-term data regarding the results of surgical treatment for clinodactyly, particularly with respect to postoperative phalangeal growth and risk factors for recurrent deformity. METHODS: Our retrospective study involved the analysis of data from medical records of patients who had corrective surgery for congenital clinodactyly. We also measured radiographs to quantify the angle of deviation and the longitudinal lengths of the surgically corrected phalanx and corresponding metacarpal. Clinodactyly was defined as radiographic angulation of 10° or greater in the coronal plane. Recurrence was defined as a final angulation of 10° or greater as well as an increase of at least 10° compared with the immediate postoperative measurement. The primary ratio was defined as the ratio of the length of the primary ossification center of the surgically corrected phalanx to the length of the primary ossification center of the corresponding metacarpal. The secondary ratio was the ratio of the length of the primary and secondary ossification centers together of the corrected phalanx to those of the metacarpal. Comparisons were made between preoperative, postoperative, and most-recent follow-up values. Postoperative data was restricted to radiographs taken within three months after surgery. Final follow-up data was initially permitted if radiographs were taken at least one year after surgery. Additional analysis was performed of patients with a minimum of two years clinical and radiographic follow-up. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in angulation with surgery and a significant increase in angulation postoperatively (p<0.001; p<0.01). Overall, the mean preoperative and final digital angulation was 40.4° and 17.4°, respectively, when a two-year minimum between the time of surgery and final follow-up measurements was implemented. This resulted in a significant average correction of 23.3° (p<0.001). The postoperative change in angulation was found to be significantly different depending on the surgical technique used. Digits corrected with reverse wedge osteotomies showed little to no change in angulation during the postoperative period. However, digits corrected with closing wedge osteotomies showed a significant increase in angulation between the immediate postoperative and final follow-up measurements (p=0.007). The rate of recurrence was 43.2% (95% CI: 28.7-58.9% with a one year minimum for follow-up; 95% CI: 27.5-60.4% with a two year minimum for follow-up). Postoperative changes in angulation or recurrence were not significantly associated with gender, patient age at the time of surgery, the type of digit corrected, coexisting congenital syndromes, or the presence of additional hand abnormalities. The primary ratio decreased significantly with surgery, from 0.35 preoperatively to 0.27 postoperatively (p=0.03). The primary ratio then increased significantly over time to 0.40 when there was a two-year minimum between the time of surgery and final follow-up. There was an insignificant change in primary ratio from immediately after surgery to final follow-up when data as early as one year postoperatively was included. The secondary ratio did not change significantly with surgery or during the postoperative period regardless of whether one or two-year time restrictions were in place. The mean secondary ratio was 0.29 before surgery, 0.25 immediately after surgery, and 0.33 at the time of final follow-up at least two years after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery to correct clinodactyly effectively decreases angulation of the digit, despite the risk of recurrent deformity over time. Our study did not identify any factors associated with recurrence. However, there was a significant difference in the change in angulation between the immediate postoperative and final follow-up measurements depending on the surgical technique used. Surgery to correct clinodactyly does not hinder postoperative growth of the corrected phalanx.

As características estruturais e funcionais das comunidades aquáticas respondem às oscilações ambientais em diferentes escalas espaciais e temporais e também aos impactos antropogênicos. Os peixes são considerados excelentes indicadores da condição ou da saúde dos ecossistemas e são utilizados para avaliar os efeitos de diferentes tipos de estressores ambientais ou pressões sobre as assembléias de peixes, ou para avaliar um impacto específico utilizando uma única espécie. Este trabalho teve por objetivos testar a eficiência de diferentes metodologias na avaliação de degradação ambiental na região do Delta do rio Jacuí, RS. Para tanto, diferentes ferramentas foram utilizadas nesta avaliação, como a análise de parâmetros físico-químicos da água, variações quali-quantitativas na estrutura das assembléias de peixes, índices ecológicos (índices de diversidade, índice de qualidade integrado e índice de integridade biótica), análise da frequência de anomalias morfológicas e de parasitos, variações na alimentação e reprodução de duas espécies de peixes e análise histológica de gônadas. Este estudo foi desenvolvido em oito pontos de amostragem ao longo do Delta do Jacuí. O Delta localiza-se na região metropolitana de Porto Alegre, no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, e sofre com diferentes tipos de impactos, sendo os principais o despejo de esgotos domésticos e industriais. Através da classificação da qualidade da água do Delta do rio Jacuí, de acordo com a resolução 357 do CONAMA e demais análises, os pontos localizados nos rios formadores, exceto aquele situado no rio dos Sinos, apresentaram uma melhor qualidade em suas águas. Estes resultados são corroborados com as demais análises realizadas neste trabalho. Entre as variáveis ambientais consideradas, a temperatura da água, temperatura do ar, DBO, condutividade e a turbidez desempenharam um papel importante na estruturação das assembléias de peixes do Delta do rio Jacuí. Os métodos utilizados neste estudo mostraram-se eficientes, na maioria dos casos, para determinar locais de maior ou menor qualidade ambiental. Foram observadas variações na riqueza, nos índices ecológicos, em aspectos reprodutivos e alimentares, até variações a nível celular, através da análise histológica das gônadas. Não houve casualidade na ocorrência de anomalias morfológicas nas assembléias de peixes do Delta do rio Jacuí, sendo as maiores frequências observadas nos pontos DJ08, DJ02 e DJ07. Porém foi nos pontos DJ04, DJ06 e DJ08 que o teste Qui-Quadrado apresentou resultados significativos. A análise de anomalias morfológicas mostrou-se um instrumento valioso para a avaliação de impacto ambiental, assim como a análise da presença de parasitos. Os resultados do Índice de Integridade Biótica calculado neste estudo classificam os ambientes analisados como de qualidade boa a muito pobre. Para a região do Delta do Jacuí, a adaptação do IIB pareceu refletir eficientemente a classificação da condição ambiental dos trechos estudados. As diferentes ações antrópicas sofridas no Delta do rio Jacuí, RS foram responsáveis por alterações na dieta das espécies de peixes estudadas. Foi possível perceber também a grande plasticidade alimentar de Cyanocharax alburnus e Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys, que alteraram suas dietas de acordo com o alimento disponível em cada ambiente. Através da análise histopatológica das gônadas destas mesmas espécies foram observadas diversas alterações, todas elas presentes somente em gônadas femininas de ambas as espécies. A presença de variações histopatológicas indica que os peixes podem responder a efeitos diretos de contaminantes como também a efeitos secundários causados por estresse. Podese concluir que as assembléias de peixes do Delta do rio Jacuí são afetadas pelos mais variados impactos sofridos na região. O uso de diferentes metodologias para a avaliação de qualidade ambiental mostrou-se extremamente importantes, pois geram uma gama de informações bastante ampla, permitindo que se possa inferir com maior certeza sobre a atual situação do ecossistema. / Structural and functional characteristics of aquatic communities respond to environmental variations in different spatial and temporal scales and also to anthropogenic impacts. Fishes are considered excellent indicators of ecosystems health or condition. They are used to assess the effects of different types of environmental stressors or pressures upon fish assemblages, or to evaluate a specific impact on a single species. This study aimed to test the efficiency of different methodologies to evaluate environmental degradation in the Delta do rio Jacuí, RS. Different tools were used to this assessment such as the analysis of the physical and chemical parameters of the water, quali-quantitative variations on fish assemblage structure, ecological indices (diversity index, integrated quality index, and index of biotic integrity), morphological abnormalities and parasite frequency analysis, variations on feeding and reproduction of two fish species and histological analysis of gonads. This study was carried along eight sampling sites in Delta do rio Jacuí, within the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, in the Rio Grande do Sul State. The area is affected by different kinds of impacts, mainly domestic and industrial sewage. The best water quality was found in the sampling sites located in those rivers which form the Delta except rio dos Sinos according to water classification analysis and CONAMA’s 357 resolution and other analysis. These results are corroborated by the other analysis presented in this study. Water and air temperature, DBO, conductivity, and turbidity had an important role in fish assemblage structure in the Delta do rio Jacuí. The methods applied in this study were efficient to determine high and low environmental quality sites in most cases. Variations in richness, ecological indices, reproductive and feeding aspects, at cell level through histological analysis of the gonads, were observed. There were no casualties in the occurrence of morphological abnormalities in fish assemblages of the Delta do rio Jacuí. Highest frequencies were observed at sites DJ08, DJ02 and DJ07 although significant results through chi-square test were obtained to the sites DJ04, DJ06 and DJ08. Morphological abnormalities analysis showed to be a valuable tool for environmental impact assessment as well as the analysis of parasite occurrence. Results to the Index of Biotic Integrity in this study classify the analyzed environments between good and very poor quality. The use and adaptation of this index seemed to reflect efficiently the environmental condition of the sampling sites in the area of Delta do Jacuí. The different anthropogenic impacts in the Delta do Jacuí were responsible for alterations in the diet of the fish species studied. It was also possible to note the high feeding plasticity of Cyanocharax alburnus and Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys, which has shifted their diets according to the available food item in each environment. Many alterations in female’s ovaries of these species were observed through histopathological analysis. The presence of histopathological variations may indicate that fish respond to direct effect of contaminants as well as secondary effects caused by stress. Finally, fish assemblages from Delta do rio Jacuí are affected by many impacts from the surroundings. The use of different methods to evaluate environmental quality showed to be very important, providing a wide range of information allowing inferring more precisely about the current ecosystem situation.

archives@tulane.edu / Over the past two centuries, coastal wetlands have become increasingly threatened by accelerated relative sea-level rise and anthropogenic modification. Engineered structures such as sea walls, levees, and drainage systems prevent natural processes of sediment distribution, reducing the resilience of coastal ecosystems. Land subsidence and shoreline erosion combine with global sea-level rise to make low-elevation coastal zones increasingly vulnerable to submergence. This dissertation examines processes of sediment accumulation, compaction, and relative sea-level rise in coastal wetlands and assesses strategies for restoration. I find that organic content strongly controls sediment compaction in wetland sediments. At least 80% of compaction happens quickly, largely within the first 100 years after deposition and in the top 1 m of the subsurface. This rapid shallow compaction is generally not recorded by traditional methods of measuring relative sea-level rise in low-elevation coastal zones (i.e., tide gauges and global navigation satellite systems). As a result, tide gauges generally underestimate rates of relative sea-level rise in low-elevation coastal zones and these areas may be at a greater risk of flooding than previously realized. However, despite accelerated rates of relative sea-level rise and rapid sediment compaction, coastal restoration efforts such as river diversions can be successful in building new land in some areas. I find that sediment deposition responds non-linearly to water discharge, reaching a maximum at moderate discharge. Wetlands are more likely to keep up with relative sea-level rise if hydrodynamic conditions are optimized to retain mineral sediment in targeted restoration areas. / 1 / Margaret Keogh

acase@tulane.edu / 1 / Qi Li

The hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is the smallest human pathogenic RNA virus and relies heavily on host proteins for its replication. The objective of my research was to observe the effect of HDV replication on host gene expression, using a HEK-293-based cell system engineered to mimic HDV replication. A high-throughput sequencing was performed and allowed to establish a total of 3,561 genes differentially expressed by HDV RNA. Among those genes, 3,278 were upregulated by HDV RNA and 283 downregulated. A Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was performed on those dysregulated genes and revealed that upregulated genes were predominantly part of these four pathways: RNA processing, G-protein coupled receptor signaling pathway, protein transport, and organelle organization. On the other hand, downregulated genes were part of the nucleosome assembly pathway. The expression of several genes was confirmed by RT-qPCR. Moreover, protein complexes whose expression at the gene level was affected were identified. A total of 30 complexes were found to be significantly affected by HDV replication. Among them, we found many chromatin and histone related complexes. Lastly, a flow cytometry analysis revealed an increase in cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 and a reduction in the percentage of cell in S phase. Moreover, there was a difference in cell size for arrested cells in G0/G1 in HDV replicating cells. Overall, my results support the hypothesis that HDV replication induces cell cycle dysregulation.

<p>Ämnet idrott och hälsa lyfts ofta fram som en viktig komponent för att utveckla en hälsosam livsstil. Fysisk aktivitet framhålls av forskare som den viktigaste friskfaktorn. Vid den senaste utvärderingen av ämnet idrott och hälsa visade det sig att 16 procent av eleverna inte tyckte ämnet var intressant och ett par procent av eleverna deltar aldrig i undervisningen i idrott och hälsa. Studiens syfte har varit att undersöka vilka bevekelsegrunder elever i år 7-9 har för att inte delta i undervisningen i ämnet idrott och hälsa. Såväl de grunder som eleverna framför till sina lärare som de som eleverna inte framför har undersökts. Andra frågeställningar har varit: vilka förändringar eleverna önskar för att delta i undervisningen samt hur elevernas skäl att inte delta påverkas av den rådande samhällsdiskursen om allt fler inaktiva och/eller överviktiga barn. Tre intervjuer med totalt fem intervjupersoner har genomförts och analyserats med en hermeneutisk ansats. Resultaten visade att de bevekelsegrunder eleverna anger för sina lärare inte är de samma som de verkliga. Eleverna som intervjuats har en negativ inställning till ämnet idrott och hälsa. De upplever att de ingenting lär sig och de är rädda att göra bort sig och misslyckas. Några tycker inte att de kommer så bra överens med läraren och några tycker inte att de lever upp till de kroppsideal som förmedlas via massmedia. Ingen av eleverna duschar i de duschutrymmen som anvisas. De förändringar som eleverna efterfrågar är enskilda duschutrymmen, större valmöjligheter samt mer lek och mindre traditionella bollsporter.</p>