No description available.

No description available.

No / The College of Radiographers has called for ‘Red Dot’ schemes to evolve and has recommended the development of radiographer commenting. The implementation of a radiographer comment scheme assumes that radiographers previously participating in ‘red dot’ schemes have been accurately recognising radiographic abnormalities and are, therefore, able to comment upon, and describe, such radiographic appearances. Research evidence to support such an assumption is sparse. This study compares the ability of radiographers attending a short course on musculoskeletal trauma to ‘red dot’ and comment on A&E radiographic appearances. Methods: This study adopted a pre-test, post-test approach. One hundred and twenty one radiographers attending a short course on musculoskeletal trauma (Bradford Red Dot Course) were invited to undertake an assessment of their ability to recognise (‘red dot’) and describe (comment upon) radiographic abnormalities at the start and end of the short course. Results: One hundred and fifteen radiographers (n = 115/121; 95.0%) completed both the pre- and post-training assessments. Post-training mean scores per case improved on average by 9.8% [p = 0.012; 95% CI: 2.4, 17.1] for ‘red dots’ and 12.7% [p = 0.007; 95% CI: 3.8, 21.5] for commenting. However, the difference between mean ‘red dot’ and commenting scores remained similar with mean radiographer comment scores being 13.7% less than mean ‘red dot’ scores pre-training and 10.8% less post-training. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the accuracy of radiographer comments was significantly reduced when compared to the accuracy of ‘red dots’ for the same radiographic images. The clinical significance of these findings for departments wanting to move from a ‘red dot’ system to a radiographer commenting scheme is that without appropriate training and audit, the quality of service and assistance to the A&E department could be significantly reduced.

O Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) é uma espécie do gênero Crinivirus que causa danos, principalmente na cultura do tomateiro (Solanum lycopersicum). Foi primeiramente isolado e descrito em 1998, nos Estados Unidos, e em seguida foi reportado em doze países. No Brasil, foi constatado primeiramente no Estado de São Paulo, na região de Sumaré, em 2008, e posteriormente nos Estados da Bahia, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerais e Rio de Janeiro. Há evidência da sua presença também nos Estados do Paraná e Santa Catarina. O ToCV pode infectar outras solanáceas além do tomateiro e, recentemente, foi observado infectando plantas de batata (Solanum tuberosum) no Brasil. Esse crinivirus é transmitido no Brasil principalmente pelo aleirodídeo (mosca branca) Bemisia tabaci MEAM1. Considerando o patossistema batateira/ToCV, não há estudos sobre a ocorrência, sintomatologia em diferentes variedades e danos provocados por esse crinivirus. Também não há antissoro policlonal para o isolado brasileiro do ToCV para uso na diagnose da doença em solanáceas. Esse trabalho teve por objetivos: purificar o ToCV e produzir antissoro policlonal; avaliar a reação de genótipos de batateira à infecção com o ToCV; avaliar o dano provocado por esse vírus em duas variedades de batateira. A purificação do vírus a partir de folhas de tomateiro e a produção de antissoro policlonal em coelho foram satisfatórias. No entanto, o antissoro não foi eficiente em ELISA, mas sim em dot-blot e somente na diluição de 1:20. Foi avaliada a reação de 21 genótipos de batateira à infecção com o ToCV, por meio da inoculação com B. tabaci MEAM1, com chance de escolha do vetor. Nenhum genótipo exibiu resistência à infecção; enquanto a variedade Camila foi assintomática e não apresentou alteração na fotossíntese. Plantas de batateira das variedades Ágata e Asterix sadias foram inoculadas com o ToCV, por meio da B. tabaci MEAM1 e ao final foram avaliadas a massa fresca da parte aérea, peso e número dos tubérculos colhidos. Em dois experimentos independentes, as reduções médias no peso fresco da parte aérea foram de 60,1% para Ágata e 46% para Asterix. Porém, as reduções nas produções dessas variedades, no primeiro experimento foram de 99,5% e 98,1%, respectivamente; enquanto no segundo os valores foram de 82,3% e 56,2%, respectivamente. / Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) is a species of the genus Crinivirus, which is causing considerable losses mainly on tomato crop (Solanum lycopersicum). It was first isolated and described on 1998 in the United States and subsequently reported in twelve countries. In Brazil, it was first reported in São Paulo State, in Sumaré region in 2008, and after that on the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. There is evidence of the presence of ToCV on the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina. ToCV can also infect other solanaceae and more recently, it was reported infecting potato plants (Solanum tuberosum) in Brazil. This crinivirus is transmitted by Bemisia tabaci MEAM1. Considering the patosystem potato/ToCV, there are no studies on the occurrence, symptomatology in different varieties, and damages caused by this crinivirus. In addition, there is no polyclonal antiserum for the Brazilian isolate of ToCV for use in diagnosis. The objectives of the present work were: to purify the virus and produce a polyclonal antiserum; to evaluate the reaction of potato genotypes to ToCV infection; to evaluate the yield loss caused by this crinivirus on two potato cultivars. The virus purification from tomato leaves and the production of polyclonal antiserum in rabbit were satisfactorily accomplished. However, the antiserum was not efficient on ELISA test, but in dot-blot, only when diluted 1:20. The reaction of 21 potato genotypes to infection with ToCV was evaluated by inoculation with B. tabaci MEAM1, with chance of choice for the vector. All genotypes were infected with ToCV and Camila was the only one asymptomatic. Plants of cultivars Ágata and Asterix were inoculated with ToCV, by means of viruliferous vector, and at the end were evaluated for the fresh mass of the aerial part, weight and number of harvested tubers. In two independent experiments, average reductions in aerial fresh weight were 60.1% for Ágata and 46% for Asterix. However, reductions in yield of these varieties in the first experiment were 99.5% and 98.1%, respectively; while in the second the values were 82.3% and 56.2%, respectively.

Oxido nítrico (NO) é uma molécula que participa de várias atividades fisiológicas no organismo, entre as quais incluem-se ação vasodilatadora e antitumoral. Entretanto sua resposta biológica é dependente da concentração, que quando alta apresenta citotoxicidade. Um fator limitante para sua aplicação em sistemas biológicos é seu curto tempo de meia vida no organismo, o que direcionou os estudos de complexos de rutênio-nitrosilo (RuNO) como doadores de NO. Complexos RuNO apresentam interesse especial devido suas propriedades termoestáveis e fotoquímicas. O uso da luz como um estímulo externo torna-se vantajoso pela capacidade de controlar-se a localização, o tempo de liberação da droga e a dosagem. A terapia fotodinâmica (TFD) tem sido aplicada na terapia clínica contra o câncer. TFD depende da concentração de oxigênio para a produção de espécies reativas, o que é limitado em alguns tipos de tumores devido a hipóxia. Os Pontos quânticos (PQs), semicondutor nanocristalino, destacam-se como materais funcionais com propriedade ópticas únicas dependentes do tamanho. Podem atuar como antenas na captação de luz e fotossensibilização de complexos rutênio-nitrosilo para a liberação de moléculas bioativas. Neste trabalho descrevemos a síntese e caracterização de diferentes PQs (CdS, CdSe e CdTe) utilizando diferentes agentes passivantes (ATG, TOPO e AMP)e a síntese e caracterização do complexo rutênio-nitrosilo cis-[Ru(NO)(4-amp)(bpy)2]3+ (4-amp= 4-aminopiridina; bpy = 2,2 \'bipiridina. Estudos das propriedades fotofísicas e avaliação fotoquímica da interação entre PQ e RuNO foram realizados como também a avaliação da atividade citotóxica x desta associação sobre cultura de células de melanoma murino B16-F10. As medidas das propriedades fotofísicas demonstraram interação pela supressão da fluorescência analisada pela equação de Stern-Volmer. Pela determinação do número de sítios de ligação (≈ 2) e a constante de ligação (kb) verificou-se que a interação entre as espécies apresentaram supressão da emissão em um gráfico não linear de Stern-Volmer resultante do processo de agregação entre os compostos. Os dados obtidos corroboram para o mecanismo proposto, demonstrando que cada PQ540 interage com duas moléculas de RuNO. Ainda observou-se que, sob irradiação na região do visível, em 532 nm, aumenta-se o número de mols de NO liberado de no mínimo 6 vezes quando irradiado na presença de PQs comparado à irradiação do complexo sozinho em solução. O processo de transferência eletrônica fotoinduzida foi proposto como o mecanismo fotoquímico para a liberação de NO, enquanto que o processo de transferência de energia mostrou-se desfavorável devido a não sobreposição entre os espectros de absorção do complexo nitrosilo e o espectro de emissão do PQ. As análises de imagem fluorescentes demonstraram o potencial dos PQs como marcadores celulares. As concentrações utilizadas nos experimentos não demonstraram toxicidade sobre as células de melanoma murino na ausência de luz. Porém quando irradiadas, apresentaram citotoxicidade parcial. Portanto, essa transferência pode ocorrer pela redução do NO+ para NO0, seguida pela liberação de NO ou por fotoaquação e consequente fotoredução do nitrito em solução. / Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule involved in many physiological activities in human body among them include vasodilator and antitumoral. However, the biological response is concentration dependent and in high concentrations it causes cytotoxicity. A limiting factor for biological applications is the short half-life of NO in the body which has led to the research of nitrosyl ruthenium complexes (RuNO) as NO donors. RuNO complexes are of special interest because of their thermal stability and photochemical properties. The use of light as an external stimulus is advantageous as we can track the location, timing of drug release and dosage. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used in clinical therapy for cancer treatment. PDT depends on oxygen concentrations for reactive oxygen species production what is limited in some types of tumors because of hypoxia. The Quantum dots (QDs), semiconductor nanocrystal, as functional materials, possess unique optical size-dependent properties. QDs can act as antennas in capturing light and photosensitizing ruthenium- nitrosyl complexes for release of bioactive molecules. In this work we describe the synthesis and characterization of different PQs (CdS, CdSe and CdTe) using different passivating agents (TGA, TOPO and MPA), the synthesis and characterization of ruthenium- nitrosyl complex cis-[ Ru(NO)(4- amp)( bpy )2]3+ (4 -amp = 4 - aminopyridine; bpy = 2,2 \'bipyridine ). The photophysical properties and photochemical evaluation from the interaction between QD and RuNO were done as well the citotoxicity activity from thi association on murine melanoma cell line B16-F10 . Measurements of photophysical xii properties show interactions by the quenching of fluorescence plotted with the Stern-Volmer equation. By determining the number of binding sites (≈ 2) and the binding constants ( kb ) it was found that the interaction between the species presented an emission suppression in a nonlinear curve Stern- Volmer plot resulted by the aggregation process between both compounds. The data corroborates the proposed mechanism that QD540 interacts with two molecules of RuNO. It was also observed that under irradiation in the visible region, 532 nm, that moles of NO released increases at least 6 times when irradiated in the presence of QDs compared to the irradiation of the RuNO complex alone in solution. The process of photo induced electron transfer was proposed as the mechanism for photochemical release of NO while the process of energy transfer was deemed unfavorable due to no overlap between nitrosyl complex absorption and the QD emission spectrum. The fluorescence image analysis demonstrated the potential of QDs as cell markers. The concentrations used in the experiments have not shown toxicity on murine melanoma cells in the absence of light. However when irradiated, QDs exhibited partial cytotoxicity. Therefore, this transfer may occur by the reduction of NO+ to NO0, followed by the release of NO or photoaquation and subsequent photoreduction of nitrite in solution.

Este trabalho visa investigar a resposta sorológica para glicolipoproteína (GLP) de leptospiras com a finalidade de padronizar o uso deste antígeno em testes sorológicos para o diagnóstico da leptospirose humana. Dentre as proteínas envolvidas na patogenicidade das leptospiras, a GLP ainda não foi estudada quanto a imunogenicidade e quanto ao seu emprego como antígeno na detecção de anticorpos específicos. Assim, dot-ELISA para detecção de anticorpos IgG e IgM, com o emprego de GLP de leptospiras patogênica e não patogênica, foi padronizado. Foram testadas amostras pareadas de soros de 90 pacientes com leptospirose confirmada sorologicamente por MAT, sendo as primeiras amostras colhidas na fase aguda da doença e as segundas amostras após 10 a 15 dias. Foram testadas também amostras únicas de 30 pacientes de diferentes patologias, que apresentaram resultados negativos no MAT, pertencentes ao grupo controle. A detecção de anticorpos IgG não mostrou resultados satisfatórios, tendo sido, o seu estudo, descontinuado. Os resultados do dot-ELISA IgM mostraram sensibilidade de 100% nas amostras colhidas após soroconversão no MAT e a precocidade de detecção foi demonstrada pela alta positividade nas amostras colhidas na fase aguda da doença (76,6% para dot-ELISA com antígeno de Leptospira interrogans sorovar Copenhageni e 90% com antígeno de Leptospira biflexa sorovar Patoc). A especificidade foi alta (96,6%), porém o dot-ELISA utilizando ambos os antígenos apresentou 3,3% de resultados falso-positivos. Este estudo demonstrou a importância da resposta imune humoral ao antígeno GLP de leptospiras. A utilização da GLP, no teste dot-ELISA para detecção de anticorpos IgM permitiu realizar o diagnóstico sorológico de forma simples, rápida e com alta eficiência diagnóstica. / The aim of this work was the study of serologic response against leptospira glycolipoprotein (GLP) for the purpose of standardizing its use as an antigen on serological tests to diagnose human leptospirosis. Among the proteins involved in the pathogenicity, GLP is yet to be studied regarding its immunogenicity and its use as an antigen in the detection of specific antibodies. That led to our standardization of dot-ELISA for detecting IgG and IgM antibodies, using GLP extracted from either pathogenic Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni or nonpathogenic Leptospira biflexa serovar Patoc. Paired serum samples were taken from 90 patients with serologically confirmed leptospirosis, by MAT, with the first samples collected on the disease\'s acute phase and the second samples after a period of 10 to 15 days. We also tested single samples taken from 30 patients with other diseases, MAT negative, belonging to the control group. Detection rates for IgG antibodies were unsatisfactory, so the study for that use was discontinued. The dot-ELISA IgM results yielded 100% sensitivity on the samples taken after MAT seroconversion. The early detection pattern was evidenced by the high positivity rate on the samples taken during the disease\'s acute phase (76,6% dot-ELISA using Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni antigen and 90% using Leptospira biflexa sorovar Patoc antigen). Specificity rates were high (96.6%), although a 3.3% rate of false-positive results was observed for dot-ELISA using both antigens. The present study revealed the importance of the humoral immune response against the GLP antigen. The use of GLP, on the dot-ELISA test for IgM antibodies afforded a simple, quick and effective diagnosis.

Oxido nítrico (NO) é uma molécula que participa de várias atividades fisiológicas no organismo, entre as quais incluem-se ação vasodilatadora e antitumoral. Entretanto sua resposta biológica é dependente da concentração, que quando alta apresenta citotoxicidade. Um fator limitante para sua aplicação em sistemas biológicos é seu curto tempo de meia vida no organismo, o que direcionou os estudos de complexos de rutênio-nitrosilo (RuNO) como doadores de NO. Complexos RuNO apresentam interesse especial devido suas propriedades termoestáveis e fotoquímicas. O uso da luz como um estímulo externo torna-se vantajoso pela capacidade de controlar-se a localização, o tempo de liberação da droga e a dosagem. A terapia fotodinâmica (TFD) tem sido aplicada na terapia clínica contra o câncer. TFD depende da concentração de oxigênio para a produção de espécies reativas, o que é limitado em alguns tipos de tumores devido a hipóxia. Os Pontos quânticos (PQs), semicondutor nanocristalino, destacam-se como materais funcionais com propriedade ópticas únicas dependentes do tamanho. Podem atuar como antenas na captação de luz e fotossensibilização de complexos rutênio-nitrosilo para a liberação de moléculas bioativas. Neste trabalho descrevemos a síntese e caracterização de diferentes PQs (CdS, CdSe e CdTe) utilizando diferentes agentes passivantes (ATG, TOPO e AMP)e a síntese e caracterização do complexo rutênio-nitrosilo cis-[Ru(NO)(4-amp)(bpy)2]3+ (4-amp= 4-aminopiridina; bpy = 2,2 \'bipiridina. Estudos das propriedades fotofísicas e avaliação fotoquímica da interação entre PQ e RuNO foram realizados como também a avaliação da atividade citotóxica x desta associação sobre cultura de células de melanoma murino B16-F10. As medidas das propriedades fotofísicas demonstraram interação pela supressão da fluorescência analisada pela equação de Stern-Volmer. Pela determinação do número de sítios de ligação (≈ 2) e a constante de ligação (kb) verificou-se que a interação entre as espécies apresentaram supressão da emissão em um gráfico não linear de Stern-Volmer resultante do processo de agregação entre os compostos. Os dados obtidos corroboram para o mecanismo proposto, demonstrando que cada PQ540 interage com duas moléculas de RuNO. Ainda observou-se que, sob irradiação na região do visível, em 532 nm, aumenta-se o número de mols de NO liberado de no mínimo 6 vezes quando irradiado na presença de PQs comparado à irradiação do complexo sozinho em solução. O processo de transferência eletrônica fotoinduzida foi proposto como o mecanismo fotoquímico para a liberação de NO, enquanto que o processo de transferência de energia mostrou-se desfavorável devido a não sobreposição entre os espectros de absorção do complexo nitrosilo e o espectro de emissão do PQ. As análises de imagem fluorescentes demonstraram o potencial dos PQs como marcadores celulares. As concentrações utilizadas nos experimentos não demonstraram toxicidade sobre as células de melanoma murino na ausência de luz. Porém quando irradiadas, apresentaram citotoxicidade parcial. Portanto, essa transferência pode ocorrer pela redução do NO+ para NO0, seguida pela liberação de NO ou por fotoaquação e consequente fotoredução do nitrito em solução. / Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule involved in many physiological activities in human body among them include vasodilator and antitumoral. However, the biological response is concentration dependent and in high concentrations it causes cytotoxicity. A limiting factor for biological applications is the short half-life of NO in the body which has led to the research of nitrosyl ruthenium complexes (RuNO) as NO donors. RuNO complexes are of special interest because of their thermal stability and photochemical properties. The use of light as an external stimulus is advantageous as we can track the location, timing of drug release and dosage. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used in clinical therapy for cancer treatment. PDT depends on oxygen concentrations for reactive oxygen species production what is limited in some types of tumors because of hypoxia. The Quantum dots (QDs), semiconductor nanocrystal, as functional materials, possess unique optical size-dependent properties. QDs can act as antennas in capturing light and photosensitizing ruthenium- nitrosyl complexes for release of bioactive molecules. In this work we describe the synthesis and characterization of different PQs (CdS, CdSe and CdTe) using different passivating agents (TGA, TOPO and MPA), the synthesis and characterization of ruthenium- nitrosyl complex cis-[ Ru(NO)(4- amp)( bpy )2]3+ (4 -amp = 4 - aminopyridine; bpy = 2,2 \'bipyridine ). The photophysical properties and photochemical evaluation from the interaction between QD and RuNO were done as well the citotoxicity activity from thi association on murine melanoma cell line B16-F10 . Measurements of photophysical xii properties show interactions by the quenching of fluorescence plotted with the Stern-Volmer equation. By determining the number of binding sites (≈ 2) and the binding constants ( kb ) it was found that the interaction between the species presented an emission suppression in a nonlinear curve Stern- Volmer plot resulted by the aggregation process between both compounds. The data corroborates the proposed mechanism that QD540 interacts with two molecules of RuNO. It was also observed that under irradiation in the visible region, 532 nm, that moles of NO released increases at least 6 times when irradiated in the presence of QDs compared to the irradiation of the RuNO complex alone in solution. The process of photo induced electron transfer was proposed as the mechanism for photochemical release of NO while the process of energy transfer was deemed unfavorable due to no overlap between nitrosyl complex absorption and the QD emission spectrum. The fluorescence image analysis demonstrated the potential of QDs as cell markers. The concentrations used in the experiments have not shown toxicity on murine melanoma cells in the absence of light. However when irradiated, QDs exhibited partial cytotoxicity. Therefore, this transfer may occur by the reduction of NO+ to NO0, followed by the release of NO or photoaquation and subsequent photoreduction of nitrite in solution.

<p>This master’s thesis deals with studies of lateral and vertical carrier transport Dot-in- </p><p>a-Well (DWELL) Quantum Dot Infrared Photodetectors (QDIPs). During the pro ject, </p><p>devices have been developed and tested using a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spec- </p><p>trometer with the purpose to find the processes governing the flow of photocurrent in </p><p>the different kinds of detectors, the dark current magnitude in the vertical Quantum Dot </p><p>Infrared Photodetector (QDIP) and the Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP) </p><p>and the light polarization dependences for the vertical QDIP and the QWIP. </p><p>The lateral carrier transport DWELL QDIP was found to have poor conduction </p><p>in the well mainly due to re-trapping of electrons in this region. The main process gov- </p><p>erning the flow of photocurrent for this type of device at 77K is photo-excitation from </p><p>the Quantum Dot (QD)s to the excited state in the Quantum Well (QW) and further </p><p>thermal excitation. If the electrons are mainly transported in the matrix or the well at </p><p>77K is presently not clear. </p><p>For the vertical carrier transport DWELL QDIP at 77K, the wavelength response </p><p>could be tuned by altering the applied voltage. At higher voltages, the dominant process </p><p>was found to be photo-excitation from the QDs to the excited state in the QW followed </p><p>by thermal assisted tunneling into the GaAs-matrix. At lower voltages, photo-excitation </p><p>from the QDs directly into the the GaAs-matrix was the predominant process. The dark </p><p>current level in the vertical QDIPs was found to be 1.5 to 5 orders of magnitude smaller </p><p>than for the QWIP measured at 77K. Furthermore, the QDIP was found to be close to </p><p>polarization independent. As expected the QWIP had a reduced sensitivity to normal </p><p>incident light. The existence of this signal was attributed to interface scattering of light </p><p>inside the device.</p>

This thesis examines firm performance through the dot-com bubble through the lens of executive compensation. Hypotheses based on the theoretical literature of Bolton, Scheinkman and Xiong (2006) as well as Bertrand and Mullainathan (2001) in regards to management compensation in a speculative bubble motivate three regression models with differing market-cap-growth based dependent variables and specific compensation variables. Regression analyses test the models using public compensation and security data from S&P's Execucomp and Compustat databases. Synthesizing regression results show that stock option vesting schedules and executives' status on the board of directors may significantly affect firm performance through the dot-com bubble, but more analysis, using more robust data, is necessary to verify either claim.

This master’s thesis deals with studies of lateral and vertical carrier transport Dot-in- a-Well (DWELL) Quantum Dot Infrared Photodetectors (QDIPs). During the pro ject, devices have been developed and tested using a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spec- trometer with the purpose to find the processes governing the flow of photocurrent in the different kinds of detectors, the dark current magnitude in the vertical Quantum Dot Infrared Photodetector (QDIP) and the Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP) and the light polarization dependences for the vertical QDIP and the QWIP. The lateral carrier transport DWELL QDIP was found to have poor conduction in the well mainly due to re-trapping of electrons in this region. The main process gov- erning the flow of photocurrent for this type of device at 77K is photo-excitation from the Quantum Dot (QD)s to the excited state in the Quantum Well (QW) and further thermal excitation. If the electrons are mainly transported in the matrix or the well at 77K is presently not clear. For the vertical carrier transport DWELL QDIP at 77K, the wavelength response could be tuned by altering the applied voltage. At higher voltages, the dominant process was found to be photo-excitation from the QDs to the excited state in the QW followed by thermal assisted tunneling into the GaAs-matrix. At lower voltages, photo-excitation from the QDs directly into the the GaAs-matrix was the predominant process. The dark current level in the vertical QDIPs was found to be 1.5 to 5 orders of magnitude smaller than for the QWIP measured at 77K. Furthermore, the QDIP was found to be close to polarization independent. As expected the QWIP had a reduced sensitivity to normal incident light. The existence of this signal was attributed to interface scattering of light inside the device.