A indústria de pet food cresce juntamente com as pesquisas nessa área com os objetivos não apenas de atender as necessidades nutricionais, mas também, com o propósito de promover saúde, bem estar e longevidade aos animais de companhia. Portanto, objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos de suplementos promotores de saúde intestinal sobre a digestibilidade dos nutrientes, produtos fermentativos e parâmetros imunológicos em cães adultos. Foram utilizados 24 cães adultos de diferentes pesos e portes, divididos em seis blocos casualizados e, distribuídos aleatoriamente nos tratamentos [(CO) controle, sem adição de prebiótico; (GOS) inclusão de 1,0% de galactooligossacarídeos; (B1) inclusão de 0,5% de um blend de prebióticos; (B2) inclusão de 1,0% de um blend de prebióticos\"]. O experimento foi constituído de 30 dias, sendo os 20 primeiros de adaptação aos tratamentos e os últimos 10 dias de coletas de fezes e sangue. Os dados obtidos foram analisados no programa SAS. Foram previamente verificadas normalidade dos resíduos e homogeneidade das variancias, em seguida os dados foram submetidos a teste de ANOVA, por fim as médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey ao nível de significância de 5%. A suplementação dos prebióticos não alterou os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente testados, produção e escore fecal (p>0,05). Em relação aos produtos de fermentação avaliados, a adição dos promotores de saúde intestinal não alterou o pH fecal, nem as concentrações de amônia, ácido lático, ácido acético, ácido propiônico e ácido butiríco, ácidos graxos de cadeia curta (AGCC) totais, ácido valérico, ácido iso-butírico e ácidos graxos de cadeia ramificada (AGCR) totais das fezes (p>0,05). No entanto, a adição de GOS diminuiu a concentração do AGCR isovalérico (p=0,0423) em relação a B1. Quanto aos parâmetros imunológicos avaliados, a adição de GOS e B2 aumentou o número total de células polimorfonucleares, assim como o burst oxidadivo em relação aos tratamentos B1 e CO (p<0,0001). O tratamento B2 melhorou o índice de fagocitose de S. aureus em relação ao CO, porém não diferiu dos demais (p=0,011). No teste de fagocitose de E.coli, os tratamentos GOS e B2 apresentaram melhor índice do que o tratamento CO, o qual não diferiu de B1 (p=0,0067). Pode-se concluir que os tratamentos GOS e Blend Yes Golf, quando incluídos a 1,0% na formulação do alimento, aumentaram a atividade fagocitária e o burst oxidativo de cães saudáveis. / The pet food industry grows along with research in this area with the goals not only of meeting nutritional needs but also with the purpose of promoting health, well-being and longevity to companion animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of intestinal health promoting supplements on nutrient digestibility, fermentative products and immunological parameters in adult dogs. Twenty-four adult dogs were divided into six blocks and randomly assigned to the treatments [ a control treatments, without prebiotics (CO); inclusion of 0.5% a prebiotic blend Yes Golf (B1); inclusion of 1.0.% galactooligosaccharide (GOS); inclusion of 1.0% a prebiotic blend Yes Golf (B2)], following a randomized block design. The experiment consisted of 30 days, being the first 20 of adaptation to the treatments and the last 10 days of collections of feces and blood. The results were analyzed for their normality and the means were compared by the Tukey test at the significance level of 5.0%. Prebiotic supplementation had no effect on the apparent digestibility coefficients tested, yield and fecal score (p> 0.05). For the fermentation products evaluated, the addition of the intestinal health promoters did not alter the fecal pH, nor the concentrations of ammonia, lactic acid, short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and most faecal branched chain fatty acids (BCFA) (p> 0.05). The addition of GOS decreased the concentration of iso-valeric fatty acid (p = 0.0423). Regarding the immunological parameters evaluated, the addition of GOS and B2 increased the total number of polymorphonuclear cells, as well as the oxidative burst in relation to the treatments B1 and CO (p <0.0001). Treatment B2 improved the rate of S. aureus phagocytosis in relation to CO, but did not differ from the others, and treatments B1 and GOS did not differ from CO (p = 0.0111). For E.coli phagocytosis, the GOS and B2 treatments had a better index than the CO treatment, which did not differ from B1 (p = 0.0067). It can be concluded that GOS and B2, when included 1.0% in the formulation of the food, seem to present prebiotic potential regarding the immunity of healthy dogs.

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde das Outcome von 112 Patienten mit intrakranieller Blutung analysiert, um das Blutungsvolumen und die unterschiedliche Dynamik der Blutungen als Einfluss- und prädiktive Faktoren zu korrelieren. 21.4% der 112 eingeschlossenen Patienten hatten ein EDH, 38.4 % ein SDH- bzw. 40.2% ein Intrazerebralhämatom. Die Sub- und Epiduralhämatome waren mehrheitlich traumatische Läsionen, die intrazerebralen Blutungen vorwiegend spontane. Im Gesamtkollektiv hatten 28.6% ein funktionelles, respektive 71.4% ein nicht funktionelles Outcome. Das Ergebnis der 71 traumatischen Blutungen war signifikant besser (38.0% funktionell) als das der 41 spontanen (12.2% funktionell, p=0.004). Bei gleichem Hämatomvolumen haben operativ versorgte spontane Blutungen eine 88% geringere Chance für ein funktionelles Ergebnis als operierte traumatische Blutungen. Im Untersuchungskollektiv wurde der reziproke Zusammenhang von Volumen und GOS sowohl für spontane und traumatische, als auch für akute und subakute Blutungen demonstriert. Nicht signifikant verschieden waren akut und subakut verlaufende Blutungen bezüglich ihres Outcomes (32.8% vs. 23.5% funktionelles Outcome, p= 0.302), und der Volumina (47.5ml vs. 52.8ml, p=0.102)). Der vermutete Zusammenhang zwischen Hämatomgröße und zeitlichem Verlauf konnte damit nicht gezeigt werden. Wir fanden auch keinen signifikanten Unterschied des klinischen Ergebnisses in Bezug auf den chirurgischen Interventionszeitpunkt (< 6h vs. > 6h). Bei den traumatischen Hämorrhagien wurde ein Modell mit 3 unabhängigen Faktoren (Alter, initaler GCS und Volumen) zur Prädiktion des Outcomes entwickelt. Kleine Volumina, ein niedriges Alter und ein initial hoher GCS lassen ein funktionelles Outcome vorhersagen. Weitere Faktoren, die jedoch nicht unabhängig mit dem Outcome assoziiert waren, sind Mittellinienverlagerung, initiale Blutglukose, Vorliegen eines Hirnödems und arterielle Hypertonie. Die initiale Glukosekonzentration kann zur Vorhersage des Outcomes nach traumatischen Blutungen beitragen, Als einziger unabhängiger Prädiktor wurde bei den spontanen Raumforderungen die Mittellinienverlagerung ermittelt. Volumen und initiale GCS waren nicht unabhängige Prädiktoren. Das schlechte Outcome nach spontaner Blutung, unabhängig vom Versorgungszeitpunkt, unterstreicht die kontroverse Datenlage bezüglich operativer Therapie dieser Raumforderungen. Traumatische Hämorrhagien in temporaler Lokalisation zeigen ein besseres Ergebnis als vergleichbare lokalisierte spontane Blutungen.

Proefschrift Universiteit van Amsterdam. / Met index, lit. opg. - Met samenvatting in het Nederlands.

Orientador: Antonio Celso Pezzato / Resumo: RESUMO. Para avaliar a inclusão de diferentes combinações e níveis de prebióticos em substituição aos antibióticos melhoradores de desempenho, dois experimentos foram delineados. No primeiro estudo, 1250 pintos de corte machos, linhagem ROSS AP95, foram casualmente distribuídos em 5 tratamentos, com 10 repetições cada, objetivando testar diferentes proporções de mananos com β-glucanos e frutoligossacarídeos com galactoligossacarídeos, combinados e incluídos em dietas de frangos de corte. Os tratamentos consistiram de: CP, dieta basal (DB) +AMD; DB+BUT: DB + Butirato de Cálcio; GM1⁄3+FG2⁄3: DB + GLUCANMOS (1/3 da mistura) : FOS:GOS (2/3 da mistura); GM1⁄2+FG1⁄2: DB + GLUCANMOS (1/2 da mistura) : FOS:GOS (1/2 da mistura); GM2⁄3+FG1⁄3: DB + GLUCAN MOS (2/3 da mistura) : FOS:GOS (1/3 da mistura). No segundo estudo, 1250 pintos de corte machos, linhagem ROSS AP95, foram casualmente distribuídos em 5 tratamentos, com 10 repetições cada, objetivando testar diferentes níveis de inclusão de GLUCANMOS (67% da mistura) associado a FOS:GOS (1:1). Os tratamentos consistiram de: CP, dieta basal (DB) +AMD; 0,1%; 0,2%; 0,3% e 0,4% de inclusão da mistura prebiótica. Foram avaliados o desempenho, peso relativo de órgãos, barreiras físicas e imunológicas dos segmentos do intestino delgado (integridade de vilosidades, células caliciformes e linfócitos intraepiteliais), histomorfometria de Bursa de Fabricius e contagem diferencial de leucócitos no sangue, ainda, foram quantificados os ácidos grax... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Doutor

Yes / The model for delivery of primary eye care in Europe varies from country to country with differing reliance on ophthalmologists, optometrists and dispensing opticians. Comparative analysis of models has tended to focus on interprofessional working arrangements, training and regulatory issues, rather than on whether a particular model is effective for delivering public health goals for that country. National Health Service (NHS) primary eye care services in the UK are predominantly provided under a General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) Contract between the NHS and practice owners (Contractors). Over two-thirds of sight tests conducted in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and all in Scotland are performed under a GOS Contract, however many people entitled to a GOS sight test do not take up their entitlement. The fee paid for sight tests conducted under a GOS Contract in England, Wales and Northern Ireland does not cover the full cost of conducting the examination. The shortfall must be made up through profits of sale of optical appliances but this business model can be a deterrent to establishing practices within socioeconomically deprived communities, and can also be a barrier to uptake of sight tests, even though many people are entitled to a NHS optical voucher towards the cost of spectacles or contact lenses. This paper critiques the GOS Contracts within the UK. We argue that aspects of the way the GOS Contract is implemented are contrary to the public health interest and that different approaches are needed to address eye health inequalities and to reduce preventable sight loss.

No description available.

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde das Outcome von 112 Patienten mit intrakranieller Blutung analysiert, um das Blutungsvolumen und die unterschiedliche Dynamik der Blutungen als Einfluss- und prädiktive Faktoren zu korrelieren. 21.4% der 112 eingeschlossenen Patienten hatten ein EDH, 38.4 % ein SDH- bzw. 40.2% ein Intrazerebralhämatom. Die Sub- und Epiduralhämatome waren mehrheitlich traumatische Läsionen, die intrazerebralen Blutungen vorwiegend spontane. Im Gesamtkollektiv hatten 28.6% ein funktionelles, respektive 71.4% ein nicht funktionelles Outcome. Das Ergebnis der 71 traumatischen Blutungen war signifikant besser (38.0% funktionell) als das der 41 spontanen (12.2% funktionell, p=0.004). Bei gleichem Hämatomvolumen haben operativ versorgte spontane Blutungen eine 88% geringere Chance für ein funktionelles Ergebnis als operierte traumatische Blutungen. Im Untersuchungskollektiv wurde der reziproke Zusammenhang von Volumen und GOS sowohl für spontane und traumatische, als auch für akute und subakute Blutungen demonstriert. Nicht signifikant verschieden waren akut und subakut verlaufende Blutungen bezüglich ihres Outcomes (32.8% vs. 23.5% funktionelles Outcome, p= 0.302), und der Volumina (47.5ml vs. 52.8ml, p=0.102)). Der vermutete Zusammenhang zwischen Hämatomgröße und zeitlichem Verlauf konnte damit nicht gezeigt werden. Wir fanden auch keinen signifikanten Unterschied des klinischen Ergebnisses in Bezug auf den chirurgischen Interventionszeitpunkt (< 6h vs. > 6h). Bei den traumatischen Hämorrhagien wurde ein Modell mit 3 unabhängigen Faktoren (Alter, initaler GCS und Volumen) zur Prädiktion des Outcomes entwickelt. Kleine Volumina, ein niedriges Alter und ein initial hoher GCS lassen ein funktionelles Outcome vorhersagen. Weitere Faktoren, die jedoch nicht unabhängig mit dem Outcome assoziiert waren, sind Mittellinienverlagerung, initiale Blutglukose, Vorliegen eines Hirnödems und arterielle Hypertonie. Die initiale Glukosekonzentration kann zur Vorhersage des Outcomes nach traumatischen Blutungen beitragen, Als einziger unabhängiger Prädiktor wurde bei den spontanen Raumforderungen die Mittellinienverlagerung ermittelt. Volumen und initiale GCS waren nicht unabhängige Prädiktoren. Das schlechte Outcome nach spontaner Blutung, unabhängig vom Versorgungszeitpunkt, unterstreicht die kontroverse Datenlage bezüglich operativer Therapie dieser Raumforderungen. Traumatische Hämorrhagien in temporaler Lokalisation zeigen ein besseres Ergebnis als vergleichbare lokalisierte spontane Blutungen.

Submitted by Sandra Pereira (srpereira@ufrrj.br) on 2017-04-10T11:37:49Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Pedro Campinho Belsito.pdf: 1175009 bytes, checksum: 76927e794a55e13aa297bb3b657cc97b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-10T11:37:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Pedro Campinho Belsito.pdf: 1175009 bytes, checksum: 76927e794a55e13aa297bb3b657cc97b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-12 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / The aim of this study was to develop a prebiotic ?requeij?o cremoso? cheese with galactooligosaccharide, evaluating the physicochemical, rheological, optical an microstructural as well as the sensory acceptance of the processed products. The ?requeij?o cremoso? cheese was processed and added galactoligossaccharide (0, 1.5%, 3.0%, 4.0% w / w%, respectively) and subjected to physical and chemical analysis (pH, moisture, fat and protein), instrumental color (system L*, a, b), rheology (flow curve, and oscillatory tests), microstructure and sensory analysis ( hedonic test with 80 customers). The results show that there was no significant influence of the treatments with galactooligosaccharide in physicochemical parameters (p > 0.05) of ?requeij?es cremosos? cheeses, while regarding the optical characteristics the addition of GOS provided higher brightness (L*) compared to the added treatments of increasing concentrations of galactooligosaccharide as the highest whiteness index (WI). Regarding the rheological behavior was observed that all samples showed similar behavior, but the ?requeij?o cremoso? cheese control tended to higher shear stress values for shear rate and higher stiffness and storage modulus values . All samples showed curd behavior index (n) less than 1, indicating pseudoplastic behavior, in which the apparent viscosity decreased with increasing applied shear rate. There was an increase in the flow of cheese samples subjected to melting test. From microstructural point of view, the addition of GOS provided a denser and compact matrix protein and the number and size of fat globules reduced while the sensory analysis showed better results in all attributes in the analysis showing potential functional food option for marketing. / A suplementa??o com fibras prebi?ticas constitui-se uma potencial op??o de alimento funcional, dado que um produto com propriedade prebi?tica pode ter um impacto positivo na sa?de gastrointestinal. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o desenvolvimento do requeij?o cremoso adicionado de Galactooligossacar?deo (GOS), avaliando o produto bem como seu efeito nas caracter?sticas f?sico-qu?micas, reol?gicas, ?pticas e na aceita??o sensorial. Requeij?o cremoso foi processado e adicionado de galactoligossacar?deo (0, 1,5% 3,0% 4,0% % p/p, respectivamente) e submetidos a an?lises f?sico-qu?micas (pH , umidade, gordura e prote?na), cor instrumental ( sistema L*, a, b), reologia (curva de fluxo, e ensaios oscilat?rios), microestrutura e an?lise sensorial ( teste hed?nico com 80 consumidores). Os resultados obtidos mostram que n?o houve influ?ncia significativa dos tratamentos com galactooligossacar?deo nos requeij?es nos par?metros f?sico-qu?micos (p>0,05), enquanto com rela??o as caracter?sticas ?pticas a adi??o do GOS proporcionou maior luminosidade (L*) comparada aos tratamentos adicionados de concentra??es crescentes de galactooligossacar?deo assim como o maior ?ndice de brancura (WI). Com rela??o aos aspectos reol?gicos foi poss?vel observar que todas as amostras apresentaram comportamento similar, por?m o requeij?o controle apresentou tend?ncia a maiores valores de tens?o de cisalhamento por taxa de deforma??o e maiores valores de m?dulo de rigidez e estocagem. Todas as amostras de requeij?o apresentaram ?ndices de comportamento (n) menores que 1, indicando comportamento pseudopl?stico, em que a viscosidade aparente diminuiu com o aumento da taxa de deforma??o aplicada. Houve aumento do fluxo de queijo nas amostras submetidas ao teste de derretimento. Do ponto de vista microestrutural, a adi??o de GOS proporcionou uma matriz proteica mais densa e compacta e com o n?mero e tamanho dos gl?bulos de gordura diminu?dos enquanto que na an?lise sensorial foram observados resultados melhores em todos os atributos, mostrando potencial op??o de alimento funcional para a comercializa??o

En esta tesis doctoral se presenta TAP (Trusted and Active Protocol PDU transfer), una arquitectura para redes de tecnología ATM, novedosa por sus características distribuida, activa y multiagente. El protocolo propuesto para la arquitectura ofrece transferencias garantizadas a un conjunto privilegiado de conexiones VPI/VCI. Se propone también una extensión de la capa AAL-5 de ATM que hemos denominado EAAL-5 (Extended AAL type 5) usada para la gestión de las conexiones privilegiadas extremo-extremo.TAP ofrece garantía de servicio (GoS) cuando la red está perdiendo células ATM y aprovecha los periodos de inactividad en los enlaces para realizar las retransmisiones de las CPCS-PDU-EAAL-5. El protocolo propuesto emplea mecanismos NACK (mediante células RM de retorno) y es soportado por conmutadores ATM activos equipados con una memoria de almacenamiento de PDU denominada DMTE (Dynamic Memory to store Trusted native EAAL-5 PDU). La arquitectura activa propuesta está basada en un SMA (Sistema Multiagente) constituido por agentes programables colaborativos y distribuidos en la red. Las simulaciones realizadas demuestran la efectividad del mecanismo de recuperación de PDU propuesto con un mejor goodput en la red.La arquitectura TAP es soportada sobre conmutadores ATM activos que denominamos AcTMs (Active Asynchronous Transfer Mode Switch) y que hemos diseñado con técnicas software para: garantizar la gestión justa de colas de entrada basadas en WFQ (Weighted Fair Queueing); realizar el control de congestiones del buffer inspirado en EPD (Early Packet Discard); y evitar, con VC Merge, la mezcla de las PDU de conexiones diferentes. Estas técnicas software se proponen, por tanto, con la intención de: distribuir de forma justa la carga de los conmutadores; optimizar las retransmisiones de PDU; aliviar la implosión sobre las fuentes; evitar la fragmentación de las PDU y disminuir el interleaving de células, optimizando el goodput.Los conmutadores AcTMs requieren también el hardware apropiado para soportar TAP. Para ello, además del buffer, se proponen, la memoria DMTE y un conjunto de tablas de E/S asociadas a cada uno de los puertos de los AcTMs. Se demuestra que estos requerimientos hardware son realistas y viables para ser incorporados en los conmutadores activos. Destacamos el carácter multidisciplinar de esta tesis, donde la base de las investigaciones es la ingeniería de protocolos ATM, complementada con las novedosas ventajas que los agentes software pueden aportar. No obstante, los conmutadores finalmente obtenidos podrían ser objeto del ámbito de las arquitecturas especializadas, de forma que varios módulos del prototipo presentado, podrían ser implementados como componentes hardware para optimizar su rendimiento.Una vez identificadas las limitaciones de la tecnología ATM para soportar las transferencias garantizadas, que son nuestro principal objetivo, se describe la motivación general de estas investigaciones en entornos donde ATM es la base del tráfico IP. De este modo, se emplea NS (Network Simulator) para el estudio de escenarios donde el protocolo TAP puede aportar importantes beneficios al conocido protocolo TCP.Para poder estudiar el comportamiento de todas estas propuestas hemos implementado un simulador de TAP que aprovecha las ventajas que aporta el lenguaje Java para el desarrollo de protocolos de comunicaciones y de SMA. Este simulador permite definir múltiples escenarios y analizar los resultados de la simulación del prototipo para poder llegar a una serie de interesantes conclusiones. Las simulaciones a través de fuentes ON/OFF analizan conexiones punto-a-punto y punto-a-multipunto usando clases, objetos, threads, sincronizaciones y procesos distribuidos implementados en lenguaje Java.La memoria de tesis doctoral ha sido organizada en tres grandes apartados con el objeto de estructurar adecuadamente los contenidos presentados. La Parte I está dedicada a analizar las investigaciones relacionadas con este trabajo, de forma que se describen en siete capítulos los aspectos básicos de la tecnología ATM y se aprovecha cada uno de los capítulos para presentar resumidamente nuestras aportaciones, las cuales son ampliadas en las Partes II y III. De este modo, comenzamos destacando en el Capítulo 1 los fundamentos de la tecnología, para pasar después a describir en el Capítulo 2 una taxonomía de arquitecturas y protocolos para las redes ATM que nos sirven para identificar la propuesta TAP cuya arquitectura básica es incluida al final del capítulo. El Capítulo 3 se centra en los conceptos de fiabilidad y garantía de servicio (GoS) destacando éste último, ya que es una de nuestras propuestas a los parámetros generales de calidad de servicio (QoS) y que se deriva de éstos. Así, se explica el mecanismo con el que se ofrece la GoS a las fuentes privilegiadas. Seguidamente, el Capítulo 4 se centra en el control de congestión y la justicia, ambos aplicados sobre las colas de entrada de los conmutadores ATM. Éstos son también dos aspectos básicos en nuestra propuesta para conseguir aportar soluciones al problema de las congestiones en las fuentes privilegiadas, pero garantizando además la justicia a aquellas fuentes que no lo son. Una vez estudiadas las propuestas de la literatura se presenta un esquema de nuestro algoritmo QPWFQ. El Capítulo 5 estudia los diversos mecanismos de control de congestión aplicados sobre el buffer de los conmutadores y, después de analizar las propuestas más extendidas, comentamos nuestro algoritmo EPDR inspirado en EPD para conseguir atender las solicitudes de retransmisión de las PDU congestionadas. En el Capítulo 6 se realiza una revisión de la literatura en materia de agentes software orientada hacia las redes de comunicaciones, con la intención de centrar adecuadamente el SMA que proponemos como soporte de TAP y con el objetivo de conseguir una red activa formada por conmutadores AcTMs cuya arquitectura es adelantada al final de este capítulo. El Capítulo 7 justifica el carácter distribuido del protocolo TAP sobre una VPN (Virtual Private Network) constituida por nodos AcTMs que coexisten con conmutadores no activos en la misma red. En resumen, la Parte I trata de justificar nuestras propuestas, reafirmándolas sobre los propios fundamentos de la tecnología actual.La Parte II identifica las motivaciones generales de esta tesis, partiendo de las limitaciones actuales de la tecnología ATM que se pretenden solventar con la propuesta de TAP. Esta parte se ha dividido en dos capítulos, dedicándose el Capítulo 8 a describir las motivaciones generales, de modo que el control de congestión en los nodos de la red no sólo beneficia al tráfico ATM nativo, sino que puede ser también de utilidad para protocolos tan extendidos como TCP. Se identifican, por tanto, los beneficios aportados por TAP a las redes actuales. En el Capítulo 9 se discuten las limitaciones de ATM frente al parámetro de GoS propuesto y se explica cómo TAP puede evitar problemas tan indeseables como la fragmentación de las PDU, el interleaving del tráfico, las retransmisiones extremo-extremo y la implosión en las fuentes de tráfico.El objetivo de la Parte III es detallar las soluciones propuestas, de forma que en cuatro capítulos se realiza una descripción detallada, tanto de la arquitectura, como del protocolo que se implementa sobre ella. El Capítulo 10 describe la arquitectura distribuida y multiagente TAP, relacionándola con el modelo arquitectónico ATM, y analizando cada uno de los componentes hardware y software de los conmutadores AcTMs. El Capítulo 11 se centra específicamente en detallar el conjunto de algoritmos que constituyen el protocolo TAP y, por tanto, en el SMA que lo constituye. También se formaliza la idea intuitiva de aprovechar los tiempos de inactividad de la red para atender las retransmisiones de las PDU congestionadas. El Capítulo 12 presenta los detalles de implementación del simulador de TAP que proponemos como prototipo para analizar los resultados obtenidos en diversos escenarios. Se argumenta la elección del lenguaje Java como herramienta para el desarrollo de protocolos y SMA, para pasar después a describir la metodología y las decisiones de diseño más importantes, así como de las clases Java más destacables del prototipo. Este capítulo concluye con el análisis de los resultados más significativos de las simulaciones. Por último, el Capítulo 13 se dedica a identificar líneas futuras de acción que aporten continuidad al conjunto de investigaciones de las que ha sido objeto esta tesis doctoral. / In this doctoral thesis, TAP (Trusted and Active Protocol PDU Transfer) is presented as an innovative architecture for ATM networks due to its active multi-agent and distributive characteristics. The protocol proposed for this architecture offers guaranteed transfer of a privileged group of VPI/VCI connections. We also propose an extension of the AAL-5 layer of ATM which we have called EAAL-5 ( Extended AAL type 5) which is used for the management of privileged end-to end connections.TAP offers Guarantee of Service (GoS) when the network is losing ATM cells and it takes advantage of the inactive periods in the links in order to retransmit the CPCS-PDU-EAAL-5. The protocol we propose uses NACK mechanisms (using backwards RM cells) and is supported by active ATM switches that have a PDU storage memory called DMTE (Dynamic Memory to store Trusted Native EAAL-5 PDU).Our proposed active architecture is based on a MAS (Multi-Agent System) formed by programmable collaborative agents, distributed in the network. The simulations carried out have proved the effectiveness of the PDU recovery mechanism that we have proposed for a better goodput in the net.The TAP architecture is supported over active ATM switches which we have called AcTMs (Active Asynchronous Transfer Mode Switch) and which we have designed with software technology in order to:· guarantee the fair management of entry queues based on WFQ (Weighted Fair Queueing);· manage the control of buffer congestion, using a device inspired by EPD (Early Packet Discard)· and prevent, with VCmerge, the mixing of PDUs coming from different connections.We therefore propose this software technology in order to: fairly distribute the load on the switches; optimize the PDU retransmissions; alleviate the implosion on the sources; prevent PDU fragmentation and decrease the interleaving of cells, thereby optimizing goodput.The AcTM switches also need the appropriate hardware in order to support TAP. Therefore, we propose not only the buffer but also DMTE memory and a set of I/O tables that go with each AcTM port. It has been proved that these hardware requirements are realistic and viable and can be integrated in the active switches. We would also like to point out the multidisciplinary nature of this thesis in which the basis of the research is ATM protocol engineering, complemented by the innovative advantages that the software agents can provide. Nevertheless, the switches that we have finally managed to obtain could be regarded as within the field of specialized architectures; thus several modules of the prototype we have presented could be implemented as hardware components in order to optimize performance.Once the limitations of ATM technology in supporting guaranteed transfer have been identified, which is our principal objective, we describe the general motive for this research in environments where ATM is the basis of IP traffic. An NS (Network Simulator) has thus been used in order to study scenarios in which TAP protocol can significantly improve the already familiar TCP protocol.In order to study the performance of all these proposed improvements, we have used a TAP simulator, which has the advantages that Java language offers for the development of MAS and communication protocols. This simulator can define a variety of scenarios and analyse the results of the simulation of the prototype thus reaching a series of interesting conclusions. The simulations, via ON/OFF sources, analyse point-to-point and point-to-multipoint connections using classes, objects, threads, synchronizations and distributed processes carried out under Java.This dissertation has been organized in three parts in order to adequately structure the contents presented. Part I analyses the research related to this work; thus the first seven chapters describe the basic aspects of ATM technology. Each chapter briefly presents our contributions, which are studied in greater detail in Parts II and III.Thus, in Chapter 1 we point out the basic concepts of this technology and, in Chapter 2, we describe a taxonomy of architectures and protocols for ATM networks which will serve to identify our TAP proposal whose basic architecture is included at the end of the chapter.Chapter 3 deals with the concepts of reliability and GoS, with an emphasis on the latter since this is one of our proposals for the improvement of the general parameters of Quality of Service (QoS). Thus, we explain the mechanism, which is used in order to provide GoS to privileged sources.Following this, Chapter 4, deals with congestion control and fairness, which are applied to ATM switch entry queues. These concepts are also two basic aspects of our proposal to provide solutions to the problem of congestion at privileged sources, while -at the same time- guaranteeing fairness to those sources, which are not privileged. After studying the proposals that have already been published in this area of research, we present an outline of our QPWFQ (Queue PDU Weighted Fair Queueing) algorithm.In Chapter 5 we study the various congestion control mechanisms applied to switch buffers (that already exist) and, after analysing the most common proposals and solutions, we describe our EPDR (Early Packet Discard and Relay) algorithm inspired by EPD and which aims to attend the retransmission requests of congested PDUs.Chapter 6 reviews the literature on software agents designed for communication networks since we intend to explain the relevance of the MAS that we propose as a support for TAP. Thus, our objective is to obtain an active network formed by AcTMs switches whose architecture is outlined at the end of the chapter.In Chapter 7 we justify the distributive characteristics of the TAP protocol over a VPN (Virtual Private Network) formed by AcTMs nodes which exist side by side with non-active switches in the same network.Thus, in Part I we intend to justify our proposals by basing them on the fundamentals of the present technology.Part II describes the general motivation of this thesis, beginning with an analysis of the present limitations of ATM technology, which we propose to solve by using TAP. This part is divided into two chapters: Chapter 8 describes our general objectives whereby the control of congestion at the network nodes not only benefits native ATM traffic but can also be of use for such widespread protocols as TCP. We thus point out the advantages that TAP can provide for present-day networks.In Chapter 9 the limitations of ATM are discussed vis a vis the GoS parameter we have proposed and we explain how TAP can avoid such undesirable problems as PDU fragmentation, traffic interleaving, end-to-end retransmissions and the implosion of traffic sources.The objective of Part III is a comprehensive description of the solutions that we propose and, in the following four chapters, we provide a detailed description both of the architecture and of the protocol that goes with it.Chapter 10 describes the TAP distributed, multi-agent architecture, relating it to the ATM architectural model and analysing each of the hardware and software components of the AcTMs switches.Chapter 11 specifically focuses on the exhaustive description of the complete set of algorithms that make up the TAP protocol and therefore within the MAS which constitutes it. Moreover, the intuitive idea of making use of the periods of inactivity in the network in order to deal with the retransmissions of congested PDUs is formalized as a theory.In Chapter 12 we present the details of the implementation of the TAP simulator proposed as a prototype in order to analyse the results obtained under different scenarios. We argue in favour of the choice of Java language as a tool for the development of protocols and MAS and we then describe the methodology and the most important decisions concerning design as well as the most outstanding classes of Java used in the prototype. This chapter ends with an analysis of the most significant results of the simulations.Finally, Chapter 13 focuses on identifying future lines of action that would give continuity to the whole range of research which has been the object of study of this doctoral thesis.

OBJECTIVES: The S100B protein subgroup is a thermolabile acidic calcium-binding protein. S100B protein was first described in the central nervous system. Destruction of the nerve tissue results in S100B protein release from astrocytic glial cells and elevation of its levels in the cerebrospinal fluid. If the blood-brain barrier is also damaged, S100B gets into the systemic circulation and elevated blood levels of S100B are detected. Higher S100B serum levels in patients with head injury are predictive of possible development of secondary brain injury and the extent of permanent injury to the CNS. MATHERIAL AND METHODS: The authors present their results obtained in the group of 39 children aged 0 (newborns) to 17 years with isolated craniocerebral injury. RESULTS: Our group included 39 children aged 0-17 years. Excellent results (GOS - Glasgow outcome scale 4-5) were observed in 33 patients already at the time of transfer from our ICU to the neurological department. There was no death and the poor outcome group included only 6 children. Second GOS evaluation was performed 6 months later, when 36 children were in the GOS 4-5 group and only 3 children in the GOS 2-3 group. CONCLUSIONS: Due to high variability in S100B protein serum levels in children depending on age and gender, no correlation between...