Gender has developed as an important ‘public and political’ category throughout the Twentieth Century in BC and Canada as the basis of feminist demands on society and governments. In 2007, gender has become ‘privatized’ and increasingly erased from government institutions. The de-politicization of gender in Canada is an example of a shifting social consciousness and political discourse that avoids a critical perspective on the social context and places an increasing emphasis on the individual. A new critical discourse must grapple with these challenges, emerge at some distance from government and coincide with a political activism that has resonance in women’s lives.

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No. of bitstreams: 1 fachinelli_rl_me_bot.pdf: 1066915 bytes, checksum: 93987ac1254ae543ed84ff519a438005 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-22 / Objetivo: Comparar a ceratometria média aferida (KA) sob narcose em crianças submetidas à facectomia, por catarata congênita ou do desenvolvimento, com a ceratometria média obtida por cálculo teórico (KC), utilizando o poder dióptrico da lente intraocular (LIO) implantada e dados refracionais e biométricos pós-operatórios, a fim de evidenciar possíveis erros de aferição da KA devido a narcose. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo realizado a partir da análise de dados coletados de prontuários de pacientes com catarata bilateral, congênita ou do desenvolvimento, que receberam tratamento cirúrgico no HC-FMB. Foram analisados 73 olhos de crianças que possuíam pelo menos um exame pós-operatório completo, cada momento em que determinado olho foi examinado foi considerado um elemento do conjunto amostral, totalizando 165 momentos. KC foi obtida a partir de fórmula teórica para cálculo de LIO, utilizando os dados biométricos pós-operatórios (AL e ACD), refratometria automatizada pós-operatória e poder dióptrico da LIO implantada. Foi calculada a diferença entre KA e KC (Desvio = KA – KC). Para análise estatística dos desvios encontrados e comparação entre KA e KC, foi realizado o teste de associação de Goodman e o teste não paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis. Resultados: A média de idade no momento da cirurgia do primeiro olho foi 954,62 dias, com desvio padrão de ±794,14 dias, mediana de 953 dias, sendo a idade mínima de 44 dias e a máxima de 2659 dias. Vinte e três eram do sexo masculino (62,16%) e 14 eram do sexo feminino (37,84%). KA variou de 40,62D a 51,50D, com mediana de 45,25D, média de 45,32D e desvio padrão de ±2,37D. KC variou de 39,40D a 52,26D, com mediana de 44,49D, média de 44,54D e desvio padrão de ±2,41D. Os desvios (Desvio = KA – KC) variaram de -2,28D a 3,81D, com mediana de 0,83D, média de 0,79D e desvio padrão de ±1,18D. A relação entre KC e KA pode ser representada pela equação KA = 1,0172 Kc. Conclusão: A comparação entre KC e KA em crianças sob narcose evidenciou que há superestimação do valor aferido em relação ao calculado. A análise dos desvios encontrados mostrou tendência para maior superestimação quanto maior a KA com diferença significativa (p<0,05) nas aferições acima de 44,0D. / Purpose: To compare the mean keratometry measured (KA) in children under anesthesia to receive surgical treatment for congenital or developmental cataract with a mean keratometry obtaeined by a theoretical formula (KC), using the implanted intraocular lens (IOL) power value and postoperative refractional and biometric data, in order to check possible observational erros of KA due to general anesthesia. Methods: A retrospective study analysing records of patients with congenital or developmental bilateral cataract who underwent surgical treatment at HC-FMB. Seventy-three children’s eyes that had at least one full postoperative exam were analyzed, each time one eye was assessed was considered one element of the sample group, and the total amount was 165 elements. KC was determined by a theoretical formula for calculating IOL power using postoperative biometric data (AL e ACD), postoperative automatic refractometery and refractive power of the implanted IOL. The KA observational error value was obtained by subtracting KC from KA (Error = KA - KC). Statistical analysis of the observational erros and the comparison between KA and KC were made by Goodman’s test and Kruskal-Wallis’ non-parametric test. Results: the mean age at the moment of the first surgery was of 954,62 days, the standard deviation was ±794,14 days, the median was 953 days, the minimum age was 44 days and the maximum age was 2659 days. Twenty-three (62,16%) patients were male and 14 (37,84%) female. KA ranged from 40,62D to 51,50D, the median was 45,25D, the mean was 45,32D and the standard deviation was ±2,37D. KC ranged from 39,40D to 52,26D, the median was 44,49D, the mean was 44,54D and the standard deviation was ±2,41D. Observational errors ranged from -2,28D to 3,81D, the median was 0,83D, the mean was 0,79D and the standard deviation was ±1,18D. The rate between KC and KA can be represented by the equation KA = 1.0172 KC. Conclusion: The comparison between KC and KA in children under general anesthesia showed that there is an overestimation of the value measured when compared to the calculated one. The analysis of the observational errors showed there is a tendency to greater overestimation the higher the KA, with significant difference (p <0.05) in the measurements over 44.0D.

A simplicial cell complex K is the face poset of a regular CW complex W such that the boundary complex of each cell is isomorphic to the boundary complex of a simplex of same dimension. If a topological space X is homeomorphic to W then we say that K is a pseudotriangulation of X. For d 1, a (d + 1)-colored graph is a graph = (V; E) with a proper edge coloring : E ! f0; : : : ; dg. Such a graph is called contracted if (V; E n 1(i)) is connected for each color A contracted graph = (V; E) with an edge coloring : E ! f0; : : : ; dg determines a d-dimensional simplicial cell complex K( ) whose vertices have one to one correspondence with the colors 0; : : : ; d and the facets (d-cells) have one to one correspondence with the vertices in V . If K( ) is a pseudotriangulation of a manifold M then ( ; ) is called a crystallization of M. In [71], Pezzana proved that every connected closed PL manifold admits a crystallization. This thesis addresses many important results of crystallization theory in combinatorial topology. The main contributions in this thesis are the followings. We have introduced the weight of a group which has a presentation with number of relations is at most the number of generators. We have shown that the number of vertices of any crystallization of a connected closed 3-manifold M is at least the weight of the fundamental group of M. This lower bound is sharp for the 3-manifolds RP3, L(3; 1), L(5; 2), S1 S1 S1, S2 S1, S2 S1 and S3=Q8, where Q8 is the quaternion group. Moreover, there is a unique such vertex minimal crystallization in each of these seven cases. We have also constructed crystallizations of L(kq 1; q) with 4(q + k 1) vertices for q 3, k 2 and L(kq +1; q) with 4(q + k) vertices for q 4, k 1. In [22], Casali and Cristofori found similar crystallizations of lens spaces. By a recent result of Swartz [76], our crystallizations of L(kq + 1; q) are vertex minimal when kq + 1 are even. In [47], Gagliardi found presentations of the fundamental group of a manifold M in terms of a crystallization of M. Our construction is the converse of this, namely, given a presentation of the fundamental group of a 3-manifold M, we have constructed a crystallization of M. These results are in Chapter 3. We have de ned the weight of the pair (hS j Ri; R) for a given presentation hS j R of a group, where the number of generators is equal to the number of relations. We present an algorithm to construct crystallizations of 3-manifolds whose fundamental group has a presentation with two generators and two relations. If the weight of (hS j Ri; R) is n then our algorithm constructs all the n-vertex crystallizations which yield (hS j Ri; R). As an application, we have constructed some new crystallization of 3-manifolds. We have generalized our algorithm for presentations with three generators and a certain class of relations. For m 3 and m n k 2, our generalized algorithm gives a 2(2m + 2n + 2k 6 + n2 + k2)-vertex crystallization of the closed connected orientable 3-manifold Mhm; n; ki having fundamental group hx1; x2; x3 j xm1 = xn2 = xk3 = x1x2x3i. These crystallizations are minimal and unique with respect to the given presentations. If `n = 2' or `k 3 and m 4' then our crystallization of Mhm; n; ki is vertex-minimal for all the known cases. These results are in Chapter 4. We have constructed a minimal crystallization of the standard PL K3 surface. The corresponding simplicial cell complex has face vector (5; 10; 230; 335; 134). In combination with known results, this yields minimal crystallizations of all simply connected PL 4-manifolds of \standard" type, i.e., all connected sums of CP2, CP2, S2 S2, and the K3 surface. In particular, we obtain minimal crystallizations of a pair 4-manifolds which are homeomorphic but not PL-homeomorphic. We have also presented an elementary proof of the uniqueness of the 8-vertex crystallization of CP2. These results are in Chapter 5. For any crystallization ( ; ) the number f1(K( )) of 1-simplices in K( ) is at least d+1 . It is easy to see that f1(K( )) = d+1 if and only if (V; 1(A)) is connected for each d 2 2 1)-set A called simple. All the crystallization in Chapter 5 (. Such a crystallization is are simple. Let ( ; ) be a crystallization of M, where = (V; E) and : E ! f0; : : : ; dg. We say that ( ; ) is semi-simple if (V; 1(A)) has m + 1 connected components for each (d 1)-set A, where m is the rank of the fundamental group of M. Let ( ; ) be a connected (d +1)-regular (d +1)-colored graph, where = (V; E) and : E ! f0; : : : ; dg. An embedding i : ,! S of into a closed surface S is called regular if there exists a cyclic permutation ("0; "1; : : : ; "d) (of the color set) such that the boundary of each face of i( ) is a bi-color cycle with colors "j; "j+1 for some j (addition is modulo d+1). Then the regular genus of ( ; ) is the least genus (resp., half of genus) of the orientable (resp., non-orientable) surface into which embeds regularly. The regular genus of a closed connected PL 4-manifold M is the minimum regular genus of its crystallizations. For a closed connected PL 4-manifold M, we have provided the following: (i) a lower bound for the regular genus of M and (ii) a lower bound of the number of vertices of any crystallization of M. We have proved that all PL 4-manifolds admitting semi-simple crystallizations, attain our bounds. We have also characterized the class of PL 4-manifolds which admit semi-simple crystallizations. These results are in Chapter 6.

Orientador: Antonio Carlos Lottelli Rodrigues / Resumo: Objetivo: Comparar a ceratometria média aferida (KA) sob narcose em crianças submetidas à facectomia, por catarata congênita ou do desenvolvimento, com a ceratometria média obtida por cálculo teórico (KC), utilizando o poder dióptrico da lente intraocular (LIO) implantada e dados refracionais e biométricos pós-operatórios, a fim de evidenciar possíveis erros de aferição da KA devido a narcose. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo realizado a partir da análise de dados coletados de prontuários de pacientes com catarata bilateral, congênita ou do desenvolvimento, que receberam tratamento cirúrgico no HC-FMB. Foram analisados 73 olhos de crianças que possuíam pelo menos um exame pós-operatório completo, cada momento em que determinado olho foi examinado foi considerado um elemento do conjunto amostral, totalizando 165 momentos. KC foi obtida a partir de fórmula teórica para cálculo de LIO, utilizando os dados biométricos pós-operatórios (AL e ACD), refratometria automatizada pós-operatória e poder dióptrico da LIO implantada. Foi calculada a diferença entre KA e KC (Desvio = KA – KC). Para análise estatística dos desvios encontrados e comparação entre KA e KC, foi realizado o teste de associação de Goodman e o teste não paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis. Resultados: A média de idade no momento da cirurgia do primeiro olho foi 954,62 dias, com desvio padrão de ±794,14 dias, mediana de 953 dias, sendo a idade mínima de 44 dias e a máxima de 2659 dias. Vinte e três eram do sexo masculino (62,... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Purpose: To compare the mean keratometry measured (KA) in children under anesthesia to receive surgical treatment for congenital or developmental cataract with a mean keratometry obtaeined by a theoretical formula (KC), using the implanted intraocular lens (IOL) power value and postoperative refractional and biometric data, in order to check possible observational erros of KA due to general anesthesia. Methods: A retrospective study analysing records of patients with congenital or developmental bilateral cataract who underwent surgical treatment at HC-FMB. Seventy-three children’s eyes that had at least one full postoperative exam were analyzed, each time one eye was assessed was considered one element of the sample group, and the total amount was 165 elements. KC was determined by a theoretical formula for calculating IOL power using postoperative biometric data (AL e ACD), postoperative automatic refractometery and refractive power of the implanted IOL. The KA observational error value was obtained by subtracting KC from KA (Error = KA - KC). Statistical analysis of the observational erros and the comparison between KA and KC were made by Goodman’s test and Kruskal-Wallis’ non-parametric test. Results: the mean age at the moment of the first surgery was of 954,62 days, the standard deviation was ±794,14 days, the median was 953 days, the minimum age was 44 days and the maximum age was 2659 days. Twenty-three (62,16%) patients were male and 14 (37,84%) female. KA ranged from... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

In this work, we have investigated the thermal properties (diffusivity (D), conductivity (K), temperature coefficient of the optical path length change (ds/dT), etc) and loss processes owing to the ion-ion interactions, in Nd3+ doped laser materials, specifically YAG ceramic and CGGG crystal. Since the fluorescence quantum efficiency, , is directly related to these mechanisms that lead to luminescence quenching, the studies were carried out mainly observing the effects of these processes on . To this goal we used mainly the thermal lens technique and conventional spectroscopy. In Nd:YAG ceramic, we have investigated the losses due to down-conversion or, as they are well known, concentration quenching that are basically cross relaxation (CR) and energy migration (EM). From these results, it was concluded that the main source of luminescence quenching is CR and that the small ds/dT value together with the high optimum concentration put this material as candidate for several applications. In Nd:CGGG crystal, we have studied the loss processes owing to upconversion or, as is better known, upconversion Auger (UA) or energy transfer upconversion, which are important in laser systems of high. / Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Alagoas / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Neste trabalho investigamos as propriedades térmicas (difusividade (D), condutividade (K), variação do caminho óptico com a temperatura (ds/dT), etc) e processos de perdas devido a interações entre íons, em materiais lasers dopados com Nd3+, especificamente cerâmica de YAG e cristal CGGG. Desde que a eficiência quântica de fluorescência, , está diretamente relacionada com esses mecanismos que levam a supressão da luminescência, os estudos foram realizados principalmente observando os efeitos desses agentes sobre . Para esse propósito, usamos principalmente a técnica de lente térmica e espectroscopia convencional. Na cerâmica de Nd:YAG investigamos as perdas por down-conversion ou, como é melhor conhecidas, quenching de concentração que são basicamente relaxação cruzada (RC) e migração de energia (ME). Nesses resultados concluímos que a principal fonte de supressão da luminescência é RC e que o valor de ds/dT baixo juntamente com a concentração ótima alta apresentam esse material com boas perspectivas de aplicações. No cristal Nd:CGGG estudamos os processos de perdas por upconversion ou, como é melhor conhecido, conversão ascendente Auger (CAA) ou conversão ascendente por transferência de energia, os quais são importantes em sistemas lasers de alta potência e/ou altas concentrações de íons dopantes. Com a presença dos processos de CAA é adicionado mais um canal de decaimento não radiativo. E como resultado foi observado uma diminuição de η e consequentemente um aumento da carga térmica (φ). O conhecimento dos processos investigados nesta dissertação é de importância fundamental para a engenharia e caracterização de matérias lasers.

The resolution of optical instruments is normally limited by the wave nature of light. Circumventing this limit, known as the diffraction limit of imaging, is of tremendous practical importance for modern science and technology. One method, super-resolved fluorescence microscopy was distinguished with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2014, but there is plenty of room for alternatives and complementary methods such as the pioneering work of Prof. J. Pendry on the perfect lens based on negative refraction that started the entire research area of metamaterials. In this thesis, we have used analytical techniques to solve several important challenges that have risen in the discussion of the microwave experimental demonstration of absolute optical instruments and the controversy surrounding perfect imaging. Attempts to overcome or circumvent Abbe's diffraction limit of optical imaging, have traditionally been greeted with controversy. In this thesis, we have investigated the role of interacting sources and detectors in perfect imaging. We have established limitations and prospects that arise from interactions and resonances inside the lens. The crucial role of detection becomes clear in Feynman's argument against the diffraction limit: “as Maxwell's electromagnetism is invariant upon time reversal, the electromagnetic wave emitted from a point source may be reversed and focused into a point with point-like precision, not limited by diffraction.” However, for this, the entire emission process must be reversed, including the source: A point drain must sit at the focal position, in place of the point source, otherwise, without getting absorbed at the detector, the focused wave will rebound and the superposition of the focusing and the rebounding wave will produce a diffraction-limited spot. The time-reversed source, the drain, is the detector which taking the image of the source. In 2011-2012, experiments with microwaves have confirmed the role of detection in perfect focusing. The emitted radiation was actively time-reversed and focused back at the point of emission, where, the time-reversed of the source sits. Absorption in the drain localizes the radiation with a precision much better than the diffraction limit. Absolute optical instruments may perform the time reversal of the field with perfectly passive materials and send the reversed wave to a different spatial position than the source. Perfect imaging with absolute optical instruments is defected by a restriction: so far it has only worked for a single–source single–drain configuration and near the resonance frequencies of the device. In chapters 6 and 7 of the thesis, we have investigated the imaging properties of mutually interacting detectors. We found that an array of detectors can image a point source with arbitrary precision. However, for this, the radiation has to be at resonance. Our analysis has become possible thanks to a theoretical model for mutually interacting sources and drains we developed after considerable work and several failed attempts. Modelling such sources and drains analytically had been a major unsolved problem, full numerical simulations have been difficult due to the large difference in the scales involved (the field localization near the sources and drains versus the wave propagation in the device). In our opinion, nobody was able to reproduce reliably the experiments, because of the numerical complexity involved. Our analytic theory draws from a simple, 1–dimensional model we developed in collaboration with Tomas Tyc (Masaryk University) and Alex Kogan (Weizmann Institute). This model was the first to explain the data of experiment, characteristic dips of the transmission of displaced drains, which establishes the grounds for the realistic super-resolution of absolute optical instruments. As the next step in Chapter 7 we developed a Lagrangian theory that agrees with the simple and successful model in 1–dimension. Inspired by the Lagrangian of the electromagnetic field interacting with a current, we have constructed a Lagrangian that has the advantage of being extendable to higher dimensions in our case two where imaging takes place. Our Lagrangian theory represents a device-independent, idealized model independent of numerical simulations. To conclude, Feynman objected to Abbe's diffraction limit, arguing that as Maxwell's electromagnetism is time-reversal invariant, the radiation from a point source may very well become focused in a point drain. Absolute optical instruments such as the Maxwell Fisheye can perform the time reversal and may image with a perfect resolution. However, the sources and drains in previous experiments were interacting with each other as if Feynman's drain would act back to the source in the past. Different ways of detection might circumvent this feature. The mutual interaction of sources and drains does ruin some of the promising features of perfect imaging. Arrays of sources are not necessarily resolved with arrays of detectors, but it also opens interesting new prospects in scanning near-fields from far–field distances. To summarise the novel idea of the thesis: • We have discovered and understood the problems with the initial experimental demonstration of the Maxwell Fisheye. • We have solved a long-standing challenge of modelling the theory for mutually interacting sources and drains. • We understand the imaging properties of the Maxwell Fisheye in the wave regime. Let us add one final thought. It has taken the scientific community a long time of investigation and discussion to understand the different ingredients of the diffraction limit. Abbe's limit was initially attributed to the optical device only. But, rather all three processes of imaging, namely illumination, transfer and detection, make an equal contribution to the total diffraction limit. Therefore, we think that for violating the diffraction limit one needs to consider all three factors together. Of course, one might circumvent the limit and achieve a better resolution by focusing on one factor, but that does not necessary imply the violation of a fundamental limit. One example is STED microscopy that focuses on the illumination, another near–field scanning microscopy that circumvents the diffraction limit by focusing on detection. Other methods and strategies in sub-wavelength imaging –negative refraction, time reversal imaging and on the case and absolute optical instruments –are concentrating on the faithful transfer of the optical information. In our opinion, the most significant, and naturally the most controversial, part of our findings in the course of this study was elucidating the role of detection. Maxwell's Fisheye transmits the optical information faithfully, but this is not enough. To have a faithful image, it is also necessary to extract the information at the destination. In our last two papers, we report our new findings of the contribution of detection. We find out in the absolute optical instruments, such as the Maxwell Fisheye, embedded sources and detectors are not independent. They are mutually interacting, and this interaction influences the imaging property of the system.

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence constitutes one of the major protection concerns in displacement settings, being the current Syrian crisis in Lebanon no exception. This has led international and Lebanese humanitarian actors to design and implement prevention and response programmes country-wide to ensure the protection of persons of concern. Yet, gender-related programmes seem to maintain a traditional approach which focuses disproportionately on women and girls. As for SGBV programmes, while women and girls do constitute the bulk of SGBV survivors, such traditional approach overlooks the need of other groups concerned by any gender and SGBV-related interventions. This holds especially true to men and boys, whose engagement in SGBV programming is still conceived in silos, usually included in prevention programmes in their role as perpetrators. Working with men and boys survivors is not widespread and there is no consistent attempt to involve men across all stages in programmes. With no aim to compromise the much needed interventions with women and girls, this Master’s thesis aims at exploring an enhanced men-inclusive approach to SGBV programmes through the exploration of a tool called the men’s lens. By analyzing how Syrian refugee men’s own masculinities and manhood and their linkages to their social positioning influence the emergence of SGBV, this Master’s thesis explores the feasibility of such approach through interviews and a set of recommendations to humanitarian actors in Lebanon. As such, the thesis contributes to bringing together academia and the humanitarian realm, contextualising the men’s lens to the reality on the ground. This includes the adoption of a practical focus on the intertwinement between SGBV, masculinities and intersectionality among Syrian refugees in Lebanon, with the ultimate goal of contributing to improving current SGBV programmes in the Syria crisis.

Efeitos ópticos não-lineares foram estudados em filmes finos de silício amorfo hidrogenado através da técnica de varredura-Z, que utiliza um único feixe de luz laser de onda contínua, modulado na escala de tempo de milissegundos. Em tal técnica, amostras do material foram deslocadas ao longo da região focal de um feixe com perfil de intensidade gaussiano e comprimento de onda de 532 nm, enquanto a transmitância da luz foi medida no campo distante. Os filmes foram depositados sobre vidro pela técnica PECVD a baixas temperaturas (entre 50 °C e 200 °C) e foi utilizado fósforo como impureza dopante: variando-se a concentração do gás fosfina durante a deposição do material, obtêm-se diferentes quantidades de fósforo incorporado no Si-a:H. Durante a realização da varredura-Z, foi observado o efeito de lente térmica no sinal da transmitância e a resolução temporal do sinal medido possibilitou o ajuste dos dados experimentais ao Modelo de Lente Térmica. A partir dos parâmetros desse ajuste, foi possível determinar a difusividade térmica das amostras (D ~ 3x10-³ cm²/s) e estimar sua condutividade térmica (K ~ 5x10-³ W/Kcm) e seu coeficiente de temperatura do caminho óptico (ds/dT). Além disso, os valores dos deslocamentos de fase do feixe (´teta\') e dos tempos característicos de formação da lente térmica (tc0) foram obtidos. Efeitos ópticos de origem térmica geralmente são indesejados em dispositivos fotônicos e, para evitá-los, o estudo e o conhecimento das propriedades ópticas não-lineares dos materiais que compõem tais dispositivos são de grande importância. Ademais, aplicações em microssensores podem ser baseadas nas propriedades do Si-a:H estudadas neste trabalho, como, por exemplo, sua condutividade térmica. / Nonlinear optical effects have been studied in hydrogenated amorphous silicon films through the single beam Z-scan technique, using a modulated CW laser in the millisecond time-scale regime. In this technique, the samples were moved along the focal region of a focused gaussian laser beam with wavelength of 532 nm, while the light transmittance in the far field was measured. The films were deposited on glass by low temperature PECVD technique (from 50 °C to 200 °C) and phosphorus were used as a dopant impurity: during the material deposition, different concentrations of phosphine gas cause different amounts of incorporated phosphorus into a-Si:H. The thermal lens effect was observed in the transmittance signal, so the experimental data from the time-resolved Z-scan mode could be fitted in the Thermal Lens Model. It was possible to determine the samples thermal diffusivity (D ~ 3x10-³ cm²/s) and to estimate their thermal conductivity (K ~ 5x10-³ W/Kcm) and temperature coefficient of the optical path length change (ds/dT) through those fittings. Besides, the phase shift (\'teta\') and the thermal lens characteristic time (tc0) were achieved. Thermal optical effects are unwanted to photonics devices, therefore studying and knowing these effects is very important to avoid them. Moreover, applications to microsensor devices may use the a-Si:H properties studied in this work as, for example, its thermal conductivity.

No presente estudo investigou-se amostras de plasma com DNA livre circulante (DNA LC) por meio da técnica Varredura Z. Esta é uma técnica eficiente na determinação de parâmetros de diferentes materiais, tais como cristais líquidos, ferrofluidos e compostos biológicos. Esta experiência é realizada através da focalização de um feixe laser de perfil gaussiano numa amostra. Na medida em que a amostra se aproxima do foco da lente, a intensidade do feixe aumenta e alcança seu valor máximo no ponto focal, então diminui para pontos distantes do foco. Na região próxima ao ponto focal se amplificam os fenômenos não-lineares. Recentemente foi demonstrado que níveis elevados de DNA LC no plasma ocorrem com frequência em pacientes com vários tipos de câncer, podendo ser utilizados para discriminar pacientes com malignidade de pessoas saudáveis. As amostras de DNA LC, submetidas ao experimento Varredura Z, forneceram respostas ópticas devido ao fenômeno de lente térmica. Os resultados revelaram que a amplitude de lente térmica das amostras extraídas do plasma de pacientes com malignidade difere daquela de doadores sãos. A técnica Varredura Z se mostrou mais vantajosa em relação a outras biológicas porque revelou uma maior diferença entre os grupos estudados e tem o caráter de detectar mudanças estruturais no DNA LC. / In the present study plasma samples with cell-free DNA were investigated by means of the Z-Scan technique. This is a powerfull technique in determining parameters of different materials, such as liquid crystals, ferrofluids and biological compounds. This experiment is performed by focusing a Gaussian profile laser beam on a sample. As the sample approaches the focus of the lens, the intensity of the beam increases and reaches its maximum value at the focal point, then decreases to points distant from the focus. In the region near the focal point non-linear phenomena are amplified. It has recently been demonstrated that high levels of plasma cell-free DNA occur frequently in patients with various cancers and can be used to discriminate patients with malignancy from healthy donors. The cell-free DNA samples, submitted to the Z-Scan experiment, provided optical responses due to the thermal lens phenomenon. The results revealed that the thermal lens amplitude of samples extracted from the plasma of patients with malignancy differs from that of healthy donors. The Z-Scan technique was more advantageous than other biological ones because it revealed a greater difference between the studied groups and has the character of detecting structural changes in cell-free DNA.

Introdução: A partir de relatos casos de opacifiação da lente intraocular acrílica hidrofílica Ioflex (Mediphacos, Belo Horizonte, Brasil), muitas vezes utilizada em mutirões de catarata para pessoas carentes, avaliamos a frequência das complicações oculares relacionadas com o implante desta lente quatro anos após a cirurgia, bem como seus efeitos a longo prazo na eficiência da cirurgia de catarata. Métodos: Foi selecionada amostra aleatória com 102 indivíduos submetidos à cirurgia de catarata com implante da lente intraocular Ioflex, em campanha comunitária no interior de Pernambuco, Brasil, quatro anos após a cirurgia. Um total de 31 pacientes não foi localizado e treze (18,3%) não compareceram para o exame. Assim, 58 pacientes (87 olhos) foram examinados. Para o cálculo da frequência da opacificação da cápsula posterior e para a avaliação da eficiência da cirurgia da catarata, foi selecionado apenas um olho de cada paciente. Os sujeitos foram submetidos a exame oftalmológico completo. Pacientes com redução da acuidade visual decorrentes das complicações pós-operatórias foram encaminhados para tratamento. O custo desses eventuais tratamentos foi estimado para análise da eficiência da cirurgia de catarata com a lente Ioflex. Para avaliação dos índices de opacificação da cápsula posterior as variáveis foram expressas por média e desvio padrão. Foi usado o teste t de Student\'s para análise de diferenças entre amostras independentes e pareadas. Resultados: Seis olhos (7%) apresentaram opacificação da lente intraocular. Nenhuma doença ou fator ambiental foi relacionado à opacificação da lente. A opacificação da cápsula posterior foi detectada em 39 (67%) olhos, sendo 24 (41,3%) olhos submetidos ao tratamento com laser para recuperação da acuidade visual. O custo total do tratamento das complicações pós-operatórias representou 6,3% do orçamento cirúrgico inicial. O custo adicional foi de $9,03 dólares por paciente para manter a boa acuidade visual. Conclusão: A lente intraocular acrílica hidrofílica Ioflex apresentou elevada frequência de complicações pós-operatórias tardias relacionadas à própria lente, reduzindo, a longo prazo, a eficácia e eficiência da cirurgia de catarata / Introduction: Based on reports of Ioflex hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lens opacification (Mediphacos, Belo Horizonte, Brazil), used in cataract surgeries for underserved communities, we evaluated the ocular complications related to the intraocular lens implant, four years after surgery, as well as its effects on the visual efficiency of long-term cataract surgery. Methods: A random sample of 102 patients that underwent cataract surgery and Ioflex intraocular lens implantation, in a community campaign in the rural area from Pernambuco, Brazil, four years after surgery. A total of 31 patients could not be located and 13 (18.3%) were not present for examination. Thus, 58 patients (87 eyes) were available for examination. In order to calculate the frequency of posterior capsule opacification and to evaluate the efficiency of cataract surgery, only one eye was selected from each patient. The subjects underwent a complete ophthalmological examination. Patients with reduced visual acuity due to postoperative complications were referred for treatment. The costs of these treatments were estimated for the analysis of the efficiency of the cataract surgery with the Ioflex lens in the long term period. For the evaluation of posterior capsule opacification rates the variables were expressed by means and standard deviation. The Student\'s t test was used for analysis the differences between independent and paired samples. Results: Six eyes (7.0%) had intraocular lens opacification. No disease or environmental factor could be related to intraocular lens opacification. Posterior capsule opacification was detected in 39 (67%) eyes, and 24 (41.3%) eyes were submitted to laser treatment for visual acuity recovered. The total cost of postoperative complications treatment represented 6.3% from the initial budget of the whole patients group evaluated. The additional costs to maintain a good visual outcome was USD $9.03 per patient with Ioflex lens implantation. Conclusion: The Ioflex hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lens had high rates of postoperative complications related to the intraocular lens itself, decreasing effectiveness efficiency in long-term cataract surgery