Injurious falls are a common problem among older institutionalized adults, having serious physical, psychological and/or financial consequences for the fallers, their families, and personal care home (PCH) staff (Tideiksaar, 2002). North Eastman Health Association (NEHA) introduced a Fall Management Program into its five PCHs in 2005 in an effort to keep residents active and mobile, while minimizing injuries if they fell. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the Fall Management Program to determine if its goals of increased resident mobility and injury minimization were being met. A quasi-experimental, pre-post, comparison group design triangulating different data sources was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Fall Occurrence Report data were collected from all five NEHA PCHs, and from seven similar PCHs in the Interlake Regional Health Authority (IRHA) that did not have a fall program in place. Administrative data from the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP) were also used to provide information about some explanatory variables. Comparisons were made between regional health authorities (RHAs) and over time, from the pre- to post- period. Results indicate that NEHA’s Fall Management Program had some benefits for residents – there was a trend towards an increase in mobility (i.e., a non-significant upward trend in falls) while overall injuries remained stable, and falls resulting in hospitalization decreased significantly. NEHA residents appear to have been protected from an increase in injuries despite an upward trend in falls. Moreover, NEHA’s residents had significantly better outcomes compared to similar residents in the non-program PCHs in IRHA. By the post-period, both RHAs had the same rate of falls, but NEHA had significantly fewer injurious falls and falls resulting in hospitalization than IRHA. This suggests that the non-program PCHs had more difficulty preventing resident injuries than the program PCHs in NEHA.

Injurious falls are a common problem among older institutionalized adults, having serious physical, psychological and/or financial consequences for the fallers, their families, and personal care home (PCH) staff (Tideiksaar, 2002). North Eastman Health Association (NEHA) introduced a Fall Management Program into its five PCHs in 2005 in an effort to keep residents active and mobile, while minimizing injuries if they fell. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the Fall Management Program to determine if its goals of increased resident mobility and injury minimization were being met. A quasi-experimental, pre-post, comparison group design triangulating different data sources was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Fall Occurrence Report data were collected from all five NEHA PCHs, and from seven similar PCHs in the Interlake Regional Health Authority (IRHA) that did not have a fall program in place. Administrative data from the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP) were also used to provide information about some explanatory variables. Comparisons were made between regional health authorities (RHAs) and over time, from the pre- to post- period. Results indicate that NEHA’s Fall Management Program had some benefits for residents – there was a trend towards an increase in mobility (i.e., a non-significant upward trend in falls) while overall injuries remained stable, and falls resulting in hospitalization decreased significantly. NEHA residents appear to have been protected from an increase in injuries despite an upward trend in falls. Moreover, NEHA’s residents had significantly better outcomes compared to similar residents in the non-program PCHs in IRHA. By the post-period, both RHAs had the same rate of falls, but NEHA had significantly fewer injurious falls and falls resulting in hospitalization than IRHA. This suggests that the non-program PCHs had more difficulty preventing resident injuries than the program PCHs in NEHA.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2000--Dortmund. / Dateiformat: PDF.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-10T10:54:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Aline Aparecida Bianchi Cavichioli.pdf: 1738539 bytes, checksum: daf87f70d3b9afb9c3c0c7cde9ee9ace (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-01-29 / This stud had as objective investigate the cause and effect relationship between the cities of zoonoses Aragarças, Arenópolis, Caiapônia, Iporá, Ivolândia and Montes Claros, which comprises the area of direct influence of Small Hydroelectric Power Plant in Goiás Mosquitão Southwest. We considered data on the occurrence of zoonoses, demographic, medical importance of fauna and morbidity, and mortality in the municipalities. Information analyzed was taken from the existing official sources, DATASUS, IBGE and SUS information systems in the years 2004 to 2013. For data analysis, whose aim was to relate the cases for morbidity and mortality through the numbers of confirmed cases in the years surveyed, was applied descriptive statistics. The area surveyed did not suffer considerable population increase. We found 34 species of vectors transmitters of disease such as malaria, yellow fever, leishmaniasis and other filling and post-filling of which stand out with 503 dengue fever cases in the filling with admission rates of 8.54% and post-filling this number increases to 3,393 cases an increase of 73% over the filling. The study had some limitations, especially about the divergence of data released by the various bodies. From the results presented only dengue increased incidence in post-dam filling associated with the rainy season, showing relationship between PCH and Mosquitão the disease. For the other zoonoses the information is not sufficient to prove a relationship between PCH Mosquitão and its incidence. / Este trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a relação de causa e efeito entre as zoonoses nas cidades de: Aragarças, Arenópolis, Caiapônia, Iporá, Ivolândia e Montes Claros, que compõe a área de influência direta da Pequena Central Hidrelétrica de Mosquitão no Sudoeste de Goiás. Foram considerados dados relativos à ocorrência de zoonoses, condições demográficas, fauna de importância médica, morbidade, internação e mortalidade nos municípios. As informações analisadas foram extraídas das fontes oficiais existentes, DATASUS, IBGE e Sistemas de Informação do SUS nos anos de 2004 a 2013. Para análise dos dados, cujo intuito foi relacionar os casos de morbimortalidade através dos números de casos confirmados nos anos pesquisados, foi aplicada estatística descritiva. A área pesquisada não sofreu aumento populacional considerável. Foram encontradas 34 espécies de vetores transmissores de doença como: Malária, Febre Amarela, Leishmanioses e outras no enchimento e pós-enchimento dos quais se destacam dengue com 503 casos no enchimento com taxas de internação de 8,54% e no pósenchimento esses números crescem para 3.393 casos, apresentando um aumento de 73% em relação ao enchimento. O trabalho apresentou algumas limitações, principalmente acerca da divergência dos dados divulgados pelos diversos órgãos. Dos resultados obtidos, somente dengue apresentou incidência aumentada no pósenchimento da barragem associado ao período de chuvas, evidenciando relação entre a PCH Mosquitão e a doença. Em relação às demais zoonoses as informações não são suficientes para provar uma relação entre PCH Mosquitão e sua incidência.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:28:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 3312573 bytes, checksum: ed584b61ed8559e202f6757198d90e5e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-06-21 / Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais / All reservoirs formed by dams are subject to the process of sedimentation. Sediment accumulation reduces reservoir s useful volume and causes modifications in its elevation x area x volume (EAV) curves, which must be periodically updated. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the siltation process in SHP (Small Hydropower Plant) Cachoeirão reservoir and to update its operational data. The methodology consisted of comparing the results obtained before and after the reservoir filling, using Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and the fuction TIN (Triangulated irregular network), allowing to generate the EAV curves and to identify the total volumes of sediment deposited in the reservoir and the sediment level in the water intake. From this comparison, it was determined that, during 13 years of operation, the volume of sediment deposited on Cachoeirão s lake was equal to 0.866 hm3. This value represents a reduction of 15.9% in the original storage capacity of the reservoir. The softwares Sediment and Dposit were also used to assess the siltation process in SHP Cachoeirão and their results indicated an underestimation of the deposited sediments volume, in comparison to field results. The sediments accumulated at the bottom of the reservoir presented a variable grain size distribution, ranging from sand size observed in particles deposited closer to the start of backwater, until clay size, observed in particles deposited near to the dam axis. The study also concluded that the expected useful lifetime of the reservoir should not be achieved, unless preventive measures are taken to reduce the amount of sediment that enters the reservoir. / Reservatórios formados por barragens estão sujeitos ao processo de assoreamento. O acúmulo de sedimentos reduz o volume útil do reservatório e provoca alterações em suas curvas cota x área x volume (CAV), que devem ser atualizadas periodicamente. Nesse contexto, este estudo objetivou avaliar o processo de assoreamento no reservatório da PCH Cachoeirão e atualizar os seus dados operacionais. A metodologia empregada consistiu na comparação dos resultados obtidos antes e depois do enchimento do reservatório, com a utilização de Modelo Digital de Elevação (MDE) e função TIN (Triangulated irregular network), que possibilitou gerar as CAV, e identificar volumes de sedimentos totais e níveis de sedimentos na tomada d ́água. A partir dessa comparação, determinou-se que em 13 anos de operação o volume de sedimento depositado no lago da PCH Cachoeirão foi de 0,866 hm3. Esse valor representa uma redução de 15,9% na capacidade de armazenamento original do reservatório. Os softwares Sediment e Dposit também foram utilizados para avaliar o assoreamento da PCH Cachoeirão e seus resultados indicaram uma subestimativa do volume de sedimentos depositado, em relação aos resultados observados em campo. Os sedimentos acumulados no fundo do reservatório apresentaram distribuição granulométrica variável, desde partículas na fração areia, depositadas próximas ao início do remanso, até partículas na fração argila, depositadas próximas ao eixo da barragem. O estudo permitiu concluir que a vida útil esperada para o reservatório não deverá ser alcançada se medidas preventivas, que reduzam a quantidade de sedimentos que adentra o reservatório, não forem tomadas.

Com a abertura do setor de geração de energia elétrica no país houve um aumento do número de projetos para pequenas centrais hidrelétricas - PCHs. Os estudos geológico-geotécnicos necessários para este tipo de obra tiveram que se adaptar às necessidades deste novo setor, sem haver perda da qualidade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o aprimoramento dos estudos de compartimentação geológico-geotécnicos, utilizando um dos sistemas de classificação de maciços rochosos mais conhecidos: o Sistema RMR - rock mass rating - (Bieniawski, 1973), analisando as vantagens, as desvantagens, e o potencial de aplicação do método. A pesquisa foi aplicada na PCH Morro Grande, localizada no Rio Grande do Sul, que apresenta uma grande homogeneidade geológica, sendo o embasamento constituído por derrames basálticos da Formação Serra Geral. Foram propostas algumas modificações na forma de aplicação do sistema RMR, como não pré-compartimentar o maciço, aplicar a classificação diretamente nos testemunhos de sondagem e de forma parcial nos afloramentos, e substituir o RQD (rock quality designation) pelo IQR (índice de qualidade da rocha). Para caracterizar a resistência da rocha foram feitos ensaios de compressão puntual, associados aos diferentes graus de alteração da rocha. O resultado foi apresentado em seções do eixo da barragem e do circuito hidráulico. A metodologia proposta resultou na compartimentação detalhada do maciço rochoso, na área das estruturas da PCH, mostrando-se uma ferramenta útil para a determinação da compartimentação de maciços rochosos, principalmente de maciços homogêneos, podendo ser aplicadas de forma rápida e a um custo baixo para o projeto. / The opening of the electric production sector in Brazil causes an increase amount of Small Hydroelectric Power Station - PCH\'s - project. The necessaries geological-geotechnical studies for this kind of construction had to be adapted to this new sector necessity, without quality losses. This research aim was the improvement of the geological-geotechnical studies, using one of the most well-known rock mass classification systems: the RMR system - rock mass rating - (Bieniawski, 1973), and analyze the advantage, the disadvantage, and potential of this method application. This research was applied to Morro Grande PCH, located on Rio Grande do Sul state - Brazil, which has great geologic homogeneity, and its rock foundation is basaltic rocks of the Serra Geral Formation. Some modification in the RMR application way has been proposal, like don\'t pre-divide the rock mass, apply the system directly in the core logging and partially to the outcrops, and change RQD (rock quality designation) by IQR (rock quality index). To rock strength have been established by point-load test, for the different weathering degrees of the rock samples. The results are presented on profiles of the structures axis. The propose method resulted in detailed compartimentalization of the structures areas, turning into an useful tool to assist the rock mass analyses, mainly to homogeneous rock masses, been applied quickly and at low costs.

Com a abertura do setor de geração de energia elétrica no país houve um aumento do número de projetos para pequenas centrais hidrelétricas - PCHs. Os estudos geológico-geotécnicos necessários para este tipo de obra tiveram que se adaptar às necessidades deste novo setor, sem haver perda da qualidade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o aprimoramento dos estudos de compartimentação geológico-geotécnicos, utilizando um dos sistemas de classificação de maciços rochosos mais conhecidos: o Sistema RMR - rock mass rating - (Bieniawski, 1973), analisando as vantagens, as desvantagens, e o potencial de aplicação do método. A pesquisa foi aplicada na PCH Morro Grande, localizada no Rio Grande do Sul, que apresenta uma grande homogeneidade geológica, sendo o embasamento constituído por derrames basálticos da Formação Serra Geral. Foram propostas algumas modificações na forma de aplicação do sistema RMR, como não pré-compartimentar o maciço, aplicar a classificação diretamente nos testemunhos de sondagem e de forma parcial nos afloramentos, e substituir o RQD (rock quality designation) pelo IQR (índice de qualidade da rocha). Para caracterizar a resistência da rocha foram feitos ensaios de compressão puntual, associados aos diferentes graus de alteração da rocha. O resultado foi apresentado em seções do eixo da barragem e do circuito hidráulico. A metodologia proposta resultou na compartimentação detalhada do maciço rochoso, na área das estruturas da PCH, mostrando-se uma ferramenta útil para a determinação da compartimentação de maciços rochosos, principalmente de maciços homogêneos, podendo ser aplicadas de forma rápida e a um custo baixo para o projeto. / The opening of the electric production sector in Brazil causes an increase amount of Small Hydroelectric Power Station - PCH\'s - project. The necessaries geological-geotechnical studies for this kind of construction had to be adapted to this new sector necessity, without quality losses. This research aim was the improvement of the geological-geotechnical studies, using one of the most well-known rock mass classification systems: the RMR system - rock mass rating - (Bieniawski, 1973), and analyze the advantage, the disadvantage, and potential of this method application. This research was applied to Morro Grande PCH, located on Rio Grande do Sul state - Brazil, which has great geologic homogeneity, and its rock foundation is basaltic rocks of the Serra Geral Formation. Some modification in the RMR application way has been proposal, like don\'t pre-divide the rock mass, apply the system directly in the core logging and partially to the outcrops, and change RQD (rock quality designation) by IQR (rock quality index). To rock strength have been established by point-load test, for the different weathering degrees of the rock samples. The results are presented on profiles of the structures axis. The propose method resulted in detailed compartimentalization of the structures areas, turning into an useful tool to assist the rock mass analyses, mainly to homogeneous rock masses, been applied quickly and at low costs.

In order to fulfil the requirements in the EURO VI standard, regulating emissions from heavy duty vehicles, the exhaust aftertreatment system needs to maintain its efficiency for at least seven years or 700 000 km. In diesel applications the diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) is located closest to the engine and is thus the most vulnerable to poisoning contaminants, such as phosphorus originating from fuel and oil additives, which deactivates the catalyst. An idea to reduce the impact from phosphorus impurities (recently patented by Scania CV) is to place a low-cost sacrificial substrate, consisting of one or more pillared clay mineral (PILC) with high affinity for phosphorus, upstream the aftertreatment system in order to protect and thus increase the lifetime of the catalytic components which contain platinum group metals. In this work one commercially available and four custom made PILCs, comprising of two conventional type PILCs and two of the type porous clay heterostructures (PCH), were evaluated. The PILCs were exposed to a phosphorus-containing gaseous mixture using a lab-scale experimental setup in order to determine their phosphorus sorption potential. The PILC materials exhibit potential to function as sacrificial substrates for phosphorus in the intended application. It was indicated to be a correlation between increasing iron content (wt%) and increasing phosphorus sorption capability. The most promising material was the custom made Al,Fe-pillared saponite, which was up to twice as effective in trapping phosphorus as the DOC. The commercial sample, the Al-pillared montmorillonite, was only about as efficient as the DOC.

abstract: Ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase, commonly known as RuBisCO, is an enzyme involved in carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms. The enzyme is subject to a mechanism-based deactivation during its catalytic cycle. RuBisCO activase (Rca), an ancillary enzyme belonging to the AAA+ family of the ATP-ases, rescues RuBisCO by facilitating the removal of the tightly bound sugar phosphates from the active sites of RuBisCO. In this work, we investigated the ATP/ADP dependent oligomerization equilibrium of fluorescently tagged Rca for a wide range of concentrations using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. Results show that in the presence of ADP-Mg2+, the oligomerization state of Rca gradually changes in steps of two subunits. The most probable association model supports the dissociation constants (K_d) of ∼4, 1, 1 μM for the monomer-dimer, dimer-tetramer, and tetramer-hexamer equlibria, respectively. Rca continues to assemble at higher concentrations which are indicative of the formation of aggregates. In the presence of ATP-Mg2+, a similar stepwise assembly is observed. However, at higher concentrations (30-75 µM), the average oligomeric size remains relatively unchanged around six subunits per oligomer. This is in sharp contrast with observations in ADP-Mg2+, where a marked decrease in the diffusion coefficient of Rca was observed, consistent with the formation of aggregates. The estimated K_d values obtained from the analysis of the FCS decays were similar for the first steps of the assembly process in both ADP-Mg2+ and ATP-Mg2+. However, the formation of the hexamer from the tetramer is much more favored in ATP-Mg2+, as evidenced from 20 fold lower K_d associated with this assembly step. This suggests that the formation of a hexameric ring in the presence of ATP-Mg2+. In addition to that, Rca aggregation is largely suppressed in the presence of ATP-Mg2+, as evidenced from the 1000 fold larger K_d value for the hexamer-24 mer association step. In essence, a fluorescence-based method was developed to monitor in vitro protein oligomerization and was successfully applied with Rca. The results provide a strong hint at the active oligomeric structure of Rca, and this information will hopefully help the ongoing research on the mechanistic enzymology of Rca. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Chemistry 2014

A onda de recessão econômica e de desaceleração do crescimento da década de 80, aliada à crise política e financeira vivenciada pelos Estados Nacionais na A.L., abriu terreno para que concepções neoliberais permeassem as decisões ligadas aos investimentos necessários em infra-estrutura. O Brasil, do Governo Collor ao FHC (1990 à 2002), seguiu esta orientação e, por meio dela, permitiu que vários segmentos dos serviços essenciais se tornassem passíveis de privatização e descentralização, dentre eles, o setor elétrico que foi reestruturado. Dado o contexto supra, este estudo visa analisar, sob um prisma sociológico e da geografia humana, o ressurgimento das pequenas centrais hidrelétricas no cenário nacional, intentando dar pistas da efetividade da política ambiental brasileira quando da implantação e recuperação destas usinas. Trata-se de examinar quais mecanismos político-institucionais permitem que o bem público, representado pelos recursos hídricos, possa ser apropriado para responder às necessidades de natureza privada, e como as necessidades sócio-ambientais imbricadas são contempladas nesse processo. É apresentado um estudo de caso para trazer à tona, por um micro recorte, a implantação de pequenos aproveitamentos hidrelétricos no qual a necessidade expansionista do setor reitera um padrão de excludência social e pouca efetividade decisória dos agentes sociais afetados. / The 80\'s wave of economic recession and decelerated development, allied to political and financial crises experienced by Latin American National States, opened field to a spread-out of classic conceptions through decisions connected to necessary infra-structure investments. Brazil followed this orientation, from Collor to FHC (1990 to 2002), and allowed many essential service segments to become liable of privatization and decentralization, among them, the electric sector, which was re-structured. Considering this context, this study aims to analyze under sociological and human geographical viewpoints, the resurgence of Small Hydroelectric Power Plants on the national scenery, intending to give cues of the Brazilian environmental policy effectiveness, by the time of these plants implantation and recovery. It concerns of examining which are the political-institutional mechanisms that allow the public welfare, represented by hydrous resources, to be convenient to private nature demands, and how the involved social-environmental demands are analyzed on this process. A case study is presented in order to bring-up, through a short brief, the implantation of small hydroelectric plants, where the growing necessity of the sector, reaffirms a pattern of social exclusion and few conclusive effectiveness of the affected social agents.