Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) catalyses prostaglandin synthesis from arachidonic acid during inflammation. COX-2 is expressed in the normal brain and is induced in neurological disorders. There is evidence that COX-2 is involved in secondary events leading to cell death in the brain. The first objective was to study the expression of COX-2 in the brain after kainate (KA)-induced limbic seizures and brain trauma caused by controlled cortical contusion (CCC) and fluid percussion injury (FPI). COX-2 mRNA and protein were strongly induced by limbic seizures in the hippocampus, amygdala and piriform cortex. CCC and FPI resulted in an upregulation of COX-2 mainly in the dentate gyrus and cortex, with differences in expression levels in these regions between the models. The second objective was to evaluate the effects of selective COX-2 inhibitors on delayed cell death. Limbic seizures induced cell death in parts of the hippocampus, amygdala and functionally connected regions. Treatment with the selective COX-2 inhibitor rofecoxib 8 h after KA injection significantly reduced hippocampal cell death. Pre-treatment with the COX-2 inhibitor nimesulide augmented acute seizures with increased mortality and thus the effect of nimesulide on delayed cell death could not be evaluated. Effects of rofecoxib on trauma-induced cell death were studied in the FPI model. FPI induced delayed cell death mainly in the ipsilateral cortex and bilaterally in the dentate gyrus. Rofecoxib treatment, starting directly after injury was caused, had no protective effect against cell death. The results suggest that COX-2 inhibition may be both detrimental and beneficial and largely dependent on the time schedule of treatment. COX-2 inhibitors might thus be of value as a neuroprotective treatment approach, provided that the role of COX-2 and the time course of effects of its metabolites in the brain are elucidated.

Thesis (M.M.)--East Carolina University, 1998. / Submitted to the faculty of the School of Music. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 13).

published_or_final_version / Music / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The goal of this project is to create a new instrument: the E-Drumset. This new interface addresses the lack of expressivity in current electronic percussion devices. The project combines Electrical Engineering for implementing hardware and digital signal processing, Computer Science for implementing musical and mapping software, and Music to devise new playing techniques and ways to combine them into a pedagogy and language of transmission. Like an acoustic drumset, the E-Drumset consists of different components that can be arranged together as a whole. An acoustic drumset can be thought of as a collection of pedals, drums and cymbals. The E-Drumset consists of the E-Pedal, E-Drum and E-Cymbal. The technology utilized in the E-Drumset includes sensor technologies with newly developed technologies such as acoustically excited physical models and timbre-recognition based instruments. These new technologies are discussed and applied to situations beyond the E-Drumset. Just building a new controller is not enough. It needs to be thoroughly tested in musical situations and to take into account feedback from musicians (both the player and other members of the ensemble) during the evaluation of the instrument. Clear and attainable technical guidelines have not been devised for the E-Drumset. In the case of the radiodrum, a spatial controller, improvements can be summarized to be better resolution in space and time. In the case of the E-Drumset the goal is to offer a flexible interface to percussionists where electronic drums are often the bottleneck in bandwidth. There is no clear answer to questions such as how low the latency needs to be to satisfy a drummer; an issue that will be explored through the project. The goals of the project are to provide the percussionist with an interface that they may sit down and use existing skills. Utilizing the great variety of gesture available to the expert, the E-Drumset allows the percussionist to explore all manners of controllers between acoustic instruments and electronic. To provide a smoother transition to the E-Drumset, notation and exercises for E-Drumset specific gestures and techniques was devised. The E-Drumset is a new instrument. Most new interfaces are derived to help lesser players achieve virtuosic ends, while other projects make a controller that is massively configurable where a more static instrument is appropriate. This project provides insight into the theory and practice of new musical interfaces while delivering novel forms of synthesis and gesture recognition appropriate for the E-Drumset.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T12:52:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-05-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The present work is about the Orquestra Criança Cidadã (Child Citizen Orchestra), a nongovernmental organisation that assists children and youngsters aged 4 to 20 who live in the Coque neighbourhood in Recife, Pernambuco. The main purpose of this study is to understand the relationship between the music education received and the social inclusion of these children and youngsters. In order to fulfill this aim, case study method was chosen as the means of collecting data. The results revealed the influence of a social music education on the lives of these children and youngsters, especially regarding their personal relationships and their development as citizens. / Este trabalho teve o objetivo de compreender como se tece a relação entre formação musical e inclusão social de crianças e jovens do Projeto Orquestra Criança Cidadã, que atende crianças e jovens de quatro a vinte anos, oriundos da Comunidade do Coque em Recife, Pernambuco. A pesquisa foi realizada à luz dos conhecimentos de pesquisa qualitativa, tendo como método o estudo de caso e utilizando como instrumentos de coleta de dados a observação, entrevistas com alunos do Projeto e fontes documentais. A pesquisa revelou, para além de aspectos pedagógicos e organizacionais do Projeto, a formação musical social proporcionada a essas crianças e jovens, bem como o sentido dessa formação em suas vidas, principalmente em suas relações pessoais e em seu crescimento enquanto cidadãos.

A percussion performance by a skilled musician will often extend beyond a written score in terms of expressiveness. This assertion is clearly evident when comparing a human performance with one that has been rendered by some form of automaton that expressly follows a transcription. Although music notation enforces a significant set of constraints, it is the responsibility of the performer to interpret the piece and “bring it to life” in the context of the composition, style, and perhaps with a historical perspective. In this sense, the sheet music serves as a general guideline upon which to build a credible performance that can carry with it a myriad of subtle nuances. Variations in such attributes as timing, dynamics, and timbre all contribute to the quality of the performance that will make it unique within a population of musicians. The ultimate goal of this research is to gain a greater understanding of these subtle nuances, while simultaneously developing a set of stochastic motion models that can similarly approximate minute variations in multiple dimensions on a purpose-built robot. Live or recorded motion data, and algorithmic models will drive an articulated robust multi-axis mechatronic system that can render a unique and audibly pleasing performance that is comparable to its human counterpart using the same percussion instruments. By utilizing a non-invasive and flexible design, the robot can use any type of drum along with different types of striking implements to achieve an acoustic richness that would be hard if not impossible to capture by sampling or sound synthesis. The flow of this thesis will follow the course of this research by introducing high-level topics and providing an overview of related work. Next, a systematic method for gesture acquisition of a set of well-defined percussion scores will be introduced, followed by an analysis that will be used to derive a set of requirements for motion control and its associated electromechanical subsystems. A detailed multidiscipline engineering effort will be described that culminates in a robotic platform design within which the stochastic motion models can be utilized. An analysis will be performed to evaluate the characteristics of the robotic renderings when compared to human reference performances. Finally, this thesis will conclude by highlighting a set of contributions as well as topics that can be pursued in the future to advance percussion robotics. / Graduate / 2019-12-10

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability. This condition results in neurological and cognitive impairment. In this context, it has been demonstrated that bradykinin, the main metabolite of the kallikrein-kinins system is involved in the increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier, in edema formation and leukocyte accumulation induced by TBI. Experimental findings also indicate an connection between kinin receptors and the activity of the enzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-oxidase, an enzyme that produces superoxide radical. It is known that the kalikrein-kinin and NADPH-oxidase activity participate of neuroinflammation triggered by TBI. However, few studies have evaluated their effects on the development of posttraumatic cognitive impairment. Hence, the present study evaluated the role of kinin receptors (B1 and B2) and the NADPH-oxidase inhibitor (apocynin)in neuromotor deficits, memory impairment, cortical lesion volume, oxidative and inflammatory damage induced by moderate lateral fluid percussion injury in mice. Therefore, we determined the effects of kinin receptors antagonists (des - Arg9-[Leu8]-bradykinin and HOE-140) and apocynin injected subcutaneously 30 min 24 hours post trauma. The present study demonstrated that both, HOE-140 and apocynin, protected against memory impairment triggered by trauma, but showed no effects in motor dysfunction caused by TBI. It should be noted that memory improvements was not due to nonspecific effects over the memory test, because the pharmacological treatment used in this study did no alter locomotor and/or anxiety-like behavioral. Treatment with HOE-140 also attenuated the NADPH-oxidase activity, reinforcing the connection between the B2 receptor and this enzyme. Moreover, both treatments attenuated the ipsilateral cortex inflammation (levels of interleukin-1β, tumoral necrosis factor-α and nitric oxide metabolites) and oxidative damage (lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation and inhibition of Na+, K+ ATPase) induced by tested model. On the other hand, only treatment with HOE-140 reduced the cerebral edema. The results presented in this study suggest that kinins, through of the B2 receptor and possibly through NADPH-oxidase, are involved in neuroinflammation and oxidative stress caused by trauma. Moreover, it is plausible that excessive activation of B2 receptors and subsequent activation of the enzyme NADPH-oxidase facilitate the cortical lesion progression resulting in deterioration of object recognition memory. / O traumatismo crânio encefálico (TCE) é uma das maiores causas de morte e de incapacitação, resultando frequentemente em disfunções neurológicas e prejuízo cognitivo. Neste contexto, tem sido demonstrado que a bradicinina, o principal metabólito do sistema calicreína-cininas, está envolvida no aumento da permeabilidade da barreira hematoencefálica, na formação de edema e no acúmulo de leucócitos induzidos pelo TCE. Achados experimentais também indicam uma interconexão entre os receptores das cininas e a atividade da enzima Nicotinamida Adenina Dinucleotídeo Fosfato (NADPH)-oxidase. Esta enzima é uma conhecida produtora de radical superóxido e também parece estar envolvida na toxicidade induzida pelo TCE. Embora se conheça o envolvimento do sistema calicreína-cininas e da atividade da NADPH-oxidase na neuroinflamação desencadeada pelo TCE, poucos trabalhos têm avaliado seus efeitos no desenvolvimento do déficit cognitivo pós-traumático. Diante disto, o presente estudo avaliou o papel dos receptores das cininas (B1 e B2) e da apocinina (um inibidor da NADPH-oxidase) nos déficits neuromotor e de memória, bem como no volume de lesão cortical e nas alterações oxidativas e inflamatórias induzidas pelo modelo de lesão cerebral moderada por percussão de fluido lateral em camundongos. Para tanto, avaliou-se os efeitos dos antagonistas dos receptores das cininas dos subtipos B1 (des-Arg9-[Leu8]-bradicinina) e B2 (HOE-140) e da apocinina, injetados subcutaneamente 30 min e 24 horas após o trauma. O presente estudo demonstrou que tanto o HOE-140, como a apocinina protegeram contra o prejuízo de memória desencadeado pelo trauma, mas não apresentaram efeitos estatisticamente significantes sobre a disfunção motora. Cabe salientar que os testes de ansiedade e locomoção indicam que a melhora de memória alcançada com os tratamentos não se devem a interferências inespecíficas sobre a execução do teste de memória. O tratamento com HOE-140 atenuou ainda a atividade da NADPH-oxidase, reforçando a interconexão entre o receptor B2 e a enzima. Além disso, ambos os tratamentos foram eficazes em atenuar, em córtex ipsilateral, os parâmetros inflamatórios (níveis de interleucina-1β, fator de necrose tumoral-α e de metabólitos do óxido nítrico) e o dano oxidativo (lipoperoxidação, carbonilação proteica e inibição da Na+, K+ATPase) induzidos pelo modelo estudado. Por outro lado, apenas o tratamento com HOE-140 obteve uma redução estatisticamente significante sobre o edema cerebral. Os resultados apresentados permitem concluir que as cininas, por ação do receptor B2 e possivelmente da NADPH oxidase, estão envolvidas na neuroinflamação e no estresse oxidativo. Além disso, é plausível que a excessiva ativação dos receptores B2 seguida da ativação da enzima NADPH-oxidase facilite a progressão da lesão cortical repercutindo, desta forma, na deterioração da memória de reconhecimento de objetos.

Submitted by PAULO ROGERIO ZORZETTO HYPOLITHO null (paulozorzetto@gmail.com) on 2016-11-06T19:59:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertação de mestrado Paulo Zorzetto 2016.pdf: 7471098 bytes, checksum: 09d11ae1d701810ce164a7fb18725499 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO null (luizaromanetto@hotmail.com) on 2016-11-10T13:56:32Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 zorzetto_p_me_ia.pdf: 7462080 bytes, checksum: e9ca8bc71dc1a78ff96f76fe1320147b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-10T13:56:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 zorzetto_p_me_ia.pdf: 7462080 bytes, checksum: e9ca8bc71dc1a78ff96f76fe1320147b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-06-30 / Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo geral propor um Modelo Vocal para Percussionistas (MVP), na execução de obras solo em que o uso da voz é requerido, explorando elementos físicos e musicais que fazem parte das práticas diárias do estudante e do profissional da percussão. Para tanto, foram escolhidas três importantes peças do repertório percussivo para a aplicação dos conceitos propostos: ?Corporel, para um percussionista e sons do seu corpo (1985), de Vinko Globokar (1934); To the Earth (1985), de Frederic Rzewski (1938); e URSONATE (1922 - 1932), de Kurt Schwitters (1887 - 1948). Por possuírem características distintas, quanto ao uso da voz, cada uma delas possibilita o entendimento do MVP, como um paradigma teórico amplo o suficiente, para resolver problemas técnicos e interpretativos diversos, a partir da compreensão do contexto em que estão inseridas: a Música-Teatro. Sob as considerações da pesquisadora Claudia Hansen, e do professor Wladimir Mattos, foram estipuladas as bases deste gênero musical, bem como os perfis do percussionista e da percussão que o representam, além daquilo que deve ser levado em conta como sendo a voz e a fala. A partir de três pilares teórico-práticos - a fonoarticulação, a coarticulação e a realização prosódica - as obras escolhidas foram analisadas e preparadas para a performance, levando-se em conta as discussões ocorridas no âmbito da fonética e da fonologia, e as soluções encontradas foram esquematizadas por meio de tabelas, visando a facilitar a compreensão do MVP. Desta forma, esperamos que a proposta do presente trabalho auxilie futuras pesquisas, interpretações e discussões inseridas no universo percussão e voz, acentuando as cores desta tão tênue e simbiótica linha que perpassa os ambientes musical e teatral. / This research aims to propose a Vocal Method for Percussionists (VMP) for playing solo pieces where using the voice is required. The physical and musical elements that are part of the percussionist's daily practice were analyzed. In order to achieve that, three major, well established, percussion pieces were drafted regarding the application of the proposed methods: ?Corporel, for one percussionist using her/his body (1985), by Vinko Globokar (1934); To the Earth (1985), by Frederic Rzewski (1938); and URSONATE (1922 - 1932), by Kurt Schwitters (1887 - 1948). Despite their differences regarding how the voice is used, each one of them enables the reader to assimilate the VMP, as a theoretical paradigm broad enough to figure out a wide range of interpretative and technical issues, fully understanding the context in which they belong: the music-theater. Under Claudia Hansen's and professor Wlad Matos' research analysis, we established the basis of this music genre, as well as the percussionist's and percussion characteristics that define them, and what should be considered as voice and speech. Starting off from three practical-theoretical pillars - articulation of speech, articulatory gesture and the prosodic conduction - the selected pieces were thoroughly analysed, looking for any issues regarding the use of the voice and singling out schematic solutions that would emerge. Thus, we hope that our work may assist future research, interpretation and discussion regarding percussion and voice. Taking into consideration the very gentle and symbiotic confluence within the musical and theatrical environments.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / As estacas prÃ-fabricadas sÃo uma alternativa de fundaÃÃo indicada em situaÃÃes em que a vizinhanÃa nÃo apresenta restriÃÃes quanto a vibraÃÃes decorrentes de sua execuÃÃo. AlÃm disso, perfis de solos com baixa capacidade de suporte superficialmente e que se estende a maiores profundidades tambÃm apontam para a possibilidade de escolha dessa alternativa. Nestes casos, alÃm de outros, fundaÃÃes em estacas prÃ-fabricadas de concreto podem proporcionar fundaÃÃes tecnicamente possÃveis e economicamente mais atraente. Nesta dissertaÃÃo, à feito uma anÃlise da aplicabilidade dos principais mÃtodos de previsÃo de capacidade de carga e recalque de estacas prÃ-moldadas de concreto armado em perfis de solos granulares tÃpico dos encontrados comumente em Fortaleza. O objetivo deste trabalho à avaliar se previsÃes realizadas por mÃtodos semi-empÃricos de capacidade de carga e de recalque, realizados a partir de sondagens à percussÃo (SPT) e em perfis de solos granulares, sÃo concordantes tendo como referÃncia resultados de 7 provas de cargas estÃticas realizadas. AlÃm disso, pretende-se ainda avaliar se, provas de cargas interrompidas prematuramente sÃo capazes de serem extrapoladas de forma a proporcionar previsÃes da carga de ruptura concordantes. Para isso foram realizadas sondagens a percussÃo (SPT) e provas de cargas em alguns locais situados em Fortaleza. A seguir foram estimados os valores da capacidade de carga e do recalque de cada estaca ensaiada nas provas de carga, e para a carga de trabalho, atravÃs de mÃtodos semi-empÃricos, utilizando valores do Ãndice resistÃncia de sondagens à percussÃo (NSPT) corrigidos, e nÃo corrigidos, a partir da estimativa da eficiÃncia das sondagens utilizadas. As previsÃes realizadas a partir dos valores do Ãndice resistÃncia (NSPT) corrigidos proporcionaram estimativas da capacidade de carga e do recalque das estacas avaliadas mais concordantes. Os mÃtodos semi-empÃricos que apresentaram uma maior concordÃncia nas previsÃes das capacidades de carga foram o Aoki e Velloso (1975) e o Decourt e Quaresma (1982). Os mÃtodos semi-empÃricos que apresentaram uma maior concordÃncia nas previsÃes de recalque foram Bowles (1979) e Poulos & Davis (1980). / Prefabricated piles are a foundation of alternative indicated in situations where the neighborhood has no restrictions on the vibrations resulting from its implementation. In addition, soil profiles with low carrying capacity and surface extending deeper also indicate the choice of this alternative. In these cases and others, foundations Precast piles of concrete foundations can provide technically feasible and economically attractive. In this dissertation, it is made an analysis of the applicability of the main load capacity forecasting methods and repression of precast piles of reinforced concrete in typical granular soil profiles of commonly found in Fortaleza. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether predictions made by semi-empirical methods of load capacity and repression, carried out from polls to percussion (SPT) and granular soil profiles are consistent with reference to results of 7 load tests still performed. Furthermore, even if you want to evaluate whether evidence interrupted prematurely loads are able to be extrapolated to provide consistent breaking load forecasts. For that they were conducted polls percussion (SPT) and evidence of loads in some places situated in Fortaleza. The following were estimated values ​​of load capacity and settlement of each tested stake in load tests, and the workload, through semi-empirical methods, using values ​​of resistance index surveys to percussion (NSPT) corrected, and uncorrected, from the estimation of efficiency of used soundings. The predictions made from the values ​​of the resistance index (NSPT) provided fixed load capacity of estimates and the settlement of the piles evaluated more consistent. The semi-empirical methods that presented a greater agreement on forecasts of load capacities were Aoki and Velloso (1975) and Decourt and Lent (1982). The semi-empirical methods that showed a higher agreement in settlement predictions were Bowles (1979) and Poulos & Davis (1980).

The diploma thesis examines Orff Schulwerk as a system of thoughts applicable to music education and its use at General František Fajtl DFC Primary School in Prague 9. It briefly introduces Carl Orff as a pedagogue in the first part. It further describes the formation of Orff Schulwerk in Germany, its basic thoughts, its adaptation in Czechoslovakia and the birth of the Czech Orff's School. This thesis focuses in detail on a school, where music education is taught according to principles of Orff Schulwerk - General František Fajtl DFC Primary School in Letňany. Several chapters are also devoted to the founder of this concept Lenka Pospíšilová and her other projects. The last part of the thesis deals with the teaching of music education in classes with musical specialisation in the first and second grade of this primary school. Based on the research, it compares the teaching process of the two first-year classes with and without musical specialisation in the school year 2016-2017.