Submitted by Luanna Matias (lua_matias@yahoo.com.br) on 2015-02-05T10:44:34Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Diogo Gonçalves Dias - 2014.pdf.pdf: 490676 bytes, checksum: 3c0940e1fbec55f277f969c4751c5ea6 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-02-05T11:02:53Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Diogo Gonçalves Dias - 2014.pdf.pdf: 490676 bytes, checksum: 3c0940e1fbec55f277f969c4751c5ea6 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-02-05T11:02:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Diogo Gonçalves Dias - 2014.pdf.pdf: 490676 bytes, checksum: 3c0940e1fbec55f277f969c4751c5ea6 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-09-29 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG / We present hypersurfaces with prescribed normal Gauss map. These surfaces are obtained as the envelope of a sphere congruence where the other envelope is contained in a plane. We introduce classes of surfaces that generalize linear Weingarten surfaces, where the coefficients are functions that depend on the support function and the distance function from a fixed point (in short, DSGW-surfaces). The linear Weingarten surfaces, the Appell’s surfaces and the Tzitzeica’s surfaces are all DSGW-surfaces. From them we obtain new classes of DSGW-surfaces applying inversions and dilatations. For a special class of DSGW-surfaces, which is invariant under dilatations and inversions, we obtain a Weierstrass type representation (in short, EDSGW-surfaces). As application we classify the EDSGW-surfaces of rotation and present a 4-parameter family of complete cyclic EDSGW-surfaces with an isolated singularity and foliated by non-parallel planes. We generalized the EDSGW-surfaces for the case of hypersurfaces in Rn+1, n ≥ 2. We present a representation for these hypersurfaces in the case where the stereographic projection of the normal Gauss map N is given by the identity application. As an application, we will characterize the rotational examples. / Apresentamos parametrizações de hipersuperfícies com aplicação normal de Gauss prescrita. Estas parametrizações são obtidas como o envelope de uma congruência de esferas onde o outro envelope esta contido em um hiperplano. Introduzimos classes de superfícies que generalizam as superfícies de Weingarten linear, onde os coeficientes são funções que dependem da função suporte e da função distância a um ponto fixo (superfícies WGSD). Classes conhecidas destas superfícies são as superfícies de Weingarten linear, as superfícies de Appell e as superfícies de Tzitzéica. A partir delas obtemos novas classes de superfícies WGSD aplicando inversões e dilatações. Para uma classe especial de superfícies WGSD, que é invariante por dilatações e inversoes (superfícies WGSDE), obtemos uma representação tipo Weierstrass, dependendo de duas funções holomorfas. Como aplicação classificamos as superfícies WGSDE de rotação e apresentamos uma família a 4-parâmetros de superfícies WGSDE cíclicas completas com uma singularidade isolada e com planos de folheação não paralelos. Terminamos generalizando as superfícies WGSDE para o hipersuperfícies em Rn+1, n ≥ 2. Apresentaremos uma representação para estas hipersuperfícies no caso em que a projeção estereográfica da normal de Gauss N é dada pela aplicação identidade. Como aplicação, caracterizaremos os exemplos rotacionais.

Background: An important goal of providing amplification to children with hearing loss is to ensure that hearing aids are adjusted to match targets of prescriptive procedures as closely as possible. The Desired Sensation Level (DSL) v5 and the National Acoustic Laboratories’ prescription for nonlinear hearing aids, version 1 (NAL-NL1) procedures are widely used in fitting hearing aids to children. Little is known about hearing aid fitting outcomes for children with severe or profound hearing loss. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prescribed and measured gain of hearing aids fit according to the NAL-NL1 and the DSL v5 procedure for children with moderately severe to profound hearing loss; and to examine the impact of choice of prescription on predicted speech intelligibility and loudness. Research Design: Participants were fit with Phonak Naida V SP hearing aids according to the NAL-NL1 and DSL v5 procedures. The Speech Intelligibility Index (SII) and estimated loudness were calculated using published models. Study Sample: The sample consisted of 16 children (30 ears) aged between 7 and 17 yr old. Data Collection and Analysis: The measured hearing aid gains were compared with the prescribed gains at 50 (low), 65 (medium), and 80 dB SPL (high) input levels. The goodness of fit-to-targets was quantified by calculating the average root-mean-square (RMS) error of the measured gain compared with prescriptive gain targets for 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. The significance of difference between prescriptions for hearing aid gains, SII, and loudness was examined by performing analyses of variance. Correlation analyses were used to examine the relationship between measures. Results: The DSL v5 prescribed significantly higher overall gain than the NAL-NL1 procedure for the same audiograms. For low and medium input levels, the hearing aids of all children fit with NAL-NL1 were within 5 dB RMS of prescribed targets, but 33% (10 ears) deviated from the DSL v5 targets by more than 5 dB RMS on average. For high input level, the hearing aid fittings of 60% and 43% of ears deviated by more than 5 dB RMS from targets of NAL-NL1 and DSL v5, respectively. Greater deviations from targets were associated with more severe hearing loss. On average, the SII was higher for DSL v5 than for NAL-NL1 at low input level. No significant difference in SII was found between prescriptions at medium or high input level, despite greater loudness for DSL v5 than for NAL-NL1. Conclusions: Although targets between 0.25 and 2 kHz were well matched for both prescriptions in commercial hearing aids, gain targets at 4 kHz were matched for NAL-NL1 only. Although the two prescriptions differ markedly in estimated loudness, they resulted in comparable predicted speech intelligibility for medium and high input levels.

The effects of fire on vernal herbs of the mesic forests of eastern North America are poorly understood. I studied the influence of prescribed fire on species richness, abundance of rare and common species, and density of exotics in the vernal herbaceous layer. To determine these effects, three sites in central Kentucky were surveyed prior to and following one of three treatments: spring burn, winter burn, or negative control. I conducted low-intensity spring burns in April 2010 and winter burns in February 2011. I used chi square analyses to test for changes in species richness, abundance of rare species, abundance of common species, and abundance of Glechoma hederacea, an exotic herb. I used multiple logistic regressions to test for the effect of burn severity on the abundance of two of the most common herbs, Erythronium americanum and Viola sororia sensu lato. The abundance of rare species increased significantly after fire treatment, with a 2% greater increase on burned plots than control plots (p < 0.05), and showed a 40% greater increase in plots burned in winter than plots burned in spring. However, there was no significant difference in overall species richness due to fire or to the season in which the prescribed fire was conducted. There were no significant differences in the density of common species or Glechoma hederacea due to fire treatment or due to fire season. There were also no significant differences in the abundances of Erythronium americanum or Viola sororia sensu lato due to burn severity. Changes in the abundance of rare species due to fire might suggest that prescribed burns may slightly increase the diversity of vernal herbs in eastern mesic forests. Changes in the abundance of rare species due to fire season might suggest that prescribed fires conducted prior to emergence may further increase the diversity of vernal herbs in the eastern mesic forest.

The global anti-dyslipidemic market grew by 19% from 2000 to 2001, achieving sales of over $21 billion (Smith, 2004: 2). This market is currently well sewed by a number of effective and well-tolerated treatments. Lipid-lowering drugs are considered as the first choice drugs in control of dyslipidemias and they are well tolerated by most patients. As with many drug therapies, there should be a balance between the benefits of cholesterol lowering agents, increased medication cost and the overall risk of adverse drug reactions. According to Ballesteros (2001: 514), hypolipidemic drugs are consumed on a large scale and most consumers are elderly. This warrants a study of expenditure incurred because of inadequate prescribing of these agents. The general objective of this study was to determine the utilisation and cost of hypolipidemic drugs in the private health care environment in South Africa. A quantitative retrospective drug utilisation review was performed using a medicine claims database. Data for twenty-four consecutive months (May 1, 2001 to April 30, 2003) were used to determine and compare the utilisation patterns and cost of drugs associated with the management of dyslipidemia a year before (1st May 2001 to 30 April 2002) and a year after (1st May 2002 to 30 April 2003) the implementation of a medicine reference price system (MPL). Data analysis was done by calculating the average value, the standard deviation, effect size, and cost-prevalence indices. The results of this study revealed that hypolipidemic drugs constituted 2.70% (n = 21820911) and 2.78% (n =27277825) of the total number of all medicine items for the first and the second study years respectively. On the other hand, the total cost of all hypolipidemic drugs accounted for 6.33% (n= R3 097 604 602) and 6.23 % (n= R 4 053 280 295) of the total cost of all medicine items claimed during the first and the second study years respectively. The prevalence of generic hypolipidemic drugs accounted for 0.89% (n=589036) and 4.88% (n=759675) of the total number of hypolipidemic drugs claimed during the first and second study year respectively. Innovator drugs, on the other hand, constituted 99.1 1% (n=589036) and 95.11% (n=759675) of the total number of hypolipidemic drugs claimed during the first and second study years respectively. It was found that R23 694.5 and R603 277.36 could have been saved for generic bezafibrate and generic simvastatin respectively if they had been sold at ME'L prices. The total cost of generic hypolipidemic drugs accounted for 0.60% and 2.94%. The total cost of innovator hypolipidemic drugs accounted for 99.40% and 97.06% of the total cost of hypolipidemic drugs claimed during the first (n=R 196 076 050) and second (n=R 252 919 285) study year respectively. With respect to the prescribed daily dose, it was found that most prescriptions for individual hypolipidemic drugs did not conform to the defined daily dose. It was, however, found that most prescriptions whose prescribed daily dose was for one tablet once daily and whose strength was similar to the defined daily dose conformed to the defined daily dose. The conclusion is that there was an insignificant difference in both the prevalence and cost of hypolipidemic drugs a year before and after the implementation of MPL. It was further concluded that increased utilisation of generic hypolipidemic medicine items a year after the implementation of the MPL, could have been brought about by the introduction of generic simvastatin into the market as opposed to the implementation of the MPL. Recommendations for further studies will be formulated. / Thesis (M.Pharm. (Pharmacy Practice))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

A substantial portion of the remaining coastal pine savanna in the southeastern U.S. is burned periodically to maintain habitat for the endangered Mississippi Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis pulla). However, the effects of this burning on other species of birds are unknown. Therefore, a one-summer study was conducted to determine the short-term response of non-target bird species to changes in vegetation structure due to winter prescribed burning of coastal pine savanna. Eight 25-ha study plots were censused using the spot-mapping technique from May - July 1995 at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge. More species were observed on old burn sites (burned 1.5 - 3.5 yr prior to the study) than new burn sites (burned the previous winter). Gross vegetation features did not differ between treatments. A total of 17 breeding species were recorded during the study. Although there were no significant differences within individual species' densities, seven species were observed only on old burn sites. Winter prescribed burning affected the presence of only shrub-characteristic species. / Department of Biology

The global anti-dyslipidemic market grew by 19% from 2000 to 2001, achieving sales of over $21 billion (Smith, 2004: 2). This market is currently well sewed by a number of effective and well-tolerated treatments. Lipid-lowering drugs are considered as the first choice drugs in control of dyslipidemias and they are well tolerated by most patients. As with many drug therapies, there should be a balance between the benefits of cholesterol lowering agents, increased medication cost and the overall risk of adverse drug reactions. According to Ballesteros (2001: 514), hypolipidemic drugs are consumed on a large scale and most consumers are elderly. This warrants a study of expenditure incurred because of inadequate prescribing of these agents. The general objective of this study was to determine the utilisation and cost of hypolipidemic drugs in the private health care environment in South Africa. A quantitative retrospective drug utilisation review was performed using a medicine claims database. Data for twenty-four consecutive months (May 1, 2001 to April 30, 2003) were used to determine and compare the utilisation patterns and cost of drugs associated with the management of dyslipidemia a year before (1st May 2001 to 30 April 2002) and a year after (1st May 2002 to 30 April 2003) the implementation of a medicine reference price system (MPL). Data analysis was done by calculating the average value, the standard deviation, effect size, and cost-prevalence indices. The results of this study revealed that hypolipidemic drugs constituted 2.70% (n = 21820911) and 2.78% (n =27277825) of the total number of all medicine items for the first and the second study years respectively. On the other hand, the total cost of all hypolipidemic drugs accounted for 6.33% (n= R3 097 604 602) and 6.23 % (n= R 4 053 280 295) of the total cost of all medicine items claimed during the first and the second study years respectively. The prevalence of generic hypolipidemic drugs accounted for 0.89% (n=589036) and 4.88% (n=759675) of the total number of hypolipidemic drugs claimed during the first and second study year respectively. Innovator drugs, on the other hand, constituted 99.1 1% (n=589036) and 95.11% (n=759675) of the total number of hypolipidemic drugs claimed during the first and second study years respectively. It was found that R23 694.5 and R603 277.36 could have been saved for generic bezafibrate and generic simvastatin respectively if they had been sold at ME'L prices. The total cost of generic hypolipidemic drugs accounted for 0.60% and 2.94%. The total cost of innovator hypolipidemic drugs accounted for 99.40% and 97.06% of the total cost of hypolipidemic drugs claimed during the first (n=R 196 076 050) and second (n=R 252 919 285) study year respectively. With respect to the prescribed daily dose, it was found that most prescriptions for individual hypolipidemic drugs did not conform to the defined daily dose. It was, however, found that most prescriptions whose prescribed daily dose was for one tablet once daily and whose strength was similar to the defined daily dose conformed to the defined daily dose. The conclusion is that there was an insignificant difference in both the prevalence and cost of hypolipidemic drugs a year before and after the implementation of MPL. It was further concluded that increased utilisation of generic hypolipidemic medicine items a year after the implementation of the MPL, could have been brought about by the introduction of generic simvastatin into the market as opposed to the implementation of the MPL. Recommendations for further studies will be formulated. / Thesis (M.Pharm. (Pharmacy Practice))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Thesis (M.S.) -- University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2005. / Title from title page screen (viewed on Feb. 1, 2006). Thesis advisor: David S. Buckley. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Submitted by Livia Mello (liviacmello@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-09-15T12:31:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseMGR.pdf: 2131208 bytes, checksum: b36415a6c84dfe47d1989b5ba8da4dcd (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-21T18:29:13Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseMGR.pdf: 2131208 bytes, checksum: b36415a6c84dfe47d1989b5ba8da4dcd (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-21T18:29:21Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseMGR.pdf: 2131208 bytes, checksum: b36415a6c84dfe47d1989b5ba8da4dcd (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-21T18:29:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseMGR.pdf: 2131208 bytes, checksum: b36415a6c84dfe47d1989b5ba8da4dcd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-27 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fire is an ecological factor which seasonally affects fire-prone ecosystems, such as grasslands and open savannas of the Cerrado, and changes some patterns of the biota. This study aimed to investigate the influence of fire on birds that directly use food resources in grasslands of the Serra da Canastra National Park. From December 2012 to January 2015, sampling efforts were carried out in areas burned by wildfires, prescribed burnings (environmental management strategy) and in areas with no influence of fire, in order to record birds in foraging activities, their diet and the use of microhabitat for foraging. The 92 bird species recorded throughout the study exhibited specific results of the occurrence, abundance and response to fire. Considering all birds, the wildfires exerted a deeper and longer (3 - 4 months) influence on assemblage structure, than the prescribed burnings (2 - 3 months). The fire effects on some species of birds were observed in the proportion of food categories consumed, in the diversity of diet items and the microhabitats selected for foraging. The fire response models for birds of prey that occupy the top of the food chain in grasslands indicated a more intense use of food resources in the first post-fire months. Environmental management towards the conservation of grassland ecosystems depends on understanding the effects of recurrent disturbances on native species. / O fogo é um fator ecológico sazonal de ecossistemas pirofíticos, como os campos e savanas abertas do Cerrado, que altera as características do meio biótico. O presente estudo objetivou investigar a influência do fogo nas aves que forrageiam nos campos do Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra. Entre dezembro de 2012 e janeiro de 2015, foram amostradas áreas atingidas por fogo natural, por queimadas prescritas (para manejo) e também áreas sem influência do fogo, para monitorar as aves que fazem uso direto de recursos alimentares, a dieta e seus micro-habitats de forrageamento. Foram registradas 92 espécies em todo o estudo, com diferentes resultados específicos de ocorrência, abundância e resposta às queimadas. O fogo natural exerceu influência mais profunda e de maior duração (3 - 4 meses) na estrutura das assembleias, do que as queimadas prescritas (2 - 3 meses). Para algumas espécies de aves, os efeitos das queimadas incluíram variação da proporção de tipos de alimentos consumidos, ampliação da diversidade de itens da dieta e alterações de micro- habitats preferenciais de forrageamento. Com relação às aves que ocupam o topo de cadeia alimentar, os modelos de resposta ao fogo apontam para um melhor aproveitamento de recursos alimentares nos primeiros meses pós-fogo. O manejo ambiental para a conservação de ecossistemas campestres depende da compreensão dos efeitos de distúrbios recorrentes na fauna. / CNPq: 141653/2011-6

Submitted by Franciele Moreira (francielemoreyra@gmail.com) on 2017-12-27T13:50:44Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Wesley da Silva Ruys - 2017.pdf: 2660976 bytes, checksum: 3c6402ac0974e65da560b50e1f65b52e (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-12-28T09:42:07Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Wesley da Silva Ruys - 2017.pdf: 2660976 bytes, checksum: 3c6402ac0974e65da560b50e1f65b52e (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-12-28T09:42:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Wesley da Silva Ruys - 2017.pdf: 2660976 bytes, checksum: 3c6402ac0974e65da560b50e1f65b52e (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-12-07 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG / In this work we present a classification of the Laguerre minimal surfaces with flat curvature lines. We introduce three classes of hypersurfaces that generalize the Laguerre minimal surfaces with the prescribed Gaussian normal application. The first class is associated to biharmonic applications and is related by a Legendre transformation to hypersurfaces that in the isotropic model has harmonic isotropic mean curvature. As an application, we classify the hypersurfaces of rotation and we present examples of these hypersurfaces parameterized by flat curvature lines. We obtain a characterization of the other two classes of hypersurfaces, we study the rotation ones and we present examples. / Neste trabalho apresentamos uma classificação das superfícies mínimas de Laguerre com linhas de curvatura planas. Introduzimos três classes de hipersuperfícies que generalizam as superfícies mínimas de Laguerre com aplicação normal de Gauss prescrita. A primeira classe está associada a aplicações biharmônicas e está relacionada por uma transformação de Legendre a hipersuperfícies que no modelo isotrópico tem curvatura média isotrópica harmônica. Como aplicação, classificamos as hipersuperfícies de rotação e apresentamos exemplos destas hipersuperfícies parametrizadas por linhas de curvatura planas. Obtemos uma caracterização das outras duas classes de hipersuperfícies, estudamos as de rotação e apresentamos exemplos.

Technological advances during the past 30 years have dramatically improved survival rates for children with life-threatening conditions (preterm births, congenital anomalies, disease, or injury) resulting in children with special health care needs (CSHCN), children who have or are at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and who require health and related services beyond that required by children generally. There are approximately 10.2 million of these children in the United States or one in five households with a child with special health care needs. Care for these children is limited to home care, medical day care (Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care; P-PEC) or a long term care (LTC) facility. There is very limited research examining health outcomes of CSHCN and their families. The purpose of this research was to compare the effects of home care settings, P-PEC settings, and LTC settings on child health and functioning, family health and function, and health care service use of families with CSHCN. Eighty four CSHCN ages 2 to 21 years having a medically fragile or complex medical condition that required continual monitoring were enrolled with their parents/guardians. Interviews were conducted monthly for five months using the PedsQL TM Generic Core Module for child health and functioning, PedsQL TM Family Impact Module for family health and functioning, and Access to Care from the NS-CSHCN survey for health care services. Descriptive statistics, chi square, and ANCOVA were conducted to determine differences across care settings. Children in the P-PEC settings had a highest health care quality of life (HRQL) overall including physical and psychosocial functioning. Parents/guardians with CSHCN in LTC had the highest HRQL including having time and energy for a social life and employment. Parents/guardians with CSHCN in home care settings had the poorest HRQL including physical and psychosocial functioning with cognitive difficulties, difficulties with worry, communication, and daily activities. They had the fewest hours of employment and the most hours providing direct care for their children. Overall health care service use was the same across the care settings.