The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of facial convexity on the perception of social attributes in a young adult population. Nine models were asked to pose for a 3 dimensional photograph that was then modified to represent ideal, retrognathic, and prognathic facial convexity angles. Survey evaluators were shown digital videos of models with ideal and non-ideal profiles and asked to rate their perception of the following 4 social attributes: intelligence, athleticism, popularity, and leadership ability using a visual analog scale. Results gathered from 271 evaluators showed that the model images with ideal facial convexity angles were rated higher on average than the same model images with retrognathic and prognathic profiles. The differences in ratings between ideal and non-ideal profiles were significant for intelligence (P = 0.0009), athleticism (P = 0.0002), and leadership ability (P = 0.0008). Differences in perceived popularity (P = 0.2169) showed no significant differences among facial convexities.

The aim of this study was to evaluate how Asians, non-Asians, and orthodontists in America view esthetic soft tissue Asian lip profiles. The null hypothesis was that there was no difference in the perception of lip profile esthetics of Asian patients between Asian laypersons, non-Asians laypersons, and orthodontists. A survey was constructed using the profile photographs of one adult male and one adult female Asian American patient taken from the VCU Orthodontics Clinic records. Using Dolphin Imaging 3D, the original photographs were digitally altered. The lips in each photograph were moved in increments forward and backwards to produce 5 images (-4mm, -2mm, 0mm, 4mm, 8mm). Only the lips were modified. Each evaluator was asked to rank, from 1 to 5, each collection of photographs where 1 was most preferable and 5 was least preferable. There were a total of 10 survey questions. The survey was administered to 111 Asian Americans, 115 Caucasians, and 389 Orthodontists. Results suggested that all three groups were similar in their assessment. A retrusive lip profile for the Asian male was preferred, and a slightly protrusive lip profile for the Asian female was preferred across all groups. Generally, orthodontists preferred slightly more retrusive lips compared to the other two groups. The groups of evaluators that showed statistical differences were Chinese and Filipino laypersons. Cluster analysis also revealed tremendous variation in the results, giving credence to the belief that individual patient preference should be assessed in addition to understanding social norms.

Master of Science / Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Shing I. Chang / This research studies a few methodologies for real-time detection of wave profile changes. In regular profile monitoring, change detection takes place at the end of time period when a complete profile is available. In real-time change detection of profiles, a potential profile change takes place between the beginning and the end of the time period. The decision involves the identification whether a process is in control or out of control before the entire profile is generated. In this regard, five proposed methodologies were developed and tested in this thesis. Earthquake waves, manufacturing processes, and heart beat rate are a few examples of profiles with different natures that the proposed methodologies can be applied to. Water temperature profiles generated during a curing process are considered as an example in this study. Successful implementation of the proposed work on these profiles would cause saving great amounts of time and money. Five methods are studied for monitoring the water control process of a curing process. The first four proposed methodologies are based on an univariate approach where the statistic used for process monitoring is the enclosed area between the profiles and their fitted cutting lines. A multivariate approach is also proposed. A simulation study is also conducted when the best method is chosen based on it performance and simplicity of operations. Various types of acceptable and unacceptable profiles are simulated for the best proposed method identified in the preliminary study. The best method has a satisfactory performance in detecting the changes in the unacceptable profiles. In addition, the false alarm rate in identifying acceptable profiles as bad profiles is lower than 10%.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can assist in using information from census data to investigate questions for national and local government planning purposes, such as socio-economic profiles and needs of communities. I will be doing this on the data from the Ethiopian census, scheduled for 2006. . As no Ethiopian geo-referenced data is available at this stage. I am using the 10% sample of the South African Census 2001 data for KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), as a hypothetical population. KZN was chosen as this provides a setting with urban and rural populations, as well as mountainous and flat areas, and so is in some ways similar to Ethiopia. The questions to be asked of the Ethiopian census data are of the form: · What exists at a specific location or in a specific area? (eg what health facilities are there, what is the population)? · What access does the population have to facilities in the area? Does the road network need to be improved to resolve the problem of access · Where are groups of people in greatest need of … (eg where are there clusters of people with disabilities, and are there facilities for them) · What are the characteristics of ... (eg female headed households) and what are these related to (eg HIV/AIDS or migrant labour?) · What changes need to be made to infrastructure to increase service to communities in need? The results for the hypothetical population show that there are areas with high unemployment rates, low school attendance and education levels, high levels of female headed household, and difficulties of access to educational and health facilities. Many households do not have toilet facilities, and obtain water from rivers, which could impact on the health of the communities. Migrant workers were investigated to see if these were likely to be migrants from neighbouring countries, or from other provinces. The numbers in the hypothetical population in these cases are small, so little can be concluded from this.

MSc, Occupational Therapy, Faculty of the Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand / This study investigated the sensory processing of premature infants between 7-12 months of age at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital using the standardised Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile. The design of research that was primarily utilised in this study was quantitative, cross sectional, descriptive research. Results indicated that 50% of all the premature infants were found to be low threshold infants, and tended to be over responsive to auditory, visual and tactile sensory stimuli. The Sensory Profiles of infants who underwent different methods of neonatal care including kangaroo mother care (KMC), where mothers were involved in a fulltime twenty-four hour KMC programme, and those who received mainly conventional care (CC) were compared. The only score that differed significantly between infants receiving different types of care was tactile processing, with the CC infants having more typical tactile processing scores. These findings were contrary to other KMC research, which may have been affected by the reliability of using this measure with this study sample and the small sample size of infants who received CC.

O camundongo mdx, modelo murino para a Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne (DMD) possui uma mutação de ponto no gene da distrofina que resulta na ausência da proteína no músculo, porém seu fenótipo é brando o que o torna um bom modelo genético e molecular, mas não um bom modelo funcional. Esperando obter um modelo para DMD que tivesse um fenótipo mais fiel ao apresentado pelos pacientes humanos, optou-se por transferir a mutação mdx para o background 129/Sv. Através de cruzamentos sucessivos foram obtidas 3 gerações de animais mdx com background 129/Sv (mdx129) e cada geração foi avaliada funcionalmente por 6 meses. Desde a primeira geração é possível observar que os animais mdx129 são mais fortes do que os mdx originais em background C57BL (mdxC57BL), sendo o oposto do esperado no início dos experimentos. O estudo então foi redirecionado para tentar entender o motivo dessa melhora. Em relação ao padrão histológico, em geral há diferenças entre o mdxC57BL e mdx129. Observa-se também que os animais mdx129 entram no processo de degeneração mais tardiamente que os animais mdxC57BL e seu processo de regeneração se estende por mais tempo. Através de estudos de microarray foi possível observar que os animais 129/Sv apresentam poucos genes diferencialmente expressos (GDEs) em relação aos animais C57BL, portanto os dois backgrounds são muito semelhantes. O mdxC57BL apresenta muito mais GDEs em relação ao seu selvagem (C57BL) do que o mdx129 em relação ao 129/Sv, entretanto, ambos os modelos apresentam mais genes superexpressos do que subexpressos, indicando que as alterações distróficas e regenerativas estão mais associadas com a ativação do que a repressão de genes. Quando os GDEs de ambos os modelos de mdx são distribuídos em categorias funcionais, há o predomínio de genes ligados ao sistema imune e quando essa categoria é omitida para melhor visualização das restantes, observa se que ambos os modelos apresentam categorias funcionais semelhantes, porém com proporções diferentes. No modelo mdx129 se destaca a diminuição da participação da categoria de rota endo/exocítica (tráfego de vesículas) e homeostase e aumento da participação das categorias de matiz extracelular e atividade enzimática. Cada modelo apresenta genes exclusivos, destacando os genes SPP1 e IL1RN na comparação 129/Sv x mdx129F3. O gene SPP1 codifica a proteína osteopontina (OPN) e o polimorfismo rs28357094 neste gene é utilizado como biomarcador de prognóstico para DMD. O papel da OPN na progressão da distrofia não é bem conhecido. Alguns estudos afirmam que a ausência dessa proteína melhora a força muscular de camundongos mdx, enquanto outros apontam que sua participação é necessária para a regeneração muscular. Assim sendo, mais estudos serão necessários para verificar qual seria a via responsável pela melhora fenotípica do modelo mdx129. Já o gene IL1RN codifica a proteína IL-1Ra, a qual é um antagonista de interleucina 1 (citocina pró-inflamatória e pró fibrótica). Portanto o aumento da expressão do gene de seu antagonista sugere que os animais mdx129F3 podem estar mais protegidos do processo inflamatório causado por essas moléculas. Quando analisadas as listas filtradas para músculo esquelético das comparações C57BL x mdxC57BL e 129/Sv x mdx129F3 para a formação de vias metabólicas, foi gerada apenas uma via em ambas as comparações com número relevante de moléculas. A via gerada pela análise da lista C57BL x mdxC57BL possui mais moléculas do que a via gerada pela analise da lista 129/Sv x mdx129F3, porém, todas as moléculas presentes nesta via, estão presentes na via C57BL x mdxC57BL, indicando que mesmo com número diferente de moléculas envolvidas, os genes participam das mesmas vias. Tanto a comparação de cada geração de mdx129 com o 129/Sv como a comparação das gerações entre si mostram que os efeitos da mudança de background estão presentes desde a primeira geração e não se alteram significativamente com os cruzamentos sucessivos. / The mdx mouse, murine model for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) has a point mutation in the dystrophin gene that results in the absence of the protein in the muscle, however its phenotype is mild, which makes it a good genetic and molecular model, but not a good functional model. Hoping to obtain a model for DMD with a phenotype that is more similar the patients\', it was chosen to transfer the mdx mutation to the 129/Sv background. Through successive breedings, 3 generations of mdx animals with 129/Sv background were obtained and each generation was functionally evaluated for 6 months. Since the first generation it is possible to observe that the mdx129 animals are stronger than the original mdx with C57BL background. The results were the opposite of what was expected in the beginning of the experiments, therefore the study was redirectioned to try to understand the reason of the improved phenotype. About the general histological pattern, there are differences between mdxC57BL and mdx129. It can be observed that the mdx129 animals enter the degenerative process later than the mdxC57BL animals and the regenerative process lasts longer. Through microarray studies it was possible to observe that the 129/Sv animals present few differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in comparison to the C57BL animals; therefore both backgrounds are very similar. The mdxC57BL presents many more DEGs in comparison to C57BL than mdx129 in comparison to 129/Sv, however both models present more super expressed genes than sub expressed, indicating that the dystrophic and regenerative alterations are more associated to the activation rather than the repression of genes. When the DEGs of both mdx models are distributed in functional categories, there is the predominance of genes related to the immune system and when this category is omitted for the better visualization of the remaining, it can be observed that both models present similar functional categories, but with different proportions. In the mdx129 model we can highlight the decrease in participation of the endo/exocytic pathway (vesicle traffic) and homeostasis categories, and increase in participation of the extracellular matrix and enzymatic activity categories. Each model presents exclusive genes, highlighting SPP1 and IL1RN in the comparison 129/Sv x mdx129F3. SPP1 encodes the protein osteopontina (OPN) and the polymorphism rs28357094 in this gene is used as a DMD prognostic biomarker. The role of OPN in the dystrophy progression is not well known. Some studies claim that the absence of OPN increases the muscle strength of the mdx mouse, while others indicate that its participation is necessary to muscle regeneration. More studies are needed to ascertain what pathway is responsible for the phenotypic improvement of the mdx129 model. The IL1RN gene encodes the protein IL-1Ra, and interleukin 1 antagonist, which is a pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokine. Therefore, the increase in the expression of its antagonist suggests that the mdx129F3 animals may be more protected from the inflammatory process caused by these molecules. When the filtered lists for skeletal muscle of the comparisons C57BL x mdxC57BL e 129/Sv x mdx129F3 were analyzed for the formation of metabolic pathways, only one pathway was generated in both comparisons. The pathway generated in the analysis C57BL x mdxC57BL has more molecules that the one generated by the 129/Sv x mdx129F3 list, but all molecules present in the latter are also present in the former, indicating that even with different numbers of molecules involved, the genes participate in the same pathways. The comparisons of each generation of mdx129 with the 129/Sv and the comparison of the generations among each other show that the effects of the background change are present since the first generation and are not altered with the successive breedings.

Os objetivos deste estudo foram: caracterizar os idosos internados na Clínica Médica de um Hospital Geral Terciário, do interior paulista, segundo: variáveis sociodemográficas, estilo de vida, condições de saúde, acesso aos serviços de saúde e rede de apoio familiar e social; identificar a capacidade cognitiva, a capacidade funcional e a presença de sintomas de depressão desses idosos; verificar a existência de associação entre a variável queda com as variáveis faixa etária, sexo, déficit cognitivo, uso de óculos, hábito de beber e presença de sintomas de depressão; e verificar a existência de associação entre a variável déficit cognitivo com as variáveis faixa etária, sexo e estado conjugal. Trata-se de um estudo não experimental, descritivo e transversal. Realizado com idosos, internados na Clínica Médica, do referido hospital, no período de abril a julho de 2011. Para a coleta de dados, utilizaram-se o Miniexame do Estado Mental (MEEM), uma readaptação do Older Americans Resources and Services (OARS) e a Escala de Depressão Geriátrica (EDG). Foram estudados 105 idosos, média de idade de 73,8 anos (s=8,9); 59,0% eram homens; 62,9% moravam com esposo(a) ou companheiro(a); 47,6% estudaram de um a quatro anos; 90,5% eram aposentados. Quanto ao estilo de vida, 80,0% não fumavam atualmente; 71,4% consumiam bebida alcoólica; 66,7% não praticavam atividade física. Com relação à saúde, 72,4% a autoavaliaram como \"Boa\"; 56,2% tinham diagnóstico de hipertensão arterial e 22,9 de fibrilação atrial; para 78,1% todos os medicamentos eram receitados pelo médico; 91,4% avaliaram sua visão como \"Boa\"; 23,9% faziam uso dos óculos; 39,0% caíram nos últimos 12 meses; 23,8% caíram de três a quatro vezes. Quanto ao acesso aos serviços de saúde e à rede de apoio familiar e social, 96,2% utilizavam Hospital Público e estavam satisfeitos; para 45,7%, o esposo(a) ou companheiro(a) foi a primeira menção para cuidador na presença de incapacidades. Na avaliação cognitiva pelo MEEM, 34,3% apresentaram cognição comprometida. Quanto ao desempenho para as AVDs, no momento da admissão, 81,9% apresentavam algum grau de dificuldade nas ABVDs e 86,7% nas AIVDs; durante a hospitalização, 89,5% e, no momento da alta, 84,8% realizavam as atividades básicas com dificuldades. Os sintomas de depressão estiveram presentes em 54,3% dos idosos, média de 5,4 (s=2,5). Observou-se associação entre a presença de quedas e o uso de óculos (p<0,01) e entre a presença de déficit cognitivo e a faixa etária (p=0,04). A identificação do perfil e das necessidades dos idosos hospitalizados pode subsidiar o planejamento da assistência, com enfoque multiprofissional. / The objectives of this study were to characterize elderly individuals hospitalized in the medical clinic of a tertiary general hospital in the interior of São Paulo, Brazil according to the following socio-demographic variables: lifestyle, health conditions, access to health services and family and social support network; to identify cognitive and functional capacity and depression symptoms among these patients; to verify potential association between the variable \'fall\' with age, gender, cognitive deficit, use of glasses, alcohol consumption, and depression symptoms; and also to verify potential association between the variable \'cognitive deficit\' with age, gender and marital status. This non-experimental, descriptive and cross-sectional study addressed elderly individuals hospitalized in the medical clinic of the mentioned hospital from April to July 2011. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), a readaptation of Older Americans Resources and Services (OARS), and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) were used to collect data. A total of 105 elderly individuals aged 73.8 years old in average (s=8.9) participated in the study; 59.0% were men; 62.9% lived with spouses or partners; 47.6% studied from one to four years; 90.5% were retired. In relation to lifestyle, 80.0% did not smoke at the time; 71.4% consumed alcohol; 66.7% did not exercise. In relation to their health condition, 72.4% reported it was \"good\"; 56.2% had hypertension, and 22.9 had atrial fibrillation; 78.1% had all medications prescribed by a physician; 91.4% reported their eyesight was \"good\"; 23.9% wore glasses; 39,0% fell in the last 12 months; 23.8% fell from three to four times. In regard to access to health services and family and social support network, 96.2% used public hospitals and were satisfied; 45.7% reported the spouse or partner would be the primary caregiver in case of disability. A total of 34.3% presented compromised cognition in the MMSE cognitive evaluation. In relation to the performance of ADLs at the time of admission, 81.9% presented some level of difficulty in BADLs and 86.7% in IADLs; 89.5% and 84.8% performed basic activities with difficulty during hospitalization and at time of discharge, respectively. Depression symptoms were observed in 54.3% of the elderly individuals, average of 5.4 (s=2.5). Association between falls and the use of glasses (p<0.01) and between cognitive deficit and age (p=0.04) was observed. The identification of the profile and needs of hospitalized elderly individuals can support planning of care with a multidisciplinary focus.

O profissional nutricionista é capacitado para atuar em áreas do conhecimento em que a alimentação e a nutrição se apresentam fundamentais para a promoção, manutenção e recuperação da saúde. Entre essas, estão os transtornos alimentares (TA), quadros psicopatológicos graves e atuais, cuja etiologia é bastante complexa e multifatorial. No âmbito da alimentação, apresentam importantes alterações do comportamento, variando desde restrições até compulsões alimentares. O tratamento deve ser multiprofissional e interdisciplinar, sendo o nutricionista o profissional qualificado para implementar a avaliação e orientação nutricionais. No entanto, não há estudos na literatura que abordem o papel desse profissional na equipe de tratamento, direcionando as ações de nutrição nesse contexto. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste estudo, de natureza qualitativa, foi identificar o perfil e a atuação do nutricionista que desenvolve essa atividade. Foram entrevistados seis nutricionistas inseridos em serviços especializados das regiões Sul e Sudeste do Brasil: GRATA-HCFMRP-USP em Ribeirão Preto, AMBULIM-HCFMSP-USP e PROATA-UNIFESP em São Paulo, GOTA-IEDE e Psiquiatria da Santa Casa de Misericórdia no Rio de Janeiro e GEATA-CEAPIA de Porto Alegre. Como instrumento de coleta de dados foi utilizado um roteiro semiestruturado, sendo que as entrevistas foram áudiogravadas, realizadas na cidade de origem do serviço e transcritas na íntegra. Os temas que emergiram foram: o nutricionista, a função, o fazer e o trabalho em equipe. Os participantes, apenas um do sexo masculino, tem de 29 a 52 anos de idade, de cinco a 34 anos de formação e trabalham, em sua maioria, voluntariamente no serviço há sete anos, em média. Todos fizeram curso de especialização na modalidade de lato sensu e/ou stricto sensu. A maioria já se interessava pela temática antes dessa atuação e sente-se valorizada pelo profissional ser essencial na equipe. Porém, é preciso desenvolver-se emocionalmente para a relação com o paciente a fim de compreender que os sintomas alimentares são consequências de conflitos intensos e abrangentes. Para isso, devem apresentar postura acolhedora, contudo firme. As principais dificuldades se referem às orientações quanto às modificações necessárias para melhorar a relação que o paciente estabelece com os alimentos e com o peso, ter uma abordagem psiconutricional e saber lidar com a frustração e impotência, sentimentos que comumente emergem nessa atividade. O trabalho em equipe foi caracterizado como algo que oferece segurança e respeito. Há boa comunicação entre os integrantes, o que proporciona crescimento e aprendizagem, apesar das dificuldades relativas à falta de estrutura física adequada e à inserção de novos profissionais sem experiência na área. Para todos eles, os conhecimentos adquiridos durante a graduação foram insuficientes para subsidiar essa atuação sendo necessário, o aprimoramento através de cursos de pós-graduação. Os resultados sugerem que os profissionais mostraram-se engajados nos serviços e realizados com essa conquista e atuação, apesar das limitações do cotidiano. Os desafios impostos para o campo da nutrição no contexto dos TA são inúmeros, mas apontam para a possibilidade de apreender diferentes olhares e perspectivas na direção do diálogo interdisciplinar, tendo por intuito romper a formação tecnicista tradicional e promover a integralidade do cuidado em saúde. / The nutritionist professional is able to act in areas of knowledge where the food and nutrition are fundamental to the promotion, maintenance and recovery of health. Among these are the eating disorders (ED),serious and current psychopathologic cases, which etiology is multifactor and very complex. In the realm of food field show important changes in behavior, ranging from restrictions to food compulsions. Treatment should be multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary, being the professional nutritionist the one qualified to implement evaluation and nutritional guidance. However, there areno studies in the literature that address the role of the professional treatment team, directing the actions of nutrition in this context. Therefore, the objective of this study, of qualitative nature, was to identify the profile and performance of the nutritionist who develops this activity. We interviewed six nutritionists inserted in specialized regions of South and Southeast of Brazil: GRATAHCFMRP- USP in Ribeirão Preto, USP AMBULIM-HCFMSP-and-PROATA UNIFESP, São Paulo, GOTA-IEDE and Psychiatry, Santa Casa de Misericordia in Rio de Janeiro and AEE-CEAP in Porto Alegre. As data collection instrument it was used a semi structured script, and the interviews were audio recorded, performed in the city of origin of the service and transcribed in full. The themes that emerged were: the nutritionist, the role, doing and teamwork. The participants, only one male, 29 to 52 years of age, from 5 to 34 years of training and work, mostly on a voluntary service, for seven years on average. All have current expertise in the modality lato senso and/or strict senso. Most of them had been interested in the subject before that performance and feel grateful when the professional is essential in the team. However, we need to develop ourselves emotionally to the relationship with the patient to understand that food is a symptom of intense and comprehensive conflict. This will provide friendly attitude, yet firm. The main difficulties relate to the guidance on the changes necessary to improve the relationship that the patient establishes with food and weight, have a psyco-nutritional approach and knowing how to deal with frustration and incapacity, feelings that commonly arise in this activity. Team work was characterized as something that provides security and respect. There is good communication between members, which provides growth and learning, despite the difficulties on the lack of adequate physical infrastructure and the insertion of new professionals with experience in the area. For all the knowledge acquired during the studies was insufficient to support such action is necessary, the improvement through post-graduate. The results suggest that professionals seemed to be engaged in services and carried out with this achievement and performance, despite the limitations of everyday life. The challenges for the field of nutrition in the context of the TA are numerous, but indicate to the possibility of understanding different views and perspectives in the direction of interdisciplinary dialogue, with the aim to break the traditional technical training and promote the integration of health care.

Para avaliar o metabolismo oxidativo, perfil bioquímico e o efeito da suplementação com vitamina E intramuscular no período periparto, foram utilizadas 24 ovelhas, hígidas, da raça Santa Inês, no último mês de gestação. As ovelhas foram distribuídas em dois grupos que receberam, com intervalo de 14 dias, duas aplicações pela via intramuscular profunda de 2 mL de solução fisiológica (grupo controle-GC), ou 200 UI de vitamina E (grupo tratado-GT). Estes grupos foram subdivididos em P1 e P2. No P1, as ovelhas receberam a segunda dose de solução fisiológica ou vitamina entre 1 e 7 dias da data do parto. No P2, a segunda dose foi administrada entre 15 e 25 dias da data do parto. As amostras de sangue foram coletadas nos seguintes momentos: previamente à primeira aplicação (M0), 15 dias após a primeira aplicação (M1), no momento do parto (M2), 7 dias após o parto (M3), duas semanas após o parto (M4) e 4 semanas após o parto (M5). Foram analisadas as variáveis do perfil bioquímico: proteína total, albumina, globulina, uréia, creatinina, creatinofosfoquinase (cK), ácido úrico, aspartatoaminotransferase (AST), gamaglutamiltransferase (GGT), colesterol, triglicérides, glicose, beta hidroxibutirato (BHB) , ácidos graxos não esterificados (NEFA). Do metabolismo oxidativo foram determinas as atividades da superóxido dismutase (SOD), glutationa peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutationa reduzida (GSH) e habilidade de redução férrica plasmática (HRFP). Em P1, não foram observadas diferenças entre os grupos tratado e controle nas concentrações de proteína total, globulina, cK, ácido úrico, glicose, triglicérides, BHB, NEFA, SOD, GSH-Px e GSH. Porém em P1, foram observadas maiores concentrações em de albumina em M0 (P=0,039); uréia em M1 (P=0,018), M2 (P=0,005) e M3 (P=0,040); a creatinina em M2 (P=0,030) e M3 (P=0,047); GGT em M1 (P= 0,01) e M2 (P=0,024); colesterol em M2 (P=0,041) e HRFP em M3 (P= 0,022) para as ovelhas tratadas em relação às controle. Em P1, a AST foi maior para o controle em relação ao tratado em M2 (P=0,030). Em P2, foram observadas maiores atividades para o grupo controle nas variáveis SOD em M3 (P=0,013) e GSH-Px em M4 (P=0,027) e maior HRFP em M4 (P=0,023) para o grupo tratado. A aplicação de duas doses de vitamina E (200 UI, via IM) aumentou as concentrações de HRFP no pós-parto tanto em P1 como em P2. / Oxidative metabolism, biochemical profile and the effect of intramuscular vitamin E supplementation on sheeps per partum period were evaluated using 24 healthy Santa Ines sheep, in the last month of pregnancy. The lambs were randomly divided into two groups, control group-CG and treated group-TG. CG received 2 mL of saline and TG received 200 IU of vitamin E, both treatments were done with two doses within interval of 14 days, by deep intramuscular injection of. These groups were further divided into P1 and P2. In P1 the sheep received the second or vitamin saline dose between 1 and 7 days before delivery date. In P2, the second dose was administered between 15 and 25 days before delivery. Blood samples were collected at the following times: before the first application (M0), 15 days after (M1), at birth (M2), 7 days postpartum (M3), two weeks after delivery (M4) and four weeks after delivery (M5). The variables of biochemical profile analyzed were: total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, creatinine, creatine kinase (CK), uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, beta hydroxybutyrate (BHB), acids non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). Oxidative metabolism variable were: activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), reduced glutathione (GSH) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (HRFP). No differences were observed between the P1 treated and control groups in the concentrations of total protein, globulin, CK, uric acid, glucose, triglycerides, BHB, NEFA, SOD, GSH-Px and GSH. However higher concentrations of albumin in M0 (P = 0.039), urea in M1 (P = 0.018), M2 (P = 0.005) and M3 (P = 0.040), creatinine in M2 (P = 0.030 ) and M3 (P = 0.047), GGT in M1 (P = 0.01) and M2 (P = 0.024), cholesterol in M2 (P = 0.041) and HRFP at M3 (P = 0.022) for ewes treated we observed. AST concentration was greater for control in M2 (P = 0.030). In P2, higher activities were observed for the control group in the variables SOD in M3 (P = 0.013), GSH-Px in M4 (P = 0.027) and higher FRAP in M4 (P = 0.023) for the treated group. The application of two doses of vitamin E (200 IU, im) increased the concentrations of FRAP postpartum in both P1 and P2.

One of the degradation processes of zirconium-based nuclear fuel assemblies is irradiation-induced growth, an anisotropic, stress-independent, macroscopic deformation mechanism that elongates fuel cladding tubes axially. Irradiation-induced growth is driven by the irradiation-induced formation of dislocation loops, where the evolution of the loop structure can be complex, with the initial formation of loop generating transient growth, while the later formation of component dislocation loops, or loops, leads to accelerated growth. A full mechanistic understanding of loop nucleation is as yet unforthcoming. This thesis utilizes the diffraction peak broadening analysis software, named extended Convolutional Multiple Whole Profile, to study the dislocation structure evolution of neutron- and proton-irradiated zirconium alloys in order to validate proton-irradiation as a effective tool for the study of irradiation damage in relation to irradiation-induced growth. The diffraction profiles obtained exhibit unexpected features present in the tails of the Bragg peaks, tentatively attributed here to either strained regions of matrix, or diffuse scattering from severely distorted regions around nucleating precipitates, both originating from an increased solute concentration. The diffraction results indicate that the proton-irradiated samples exhibit qualitatively similar behaviours as seen from neutron-irradiation, such as a threshold irradiation dose before the formation of loops, however, a continued increase of loop dislocation density determined from peak broadening analysis is not observed by transmission electron microscopy. It is also shown that the Nb-containing Low-Sn ZIRLO® alloy has a lower dislocation density than the Nb-free Zircaloy-2 after the formation of loops correlating well with the relative irradiation-induced growth behaviours observed in- reactor. A correlation between a reduction in the loop dislocation density and the formation of loops is observed in Low-Sn ZIRLO® and Zr-1.60Sn-0.033Fe, providing support for the hypothesis that vacancy loops transform into loops. Zr- 0.61Sn-0.024Fe and Zr-1.60Sn-0.033Fe alloys show a rapid increase in the loop dislocation density in the initial stages of proton-irradiation, likely due to the low irradiation-resistance of the precipitates present in these alloys.