Orientador: Célio Percinoto / Coorientador: Sandra Helena Penha de Oliveira / Banca: Robson Frederico Cunha / Banca: Celso Koogi Sonoda / Banca: Elenice Deffune / Banca: Saul Martins de Paiva / Resumo: A avulsão dentária é um tipo de trauma que resulta na perda da continuidade de um complexo e múltiplo compartimento de tecidos. Componentes derivados do sangue, incluindo o plasma pobre em plaquetas (PPP) e o plasma rico em plaquetas (PRP) constituem uma opção terapêutica para o reparo tecidual. O gel de PRP tem sido usado como arcabouço para células-tronco da medula óssea em Engenharia Tecidual. O propósito da presente investigação foi avaliar o efeito do PPP, PRP ativado ou não por trombina e células-tronco (CT) originárias da medula óssea associadas ao PRP no reparo de reimplantes dentários. Quatro cães foram utilizados neste estudo. PRP e PPP foram obtidos pelo método de dupla centrifugação a partir do sangue coletado da veia jugular dos animais. CT foram obtidas por aspiração da medula óssea (AMO) e isoladas pelo método de centrifugação por densidade de gradiente. A citometria de fluxo (CF) foi realizada após AMO utilizando marcadores celulares CD34 e CD90. Após 30 minutos da extração, os dentes foram reimplantados e, de acordo com a proposta metodológica, divididos em 5 grupos: Grupo I - dentes reimplantados sem material (Controle); Grupo II - dentes reimplantados com o Plasma Pobre em Plaquetas (PPP); Grupo III - dentes reimplantados com o Plasma Rico em Plaquetas ativado por cloreto de cálcio (PRP); Grupo IV - dentes reimplantados com o Plasma Rico em Plaquetas ativado por trombina de origem bovina e cloreto de cálcio (PRP + TR) e Grupo V - dentes reimplantados com células-tronco da medula óssea associadas ao PRP ativado por cloreto de cálcio (CT + PRP). Análises histológica, histomorfométrica e imuno histoquímica foram realizadas 120 dias após o reimplante. Análise de variância (ANOVA) e o teste post-hoc de Tukey foram utilizados para a análise estatística, com nível de significância de 5%. CF mostrou... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Dental avulsion constitutes a traumatism which results in the loss of a complex and multiple tissue compartments. Blood-components products, including platelet-poor plasma (PPP) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP), constitute a therapeutic option for tissue healing. PRP gel has also been used as a scaffold for bone marrow stem cells in Tissue Engineering. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of PPP, PRP activated or not with thrombin and bone marrow stem cells (BMSC) associated with PRP on the healing of replanted teeth. Four adult hybrid dogs were used in this study. PRP and PPP were obtained trough double centrifugation technique of blood collected from the jugular vein of the animals. CTM were obtained from bone marrow aspiration (BMA) and isolated by density gradient centrifugation method. Flow Cytometry Analysis (FCA) was performed after BMA using CD34 and CD90 cells markers. After 30 minutes of extraction, teeth were replanted and, according to the methodological proposal, divided into 5 Groups: Group I - teeth replanted without any material (Control); Group II - teeth replanted with Platelet-poor Plasma (PPP); Group III - teeth replanted with Platelet-rich plasma activated by sodium chloride (PRP); Group IV - teeth replanted with Platelet-rich plasma activated by bovine thrombin and sodium chloride (PRP + TR) and Group V - teeth replanted with bone marrow stem cells associated with PRP activated by sodium chloride (BMSC + PRP). Histological, histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analysis were assessed 120 days after reimplantation. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey post-hoc test were used for the statistical analysis, with the level of significance set at 5%. FCA showed 55.98% of CD34+ and 33.28% of CD90+ after BMA. Group V (BMSC + PRP) presented the largest areas of replacement resorption, confirmed... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Resumo: Este estudo avaliou, histomorfometricamente, o processo de cicatrização em defeitos de fenestração periodontal, criados cirurgicamente em ratos e tratados com Plasma Rico em Plaquetas (PRP), Laser de Baixa Intensidade (LBI) ou a associação de ambos. Defeitos de fenestração periodontal foram realizados na mandíbula de 80 ratos, divididos em 4 grupos: Grupo C (Controle) - o defeito foi preenchido somente com coágulo sanguíneo; Grupo PRP - o defeito foi preenchido com PRP; Grupo LBI - o defeito recebeu a aplicação de LBI, foi preenchido com coágulo sangüíneo e irradiado novamente; Grupo PRP/LBI - o defeito recebeu a aplicação de LBI, foi preenchido com PRP e irradiado novamente. Os animais foram submetidos à eutanásia aos 10 e 30 dias pós-operatórios. A porcentagem de preenchimento ósseo (NO), densidade do novo osso (DNO), formação de novo cemento (NC) e a extensão remanescente do defeito (ERD) foram histometricamente avaliadas. Os dados foram submetidos à análise estatística (análise de variância, Tukey, p < 0,05). Aos 10 dias, o Grupo PRP apresentou ERD significativamente menor que o Grupo C. Aos 30 dias, o Grupo PRP apresentou NO e DNO significativamente maiores que o Grupo C. Todos os espécimes do Grupo C, aos 10 e 30 dias, apresentaram ausência total de formação de cemento. Já os espécimes dos grupos LBI, PRP e PRP/LBI apresentaram, aos 30 dias, significativa neoformação de cemento. LBI, PRP e PRP/LBI promoveram formação de cemento em defeitos de fenestração periodontal aos 30 dias. O PRP acelerou a regeneração óssea aos 10 dias e resultou em densidade e volume ósseos significativamente maiores que o LBI e o controle aos 30 dias. A associação PRP/LBI não foi vantajosa quando comparada ao uso isolado dessas terapias / Abstract: This study histomorphometrically analyzed the influence of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or their combination on the healing of surgically created periodontal fenestration defects in rats. Periodontal fenestration defects were created in the mandible of 80 rats divided into 4 groups: Group C (control) - the defect was filled by blood clot only; Group PRP - the defect was filled with PRP; Group LLLT - the defect received laser irradiation, was filled with blood clot and then irradiated again; Group PRP/LLLT - the defect received laser irradiation, was filled with PRP and then irradiated again. Animals were euthanized at either 10 or 30 days postoperatively. The percentage of bone fill (NB) and density of newly formed bone (DNB), new cementum formation (NC) and the extension of the remaining defect (ERD) were histometrically evaluated. Data were statistically analyzed (analysis of variance; Tukey p < 0.05). At 10 days, Group PRP presented ERD significantly lower than Group C. At 30 days, Group PRP presented NB and DNB significantly greater than Group C. Cementum formation was not observed in any specimen of Group C at either 10 or 30 days. The specimens of groups LLLT, PRP and PRP/LLLT showed significant formation of new cementum at 30 days. LLLT, PRP and PRP/LLLT promoted new cementum formation in periodontal fenestration defects at 30 days. PRP enhanced bone regeneration at 10 days and resulted in bone volume and density significantly greater than LLLT and control at 30 days. The combination PRP/LLLT did not show additional effects when compared to the use of each therapy separately / Orientador: Maria José Hitomi Nagata / Coorientador: Valdir Gouveia Garcia / Banca: Michel Reis Messora / Banca: Álvaro Francisco Bosco / Mestre

Orientador: Maria José Hitomi Nagata / Banca: Ronaldo Célio Mariano / Banca: Valdir Gouveia Garcia / Banca: Mário Taba Júnior / Banca: Álvaro Francisco Bosco / Resumo: O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar, histologicamente, o processo de cicatrização de defeitos de furca Classe II, criados cirurgicamente e tratados com a associação do Plasma Rico em Plaquetas (PRP), partículas esféricas de Novo Vidro Bioativo (NVB) e Sulfato de Cálcio (SC). Os segundos e quartos prémolares mandibulares de 8 cães foram usados neste estudo. Defeitos de furca Classe II (5 mm de altura x 2 mm de profundidade) foram criados cirurgicamente e imediatamente tratados. Usando o modelo de boca dividida, os dentes foram aleatoriamente divididos em 2 grupos: Grupo C (controle): o defeito foi preenchido somente com coágulo sanguíneo e Grupo T (teste): o defeito foi preenchido com a associação de PRP, NVB e SC. Os retalhos foram reposicionados para cobrir totalmente os defeitos. A eutanásia dos animais foi realizada aos 90 dias pósoperatórios. Foram obtidos cortes histológicos seriados mésio-distais, corados com Hematoxilina e Eosina. Foram realizadas análises histométrica, usando um software analisador de imagens, e histológica. Foram avaliadas medidas lineares e de área da cicatrização periodontal, calculadas como porcentagem do defeito original. Os dados percentuais foram transformados em arcoseno para análise estatística (análise de variância, p < 0,05). A regeneração óssea e de tecido conjuntivo nos defeitos de furca foi incompleta na maioria dos espécimes. O Grupo C apresentou quantidade de neoformação óssea e regeneração periodontal significativamente maior que o Grupo T. Quantidade considerável de partículas remanescentes de NVB foi observada na maioria dos espécimes do Grupo T. Dentro dos limites do presente estudo, pode-se concluir que a associação do PRP, NVB e SC não foi mais efetiva que o debridamento cirúrgico somente no tratamento de defeitos de furca Classe II. / Abstract: The purpose of this study was to histologically evaluate the healing of surgically created Class II furcation defects treated using a combination of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), new spherical bioactive glass (NBG) particles and calcium sulfate (CS). The second and fourth mandibular premolars of eight mongrel dogs were used in this study. Class II furcation defects (5 mm in height x 2 mm in depth) were surgically created and immediately treated. Using a split-mouth design, teeth were randomly divided into two groups: group C (control) - defect filled with blood clot only; and group T (test) - defect filled with a combination of PRP, NBG and CS. Flaps were repositioned to cover all defects. The animals were euthanized 90 days post-surgery. Mesio-distal serial sections were obtained and stained with either hematoxylin and eosin. Histometric, using image-analysis software, and histologic analyses were performed. Linear and area measurements of periodontal healing were evaluated and calculated as a percentage of the original defect. Percentage data were transformed into arccosine for statistical analysis (analysis of variance; P<0.05). Regeneration of bone and connective tissue in the furcation defects was incomplete in most of the specimens. Group C had significantly more bone formation and periodontal regeneration than group T. A considerable amount of remaining NBG particles was observed in most specimens of group T. Within the limits of this study, it can be concluded that the combination of PRP, NBG and CS was not more effective than the surgical debridement alone in the treatment of Class II furcation defects. / Doutor

Thesis. 1976. M.C.P.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Rotch. / Bibliography: leaves 253-258. / by Tulio Espada. / M.C.P.

Submitted by Natalie Mendes (nataliermendes@gmail.com) on 2015-10-19T23:34:42Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Disserta??o Cristiane Tavares Santos Melo.pdf: 5986926 bytes, checksum: 41c2db5723eea22cce4eed77c742286a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-10-19T23:34:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Disserta??o Cristiane Tavares Santos Melo.pdf: 5986926 bytes, checksum: 41c2db5723eea22cce4eed77c742286a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-05-03 / Contemporary of Jorge Amado, Carlos Chiacchio, Rui Barbosa, Afr?nico Peixoto, among others, Altamirando Requi?o devoted himself to poetry and novel, but his performances in the journalism and in the politc end up taking the most part of his activities. He was owner of newspaper Di?rio de Not?cias and acted too how collaborator in other newspapers and magazines of Bahia and Rio de Janeiro, where he published many articles and essays. The current work proposes to study the cultural memory of Bahia in the century XVII, through of novel O Baluarte (1976). We also will use some texts from owner author, published in journals such as subsidy to analyze the novel. For this, firstly, we will get the authot back, placing his cultural moment of production and contribution for the literary production of Bahia. We will take advantage of opportunity for analyze the fact of the suppression of artistic identities, such as Requi?o that, in spite of be one of the members founders of Academia de Letras da Bahia and to be in the center of intellectual production from Bahia,too, he didn?t get write his name in the official historiography in literary critical. Then we will analyze the work O Baluarte (1976), through of relations between literature and history. / Contempor?neo de Jorge Amado, Carlos Chiacchio, Rui Barbosa, Afr?nio Peixoto, entre outros, Altamirando Requi?o dedicou-se ? poesia e ao romance, mas suas atua??es no jornalismo e na pol?tica acabam tomando a maior parte do espa?o de suas atividades. Foi propriet?rio do jornal Di?rio de Noticias e atuou tamb?m como colaborador em outros peri?dicos e revistas da Bahia e do Rio de Janeiro, onde publicou muitos artigos e ensaios. O presente trabalho prop?e-se a estudar a mem?ria cultural da Bahia do s?culo XVII, a partir do romance hist?rico O Baluarte (1976). Utilizaremos tamb?m alguns textos do autor, publicados em peri?dicos, como subs?dio para analisar o romance. Para tanto, primeiramente, recuperaremos o autor, situando o seu momento cultural de produ??o e sua contribui??o para a produ??o liter?ria baiana. Aproveitaremos a oportunidade para analisarmos o fato da supress?o das identidades art?sticas, como Requi?o que, apesar de ser um dos membros fundadores da Academia de Letras da Bahia e estar no centro da produ??o intelectual baiana, n?o conseguiu fixar seu nome na historiografia oficializada pela cr?tica liter?ria. Em seguida, analisaremos a obra O baluarte (1976), a partir das rela??es entre literatura e hist?ria.

Submitted by Celso Magalhaes (celsomagalhaes@ufrrj.br) on 2017-11-08T15:16:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Poliana de Araujo Oliveira.pdf: 1134800 bytes, checksum: 79b02bbcfb332c5fbb799d7840ccc773 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-08T15:16:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Poliana de Araujo Oliveira.pdf: 1134800 bytes, checksum: 79b02bbcfb332c5fbb799d7840ccc773 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-25 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / Drugs currently used in pain and inflammation are responsible for a large number of adverse effects, due to chronic use, producing in the patients a decrease of symptoms, but not an overall improvement in quality of life, therefore it is of extreme importance to search for new drugs. Piperine is the main active compound of black pepper (Piper nigrum), known in Brazil as black pepper, popularly used by several beneficial effects. Studies in vitro and in vivo show that piperine has functional involvement in antidepressant, hepatoprotective, anti-metastatic antiparasitic, antithyroid, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. To improve the selectivity and potency, molecular changes were made in the piperine, obtaining the piperic acid. The objective of this study was to evaluate, through of models of acute and chronic pain, and inflammation; a potential nociceptive and anti-inflammatory compound. In the model of writhing induced by acetic acid was observed a percentage inhibition of writhes of 77,9% compared to the control, in the highest dose tested (10mg / kg). In the formalin test, the compound inhibited both phases of the test, wich the dose of 10mg/kg The inhibitory effect was 30% in stage 1 and stage 2 at 67%. The increase in the latency time in tail flick test had an earlier action compared to morphine and the piperic acid increased the latency time in 58% in 80min time in relation to baseline. We investigated the possible pathways involved in the mechanism of action of the compound by prior administration of antagonists in the tail flick test. We found that the muscarinic antagonist, atropine, was able to completely inhibit the effect of the compound, demonstrating the involvement of the cholinergic pathway in the mechanism of action. The opioid and nitrergic pathways and the potassium channel ATPdependent are not involved in the mechanism of action, since these antagonists do not inhibit the effect of the compound. The compound was able to inhibit capsaicin-induced nociception, capsaicina is agonist TRPV1, in 45,34% demonstrating the involvement of TRPV1. The von Frey test evaluate allodynia after chronic constriction of the sciatic nerve. In this test, the compound did not show antinociceptive activity with the doses tested. The open field test was used to determine the influence of the compound on the animal's mobility, and we observe that the action of the compound did not interfere on animal's motor performance. The antiinflammatory activity was evaluated in models of inflammation induced by carrageenan. In the paw oedema test, the compound significantly reduced the oedema at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg. In the air pouch test, we found that the leukocyte migration was reduced, as well as the production of TNF-? and IL-1?. The piperic acid was shown to be selective for COX-1 in the assessment of enzymatic activity of COX-1 and COX-2. We suggest that the effects of piperine can be mediated primarily through the portion of the molecule related to piperic acid / Os f?rmacos atualmente utilizados em dor e inflama??o s?o respons?veis por um grande n?mero de efeitos adversos, e devido ao uso cr?nico, fazem com que o paciente tenha uma diminui??o dos sintomas, mas n?o uma total melhoria da qualidade de vida, sendo assim ? de extrema import?ncia a busca por novos f?rmacos. A piperina ? o principal composto ativo da pimenta preta (Piper nigrum), mais conhecida no Brasil como pimenta do reino, popularmente utilizada por diversos efeitos ben?ficos. Estudos in vitro e in vivo demonstram que a piperina tem envolvimento funcional como antidepressivo, hepatoprotetor, antiparasit?rio antimetast?tico, antitiroidiano, imunomodulador, anti-inflamat?rio e analg?sico. A fim de produzir melhora em sua seletividade e pot?ncia, altera??es moleculares foram realizadas na piperina, obtendo-se ent?o o ?cido pip?rico. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar, atrav?s da execu??o de modelos experimentais de dor aguda, cr?nica e inflama??o, o potencial farmacol?gico antinociceptivo e anti-inflamat?rio do composto. No modelo de contor??es abdominais induzidas por ?cido ac?tico foi verificada um percentual de inibi??o das contor??es de 77,9% comparado ao controle, na maior dose testada (10mg/kg). No modelo da formalina o composto inibiu ambas as fases do modelo, com a dose de 10mg/kg o efeito inibit?rio chegou a 30% na 1? fase e 67% na 2? fase. O aumento do tempo de lat?ncia no modelo de retirada de cauda com o composto foi alcan?ado mais precocemente do que a morfina, o ACP aumentou o tempo de lat?ncia em 58% no tempo de 80 min comparado a linha de base na maior dose testada. Investigamos as poss?veis vias envolvidas no mecanismo de a??o do composto atrav?s da administra??o pr?via de antagonistas, no modelo de retirada de cauda. Verificamos que o antagonista de receptores muscar?nicos, atropina, foi capaz de inibir completamente o efeito do composto, demonstrando a participa??o da via colin?rgica no mecanismo de a??o. As vias opioide, nitr?rgica e o canal de pot?ssio dependente de ATP parecem n?o estar envolvidas no mecanismo de a??o, visto que os antagonistas destas vias n?o inibiram o efeito do composto. O composto inibiu a nocicep??o induzida pela capsaicina, que ? agonista de receptores TRPV1 em 45,34%, demonstrando envolvimento de TRPV1. No modelo de Von Frey avaliamos a alodinia ap?s a constri??o cr?nica do nervo ci?tico. Neste modelo, o composto n?o demonstrou atividade antinociceptiva nas doses testadas. O modelo de campo aberto foi usado para verificar a influ?ncia do composto sobre a mobilidade do animal, e observamos que o mesmo n?o interfere no desempenho motor do animal. A atividade anti-inflamat?ria foi avaliada em modelos de inflama??o induzido por carragenina. No modelo de edema de pata, o composto reduziu o edema em 75% na dose de 10mg/kg. No modelo da bolsa de ar subcut?nea verificamos que a migra??o leucocit?ria foi reduzida assim como a produ??o de TNF-? e IL-1?. O ?cido pip?rico demonstrou ser seletivo para COX-1, na avalia??o da atividade enzim?tica de COX-1 e COX-2. Podemos sugerir que os efeitos da piperina podem ser mediados atrav?s da por??o da mol?cula referente ao ?cido pip?rico.

abstract: Las Islas Canarias son un archipiélago de la costa africana situado a cien kilómetros de la costa de Marruecos y del Sáhara Occidental. Estas islas fueron conquistadas a finales del siglo XV y son actualmente parte del Estado español, y su posición como punto de paso tricontinental ha facilitado una historia colonial que es paralela a la del Caribe y que está caracterizada por la asimilación de sus poblaciones indígenas, las plantaciones de caña de azúcar y el comercio esclavista atlántico, la emergencia de un Nuevo Mundo, las migraciones constantes desde las Islas Canarias hacia el Caribe, el desarrollo de movimientos independentistas y la turistificación del paraíso caribeño/canario, entre otros aspectos. La identidad de las Islas Canarias, si embargo, ha permanecido en una posición ambigua en la discusión de conceptos de tricontinentalidad o puente entre continentes, cuando estas islas no son simplemente consideradas como una región más de España con ligeras diferencias. Desde el Caribe, varios autores regionales han cuestionado sus propias identidades proponiendo los conceptos de creolización, relación o meta-archipiélago. Las ideas comunes exploradas por intelectuales de ambos archipiélagos incluyen los conceptos de colonialidad, modernidad, mitologización de la isla, fragmentación, atlanticidad, frontera y ultraperiferia, entre otros. De esta manera, esta tesis doctoral conecta las Islas Canarias y el Caribe a través de la exploración de sus discursos identitarios, y aplica a Canarias las teorías poscoloniales desarrolladas en el Caribe. Partiendo del análisis de diversos trabajos de Fernando Ortiz, Antonio S. Pedreira, Édouard Glissant, Jean Bernabé, Patrick Chamoiseau, Raphael Confiant, Antonio Benítez Rojo, José Luis González, Juan Flores, Gustavo Pérez-Firmat, Walter Mignolo, Enrique Dussel, Gloria Anzaldúa y Juan Manuel García Ramos, entre otros, esta tesis propone el término canaribeñidad para definir el desarrollo bilateral y común de las identidades nacionales en las Islas Canarias y el Caribe, destacando la contribución canaria a la identidad caribeña (la fundación de la literatura cubana, el guajiro/jíbaro, la brujería…) y viceversa (discursos independentistas y nacionalistas, la experiencia diaspórica, la música, el tabaco, el sentido de fraternidad con el Caribe…). El corpus analizado en esta disertación incluye obras literarias transatlánticas, desde las primeras crónicas hasta ejemplos de teatro, novelas, ensayos, artículos periodísticos y poesía de los siglos XVI-XX. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Spanish 2019

Floods are a significant threat to communities around the world and require substantial resources and infrastructure to predict. Limited local resources in developing nations make it difficult to build and maintain dense sensor networks like those present in the United States, creating a large disparity in flood prediction across borders. To address this disparity, I operated the Iowa Flood Center Top Layer model to predict floods in Puerto Rico without relying on in-situ data measurements. Instead, all model forcing was provided by satellite remote sensing datasets that offer near-global coverage. I used three datasets gathered via satellite remote sensing to build and operate watershed streamflow models: elevation data obtained by the Space Shuttle Endeavour through the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), rainfall estimates gathered by a constellation of satellites through the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM), and evapotranspiration rate estimates collected by Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors aboard the Aqua and Terra satellites. While these satellite remote sensing datasets make observations of nearly the entire world, their spatiotemporal resolution is coarse compared to conventional on-the-ground measurements. Hydrologic models were assembled for 75 basins upstream of streamflow gages monitored by the United States Geologic Survey (USGS). Model simulations were compared to real-time measurements at these gages. Continuous simulations spanning 58 months achieve poor Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency and Klinge Gupta Efficiency of -112.0 and -0.5, respectively. The sources of error that influence model performance were investigated, underlining some limitations of relying solely on satellite data for operational flood prediction efforts.

In 2004, Puerto Rico's new environmental legislation became part of the penal code with the intention of protecting the island nation's natural resources through criminal prosecution. However, the problem is a dearth of information about the prosecutions of environmental crimes and the law enforcement agent's implementation practices. The purpose of this study was to describe the execution of the law and the few cases prosecuted. Lipsky and Hull and Hjern's theory of implementation were used to help answer the research question: What are the implementation procedures of law enforcement agents on Puerto Rico's environmental crimes law, and what can be done to improve these practices? This qualitative case study included semistructured interviews with police officers and 3 district attorneys who were selected based on their involvement in environmental crimes cases. Document analysis such as court files were analyzed to reveal the implementation practices of the law. Data were analyzed using NVivo software. Results revealed that police officers and prosecutors possess little knowledge of the environmental crimes and this was not a barrier for execution of the law. However, court judges did not uniformly interpret the meaning of the law in the adjudication process which suggests that failure to successfully prosecute is due to lack of understanding of these environmental crimes by legal counsel. Enhancing the training of police, prosecutors, and judges is needed to improve policing and implementation of the law. Successful implementation practices can promote better legislation and prosecution in order to reduce environmental degradation of the island.

Many project managers and business leaders lack effective strategies to control internal factors that affect information systems (IS) projects, which may impede leadership's ability to respond to market changes. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies used by 6 purposefully selected project managers who successfully implemented information system development (ISD) projects by controlling the internal factors that affected different ISD project phases in Puerto Rico's telecommunication service industry. The framework that guided this study was coordination theory. The data collection process included semistructured interviews and project documentation including business requirements, project charters, project plans, and lessons learned which also served as resources for member checking and validation to strengthen the trustworthiness of the study. Analysis of the data occurred following Yin's 5 analytical steps of validating, coding, interpreting, summarizing, and generating themes. The 5 themes that emerged were top management support, clear requirements, communication, project plan, and lessons learned. Each theme corresponded to a phase of the project life cycle. Top management support and clear requirements were the top critical factors (TCF) in the initiating and planning phases. Communication and project plan were the TCF in the executing, monitoring, and controlling phases. Lessons learned were the TCF in the closing phase of the project. Implications for social change include helping IS project managers successfully implement IS projects, providing innovative services to customers, and improving an organization's position so it can provide jobs and economic stability in the region in which it operates.