The thesis evaluates the results of experimental protocol involving the fertility sparing treatment procedure in early stage cervical carcinoma (LAP I protocol). Sentinel lymph node detection and experimental extirpation of afferent channels using laparoscopy and its technical aspects were analysed in prospective group of 85 women. The oncologic results and early/late morbidity show that established surgical procedures can be considered safe with minimal morbidity, provided that the indication criteria are met. The second part analyses the results of 148 women with no further pregnancy plans suffering from cervical tumors less than 2 cm in size with invasion less than half of the stroma (LAP II protocol). The oncological results in our defined group are very good and comparable to 'standard' procedure of modified radical hysterectomy type B or C with lower morbidity. In the separate section the thesis analyses the possibilities of laparoscopy in endometrial cancer treatment including the potentials of use of sentinel lymph node detection and technical aspects of laparoscopy in obese women. Currently the biggest controversy is the use of laparoscopy in malignant ovarian tumors. Our oncogynaecological study group at FN Motol prefers the laparotomic approach and we chose to include the set of advanced...

This thesis comprises detailed readings of nine early-modern plays featuring female witches in an attempt to recover an understanding of how they were represented on the early-modern stage and what they meant to their first audiences. Drawing on twentieth-century theories of subjectivity, it offers an avenue for the explanation of moments of misogyny in the plays and identifies an unconscious communal anxiety which was revealed and perpetuated by the stage representation of the witch. Although we cannot fully recapture the experience of an audience of 400 years ago, this study attempts to do so in order to place the plays in the context of anxieties detectable in the period. By reading the plays in reference to theatrical conditions, this thesis identifies moments when the drama enlisted the subjectivity of the audience and the witch was constructed as uncanny. Such an approach contributes to the debate on the ages of actors performing certain female characters and suggests potential staging approaches for future performances.

This study proposes a series of 3 experiments to explore how different types of staging, pictures versus virtual reality, impacts potential buyers’ likelihood of wanting to visit a home. Moreover, this study seeks to address how the type of market, hot versus cold, and type of home, luxury versus non-luxury, connects with staging and its impact on wanting to visit a home. In Experiment 1, participants will view 10 total homes, 5 randomly selected with staged pictures first followed by the remaining 5 with virtual reality, either within the hot or cold market. If VR increases presence, then people should be more likely to want to visit a house especially in a hot market given that there is a high demand for a constrained supply. Experiment 2 addressed the contrast effect limitation given that virtual reality staging always came after the pictures of staging within Experiment 1. Experiment 2 should replicate the results of Experiment 1 by removing the contrast effect. Finally, Experiment 3 will explore the impact of type of home, luxury versus non-luxury, and type of staging on wanting to visit a home. Researchers are expected to find that participants who viewed properties in virtual reality are more likely to want to visit the home compared to those that saw staged images because of increased presence, which will make them feel more connected to the home compared to viewing staged pictures. Ultimately, this study is important because it aims to identify the utility of VR in home sales.

Magnetic resonance imaging plays an important yet underutilized role in determining the natural history and prognosis of oral carcinoma. Depth of tumour invasion is an emergent factor in the oral cancer literature. However, problems exist with the definition of cut-points suitable for inclusion in TNM staging criteria. Statistical methodology represents a possible explanation but is underexplored. In this work, a review of the depth of invasion literature is conducted with emphasis on statistical technique. As well, statistical simulation is used to explore the implications of the of the minimum p-value method. The results demonstrate that the use of continuous variable categorization and multiple testing is widespread, and contributes to cut-point variability and false-positive tests. Depth, as a predictor of OCLNM and survival, must be questioned. The volume of tumour invasion is a promising prognostic factor that has not been fully investigated in the oral carcinoma literature. In this work, the volume of tumour invasion is measured on MRI and compared to thickness and maximum diameter in its capacity to predict 2-year all-cause, disease-related and disease-free survival, as well as occult cervical lymph node metastasis prediction. As part of a comprehensive approach, morphometric factors are incorporated into multifactor predictive models using regression, artificial neural networks and recursive partitioning. It is evident that MRI-based volume is superior all other linear measurements for both occult cervical lymph node metastasis and survival prediction. Artificial neural networks wee superior to all other techniques for survival prediction. There is a case for a unified artificial neural networks model for survival prediction that uses volume, midline invasion and N-stage to determine prognosis. This model can be used to determine individualized probabilities of 2-year survival. The lateral extrinsic muscles of the tongue lie just beneath the surface of the lateral tongue, yet their invasion is a criterion for T4 classification using the TNM staging system. In this work, the Visible Human Female is used to conduct an anatomic study of the extrinsic muscles of the tongue. Linear measurement is used to quantify the distance from the surface mucosa to the most superficial muscle fibres of the styloglossus and genioglossus. Further, the lateral extrinsic muscles are poorly demonstrated on MRI. An anatomic atlas of the tongue is fused with MRI images of oral carcinoma to demonstrate lateral muscle invasion. The results demonstrate that the styloglossus and hyoglossus lie very close to the surface of the lateral tongue, in some cases passing within 1 mm of the surface mucosa. These extrinsic muscles are readily invaded by even small tumours of the lateral tongue. Strict application of the TNM T4a criteria leads to unnecessary upstaging as these carcinomas do not warrant the prognosis and aggressive treatment of Stage IV disease. Extrinsic muscle invasion should be removed as a T4a criterion for the oral cavity. A separate category, T4a (oral tongue) specifying invasion of the genioglossus is also recommended. This work presented in this thesis is an original contribution to the field of oral cavity cancer research and has determined that there is capacity for improvement in current efforts to determine the natural history and prognosis of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. This thesis is the first to examine the role of statistical methodology in oral carcinoma depth of invasion cut-point variability. Further, this work presents an original approach to the prediction of regional metastasis and survival using advanced multivariate modeling techniques. No other work explored MRI-measured volume using the substantial sample size gathered in this thesis. Finally, this work is the first to demonstrate that lateral extrinsic muscle invasion is an unnecessary component of the T4a (oral cavity) classification criteria and should be reconsidered.

The mangrove killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus, has the potential of becoming a strong model organism for a range of biological disciplines thanks to its ability to self-fertilise, a process only known to occur in invertebrate animals until its discovery. Selfing, a natural occurrence in this species, has lead to the formation of clonal lineages composed of highly homozygous individuals. The aim of this thesis was to further establish K. marmoratus in the field of developmental biology by providing an information infrastructure to help advance research on this peculiar animal and further promote its place in the pantheon of model organisms. To do so, I first set out to standardise K. marmoratus embryology by providing defined developmental stages with clear visual representations of key embryonic structures. This staging series is an essential tool that will ensure repeatability and consistency within and across different laboratories. Secondly, I examined several techniques for embryonic manipulation and for imaging that can be used in an array of experimental designs. Using these techniques I demonstrated microinjection of embryos by monitoring the yolk syncytial layer and its nuclei, and time-lapse analyses of the yolk surface during embryonic development. Finally, I applied the knowledge gained from my first two studies and examined Bmp signalling in K. marmoratus embryos and its influence on body patterning. By inhibiting this pathway, I found a new phenotype characterised by an extremely short and split body axis. These data highlighted the importance of studying known signalling pathways in unknown organisms as species-specific differences may improve our understanding of fundamental developmental processes. This thesis demonstrates that with its easily obtainable and manipulated embryos, K. marmoratus can be used for embryological research in the same light as other model organisms such as zebrafish or medaka. The rising amount of information on mangrove killifish will help further take advantage of this unique and intriguing species, and supports the use of this hermaphroditic vertebrate as a strong comparative model in developmental biology.

Really, Really, by Paul Downs Colaizzo, is loosely based on the 2006 Duke University sexual assault scandal resulting from what proved to be a false accusation of rape made against three members of the men’s lacrosse team. After individually reading the play, Jorge Burmudez and I both arrived at differing opinions of who was the true victim, in turn inspiring this thesis, which is an exploration of two separate productions of the play demonstrating contrasting perspectives/outlooks regarding sex crimes within sports organizations in the university setting. It will describe our process from conceptualization to a post-mortem talking about particular challenges we faced along with feedback from both casts and audience members who saw the shows. Included will also be my experience with pre-production, auditions/casting, rehearsal journals and post-production documentation of my individual directorial processes. In the end, we are researching where the blame lies in the crime detailed in this play.

Esta dissertação trata da Rítmica como Princípio Formativo, um dos desdobramentos das formulações de Émile Jaques-Dalcroze (1865-1950), no trabalho pedagógico e profissional com voz, música e encenação. Com seu axioma música é movimento, e movimento é música, Dalcroze ressalta a originalidade da Rítmica em promover uma qualidade imanente à humanidade a indissociabilidade do movimento musical e corporal como forma ancestral de expressão humana. Ponderando questões de ordem ontológica do fazer teatral, num primeiro momento, traço a trajetória da Rítmica, analisando as potencialidades de seu diálogo com outras áreas, considerando como ela transforma e é transformada nesta interação. Em seguida, analiso a operacionalização de conteúdos e técnicas baseadas na pesquisa do indivíduo sobre si pressuposto de importantes encenadores; e, finalmente, descrevo os resultados cênicos obtidos pelo emprego de conceitos e procedimentos com grupos envolvidos na formação, pesquisa e montagem teatral. / This research approaches Eurhythmics as Formative Principle, one of the developments of Émile Jacques Dalcrozeformulations on the pedagogical and professional work with voice, music and staging. Through his axiom music is movement, and movement is music, Dalcroze emphasizes the originality of Eurhythmics in promoting an immanent quality of mankind the indissociability of corporal and musical movement as an ancestral form of human expression. Taking into account ontological questions towards the theatrical making, I start with the reconstruction the Eurhythmicstrajectory, analyzing the potentialities of its dialogue with others areas, exposing how and when it transforms and is transformed by these interactions. Afterwards, I analyze the operativeness of its contents and strategies based on individual self-research presumption of great directors; and, finally, I descript the scenic results obtained by the use of concepts and proceedings with groups involved in theatrical formation, research and staging.

O objetivo desta dissertação é apresentar algumas traduções e encenações em língua inglesa do teatro de Nelson Rodrigues nos anos recentes. A tradução de texto teatral é um campo pouco pesquisado nos estudos de tradução. A relação entre texto e representação é algo inerente a esse tipo de texto, algo que deve ser levado em consideração ao se traduzir para o palco. O texto teatral não pode ser tratado como literatura devido à natureza múltipla de seus signos; que ultrapassam a dimensão linguística, incluindo também, ritmo, entonação, pausa, cenografia, figurino, gesto entre outros elementos. Por meio da análise de traduções e encenações realizadas nos Estados Unidos e na Inglaterra, veremos como ocorreu a transposição de peças rodriguianas para os palcos desses países, num estudo que aborda tanto questões lingüísticas quanto aspectos próprios ao teatro. / The purpose of this dissertation is to analyse some translations and performances of Nelson Rodrigues´s theater presented in English recently. Theater Translation is not a very explored area within Translation Studies. The relationship between text and performance must be taken into consideration when translating for the stage. Theater texts can not be treated as literature due to the multiple nature of their signs, that goes beyond the linguistic dimension, including also rhythm, intonation, pause, design, costume and gesture, among other aspects. Analysing translations and performances staged in the United States and in England, it will be possible to see how the transposition of the Portuguese text into English occurred. The analysis includes linguistic issues and aspects related to theater as well.

Informação sobre o estágio de câncer num paciente é fundamental quando médicos avaliam o progresso de seu tratamento. A determinação do estágio de câncer (cancer staging) é um processo que leva em consideração a descrição, localização, características e possíveis metástases dos tumores cancerosos de um paciente. Esse processo deve seguir um padrão de classificação como, por exemplo, o padrão TNM. Porém, na prática clínica, a execução desse processo pode ser tediosa, propensa a erros e gerar incertezas. Com o intuito de amenizar esses problemas, este trabalho tem como objetivo auxiliar radiologistas fornecendo uma segunda opinião na avaliação do estágio de câncer de um paciente. Para isso, tecnologias da Web Semântica, como ontologias e reasoning, foram usadas para classificar automaticamente estágios de câncer. Essa classificação usou anotações semânticas feitas por radiologistas, usando a ferramenta ePAD, e armazenadas no formato AIM. Um protótipo de classificador, baseado no padrão TNM, foi criado. Ele transforma anotações AIM em indivíduos da ontologia AIM4-O e, usando axiomas e regras (escritos na linguagens OWL-SWRL) representando o padrão TNM, ele automaticamente calcula o estágio de câncer de fígado de pacientes. A ontologia AIM4-O foi desenvolvida, como parte desse trabalho, para representar anotações AIM 4 em OWL. Esse classificador TNM foi avaliado, usando-se dados reais de relatórios radiológicos de pacientes do NCIs Genomic Data Commons (GDC), em termos de precisão e revocação, com resultados respectivos de 85,7% e 81,0% (quando comparado aos valores reais de estágio de câncer dos relatórios). Todo o processo foi validado com radiologistas do Radiology Dept. of the Stanford University. / Information about cancer staging in a patient is crucial when clinicians assess treatment progress. Determining cancer stage is a process that takes into account the description, location, characteristics and possible metastasis of cancerous tumors in a patient. It should follow classification standards, such as the TNM Classification of Malignant Tumors. However, in clinical practice, the implementation of this process can be tedious, error-prone and create uncertainty. In order to alleviate these problems, we intend to assist radiologists by providing a second opinion in the evaluation of cancer stage in patients. For doing this, Semantic Web technologies, such as ontologies and reasoning, were used to automatically classify cancer stages. This classification used semantic annotations made by radiologists, using the ePAD tool, and stored using standard AIM format. A TNM based classifier prototype was created. It transforms AIM annotations in AIM4- O ontology individuals and, using axioms and rules (written in OWL-SWRL languages) representing the TNM standard, it automatically calculates patients liver cancer stage. The AIM4-O ontology was developed, as part of this work, to represent AIM 4 annotations in OWL. This TNM classifier was evaluated, using real patients radiology reports, from the NCIs Genomic Data Commons (GDC), in term of precision and recall, with 85.7% and 81.0% respective results (when compared to the actual cancer stages from the reports). The whole process was validated with radiologists from the Radiology Dept. of the Stanford University.

A pesquisa das práticas de ensino do Teatro como componente curricular da disciplina Arte, na Educação Básica de Alagoas, revelam um sensível distanciamento das propostas contidas nos Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais voltados para a área. A partir do entendimento dos diversos sentidos da arte e da escola, procurou-se problematizar a aplicação de modalidades pedagógicas voltadas para ações formativas em teatro oriundas de ambientes socioculturais para dentro do contexto escolar sem a necessária transposição didática. Por fim, apontam-se algumas possibilidades de intervenção em vários níveis desta realidade, associando a formação artística e estética a uma perspectiva da encenação. / The research involving acting teaching practices as a curricular component of subject Arts, in Alagoas Basic Education program, reveals a significative detachment from the proposals enclosed in the National Curricular Parameters regarding that specific area. Acknowledging the understanding of the multiple meaning of Art and school, it was intended to scrutinize the application of pedagogic modalities regarding formative actions in acting, from social and cultural environments to the school context without the necessary didactic mediation. Moreover, some possibilities of intervention were pointed out in several levels of that reality, associating the artistic and aesthetic formation to a staging perspective.