No description available.

We perform a rigorous mathematical analysis of the bending modes of a linear triatomic molecule that exhibits the Renner-Teller effect. Assuming the potentials are smooth, we prove that the wave functions and energy levels have asymptotic expansions in powers of ε, where ε4 is the ratio of an electron mass to the mass of a nucleus. To prove the validity of the expansion, we must prove various properties of the leading order equations and their solutions. The leading order eigenvalue problem is analyzed in terms of a parameter bË , which is equivalent to the parameter originally used by Renner. For 0 &lt bË &lt 1, we prove self-adjointness of the leading order Hamiltonian, that it has purely discrete spectrum, and that its eigenfunctions and their derivatives decay exponentially. Perturbation theory and finite difference calculations suggest that the ground bending vibrational state is involved in a level crossing near bË = 0.925. We also discuss the degeneracy of the eigenvalues. Because of the crossing, the ground state is degenerate for 0 &lt bË &lt 0.925 and non-degenerate for 0.925 &lt bË &lt 1. / Ph. D.

No description available.

<p> This thesis examines available x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) data for NiO, NaNi02 , and LiNi02 . The XAS examined is the Ni L-edge, 3d^n2p^6 →t 3d^(n+1)2p^5 . The experimental spectra are compared to spectra calculated using a configuration interaction approach. This approach reproduces the spectra accurately. The NaNi02 spectrum is shown to be sensitive to the Jahn-Teller distortion, while the LiNi02 spectrum is reproduced by a hybridized d^7-d^8 state that explains the lack of Jahn-Teller distortion in LiNi02 </p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

The three-dimensional x-ray structure of 2,2'-bipyridylglycinatochloro copper(II) dihydrate has been fully refined to a final R factor of 0.081. The bipyridyl and glycine ligands are arranged about the central copper atom in a square planar configuration while the chlorine atom is 2.635 angstroms above this plane directly over the copper atom. This unusually long distance is explained by the positioning of a glycine group on the opposite side of the square plane, resulting in a distorted octahedral arrangement. Also, the chlorine atom is linked to three oxygen atoms via hydrogen bonding, thus stabilizing the distorted octahedral complex.

Cette étude propose l'idée des aimants dits de ferrite tétragonale en rendant la symétrie cristalline des ferrites de spinelle cubique afin d'améliorer l'anisotropie magnétique (et donc, d'améliorer la coercivité). Pour concrétiser cette idée, nous avons synthétisé des particules (Cu, Co) -ferrite à distorsion tétragonale et caractérisé systématiquement les propriétés magnétiques en conséquence avec leurs distorsions de réseau. Les facteurs intrinsèques et extrinsèques contribuant à la coercivité ont été étudiés. Pour élucider l'anisotropie magnétique, nous avons démontré un modèle de couplage physique de l'effet Jahn-Teller (JT) et de l'effet magnétoélastique (ME) au sein de la théorie phénoménologique. Ensuite, nous avons effectué une analyse de coercivité dans deux modèles généraux de coercivité afin de clarifier les paramètres de la microstructure contribuant au mécanisme d'inversion de la magnétisation. À partir de l'analyse du modèle magnétoélastique, nous avons démontré l'expression linéaire de l'anisotropie magnétique en utilisant le paramètre tétragonal obtenu à partir de la distorsion JT. Les valeurs du coefficient magnétoélastique pour Cu (B1Cu = 2 MJ / m3) et Co (B1Co = 40 MJ / m3) déduites de la courbe expérimentale étaient acceptables avec la valeur calculée pour le ferrite de cuivre en vrac (B1Cu en vrac = 4 MJ / m3) et le cobalt. ferrite (masse B1Co = 55 MJ / m3). Les résultats suggèrent que l’anisotropie magnétique peut être attribuée au couplage de la distorsion JT avec l’effet magnétoélastique de Co. Au lieu d’une augmentation indéfinie avec x, l’anisotropie magnétique Ku tend à atteindre une valeur de saturation en raison de la concurrence entre les effet magnétoélastique de Co et le JT de Cu. Entre le x tétragonal x = 0,1 et le x cubique = 0,2, les valeurs de Ku constantes d'anisotropie magnétique intrinsèque ne varient pas de manière aussi significative que la différence entre les champs de coercivité et d'anisotropie. La réduction des champs d'anisotropie supérieurs à x = 0,1 peut alors être attribuée à l'augmentation de l'aimantation spontanée. L'analyse de la coercivité au sein du modèle micromagnétique a révélé une contribution importante à la coercivité de la microstructure et de l'effet démagnétisant local. Le paramètre de microstructure αMM = 0,25 obtenu était une valeur classique de l'analyse micromagnétique, suggérant le départ du champ d'anisotropie avec ce facteur de réduction. Les facteurs démagnétisants locaux effectifs NeffMM d’environ 1,4 obtenus étaient plutôt importants, ce qui suggère un effet démagnétisant significatif. Dans l'analyse du modèle global (GM), les valeurs de NeffGM obtenues étaient were 0,38 pour l'échantillon x = 0,1. La valeur négative suggère la présence d'une interaction d'échange agissant efficacement en opposition à l'interaction dipolaire. En deçà de 100 K, une différence dans le modèle suggère l’idée d’un réchauffement local consécutif à l’activation thermique due au changement d’énergie Zeeman et à une dissipation de chaleur inefficace. Cet événement peut avoir conduit à la réduction du champ coercitif à une température suffisamment basse dans l'échantillon x = 0.1 en supposant que les grains sont fortement couplés en échange. / This study proposes the idea of the so-called tetragonal ferrite magnets by rendering the crystal symmetry of the cubic spinel ferrites to enhance the magnetic anisotropy (and hence, enhance the coercivity). To realize this idea, we synthesized tetragonally distorted (Cu,Co)-ferrite particles and systematically characterized the magnetic properties accordingly with their lattice distortions. The intrinsic and extrinsic factors contributing to coercivity were investigated. To elucidate the magnetic anisotropy, we demonstrated a physical coupling model of the Jahn-Teller (JT) effect and the magnetoelastic (ME) effect within the phenomenological theory. Then, we performed coercivity analysis within two general models of coercivity to clarify the microstructure parameters contributing to the magnetization reversal mechanism. From the magnetoelastic model analysis, we demonstrated the linear expression of the magnetic anisotropy using the tetragonal parameter obtained from the JT distortion. The magnetoelastic coefficient values for Cu (B1Cu = 2 MJ/m3) and Co (B1Co = 40 MJ/m3) deduced from the experimental curve were agreeable with the value calculated for bulk copper ferrite (B1Cu bulk= 4 MJ/m3) and cobalt ferrite (B1Co bulk= 55 MJ/m3). The results suggests that the source of magnetic anisotropy can be attributed to the coupling of the JT distortion with the magnetoelastic effect of Co. Instead of an indefinite increase with x, the magnetic anisotropy Ku tends to reach a saturation value due to the competition between the magnetoelastic effect of Co and the JT effect of Cu. Between the tetragonal x = 0.1 and the cubic x = 0.2 samples, the intrinsic magnetic anisotropy constant Ku values do not vary as significantly compared to the difference in the coercivity and the anisotropy fields. The reduction of anisotropy fields above x = 0.1 then can be attributed to the increase in the spontaneous magnetization.The coercivity analysis within the micromagnetic model revealed significant contribution to the coercivity by the microstructure and the local demagnetizing effect. The microstructure parameter αMM = 0.25 obtained was a classical value in the micromagnetic analysis, suggesting the departure of anisotropy field with this reduction factor. The effective local demagnetizing factor NeffMM of about 1.4 obtained were rather large suggesting a significant demagnetizing effect. Within the global model (GM) analysis, the values of NeffGM obtained were －0.38 for the x = 0.1 sample. The negative value suggests the presence of an exchange interaction acting effectively in opposition to the dipolar interaction. Below 100 K, discrepancy in the GM suggests the idea of a local heating event following the thermal activation due to the change in Zeeman energy and ineffective heat dissipation. This event may have led to the reduction of coercive field at sufficiently low temperature in the x = 0.1 sample assuming the grains are strongly exchange-coupled.

Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos da desnutrição intra-uterina na acuidade visual (AV) de resolução de grades pelo Potencial Visual Evocado de Varredura (PVEv) e Cartões de Acuidade de Teller (CAT). Método: Avaliamos a AV de resolução de grades, binocularmente, de 41 recém-nascidos com idade estacional 37 semanas, destes 23 nasceram com o peso adequado para a idade gestacional (AIG - Idade: 14,3 ± 7,5 semanas) e 18 nasceram pequenos para a idade gestacional (PIG - Idade: 10,7 ± 4,1semanas). A AV foi determinada usando ambas as técnicas psicofísica (CAT) e eletrofisiológica (PVEv). Durante o teste dos CAT foram apresentados cartões contendo em um dos lados grades de ondas quadradas pretas e brancas com freqüência espacial entre 0,23 e 19 ciclos por grau de ângulo visual a 55 cm do participante. O teste iniciou com o cartão com a freqüência espacial mais baixa com orientação randômica desconhecida pelo experimentador. Cartões contendo freqüências espaciais mais altas foram apresentados gradativamente até que uma resposta incorreta ocorresse, então o cartão anterior era apresentado novamente. A AV foi definida pela média aritmética das freqüências espaciais contidas nos cartões para 4 reversões. Para o registro do PVEv, o sistema PowerDiva (Brosnahan et al., 1998) foi usado para gerar todos os estímulos e analisar as repostas provocadas. Estímulos de grades senoidais em reversão de fase em 3, 6 ou 10 Hz foram apresentados em monitor de vídeo monocromático de 21 polegadas com luminância média de 161,13 cd/m2. Registramos o eletroencefalograma com três eletrodos ativos (O1, Oz, O2) relacionados ao eletrodo de referência no vertex. Durante cada tentativa com duração de 10 segundos, resentávamos uma faixa de freqüência espacial que aumentava linearmente. Para cada condição (freqüência temporal - FT) foram usadas no mínimo três tentativas para estimar o limiar. Consideramos o canal que registrou a AV mais alta com boa razão sinal-ruído (SNR>3:1), fase constante e critério estatístico. Resultados: Não encontramos diferenças significativas na AV entre os grupos para nenhum dos métodos. Para o PVEv, não encontramos diferenças significativas na AV, amplitude, ruído ou SNR entre os grupos para nenhuma das FT. Análises intra-grupos mostraram que os valores de amplitude, SNR e ruído foram significativamente diferentes entre as freqüências temporais apenas para os PIG. Entretanto, os PIG até 8 semanas de idade mostraram uma tendência para amplitudes e SNR mais altas para a FT de 3 Hz comparadas aos AIG. Esses mesmos PIG mostraram uma tendência para valores de fase maiores respostas lentas) em comparação aos AIG. Entretanto, a taxa de desenvolvimento da fase foi maior para os PIG do que para os AIG em todas as FT. Conclusão. Não há alteração significativa na AV de recém-nascidos PIG, entretanto as informações de medidas supra-limiares são consistentes com a hipótese que a desnutrição intra-uterina torna as respostas visuais mais lentas entre a retina e o córtex visual. Os dados também sugerem de forma sutil que tais efeitos são passageiros afetando primariamente o grupo de recém-nascidos mais jovens e que o sistema visual dos PIG tem plasticidade suficiente para atingir rapidamente os níveis normais. Mais dados serão necessários para validar esta interpretação. / Objective: To evaluate the effects of intra-uterine malnutrition on grating visual acuity (VA) using Sweep VEP and Teller Acuity Cards (TAC). Method: Binocular grating acuity was evaluated in 41 newborns with gestational age 37 weeks. Twentythree were born with appropriate weight for gestational age (AGA age: 14.3 ± 7.5 weeks) and 18 were born small for gestational age (SGA age: 10.7 ± 4.1 weeks). Visual acuity was determined using both psychophysical (Teller Acuity Cards) and electrophysiological (sVEP) techniques. For the TAC evaluation, cards having calibrated black and white square waves gratings at spatial frequencies (SFs) between 0.23 and 19 cycles/degree were presented 55 cm from the subject. The test began with the lowest SF card in random orientation to which the experimenter was blind. Subsequent cards were presented in order of increasing SF until an incorrect response was made, at which time the prior (lower-SF) card was presented again. Visual acuity was defined as the average of the SF values for 4 reversals. For the sVEP recordings, the PowerDIVA VEP system (Brosnahan et al., 1998) was used to generate all stimuli and analyze the evoked responses. Stimuli were spatial luminance sinewave gratings presented on a 21-inch monochromatic high-resolution monitor (1600x1200 pixels) with an average luminance of 161.1 cd/m2. Gratings were phase-reversed at either 3, 6 or 10 Hz. The electroencephalogram was recorded using 3 active electrodes (O1,Oz,O2) related to the reference electrode at vertex. During each 10-sec sVEP trial a linear sweep of increasing SF was presented. Sweep ranges were selected according to the subjects age. For each condition (each TF), a minimum of 3 trials were used to estimate thresholds, but the majority of measures were the result of a vector average of 5 to 10 trials. For each condition, the acuity estimate used derived from the channel with the highest acuity with statistically significant signal-to-noise ratio (>3:1) and stable phase during the high-SNR portion of the response. Results: There were no statistical differences in visual acuity between the two groups (SGA and AGA) for either method (sVEP or TAC). For the sVEP, acuities were not statistically different for the different TFs. There were also no statistical differences between groups for the sVEP measures of amplitude, phase, noise or signal-to-noise ratio. Intra-group analysis of the sVEP measures at the three TFs revealed statistical differences for amplitude, noise and signal-to-noise ratio, but only for SGA group. However, the SGA subjects less than or equal to 8 weeks of age showed a tendency for higher amplitudes and SNR for 3Hz temporal frequency compared to AGA subjects, and these same SGA subjects showed tendency for larger phase values (slower responses) compared to AGA. However, phase development rate was faster for SGA than for AGA for all temporal frequencies. Conclusion: There were no significant alterations of visual acuity in SGA babies, but the data from suprathreshold measures are consistent with the hypothesis that intrauterine malnutrition results in slower visual responses between retina and cortex. The data obtained so far suggest that such affects are transient, affecting primarily the younger group of infants, and that the visual system in SGA infants has sufficient plasticity to recover rapidly to normal levels. More data is needed to validate this interpretation of the results.

Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos da desnutrição intra-uterina na acuidade visual (AV) de resolução de grades pelo Potencial Visual Evocado de Varredura (PVEv) e Cartões de Acuidade de Teller (CAT). Método: Avaliamos a AV de resolução de grades, binocularmente, de 41 recém-nascidos com idade estacional 37 semanas, destes 23 nasceram com o peso adequado para a idade gestacional (AIG - Idade: 14,3 ± 7,5 semanas) e 18 nasceram pequenos para a idade gestacional (PIG - Idade: 10,7 ± 4,1semanas). A AV foi determinada usando ambas as técnicas psicofísica (CAT) e eletrofisiológica (PVEv). Durante o teste dos CAT foram apresentados cartões contendo em um dos lados grades de ondas quadradas pretas e brancas com freqüência espacial entre 0,23 e 19 ciclos por grau de ângulo visual a 55 cm do participante. O teste iniciou com o cartão com a freqüência espacial mais baixa com orientação randômica desconhecida pelo experimentador. Cartões contendo freqüências espaciais mais altas foram apresentados gradativamente até que uma resposta incorreta ocorresse, então o cartão anterior era apresentado novamente. A AV foi definida pela média aritmética das freqüências espaciais contidas nos cartões para 4 reversões. Para o registro do PVEv, o sistema PowerDiva (Brosnahan et al., 1998) foi usado para gerar todos os estímulos e analisar as repostas provocadas. Estímulos de grades senoidais em reversão de fase em 3, 6 ou 10 Hz foram apresentados em monitor de vídeo monocromático de 21 polegadas com luminância média de 161,13 cd/m2. Registramos o eletroencefalograma com três eletrodos ativos (O1, Oz, O2) relacionados ao eletrodo de referência no vertex. Durante cada tentativa com duração de 10 segundos, resentávamos uma faixa de freqüência espacial que aumentava linearmente. Para cada condição (freqüência temporal - FT) foram usadas no mínimo três tentativas para estimar o limiar. Consideramos o canal que registrou a AV mais alta com boa razão sinal-ruído (SNR>3:1), fase constante e critério estatístico. Resultados: Não encontramos diferenças significativas na AV entre os grupos para nenhum dos métodos. Para o PVEv, não encontramos diferenças significativas na AV, amplitude, ruído ou SNR entre os grupos para nenhuma das FT. Análises intra-grupos mostraram que os valores de amplitude, SNR e ruído foram significativamente diferentes entre as freqüências temporais apenas para os PIG. Entretanto, os PIG até 8 semanas de idade mostraram uma tendência para amplitudes e SNR mais altas para a FT de 3 Hz comparadas aos AIG. Esses mesmos PIG mostraram uma tendência para valores de fase maiores respostas lentas) em comparação aos AIG. Entretanto, a taxa de desenvolvimento da fase foi maior para os PIG do que para os AIG em todas as FT. Conclusão. Não há alteração significativa na AV de recém-nascidos PIG, entretanto as informações de medidas supra-limiares são consistentes com a hipótese que a desnutrição intra-uterina torna as respostas visuais mais lentas entre a retina e o córtex visual. Os dados também sugerem de forma sutil que tais efeitos são passageiros afetando primariamente o grupo de recém-nascidos mais jovens e que o sistema visual dos PIG tem plasticidade suficiente para atingir rapidamente os níveis normais. Mais dados serão necessários para validar esta interpretação. / Objective: To evaluate the effects of intra-uterine malnutrition on grating visual acuity (VA) using Sweep VEP and Teller Acuity Cards (TAC). Method: Binocular grating acuity was evaluated in 41 newborns with gestational age 37 weeks. Twentythree were born with appropriate weight for gestational age (AGA age: 14.3 ± 7.5 weeks) and 18 were born small for gestational age (SGA age: 10.7 ± 4.1 weeks). Visual acuity was determined using both psychophysical (Teller Acuity Cards) and electrophysiological (sVEP) techniques. For the TAC evaluation, cards having calibrated black and white square waves gratings at spatial frequencies (SFs) between 0.23 and 19 cycles/degree were presented 55 cm from the subject. The test began with the lowest SF card in random orientation to which the experimenter was blind. Subsequent cards were presented in order of increasing SF until an incorrect response was made, at which time the prior (lower-SF) card was presented again. Visual acuity was defined as the average of the SF values for 4 reversals. For the sVEP recordings, the PowerDIVA VEP system (Brosnahan et al., 1998) was used to generate all stimuli and analyze the evoked responses. Stimuli were spatial luminance sinewave gratings presented on a 21-inch monochromatic high-resolution monitor (1600x1200 pixels) with an average luminance of 161.1 cd/m2. Gratings were phase-reversed at either 3, 6 or 10 Hz. The electroencephalogram was recorded using 3 active electrodes (O1,Oz,O2) related to the reference electrode at vertex. During each 10-sec sVEP trial a linear sweep of increasing SF was presented. Sweep ranges were selected according to the subjects age. For each condition (each TF), a minimum of 3 trials were used to estimate thresholds, but the majority of measures were the result of a vector average of 5 to 10 trials. For each condition, the acuity estimate used derived from the channel with the highest acuity with statistically significant signal-to-noise ratio (>3:1) and stable phase during the high-SNR portion of the response. Results: There were no statistical differences in visual acuity between the two groups (SGA and AGA) for either method (sVEP or TAC). For the sVEP, acuities were not statistically different for the different TFs. There were also no statistical differences between groups for the sVEP measures of amplitude, phase, noise or signal-to-noise ratio. Intra-group analysis of the sVEP measures at the three TFs revealed statistical differences for amplitude, noise and signal-to-noise ratio, but only for SGA group. However, the SGA subjects less than or equal to 8 weeks of age showed a tendency for higher amplitudes and SNR for 3Hz temporal frequency compared to AGA subjects, and these same SGA subjects showed tendency for larger phase values (slower responses) compared to AGA. However, phase development rate was faster for SGA than for AGA for all temporal frequencies. Conclusion: There were no significant alterations of visual acuity in SGA babies, but the data from suprathreshold measures are consistent with the hypothesis that intrauterine malnutrition results in slower visual responses between retina and cortex. The data obtained so far suggest that such affects are transient, affecting primarily the younger group of infants, and that the visual system in SGA infants has sufficient plasticity to recover rapidly to normal levels. More data is needed to validate this interpretation of the results.

O Zika virus (ZIKV) é um flavívirus, tal qual o virus da dengue e, assim como esse, também é transmitido pelos mosquitos do gênero Aedes, especialmente o Aedes aegipty Restrito ao continente africano até 2007, o ZIKV chegou as Américas em 2013, com os primeiros registros brasileiros da infecção datando de 2014 - 2015. Em 2016, a OMS classificou o surto de ZIKV como Emergência de Saúde Mundial. O ZIKV pode acarretar na Sindrome Congênita do ZIka Vírus (SCZ) em bebês que sofreram infecção gestacional. Além da manifestação mais temida e marcante, a microcefalia, e de demais danos neurológicos, a SCZ tem sido principalmente associada com anomalias visuais e oftalmológicas. Entretanto, poucas informações se encontram disponíveis na literatura sobre o impacto da infecção por ZIKV nas funções visuais e desenvolvimento visual em crianças sem microcefalia. Pouco se conhece também do impacto da infecção em diferentes populações brasileiras, de localidades distintas. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho se propôs a preencher essa lacuna, avaliando a acuidade visual (AV) e desenvolvimento da acuidade visual em crianças expostas gestacionalmente ao ZIKV, utilizando-se o Teste dos Cartões de Acuidade de Teller (CAT). As crianças avaliadas vieram de duas populações distintas da região Sudeste do Brasil, a cidade de Jundiaí (SP) e a cidade do Rio de Janeiro (RJ). A Coorte Zika Jundiaí foi composta de 118 crianças divididas entre grupo controle saudável (ZC) com 63 crianças, grupo experimental, dividido em dois subgrupos, baseado em exame de RT- qPCR, sorologia ou avaliação clínica, o subgrupo Exposto (ZE) com 23 crianças, em que apenas as mães tiveram infecção confirmada por ZIKV e o subgrupo Infectado (ZI), com 24 crianças no qual mãe e criança tiveram infecção confirmada. Oito crianças formaram o grupo Controle Postivo (M), com crianças com microcefalia em decorrência de outras causas. A Coorte IFF Fiocruz Rio de Janeiro foi composta de 32 crianças, todas com infecção confirmada pelo ZIKV (ZI), por exame de RT-qPCR, sorologia ou avaliação clínica. Os resultados do presente trabalho mostram que a exposição gestacional ao ZIKV, na ausência de infecção, parece não ter efeito sobre a AV ou seu desenvolvivemento. No entanto, quando ocorre infecção gestacional por ZIKV, pode haver prejuízos à AV mesmo quando a criança não apresenta anomalias neurológicas e/ou oftalmológicas aparentes. Esse trabalho, entretanto, concorda com estudos anteriores que mostram uma maior chance de haver perdas de AV concomitantementes a um comprometimento cognitivo e/ou oftalmologico. As análises do subgrupo ZI de Jundiaí dão suporte a noção de que crianças gestacionalmente infectadas por ZIKV tendem a apresentar um desenvolvimento anormal (mais lento) da AV. Esse achado, se reproduzido, possuí repercussões mais gerais, dado que quaisquer danos à função visual podem indicar deficiências no sistema nervoso central. Assim sendo, tais achados tem importantes repercussões na saúde pública. Além disso, as taxas diferentes de danos à AV, bem como de incidência de microcefalia e comprometimento oftalmológico entre as populações estudadas neste trabalho, apoiam a hipótese da existência de demarcadas diferenças regionais entre as linhagens de ZIKV circulantes no país, assim como de diferenças de suscetibilidade de hospedeiros entre as populações estudadas / The Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus, such as the dengue virus, and like the dengue virus is also transmitted by the Aedes osquitoes, especially the Aedes aegipty Restricted to the African Country until 2007, the ZIKV arrived in the Americas in 2013, with the first brazillian cases of the infection dating to 2014 - 2015. In 2016, WHO classified the ZIKV spread as a World Health Emergency. The ZIKV, in gestationally exposed children, can lead to Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). Beyond its most marked and feared manifestation, microcephaly, and its other neurological damages, CZS is mostly associated with visual and ophthalmologic anomalies. However, little information is available on the literature about the impact of the ZIKV infection in the visual function and on the visual development in infected children without microcephaly. Little is also known about the impact of the infection in different brazillian populations from distinct areas. With that in mind, the present work intends to fill this gap in literature, evaluating the visual acuity (VA) and visual acuity development in children gestationally exposed to the ZIKV, using the Teller Acuity Cards Test (TAC). The evaluated children were from two different populations of the Southeast region of Brazil, the city of Jundiaí (SP) and the city of Rio de Janeiro (RJ). The Zika Jundiaí Cohort was composed of 118 children divided between the healthy control group (ZC) with 63 children and the experimental group, divided in two subgroups based on RT-qPCR, sorology or clinical evaluation, the Exposed subgroup (ZE) with 23 children, which only the mothers had ZIKV confirmed and the Infected subgroup (ZI), with 24 children, wich both mother and children had ZIKV confirmed infection. Eight children formed the Positive Control Group (M), composed of children with microcephaly due to other causes. The IFF Fiocruz Rio de Janeiro Cohort was composed of 32 children, all with confirmed ZIKV infection (ZI), either by RT-qPCR/sorology exam or by clinical evaluation. The results of the present work show that ZIKV exposition in absence of infection, does not seem to affect VA or its development. However when theres a gestational ZIKV infection, it may lead to VA damages even when the children does not show any apparent neurologic/ophtalmologic anomalies. This work, nonetheless, is in agreement with former studies that show a higher chance of VA losses when the children also have cognitive and/or ophtalmologic deficits. The Jundiaí ZI Subgroup analisies support the notion that ZIKV gestationally infected children tend to have an abnormal (slower) VA development. This finding, if replicated, has more general repercussions given that any visual function damages may indicate central nervous system deficiencies. Thus, these findings have important repercussions in the public health area. Furthermore, the different rates of VA damages as well as the different rates of microcephaly incidencies and ophthalmologic deficits between the populations studied in this work support the hypothesis of marked regional differences between the brazillian ZIKV strains, as well as host suscepitibilitiess differences between the studied populations

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:14:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FranciscoAPP.pdf: 1034371 bytes, checksum: b3ff17842c3ee8ab8282b0e829786698 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-12-14 / The usual Ashkin-Teller (AT) model is obtained as a superposition of two Ising models coupled through a four-spin interaction term. In two dimension the AT model displays a line of fixed points along which the exponents vary continuously. On this line the model becomes soluble via a mapping onto the Baxter model. Such richness of multicritical behavior led Grest and Widom to introduce the N-color Ashkin-Teller model (N-AT). Those authors made an extensive analysis of the model thus introduced both in the isotropic as well as in the anisotropic cases by several analytical and computational methods. In the present work we define a more general version of the 3-color Ashkin-Teller model by introducing a 6-spin interaction term. We investigate the corresponding symmetry structure presented by our model in conjunction with an analysis of possible phase diagrams obtained by real space renormalization group techniques. The phase diagram are obtained at finite temperature in the region where the ferromagnetic behavior is predominant. Through the use of the transmissivities concepts we obtain the recursion relations in some periodical as well as aperiodic hierarchical lattices. In a first analysis we initially consider the two-color Ashkin-Teller model in order to obtain some results with could be used as a guide to our main purpose. In the anisotropic case the model was previously studied on the Wheatstone bridge by Claudionor Bezerra in his Master Degree dissertation. By using more appropriated computational resources we obtained isomorphic critical surfaces described in Bezerra's work but not properly identified. Besides, we also analyzed the isotropic version in an aperiodic hierarchical lattice, and we showed how the geometric fluctuations are affected by such aperiodicity and its consequences in the corresponding critical behavior. Those analysis were carried out by the use of appropriated definitions of transmissivities. Finally, we considered the modified 3-AT model with a 6-spin couplings. With the inclusion of such term the model becomes more attractive from the symmetry point of view. For some hierarchical lattices we derived general recursion relations in the anisotropic version of the model (3-AAT), from which case we can obtain the corresponding equations for the isotropic version (3-IAT). The 3-IAT was studied extensively in the whole region where the ferromagnetic couplings are dominant. The fixed points and the respective critical exponents were determined. By analyzing the attraction basins of such fixed points we were able to find the three-parameter phase diagram (temperature ? 4-spin coupling ? 6-spin coupling). We could identify fixed points corresponding to the universality class of Ising and 4- and 8-state Potts model. We also obtained a fixed point which seems to be a sort of reminiscence of a 6-state Potts fixed point as well as a possible indication of the existence of a Baxter line. Some unstable fixed points which do not belong to any aforementioned q-state Potts universality class was also found / O modelo Ashkin-Teller (AT) usual consiste na superposi??o de dois modelos de Ising acoplados por um termo de intera??o de quatro spins. Em duas dimens?es o modelo AT apresenta uma linha de pontos fixos com expoentes cr?ticos variando continuamente, sobre a qual ele se torna sol?vel atrav?s de um mapeamento no modelo Baxter. Motivado por esta riqueza de comportamento multicr?tico em duas dimens?es, Grest e Widom introduziram e estudaram o modelo Ashkin-Teller de N cores (AT-N), nas vers?es anisotr?pica (AAT-N) e isotr?pica (IAT-N), atrav?s de v?rios m?todos anal?ticos e computacionais. Neste trabalho apresentamos uma vers?o mais geral do modelo Ashkin-Teller de 3 cores (AT-3) onde e introduzido um acoplamento de 6 spins. Estudamos o modelo atrav?s da an?lise da estrutura de suas simetrias, seguido de an?lises de poss?veis diagramas de fases determinados por t?cnicas de grupo de renormaliza??o no espa?o real. Esses diagramas s?o obtidos em temperatura finita na regi?o onde predomina o comportamento ferromagn?tico. Com o aux?lio do conceito de transmissividade obtemos as rela??es de recorr?ncia em redes hier?rquicas com liga??es peri?dicas e quasi-peri?dicas. Numa an?lise preliminar, consideramos inicialmente o modelo Ashkin-Teller de duas cores, a fim de obter resultados que possam servir de guia ao nosso objetivo principal. No caso anisotr?pico (AAT-2), o modelo foi tratado na Ponte de Wheatstone, conforme j? havia sido estudado por Claudionor Bezerra na sua disserta??o de mestrado. Usando ferramentas computacionais mais adequadas, encontramos superf?cies cr?ticas isomorfas previstas no trabalho citado, mas ainda n?o identificadas explicitamente. Al?m disso, analisamos a vers?o isotr?pica (IAT-2), em uma rede hier?rquica aperi?dica. Mostramos,neste caso, como a aperiodicidade da rede afeta as flutua??es geom?tricas, causando mudan?as no comportamento cr?tico do modelo. Essas an?lises foram feitas utilizando defini??es apropriadas de transmissividade. Em seguida passamos ao estudo do modelo Ashkin-Teller de 3 cores onde, al?m do acoplamento de 4 spins, introduzimos um acoplamento de 6 spins, que torna o modelo mais atraente do ponto de vista das simetrias que ele passa a apresentar. Calculamos rela??es de recorr?ncias gerais para o modelo na vers?o anisotr?pica (AAT-3), de onde podemos obter o caso particular do sistema isotr?pico (IAT-3), em certas redes hier?rquicas. A vers?o IAT-3 do modelo foi estudada detalhadamente na regi?o onde predominam as intera??es ferromagn?ticas. Determinamos os pontos fixos e respectivos expoentes cr?ticos. Analisando as bacias de atra??o desses pontos fixos, conseguimos obter o diagrama de fases tri-dimensional (temperatura ? acoplamento de quatro spins ? acoplamento de seis spins). Identificamos pontos fixos do tipo Ising e de Potts de 4 e de 8 estados, al?m de ind?cios de um ponto fixo reminiscente do Potts de 6 estados e uma possibilidade de uma linha de Baxter. Identificamos tamb?m pontos fixos cr?ticos inst?veis que n?o pertencem a nenhuma classe de universalidade identificada com o modelo de Potts q estados