The Ornate Tinamou (Nothoprocta ornata), an ancient bird, has adapted to life at high altitude (>2.400 m.a.s.l) for a longer period than the domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus), which came to South America with the Spanish conquerors. Ornate tinamous have a smaller heart in relation to body size than domestic chickens. This study was made to evaluate heart morphometric measurements comparing Ornate Tinamou and domestic chicken using echocardiography measurements to determine wall thickness and chamber size and to evaluate whether it can retrieve measurements consistent with previous results on dissected hearts. I was also interested in evaluating potential adaptations of the Ornate Tinamou to life in hypoxic environments by exposing the heart to positive inotropic stimulation. The results were compared with those previously obtained on dissected hearts. The results showed that the chamber size of the domestic chicken was significantly larger than in Ornate Tinamou, both in conscious and anesthetized birds. Injection of 1µg/kg isoproterenol caused domestic chickens’ systolic chamber size to decrease significantly and fractional shortening to increase significantly. The same changes were seen in the Ornate Tinamou but they were not significant. In conclusion, this study confirms that echocardiography is a valid method for retrieving cardiac measurements without euthanizing animals, opening for the possibility of taking several measurements at different ages.

Orthokeratology (OK) is the reduction, modification or elimination of myopia through application of contact lenses. With the development of high Dk/t lens materials, overnight therapy has become the modality of choice for OK. Overnight OK lens wear has been previously investigated in terms of its efficacy to reduce myopia. However, the underlying effects of overnight OK lens wear on the human cornea have received less attention. As well as the clinical efficacy of overnight OK, this study investigated the effects of overnight OK on topographical corneal thickness and the overnight corneal edema response, and corneal tissue changes with overnight OK. Eighteen subjects participated as the OK lens-wearing group, wearing BE lenses (UltraVision, Brisbane, Queensland) in both eyes. A further ten subjects participated as control subjects, wearing conventional rigid lenses (J-Contour, UltraVision) in the right eye (RE) only. The left eye (LE) acted as a non-lens-wearing control. Both groups wore lenses overnight only, with no lens wear during the day. Measurements were conducted at baseline then on day 1, 4, 10, 30, 60, and 90 for the OK lens-wearing eyes; and up to day 30 for the control group, in the morning (after overnight lens wear) and in the evening (after 8-10 hours of lens removal). Variables measured included best vision sphere (BVS), unaided logMAR visual acuity (VA), refractive astigmatism, apical corneal power (ACP), simulated K readings (Medmont E300 corneal topographer), topographical corneal thickness (Holden-Payor optical pachometer), and keratocyte and endothelial cell densities (ConfoScan2 confocal microscope). Approximately 75% of myopia was corrected after the first night of OK lens wear and the changes in refractive error stabilised by day 10. By day 90, myopia reduction averaged 2.54 ?? 0.63 D. This was associated with significant improvement in unaided VA of about 82% after the first night of lens wear. There was no change in refractive astigmatism over the 3-month period. There was significant reduction in ACP in the OK lens-wearing eyes after the first night of lens wear, which accounted for more than 70% of the total ACP change over the 3-month period (RE: -2.16 ?? 0.53 D; LE: -2.11 ?? 0.86 D). There was significant central epithelial thinning (about 30%) and significant thickening (about 3%) in the mid-peripheral stroma in the OK lens-wearing eyes. Significant central epithelial thinning was found after the first night of lens wear while thickening in the mid-peripheral stroma reached statistical significance by day 4. Further analysis suggests that topographical corneal thickness changes account for the refractive error changes with overnight OK lens wear, rather than corneal bending. The central overnight stromal edema response was significantly reduced in the OK lens-wearing eyes (1.2 ?? 0.5%) to a level lower than in the conventional RGP (6.2 ?? 1.2%) and non-lens-wearing eyes (2.5 ?? 0.9%) in the control group. Mid-peripheral and peripheral stromal edema responses showed similar levels to those predicted based on lens Dk/t. A single overnight wear of BE and Paragon Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) lenses showed that the edema response to BE lens wear is significantly less than in the CRT lens-wearing eyes (BE: 2.5 ?? 0.7%; CRT 3.5 ?? 1.3%) immediately on eye opening. No significant changes were found in either central stromal keratocyte or endothelial cell densities in either OK or control groups over the study period. In conclusion, overnight OK lens wear induces significant reductions in myopia after the first night of lens wear associated with improvement in unaided VA. Overnight OK lens wear causes significant thinning in the central epithelium and significant mid-peripheral stromal thickening which results in flattening of the central cornea and steepening in the mid-periphery. Although there were no significant changes in central stromal keratocyte and endothelial cell densities, thinning of the central epithelial layer raises concerns regarding the safety of the procedure, especially with the alarming number of corneal infections reported recently in the literature.

Orthokeratology (OK) is the reduction, modification or elimination of myopia through application of contact lenses. With the development of high Dk/t lens materials, overnight therapy has become the modality of choice for OK. Overnight OK lens wear has been previously investigated in terms of its efficacy to reduce myopia. However, the underlying effects of overnight OK lens wear on the human cornea have received less attention. As well as the clinical efficacy of overnight OK, this study investigated the effects of overnight OK on topographical corneal thickness and the overnight corneal edema response, and corneal tissue changes with overnight OK. Eighteen subjects participated as the OK lens-wearing group, wearing BE lenses (UltraVision, Brisbane, Queensland) in both eyes. A further ten subjects participated as control subjects, wearing conventional rigid lenses (J-Contour, UltraVision) in the right eye (RE) only. The left eye (LE) acted as a non-lens-wearing control. Both groups wore lenses overnight only, with no lens wear during the day. Measurements were conducted at baseline then on day 1, 4, 10, 30, 60, and 90 for the OK lens-wearing eyes; and up to day 30 for the control group, in the morning (after overnight lens wear) and in the evening (after 8-10 hours of lens removal). Variables measured included best vision sphere (BVS), unaided logMAR visual acuity (VA), refractive astigmatism, apical corneal power (ACP), simulated K readings (Medmont E300 corneal topographer), topographical corneal thickness (Holden-Payor optical pachometer), and keratocyte and endothelial cell densities (ConfoScan2 confocal microscope). Approximately 75% of myopia was corrected after the first night of OK lens wear and the changes in refractive error stabilised by day 10. By day 90, myopia reduction averaged 2.54 ?? 0.63 D. This was associated with significant improvement in unaided VA of about 82% after the first night of lens wear. There was no change in refractive astigmatism over the 3-month period. There was significant reduction in ACP in the OK lens-wearing eyes after the first night of lens wear, which accounted for more than 70% of the total ACP change over the 3-month period (RE: -2.16 ?? 0.53 D; LE: -2.11 ?? 0.86 D). There was significant central epithelial thinning (about 30%) and significant thickening (about 3%) in the mid-peripheral stroma in the OK lens-wearing eyes. Significant central epithelial thinning was found after the first night of lens wear while thickening in the mid-peripheral stroma reached statistical significance by day 4. Further analysis suggests that topographical corneal thickness changes account for the refractive error changes with overnight OK lens wear, rather than corneal bending. The central overnight stromal edema response was significantly reduced in the OK lens-wearing eyes (1.2 ?? 0.5%) to a level lower than in the conventional RGP (6.2 ?? 1.2%) and non-lens-wearing eyes (2.5 ?? 0.9%) in the control group. Mid-peripheral and peripheral stromal edema responses showed similar levels to those predicted based on lens Dk/t. A single overnight wear of BE and Paragon Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) lenses showed that the edema response to BE lens wear is significantly less than in the CRT lens-wearing eyes (BE: 2.5 ?? 0.7%; CRT 3.5 ?? 1.3%) immediately on eye opening. No significant changes were found in either central stromal keratocyte or endothelial cell densities in either OK or control groups over the study period. In conclusion, overnight OK lens wear induces significant reductions in myopia after the first night of lens wear associated with improvement in unaided VA. Overnight OK lens wear causes significant thinning in the central epithelium and significant mid-peripheral stromal thickening which results in flattening of the central cornea and steepening in the mid-periphery. Although there were no significant changes in central stromal keratocyte and endothelial cell densities, thinning of the central epithelial layer raises concerns regarding the safety of the procedure, especially with the alarming number of corneal infections reported recently in the literature.

Orthokeratology (OK) is the reduction, modification or elimination of myopia through application of contact lenses. With the development of high Dk/t lens materials, overnight therapy has become the modality of choice for OK. Overnight OK lens wear has been previously investigated in terms of its efficacy to reduce myopia. However, the underlying effects of overnight OK lens wear on the human cornea have received less attention. As well as the clinical efficacy of overnight OK, this study investigated the effects of overnight OK on topographical corneal thickness and the overnight corneal edema response, and corneal tissue changes with overnight OK. Eighteen subjects participated as the OK lens-wearing group, wearing BE lenses (UltraVision, Brisbane, Queensland) in both eyes. A further ten subjects participated as control subjects, wearing conventional rigid lenses (J-Contour, UltraVision) in the right eye (RE) only. The left eye (LE) acted as a non-lens-wearing control. Both groups wore lenses overnight only, with no lens wear during the day. Measurements were conducted at baseline then on day 1, 4, 10, 30, 60, and 90 for the OK lens-wearing eyes; and up to day 30 for the control group, in the morning (after overnight lens wear) and in the evening (after 8-10 hours of lens removal). Variables measured included best vision sphere (BVS), unaided logMAR visual acuity (VA), refractive astigmatism, apical corneal power (ACP), simulated K readings (Medmont E300 corneal topographer), topographical corneal thickness (Holden-Payor optical pachometer), and keratocyte and endothelial cell densities (ConfoScan2 confocal microscope). Approximately 75% of myopia was corrected after the first night of OK lens wear and the changes in refractive error stabilised by day 10. By day 90, myopia reduction averaged 2.54 ?? 0.63 D. This was associated with significant improvement in unaided VA of about 82% after the first night of lens wear. There was no change in refractive astigmatism over the 3-month period. There was significant reduction in ACP in the OK lens-wearing eyes after the first night of lens wear, which accounted for more than 70% of the total ACP change over the 3-month period (RE: -2.16 ?? 0.53 D; LE: -2.11 ?? 0.86 D). There was significant central epithelial thinning (about 30%) and significant thickening (about 3%) in the mid-peripheral stroma in the OK lens-wearing eyes. Significant central epithelial thinning was found after the first night of lens wear while thickening in the mid-peripheral stroma reached statistical significance by day 4. Further analysis suggests that topographical corneal thickness changes account for the refractive error changes with overnight OK lens wear, rather than corneal bending. The central overnight stromal edema response was significantly reduced in the OK lens-wearing eyes (1.2 ?? 0.5%) to a level lower than in the conventional RGP (6.2 ?? 1.2%) and non-lens-wearing eyes (2.5 ?? 0.9%) in the control group. Mid-peripheral and peripheral stromal edema responses showed similar levels to those predicted based on lens Dk/t. A single overnight wear of BE and Paragon Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) lenses showed that the edema response to BE lens wear is significantly less than in the CRT lens-wearing eyes (BE: 2.5 ?? 0.7%; CRT 3.5 ?? 1.3%) immediately on eye opening. No significant changes were found in either central stromal keratocyte or endothelial cell densities in either OK or control groups over the study period. In conclusion, overnight OK lens wear induces significant reductions in myopia after the first night of lens wear associated with improvement in unaided VA. Overnight OK lens wear causes significant thinning in the central epithelium and significant mid-peripheral stromal thickening which results in flattening of the central cornea and steepening in the mid-periphery. Although there were no significant changes in central stromal keratocyte and endothelial cell densities, thinning of the central epithelial layer raises concerns regarding the safety of the procedure, especially with the alarming number of corneal infections reported recently in the literature.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1996. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [197]-201).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of New Mexico, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-90). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of New Mexico, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-90).

Le prélèvement crânien monocortical pourrait affaiblir la zone prélevée et exposer à des complications. Nous avons conçu un mouton pendule de Charpy validé sur 12 têtes de cadavres humains. L’énergie du choc était augmentée jusqu’à fracture de la zone pariétale. Pour mesurer l’épaisseur avec un système de navigation optoélectronique, nous avons comparé cinq méthodes non destructives.Dans la deuxième partie, la quantification de la perte de résistance était réalisée sur 30 têtes humaines en comparant le choc maximal supportable avant fracture du côté prélevé avec le côté non prélevé.La troisième partie de l’étude a été menée sur 34 têtes de cadavres de brebis. La perte de résistance de la zone prélevée était de 36% (p=1.10-10) avec une diminution d’épaisseur de 40%. La corrélation entre les deux paramètres était modérée (R=0.46) mais significative (p<0,0001). Chez la brebis, la diminution de résistance du côté prélevé était de 49% (p=6.10-10).Ces données nous permettrons de réaliser une étude animale, pour évaluer la résistance de la zone prélevée reconstruite par un ciment d’hydroxyapatite. / The monocortical parietal bone graft could decrease the strength of the donor site. Complication could occur. We performed a Charpy impact machine and validated it on 12 human cadaver heads. The chock energy was increased until the fracture of the target zone. The thickness measurement was performed with an optoelectronic navigation device. We compared 5 non destructive methods. In the second part, the quantification of the resistance loss was performed on 30 human cadaver heads. The maximum impact resistance of bone on the donor side was compared with the intact side. The third part of the study was performed on 34 sheep cadaver heads. Loss of strength at the donor site was 36% (p=1.10-10) for 40% loss of thickness. Although correlation between these two parameters was rather moderate (R=0.46), it was highly significant (p<0.0001). On sheep, the loss of strength at the donor site was 49% (p=6.10-10).Bone removal results in a highly loss of strength on human and sheep. These data will permit to perform an animal study to evaluate the resistance of the harvest cranial zone rebuilt with hydroxyapatite cement.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo realizar um estudo preliminar da influência da espessura na vida em fadiga de arames de aço deformados a frio. A espessura original dos arames é de 5mm e foi criada uma segunda condição, com diminuição dessa espessura para 2,5mm. Para avaliar o comportamento em fadiga do material, foram realizados testes de fadiga por carregamento em flexão com o intuito de comparar a diferença de desempenho entre as espessuras de 5 e 2,5mm. Os resultados mostraram que para os níveis de carregamento mais altos impostos sobre as amostras (1000 MPa) a condição com 2,5mm de espessura apresenta uma tendência de melhora na resistência à fadiga, essa tendência de aumento acentua-se à medida que os níveis de solicitação diminuem. A condição com espessura de 2,5mm apresentou também tendência de aumento do limite de fadiga. / The aim of this work is to make a preliminary study about the influence of thickness effect on the fatigue behavior of cold drawing steel strips. The original component’s thickness is 5mm and was carried a decrease of this thickness to 2,5mm. To evaluate the fatigue performance, was obtained bending load fatigue curves to compare the performance of the samples with 5 and 2,5 mm of thickness. The results shown that for higher load levels the fatigue strength and endurance limit had presented a tendency of increase for the 2,5mm thickness condition.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo realizar um estudo preliminar da influência da espessura na vida em fadiga de arames de aço deformados a frio. A espessura original dos arames é de 5mm e foi criada uma segunda condição, com diminuição dessa espessura para 2,5mm. Para avaliar o comportamento em fadiga do material, foram realizados testes de fadiga por carregamento em flexão com o intuito de comparar a diferença de desempenho entre as espessuras de 5 e 2,5mm. Os resultados mostraram que para os níveis de carregamento mais altos impostos sobre as amostras (1000 MPa) a condição com 2,5mm de espessura apresenta uma tendência de melhora na resistência à fadiga, essa tendência de aumento acentua-se à medida que os níveis de solicitação diminuem. A condição com espessura de 2,5mm apresentou também tendência de aumento do limite de fadiga. / The aim of this work is to make a preliminary study about the influence of thickness effect on the fatigue behavior of cold drawing steel strips. The original component’s thickness is 5mm and was carried a decrease of this thickness to 2,5mm. To evaluate the fatigue performance, was obtained bending load fatigue curves to compare the performance of the samples with 5 and 2,5 mm of thickness. The results shown that for higher load levels the fatigue strength and endurance limit had presented a tendency of increase for the 2,5mm thickness condition.