Congenital heart valve disease is one of the most common abnormalities in children, with common valve defects being aortic stenosis, mitral stenosis, and valvular regurgitation. Although adult sized mechanical heart valve (MHV) replacements are widely studied and utilized, there are currently no FDA approved prosthetic heart valves available for the pediatric population. This is due to a variety of reasons such as a limited patient pool for clinical trials, limited valve sizes, and complex health histories in children. Much like adult sized mechanical heart valves, potential complications with pediatric heart valve replacements include thrombosis, blood damage due to high shear stresses, and cavitation. Due to pediatric sized MHVs being much smaller in size than adult MHVs, different fluid dynamic conditions and associated complications are expected. In order to accelerate the approval of pediatric sized heart valves for clinical use, it is important to first characterize and assess the fluid dynamics across pediatric sized heart valves. By understanding the hemodynamic performance of the valve, connections can be made concerning potential valve complications such as thrombosis and cavitation. The overall objective of this study is to better characterize and assess the flow field characteristics of a pediatric sized mechanical heart valve using flow visualization techniques in a mock circulatory loop. The mechanical heart valve chosen for this research was a size 17 mm Bjork-Shiley tilting disc valve, as this is a common size valve used for younger patients with smaller cardiovascular anatomy. The mock circulatory loop used in this research was designed to provide realistic pediatric physiological flow conditions, consisting of a Harvard Apparatus Pulsatile blood pump, venous reservoir, and a heart valve testing chamber. In order to expose the valve to realistic pediatric flow conditions, six unique pump operating conditions were tested that involved pre-determined heart rate and stroke volume combinations. In addition, a modified aortic root model was used to hold the mechanical heart valve in place within the loop and to provide more realistic aortic root geometry. This heart valve chamber was made from a transparent acrylic material, allowing for fluid flow visualization. A traditional Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) experimental set up was used in order to illuminate the particles seeded within the fluid path, and thus allowing for the capture of sequential images using a high speed camera. The data collected throughout this study consisted of flow rate measurements using an ultrasonic flow meter, and the sequential PIV images obtained from the camera in order to analyze general flow characteristics across the pediatric valve. Such information regarding the flow profile across the valve allowed for conclusions to be made regarding the valve performance, such as average flow velocities and regions of regurgitant flow. By gaining a better understanding of the fluid dynamic profile across a pediatric sized heart valve, this may aid in the eventual approval of pediatric sized mechanical heart valves for future clinical use.

Coherent injection, detection and manipulation of spins in semiconductor nansotructures can herald a new genre of information processing devices that are extremely energy-efficient and non-volatile. For them to work reliably, spin coherence must be maintained across the device by suppressing spin relaxation. Suppression can be accomplished by structural engineering, such as by confining spin carriers to the lowest subband in a semiconductor quantum wire. Accordingly, we have fabricated 50-nm diameter InSb nanowire spin valves capped with Co and Ni nanocontacts in which a single conduction subband is occupied by electrons at room temperature. This extreme quantum confinement has led to a 10-fold increase in the spin relaxation time due to dramatic suppression of the D’yakonov -Perel’ (DP) spin relaxation mechanism. We have observed the spin-valve and Hanle effects at room temperature in these systems. Observing both effects allowed us to estimate the carrier mobility and the spin relaxation length/time and we found that the latter is ~10 times larger than the value reported in bulk InSb despite a four orders of magnitude decrease in the carrier mobility due to surface roughness scattering. We ascribe this dramatic increase in spin relaxation time to the suppression of the DP relaxation mode due to single subband occupancy. Modulation of spin relaxation rate by an external agent can open new possibilities for spintronic devices. Any agent that can excite electrons from the lowest subband to higher subbands will dramatically increase the DP spin relaxation rate. We have shown that the spin relaxation rate in InSb nanowires can be modulated with infrared light. In the dark, almost all the electrons in the nanowires are in the lowest conduction subband, resulting in near-complete absence of DP relaxation and long spin coherence length. This results in a high resistance state in a spin valve whose ferromagnetic contacts have anti-parallel spin polarizations. Under infrared illumination, higher subbands get populated and the DP spin relaxation mechanism is revived, leading to a three-fold decrease in the spin relaxation length. As a result, injected spins flip in the spacer layer of the spin valve and this causes the spin valve resistance to drop. Therefore, this effect can be exploited to implement an infrared detector. We also studied the transport behavior of a single nanowire (~50 nm diameter) captured between two non-magnetic contact pads. The wire was attached between the pads using dielectrophoresis. A giant (∼10,000,000%) negative magnetoresistance at 39 mT field was observed at room temperature in Cu nanowires contacted with Au contact pads. In these nanowires, potential barriers form at the two Cu/Au interfaces because of Cu oxidation that results in an ultrathin copper oxide layer forming between Cu and Au. Current flows when electrons tunnel through, and/or thermionically emit over these barriers. A magnetic field applied transverse to the direction of current flow along the wire deflects electrons toward one edge of the wire because of the Lorentz force, causing electron accumulation at that edge and depletion at the other. This makes the potential barrier at the accumulated edge shorter and at the depleted edge taller. The modulation of the potential barrier height with a magnetic field dramatically alters the tunneling and/or thermionic emission rate causing a giant magnetoresistance. Currently, effort is underway to demonstrate strain sensitive anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) in a single Co-Cu-Co nanowire spin valve. AMR is caused by spin-orbit coupling effects which makes the resistance of a ferromagnet depend on the angle between the direction of current flow and the magnetization. The resistance maximizes when the angle is 00 or 1800 and minimizes when the angle is 900. When an external magnetic field is applied in a direction opposite to a ferromagnet’s magnetization, the latter begins to rotate in the direction of the field and hence its resistance continuously changes. This results in a trough in the magnetoresistance of a spin valve structure between the two fields when the magnetization starts to rotate and when the magnetization completes the rotation. We have observed a magnetoresistance peak (instead of trough) in the Co-Cu-Co spin valve, which is due to the normal spin valve effect that overshadows AMR. However, when an intense infrared light source is brought close to the sample, the peak gets overshadowed by a trough, showing that the AMR effect becomes dominant. We attribute this intriguing feature to the fact that the AMR effect is strongly influenced by strain. Heating by the light source generates strain in the Co contacts owing to unequal thermal expansion of Co and the underlying substrate. We also observed that the AMR effect becomes more pronounced as the light source is brought closer to the sample, resulting in increased heating and hence increased strain generation.

Les valvulopathies cardiaques sont des maladies cardiaques fréquentes. Certaines se traduisent par un manque de coaptation des valves, on désigne ce type de pathologie sous le terme d’insuffisance. Le traitement standard de ces valvulopathies consiste à remplacer les valves malades par des valves prothétiques. L'absence de substitut valvulaire idéal et les inconvénients inhérents au matériel prothétique et à la nécessité d’un traitement anticoagulant, incitent à favoriser, chaque fois que cela est possible, les techniques de chirurgie conservatrice des valves. Actuellement, la réparation de la valve aortique demeure un défi chirurgical. En revanche en ce qui concerne la valve mitrale une réparation est plus souvent réalisable. Cependant, la faisabilité et le résultat final, dépends du mécanisme de la fuite, de l’extension des lésions ainsi que de la technique de réparation chirurgicale utilisée. C’est pour tenter de surmonter tous ces obstacles qu’est né le projet d’étude des forces magnétiques d’aimants permanents comme traitement complémentaire à une plastie ou comme traitement exclusif, pour rétablir une coaptation valvulaire efficace. Pour concrétiser cette idée, nous avons réalisé notre recherche en trois étapes essentielles : 1- La conception d’un système magnétique d’aide à la coaptation. 2- Une étude de faisabilité portant sur la vérification du fonctionnement des aimants in vitro et in vivo. 3- La vérification de l’efficacité de la force magnétique pour atteindre la coaptation nécessaire pour corriger l’insuffisance valvulaire. Cette recherche a été réalisée en étroite collaboration entre le service de Chirurgie Thoracique et Cardio-vasculaire du groupe hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière à Paris et le groupe de recherche électrodynamique - GREM3 - du Laboratoire LAPLACE à Toulouse. Les aimants ont été fabriqués en tenant compte des facteurs suivants : la biocompatibilité, la conservation de l'aimantation en milieu sanguin, la flexibilité mécanique des éléments implantés, et la nécessité de stérilisation. L'une des préoccupations principales était d’obtenir une force magnétique adaptée pour fermer la valve et permettre son ouverture en fonction du cycle cardiaque. Dans un deuxième temps, sur la base des concepts précédemment décrits, et après réalisation des tests in vitro, une étude expérimentale a été réalisée in vivo en vue de démontrer la faisabilité du projet. Cette phase d’expérimentation animale a consisté en l’implantation d’aimants permanents sur la valve aortique chez sept moutons gardés en vie pendant 3 mois. Les résultats ont été satisfaisants : aucun prolapsus iatrogène, parfaite bio-tolérance des aimants implantés sans nécessité de traitement anticoagulant, absence de réaction inflammatoire visible à l’autopsie après sacrifice des moutons au troisième mois postopératoire. En dernier lieu, afin d’étudier la valeur de la force magnétique nécessaire pour atteindre la coaptation souhaitée dans l’insuffisance valvulaire, trois modèles d’aimants ont été implantés chez quatre moutons. Malheureusement les résultats n’ont pas été entièrement satisfaisants. Actuellement, forts des enseignements tirés de ces expériences, nous tentons d’améliorer le problème de fabrication des aimants ; de nouveaux aimants sont en cours de réalisation. A notre connaissance, l’utilisation de la force magnétique pour corriger l'insuffisance valvulaire n'a jamais été rapportée dans la littérature. Même si la phase d’expérimentation des aimants destinés à traiter ces insuffisances valvulaires n’est pas arrivée à son terme, nous avons montré la faisabilité du concept sur valve saine. Ce champ d'investigation doit continuer à être exploré compte tenu des avantages qu’ont ces aimants. D’une part, ils sont techniquement faciles à poser et pourraient donc permettre de réaliser une réparation rapide et reproductible des valves. D’autre part, en raison de cette simplicité, on pourrait envisager une implantation par voie percutanée exclusive, ouvrant alors une voie nouvelle, en matière de chirurgie conservatrice des insuffisances valvulaires cardiaques (aortique et mitrale). / Valvular heart diseases are important cardiac pathology and valvular heart insufficiency is one of them. The standard treatment is valve replacement with prosthetic valve. Lacks of ideal prosthetic valve and the drawbacks inherent in prosthetic material and anticoagulant therapy, encourage us to develop techniques of conservative surgery of the valve. Today, repair of the aortic valve remains a surgical challenge, but mitral valve repair is frequently possible. However, the result and possibility of repair depends on the mechanism of insufficiency and the extension of the lesion of the mitral valve. For overcoming all these obstacles, we proposed the theory to study of the magnetic forces of permanent magnets as an adjuvant, or as exclusive treatment to restore effective valve coaptation. To realize this idea, we based our research on three steps: 1 - Characterization of magnets required. 2 - Feasibility study of the magnets in vitro and in vivo 3 - Verification of the effectiveness of the magnetic force to achieve the desired coaptation in valvular insufficiency. This research is done in collaboration between the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular surgery of Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in Paris and the research group Electrodynamics - GREM3 LAPLACE Laboratory in Toulouse. The magnets were fabricated by taking into account the following factors: lowprofile and permanency; biocompatibility; the conservation of magnetization in a blood medium; mechanical flexibility of the implanted elements; and the possibility of sterilization. One of the main concerns was to elaborate the adapted intensity of the magnetic force, such that it would be sufficiently strong to close the valve, yet be weak enough to allow valve opening during cardiac cycle. To assess the feasibility, before conducting experiments in animals, in vitro data were obtained and judged appropriate by using a circulating pig heart model with a paracorporeal pneumatic (Thoratec®) ventricular assist device. The phase of animal testing was carried out by the establishment of three permanent magnets on the aortic valve in seven sheep kept alive for 3 months and the results were satisfactory: - No iatrogenic prolepses, - Perfect bio-tolerance without the need for anticoagulation - No visible inflammatory reaction at autopsy on the third postoperative month. Finally, to study the effectiveness of the magnetic force to achieve the desired coaptation in valvular insufficiency, three models of magnets have been tested on 4 sheep, but the results were not satisfactory. Currently we try to solve the problem and new magnets are by the way of conception. To our knowledge, the use of magnetic force to correct valvular incompetence has never been reported. Even if the experimental phase of magnets for treating valvular insufficiency has not reached its conclusion, we demonstrated the feasibility of the concept of healthy valve. This field of investigation must continue to be explored because the magnets have several advantages. On the one hand, they are technically easy to perform, and could thus allow a rapid repair. On the other hand, because of this simplicity, we could consider a percutaneous implantation, which will open a new way for conservative surgery in valvular insufficiency.

This study analyzed the ability of computational fluid dynamic software to accurately predict the flow coefficient of three bottom-load ball valves to develop a design which can accurately control flow rate.

Introdução e Objetivo: No Brasil, procedimentos valvares representam no mínimo 30% das cirurgias cardíacas realizadas no país. Em nosso meio ainda predominam as lesões valvares decorrentes da febre reumática e doenças degenerativas. Nos pacientes reumáticos, a valva mitral é a mais acometida, predominando a estenose devido à fusão comissural e lesões no plano subvalvar; porém espessamento e retração de cúspides também são comuns, determinando dupla lesão ou insuficiência desta valva. Em processos degenerativos, as cordas tendíneas podem se apresentar alongadas. Na tentativa de utilização futura do laser como método auxiliar na correção cirúrgica dessas valvopatias, iniciamos estudo experimental com o objetivo de comparar histologicamente o tecido valvar mitral de suínos (cordas tendíneas e cúspides) submetido com e sem o laser de alta potência (LAP). Métodos: Foram estudadas cordas tendíneas e cúspides mitrais de suínos jovens e saudáveis, divididos em 6 grupos: G1-Aplicação do laser em cordas tendíneas com o tempo de 15 s; G2- Aplicação do laser em cordas tendíneas com o tempo de 20 s; G3- Aplicação do laser em cordas tendíneas com o tempo de 30 s; G4- Grupo controle relacionado a G1, G2 e G3; G5- Grupo cúspide submetido a corte com lâmina de bisturi; G6- Grupo cúspide submetido a corte com laser. As cordas tendíneas dos grupos G1, G2 e G3 receberam tratamento com laser de diodo (=980 nm, P=3,0 W) e o grupo G6 com laser de diodo em outros parâmetros (=980 nm, P=9,0 W, T=12s). Termografia e tomografia por coerência óptica foram utilizadas durante o experimento. Parte da amostra foi preservada em formaldeído e glutaraldeído para análise microscópica e a outra parte foi preservada em solução fisiológica 0,9% para análise mecânica. Resultados: Houve um decréscimo significante no comprimento das cordas tendíneas após aplicação do laser quando comparado ao comprimento inicial (p=0,005 em G1 e G2 e p=0,004 em G3). À microscopia óptica, G1, G2 e G3 apresentaram áreas hialinas ocupando quase a totalidade da espessura da corda, quando coradas pela Hematoxilina-Eosina (HE), áreas vermelho-escura na região central da corda quando coradas pelo Tricrômico de Masson e áreas com birrefringência diminuída quando coradas pelo Picrosírius vermelho. Na avaliação mecânica, os grupos lasers apresentaram diminuição da rigidez do material, assim como na força máxima durante a ruptura, entretanto o deslocamento foi maior em relação ao grupo controle (p=0,005). No G5, evidenciamos ausência de qualquer alteração histológica. No G6 foram identificadas áreas de menor birrefringência do colágeno quando corado pelo Picrosírius vermelho, áreas estas que apresentavam aspecto basofilico hialino no HE e coloração vermelho-escura ao Tricrômico de Masson. Conclusão: As cordas tendíneas de valvas mitrais de suínos submetidas ao laser de alta potência apresentaram redução do seu comprimento final, diminuição na birrefringência e alteração na distribuição dos feixes de colágeno. Além disso, apresentaram queda da rigidez, maior fragilidade de rotura e maior deslocamento ao teste de tração mecânica quando comparada ao grupo controle. Com relação às cúspides, os danos térmicos encontrados no grupo corte com laser de alta potência foram maiores do que em relação ao bisturi de lâmina, quando evidenciados pela microscopia óptica / Introduction and Objective: In Brazil, valvar procedures represent at least 30% of cardiac surgeries performed in the country. It still predominate valvar lesions resulting from rheumatic fever and degenerative diseases. In rheumatic patients, the mitral valve is the most affected, predominantly stenosis due to commissural fusion and lesions in the subvalvar plane, however, thickening and retraction of the leaflets are also common, causing double lesion or mitral insufficiency. In degenerative process, the chordae tendineae may present elongated. In an attempt to further use of the laser as an auxiliary method in the surgical correction of valvar heart disease, we started experimental study with the purpose of comparing the histological swine tissue mitral valve (chordae tendineae and cusps) with and without high-power laser (HPL) application. Methods: Normal porcine mitral valve chordae and cups were studied and divided randomly into the following 6 groups: G1- Laser in the chordae tendineae with time of 15s; G2- Laser in the chordae tendineae with time of 20s; G3- Laser in the chordae tendineae with time of 30s; G4- Control Group; G5- Cusp group cut with a scalpel blade; G6- Cusp group cut with laser. Chordae tendineae from G1, G2 e G3 received diode laser (=980 nm, P=3,0 W) and G6 diode laser with other parameters (=980 nm, P=9,0 W, T=12s). Termography and optical coherence tomography were included during the procedure. Part of the sample was preserved in formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde for microscopic analysis and another part was stored in 0.9% saline for mechanical analysis. Results: There was a significant decrease in chordae length after laser application when compared to the initial length (p=0,005 to G1 and G2; p=0,004 to G3). In laser groups, histological analysis revealed a typical hyaline areas occupying almost the entire thickness of the chordae, when stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE); dark red central areas when stained with Masson Trichrome and a birefringence decrease when stained with Picrocirius red. In mechanical analysis, we found lower stiffness, maximum rupture force decrease and larger displacement compared with the Control Group (p=0,005). In G5, was evidenced absence of any histological abnormality and a homogeneous blue appearance, typical of the cusp. However in G6, a basophilic hyaline aspect was found focally when stained with HE, dark red areas when stained with Masson Trichrome and a birefringence decrease when stained with Picrocirius Red. Conclusion: Chordae tendineae of normal porcine submitted to a high-power laser presented with reduced length, birefringence decrease and the collagen bundles organized into different orientations. Besides, presented lower stiffness, maximum rupture force decrease and larger displacement compared with the control group. Regarding cups, thermal changes were bigger in the cusp group cut with laser compared cusp group cut with scalpel blade, observed by optical microscopy

This thesis explores the use of 2D materials (graphene and hBN) for spintronics. Interest on these materials in spintronics arose from theoretical predictions of high spin filtering in out-of-plane transport through graphene and hBN sandwiched by ferromagnets. Similarly, 5-layer graphene was forecast to be a perfect spin filter. In the case of in-plane spin transport, graphene was expected to be an excellent material due to its low spin-orbit coupling and low number of defects. Although there already exist experimental works that attempted to explore the aforementioned predictions, they have failed so far to comply with the expected results. Earlier experimental works in graphene and hBN out-of-plane spin transport achieved low spin filtering on the order of a few percent; while spin relaxation parameters in graphene for in-plane spin transport remained one or two orders of magnitude below the predicted values. In the case of vertical devices, the failure to meet the theoretical expectations was attributed to the oxidation of the ferromagnets and the lack of an epitaxial interface between the later and the graphene or hBN. Similarly, the exact mechanisms that lead to high spin relaxation for in-plane spin transport in graphene are not completely understood, in part due to the low-quality of the explored devices. In this thesis we analyze new architectures and procedures that allowed us to fabricate ultraclean and oxidation-free interfaces between ferromagnets and graphene or hBN. In these devices we encountered negative and reversible magnetoresistance, that could not be explained with the previous theoretical models. We propose a new model based on a thorough characterization of the devices and well-known properties of graphene that were not taken into account in the previous model. We also employed a novel type of contact to graphene (1D-contacts) and applied it for the first time to achieve spin-injection in graphene. The main advantage of this type of contact is the full encapsulation of graphene with hBN, which leads to high quality graphene spintronic devices.

This diploma work is focused on using economic analysis methods to compare cost-effectivness of an innovative technology for treating aortic stenosis that is transcatheter implantation of an artificial valve CoreValve by Medtronic with traditional treatments. During the analyses we utilized only publicly available data which are often too general while more specific data might not be available because they do not exist or are not publicly available. This work sets up a theoretical foundation for the analyses, performs the analyse sof the product, PEST analyses and cost analyses. Since pacient's willigness to pay index (WTP) in the Czech republic has not yet been measured for this treatment, it is not posible to confirm the cost-effectivness of CoreValve, even though it has been confirmed in several countries based on the literature search related to this topic.

Submitted by Marcos Anselmo (marcos.anselmo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2016-09-08T14:29:39Z No. of bitstreams: 2 MARILIA AVILA VALANDRO ok.pdf: 1044698 bytes, checksum: 07606147cdffad848dc4db44d0162dd3 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcos Anselmo (marcos.anselmo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2016-09-08T14:30:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 MARILIA AVILA VALANDRO ok.pdf: 1044698 bytes, checksum: 07606147cdffad848dc4db44d0162dd3 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-08T14:30:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 MARILIA AVILA VALANDRO ok.pdf: 1044698 bytes, checksum: 07606147cdffad848dc4db44d0162dd3 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-29 / A endocardiose valvar (EV) é a cardiopatia mais prevalente na espécie canina, capaz de alterar o balanço autonômico pela ativação crônica do sistema nervoso simpático, relacionado ao risco de morte súbita e pior prognóstico. Diversos programas de treinamento com caminhada foram eficazes no restabelecimento do equilíbrio autonômico em seres humanos cardiopata, verificados a luz da variabilidade da frequência cardíaca (VFC). Dessa forma, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de oito semanas de caminhada, realizadas três vezes por semana, durante 30 a 50 minutos, de moderada intensidade (60 a 80% da frequência cardíaca máxima), sobre a função autonômica cardíaca de cães com EV, utilizando a VFC no domínio do tempo e da frequência como ferramenta. Para tanto, 20 cães com EV foram divididos em dois grupos: grupo controle - não treinado (GC, n=9) e grupo treinamento (GT, n=11), e avaliados nos momentos basal (T0), quatro semanas (T1) e oito semanas (T2). No domínio do tempo, a variável média rMSSD (raiz quadrada da média ao quadrado das diferenças sucessivas entre os intervalos NN) foi maior no GT em quatro (155,5+42,07) e oito semanas (199,8+83,54) em relação ao GC (91,17+35,79 e 88,17+57,51) (p<0,05). No domínio da frequência, a variável High Frequency (HF) foi a mais representativa, e apresentou aumento no GT (30950+25810) após quatro semanas quando comparado ao GC (19090+23210) (p<0,05) e dentro do grupo GT após oito semanas de treinamento (40300+33870) em relação à avaliação basal (29340+20950) (p<0,05). As demais variáveis não sofreram influências do programa de treinamento proposto. Esses resultados demonstram que o treinamento físico com a utilização de caminhadas foi capaz de alterar a VFC, indicando uma maior participação parassimpática em cães com EV. / Valvular endocardiosis is the most prevalent cardiopathy in canine specie. This disease is able to change autonomic balance, which is related to sudden death and worse prognostic, through chronic activation of sympathetic nervous system. Looking at heart rate variability, various walk training plans were efficient for the autonomic balance reestablishment in cardiophats people. In this way, this study focused on evaluate the effect of 8 weeks walking plan on cardiac autonomic function of dogs with valvular endocardiosis. These walking plans were consisted of moderated intensity walking (reaching from 60 to 80% of maximum heart rate) during 30 to 50 minutes, three times a week. Heart rate variability was analyzed by utilizing time and frequency domain as a tool. Thus, 20 dogs with valvular endocardiosis were divided into two groups: Control group, with no training (CG, n=9), and Training group (TG, n=11). They were evaluated at basal moment (T0), 4 weeks (T1), and 8 weeks (T2). At time domain, only the medium variable rMSSD (the root mean square of successive differences between the square NN intervals) was higher in the TG in four (155.5+42.07) and eight weeks (199.8+83.54) than CG (91.17+35.79 and 88.17+57.51) (p<0.05). At frequency domain, the high frequency variable was the most representative and after four weeks, it showed higher on TG (30950+25810) than CG (19090+23210) (p<0.05). After eight weeks, within TG there was higher frequency (40300+33870) when compared to basal evaluation (29340+20950) (p<0.05). The proposed training program did not affect the other variables. These results suggest that the physical training with utilization of walking plans were able to change the heart rate variability what indicated a higher parasimpathetic participation of dogs with valvular endocardiosis.

This thesis introduces a framework aimed at developing an aid for physicians to diagnose and manage failing aortic valves using finite element (FE) simulations. The bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most commonly observed valvular defect (Sievers et al. 2007) and therefore used to investigate the clinical utility of FE-based mechanical simulations. For the analysis, patient data was collected using real-time 3D echocardiography (rt3DE) of five normal valves and three pathological. The valve geometries were reconstructed into 3D models including the sinus and leaflet structures. An FE analysis was completed on the models, and the results were critically analyzed and validated with experimental data. Results indicate that human patient aortic valves can be successfully reconstructed and when simulated, realistic deformation is observed. This thesis focused on severity assessment of BAV morphologies through comparison to that of normal aortic valves.

Microfluidic device construction uses certain critical structures throughout many different applications. The valve structure remains one of the primary structures that present a barrier to miniaturization and portability. The extensive support devices required to power common microfluidic valves remove a significant amount of freedom from microfluidic device design. Moving to electrostatic methods of actuation could reduce the overall footprint of the microfluidic valve. This thesis covers three concept prototypes. Concept I presents an attempt at inlaying gold electrodes into polydimethylsiloxane substrates. Concept II attempts to use liquid silver injected into channels as electrode materials. Concept III uses aluminum sputtering to fabricate valve electrodes. Each device encountered complications during fabrication which led to improved fabrication guidelines for future devices. Designing and fabricating these concept devices required the development of several new processes in the clean room, including RIE Plasma bonding, PDMS sputtering techniques, and multilayer PDMS thin film fabrication. The PDMS sputtering technique in particular allows profilometry measurement of PDMS surfaces without risk of damaging the profilometer tip, a development that could allow for much more control over PDMS film thicknesses in future projects.