Introduction: Currently, there are no objective techniques to assess burn depth. An early assessment of burn depth would enable accurate management decisions, which would improve patient outcomes. Near infrared (NIR) technology has shown promise as a non-invasive monitor of oxygenation and perfusion, and its potential to assess the depth of burn injuries has been investigated clinically over the past five years. The purpose of the thesis was to determine the capacity of NIR technology to differentiate acute thermal injuries. Methods: Burn sites (n=5) and control sites (n=5) were created on the dorsum of sixteen animals with brass rods held at constant pressure and heated to 100°C and 37.5°C respectively. NIR data was collected from the burns and control sites pre-burn, immediately post-burn, and 1, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 96 hours after the burn injury. Biopsies of the burn and control sites were acquired at each time point and used to confirm the depth of injury. NIR data was processed for the content of water, oxy-, deoxy- and methemoglobin. Results: Oxyhemoglobin and total hemoglobin decreased as burn depth increased. The proportion of oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin to total hemoglobin showed that the ratio of oxy- to deoxyhemoglobin decreased as burn injury increased. Methemoglobin levels as a ratio of total hemoglobin also showed that as the severity of injury increased the proportion of methemoglobin also increased. Finally, superficial partial thickness injuries (3 s and 12 s) showed early peak levels of water, which rapidly declined towards baseline. The deep partial thickness injuries (20 s and 30 s) do not experience peak levels and retain water over the course of the experiment. The full thickness injuries water levels remain close or below baseline levels throughout the experiment. Conclusion: NIR spectroscopy could distinguish burn depth using water, oxy-, met- and total hemoglobin as separate entities. The presence of methemoglobin in the burn wounds is a novel finding that has not been described previously in burn literature.

Este trabalho visou compreender a experiência da queimadura e a percepção de pacientes queimados sobre sua imagem corporal em relação aos padrões que regulam o ideal de corpo em nossa sociedade. Além disso, objetivou interpretar os significados atribuídos a um corpo que apresenta marcas de queimaduras. Recorreu à abordagem antropológica, à história de vida tópica e às técnicas de observação e entrevista. A pesquisa foi realizada com 10 pacientes de uma unidade de tratamento de queimados de hospital universitário do interior do Estado de São Paulo. Os resultados demonstram que os pacientes queimados percebem que seu corpo é estigmatizado de uma forma a afetar a identidade social do grupo focalizado. / This study aimed to understand the experience and perception of burn patients about their body image compared to contemporary standards, which regulate the body ideal in our society. The research aimed also interprets the meanings assigned to a body that has burn marks. In anthropological approach and topical history of life, the techniques used by research were observation and interview. The study was developed with 10 patients in a burn treatment unit of a university hospital in the state of São Paulo. The results point to the stigmatization of burn patients\' body in ways that affect the social identity of the group focused.

Introdução: A classificação da gravidade da queimadura é determinada a partir da relação entre a superfície corporal queimada (SCQ) e a profundidade da lesão. Os fatores que influenciam a evolução da necrose na zona de estase que circunda a zona de necrose (coagulação) podem estar relacionados com a perfusão, inflamação e estresse oxidativo. No presente estudo avaliamos o efeito da glutamina, pois tem sido demonstrado ter papel importante na prevenção de lesão por isquemia e reperfusão, da inflamação e do estresse oxidativo. Objetivo: avaliar o efeito da glutamina na forma de aminoácido livre e dipeptídeo na evolução da necrose nos interespaços (zona de estase) da queimadura. Materiais e Métodos: Foram utilizados 30 ratos machos da linhagem Wistar. Em todos os animais foi feito a lesão por queimadura de terceiro grau com um pente de metal contendo quatro dentes e três interespaços pré aquecido em água à 98ºC. O Grupo 1- Controle (n=10) recebeu 7,4ml/kg de peso, de solução fisiológica a 0,9%, o Grupo 2- Dipeptídeo, recebeu 7,4 ml do dipeptídeo L-alanil-L-glutamina (1g/kg de L-glutamina e 0,6g/kg de L-Alanina) e o Grupo 3- AA-livre recebeu 1g/kg de L-glutamina e 0,6g/kg de L-alanina na forma de aminoácido livre, por gavagem, por 7 dias após a lesão por queimadura. As análises avaliadas foram por meio de fotografia (no momento 48 horas e 7 dias) e histopatologia (no 7º dia após a lesão), para avaliar a extensão da necrose, alterações isquêmicas nos interespaços (zona de estase), além da alteração da Glutationa. Resultado: Na avaliação fotográfica, houve redução significante da necrose especificamente no Grupo 3- AA-livre entre o momento 48 horas e sete dias (P=0,04). Na avaliação por histologia, globalmente houve redução da inflamação nos Grupos 2- Dipeptídeo e 3- AA-livre quando comparados com o Grupo 1- Controle (p< 0,01). Ainda nos grupos tratados houve tendência a redução de necrose na derme dos interespaços ( Grupo 1- Controle =0,95; Grupo 2- Dipeptídeo =0,73 e Grupo 3- AA-livre =0,8), mas essas diferenças não foram significantes. Os grupos tratados também apresentaram aumento do número de fibroblastos quando comparados ao Grupo 1- Controle (p<0,05). Na dosagem de Glutationa foi encontrado maior quantidade no Grupo 2- Dipeptídeo (p<0,05) quando comparado com o Grupo 1- Controle. Conclusão: A redução das lesões histológicas, redução da inflamação, manutenção de maior extensão dos interespaços, a maior quantidade de fibroblastos e o aumento da glutationa, com a administração de glutamina, observados no presente estudo, podem ter beneficiado a manutenção ou redução da evolução da necrose de queimadura em ratos.a inflamação, acelerou a cicatrização e regrediu a evolução da necrose das zonas de estase das queimaduras em ratos. / Introduction: The classification of burn severity is based on the relationship between the burned body surface (SCQ) and the depth of the lesion. Factors influencing the progression of necrosis in the stasis zone surrounding the area of necrosis (coagulation) may be related to perfusion, inflammation and oxidative stress. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of glutamine, as it has been shown to play an important role in the prevention of ischemia and reperfusion injury, inflammation and oxidative stress. Objective: to evaluate the effect of glutamine as a free amino acid and dipeptide on the progression of necrosis in the interspace (stasis zone) of the burn. Materials and Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were used. In all animals a third degree burn injury was done with a metal comb containing four teeth and three interspaces preheated in water at 98ºC. Group 1- Control (n = 10) received 7,4 ml of 0.9% saline solution, Group 2- Dipeptide received 7.4 ml of dipeptide solution L-alanyl-L-glutamine (1g/k Lglutamine and 0.6g/k L-Alanine) and Group 3- Free AA received 1g/k L-glutamine and 0,6g/kg L-alanine as free amino acid, by gavage, for 7 days after burn injury. The analyzes evaluated were by means of photograph (in the time 48 hours and 7 days) and histopathology (on the 7th day after the injury), to evaluate the extent of necrosis, ischemic changes in the interspaces (stasis zone), besides the alteration of Glutathione . Results: In the photographic evaluation, there was a significant reduction of necrosis specifically in the 3-AA-free group between 48 hours and 7 days (P = 0.04). Histologically, there was a reduction in inflammation in Groups 2- Dipeptide and 3-AA-free when compared to Group 1-Control (p <0.01). Even in the treated groups there was a tendency to reduce necrosis in the interspaces dermis (Group 1-Control = 0.95, Group 2-Dipeptide = 0.73 and Group 3- AA-free = 0.8), but these differences were not significant. The treated groups also showed an increase in the number of fibroblasts when compared to Group 1- Control (p <0.05). In the dosage of Glutathione, a greater amount was found in Group 2 - Dipeptide (p <0.05) when compared to Group 1 - Control. Conclusion: The reduction of histological lesions, reduction of inflammation, maintenance of greater extension of the interspaces, the greater amount of fibroblasts and the increase of glutathione, with the administration of glutamine observed in the present study, may have benefited the maintenance or reduction of the evolution of necrosis of burn in rats.

A avaliação do estado de saúde percebido pelas pessoas que sofreram queimaduras tem sido realizada com instrumentos específicos como a “Burn Specific Health Scale- Revised" (BSHS-R). Alguns pesquisadores têm utilizado a BSHS-R como medida da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde. Ela é composta por 31 itens divididos em seis subescalas (Habilidades para funções simples, Sensibilidade da pele, Tratamento, Trabalho, Afeto/imagem corporal e Relações interpessoais). O presente estudo teve como objetivos: adaptar a BSHS-R para a língua portuguesa; avaliar a validade (face, constructo) e a confiabilidade da versão adaptada em uma amostra de brasileiros que sofreram queimaduras. O processo de adaptação seguiu os seguintes passos metodológicos: tradução da BSHS-R para a língua portuguesa; avaliação por um Comitê de Juízes; “backtranslation" da versão para o inglês, comparação das duas versões em inglês; análise semântica dos itens; pré-teste da versão adaptada e aplicação da versão final em português em sujeitos que sofreram queimaduras. Participaram do estudo 82 sujeitos que haviam sido internados na Unidade de Queimados do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. Constatamos predomínio de indivíduos do sexo masculino (56/82; 68,3%), casados (52/82; 63,4%), com idade entre 18 e 78 anos (média = 38,5; DP = 13,9) e baixa escolaridade (47,6%, com primeiro grau incompleto ou analfabeto). A área média de superfície corporal queimada foi de 19,3%; 24,4% dos casos apresentaram queimaduras de 3º grau típico e 63,4% queimaduras mescladas de 2º e 3º graus. O tempo de recuperação após a alta variou de 17 dias a 6 anos, sendo que 67,9% dos entrevistados apresentavam queimaduras há menos de 1 ano. Todos apresentavam seqüelas, sendo que 53 (64,6%) sujeitos tinham seqüelas tanto estéticas quanto funcionais. Na BSHS-R, as respostas variam de 1 a 5 e o intervalo possível, para a soma dos 31 itens varia de 31 a 155, sendo que quanto maior o valor, melhor a avaliação do estado de saúde. Obtivemos média de escores altos para cada um dos 31 itens da escala (3,8 + 0,8) e uma média total do instrumento de 119,4 + 24,6. Para a análise da validade de constructo, verificamos a confirmação das nossas hipóteses para a convergência entre a BSHS-R e a auto-estima e divergência entre a BSHS-R e depressão. Foram observadas correlações positivas e moderadas entre auto-estima e Afeto e imagem corporal e Relações interpessoais. Com relação às correlações inversas entre a medida de depressão e os domínios da BSHS-R, obtivemos correlações moderadas com: Sensibilidade da pele e Relações interpessoais e correlação alta com: Afeto e imagem corporal. Para a análise da confiabilidade da versão adaptada, a aplicação de testes de avaliação da consistência interna, representada pelo alfa de Cronbach, mostrou resultado estatisticamente significante, obtendo-se alfa igual a 0,94 para o instrumento como um todo e valores que variaram de 0,74 a 0,94 entre os domínios. Diante dos resultados podemos concluir que a versão adaptada para o português da BSHS-R mostrou atender os critérios de validade e confiabilidade exigidos para um instrumento de avaliação do estado de saúde, mantendo as propriedades da versão original. / The perceived health state of burn victims has been assessed using specific instruments, such as the “Burn Specific Health Scale-Revised" (BSHS-R). Some researchers to measure health-related quality of life have used it. The instrument consists of 31 items, divided into six subscales (Simple abilities, Skin sensitivity, Treatment, Work, Affect/body image and Interpersonal relations). This study aimed to: adapt the BSHS-R to Portuguese; assess face and construct validity and reliability of the adapted version in sample of Brazilian burn victims. The adaptation process followed the methodological steps: translation of the BSHS-R to Portuguese; evaluation by an expert committee; “back-translation" of the Portuguese version into English, comparison between the two English versions; semantic analysis of scale items; pretest of the adapted version and application of the final Portuguese version to burn victims. Study participants were 82 persons hospitalized at the Burns Unit of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School Hospital das Clínicas. Most participants were men (56/82; 68.3%), married (52/82; 63.4%), with ages ranging from 18 to 78 years (mean = 38.5; SD = 13.9) and low education levels (47.6% with incomplete basic education or illiterate). As to burn-related aspects, the mean burned body surface was 19.3%; 24.4% of cases presented typical third-degree burns and 63.4% mixed second and third-degree burns. Recovery time after discharge ranged from 17 days to 6 years; 67.9% of the interviewees had suffered the burns less than one year before the study. All participants presented sequelae and 53 (64.6%) of them suffered both esthetical and functional sequelae. What the BSHS-R is concerned, answers ranged from 1 to 5, with a possible interval for the sum of the 31 items varying between 31 and 155; the higher the score, the better the perceived health state. We obtained high mean scores for each of the 31 scale items (3.8 + 0.8) and a total mean score of 119.4 + 24.6. To analyze construct validity, we verified the confirmation of our hypothesis for convergence between BSHS-R and self-esteem and divergence between BSHS-R and depression. Positive and moderate correlations were found between self-esteem and Affect/body image and Interpersonal relations. As to inverse correlations between depression and BSHS-R domains, we found moderate correlations with: Skin sensitivity and Interpersonal Relations and high correlation with: Affect/body image. With respect to the reliability of the adapted version, the application of internal consistency tests (Cronbach’s alfa) found a statistically significant result, with an alfa of 0.94 for the instrument as a whole and scores ranging from 0.74 to 0.94 between domains. These results demonstrate that the adapted version of the BSHS-R for Portuguese attends to the validity and reliability criteria required for a health state assessment instrument and maintains the properties of the original version.

Ecological restorations have become increasingly important as humans have made irreversible changes to ecosystems; biogeochemical cycle alterations and land use changes have led to degraded conditions (Vitousek et al. 1997a). While some modifications to the environment are unavoidable, society is beginning to realize that changes are necessary. While some ecosystem functions may be beyond repair (e.g., biodiversity loss and extinction of species), it is important that the problem is faced head on and those functions that are still salvageable be restored. These environmental repairs can be done through ecological restoration. I looked at two different ecosystems, prairie streams and agricultural streams, that have undergone restoration to help functions. Patch-burn grazing (PBG) is increasingly used as a management practice on the few remaining tallgrass prairie parcels in an effort to simulate effects of large ungulate grazers. Yet, little is known about potential impacts and recovery of aquatic habitats from this management approach. My objective was to assess the influence of PBG with cattle on prairie streams and build on previous research at this site. I hypothesized that cattle grazing would negatively impact water quality and reduce stream biotic integrity, but riparian fencing would mitigate these impacts. We also assessed stream recovery for two years following the removal of ungulates from the study sites and hypothesized that biological and chemical effects would reverse. Six headwater streams (two controls, two PBG with 10 m fenced riparian zones, and two PBG with unfenced riparian zones) on Osage Prairie, Missouri, were sampled over seven years (2009-2015) encompassing pre-PBG (2 years), PBG (3 years), and post-PBG (2 years) periods. Macroinvertebrates and water chemistry were sampled monthly. Nitrate (NO3-) concentrations increased in the fenced and unfenced watersheds compared to the control watersheds (p = 0.015 and p < 0.0001, respectively) and between the fenced and unfenced watersheds (p = 0.001) during the PBG period relative to pre-PBG. Total phosphorus (TP) increased in the fenced and unfenced watersheds after grazing began compared to the control (both p < 0.0001) but did not differ between the fenced and unfenced watersheds (p = 0.187). Relative Chironomidae biomass and abundance increased in the unfenced watersheds in response to grazing (p = 0.008 and p < 0.001, respectively). No differences were observed in relative Chironomidae biomass and abundance, NO3-, and TP from pre-PBG to post-PBG indicating the recovery of these metrics. Results suggest that the negative effects of PBG on prairie streams can be somewhat mitigated by riparian fencing. Additionally, these streams are relatively resilient to PBG and recovery can take place during a rest cycle as brief as two years. Approximately one billion dollars is spent annually on restorations of degraded stream reaches in the United States. However, few projects are monitored upon completion, or monitoring focuses on a single parameter. Other than modifications to physical attributes of streams, the influence of restoration projects on ecosystem processes remains largely unknown. We sampled eleven Midwestern streams that had undergone habitat restorations from 3-15 years prior to sampling. Restoration techniques included in-stream habitat enhancements, bank stabilization, and riparian restoration. We predicted that gross primary production (GPP) would be lower in restored streams due to decreased nutrient inputs, and that respiration would be greater due to increased litter inputs from restored riparian areas. We also hypothesized that the restored streams would have greater invertebrate richness, abundance, and biomass, as well as high densities of intolerant taxa such as Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT taxa) due to higher water quality and better habitat. Restored reaches and unrestored upstream reaches were sampled for physical characteristics, water chemistry, benthic algal biomass, whole-stream metabolism, and macroinvertebrate communities. GPP in restored sites was marginally higher than unrestored sites (t5 = 2.53, p = 0.05), despite no differences in PO4-3, NO3-, or NH4+ concentrations. Three restored sites were autotrophic (P/R > 1), while four unrestored sites were heterotrophic. Total macroinvertebrate biomass was marginally higher in the restored sites compared to unrestored sites (t10 = 1.94; p = 0.08). EPT biomass was also marginally higher in restored sites than unrestored sites (t10 = 1.91; p = 0.09) but no difference was observed in EPT abundance. Results suggest that stream habitat restorations enhance some, but not all ecosystem processes and marginally enhance macroinvertebrate communities.

Bacterial infections are a serious problem for patients with burns and other wounds. Such burn wound infection accounts for the pathogenic bacteria by colonising onto burned areas. Therefore, the need for detection and inhibition of such bacterial colonisation requires a methodology for sensing/killing pathogenic bacteria. This research project aims to design a ‗smart‘ wound dressing system which can respond to the microbiological environment of the wound via a simple colour change and will release antimicrobials only when required. Two strains of pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA 476) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1) were used in the study. The non-pathogenic bacterium E.coli (DH5α) was used as a control organism as it does not secrete virulence factors and therefore does not lyse membranes of vesicles. The key contributions of this thesis are outlined below. Firstly, an initial responsive nanocapsule system was studied. The fundamental work with giant unilamellar vesicles proved such a responsive system can provide antimicrobial properties when antimicrobial agents were encapsulated within the vesicles. Secondly, partially polymerised vesicles—polydiacetylene/phospholipid vesicles were then developed to improve vesicle stability. The vesicle system was optimised by varying molar concentration of diacetylene monomers (TCDA) in order to obtain relatively stable vesicles as well as sensitivity to the toxins secreted by the pathogenic strains. Measurements proved that the polydiacetylene/phospholipid vesicles can respond to pathogenic bacteria when fluorescent dye/antimcirobials were encapsulated in the vesicles. Finally, a simple prototype dressing was constructed. Plasma polymerised maleic anhydride (pp-MA) deposited onto non-woven polypropylene was shown to be a good method to stabilise vesicles via covalent bonding. Vesicle adhered to pp-MA non-woven polypropylene showed the ability to inhibit/kill the pathogenic strains, quantified by the Japanese Industry Standard assay and also gave a fluorimetric colour response in the presence of pathogenic bacteria when a fluorescent dye is encapsulated within vesicles. Other simple prototypes were also attempted by using hydrogels (gelatine and collagen) to maintain vesicle stability as well as promote tissue healing.

"The Wildland/Urban Interface, in which homes are intermingled with forested areas, presents unique challenges to fire protection and fire prediction, owing to the different fuel loads, conditions, and terrain. Computer models that predict fire spread through such an area require data for multiple scales, from crown fire spread to the heat release rates and ignition conditions for individual trees, as well as an understanding of fire behavior and spread. This discussion investigates a means by which fire behavior for Douglas-fir trees can be determined from quantifiable characteristics, such as height and moisture content. Mass, flame height, peak heat release rate, and total energy can be estimated from these simple measurements. A time scale of 60 seconds, combined with a peak heat release rate estimated from tree size characteristics, provides an approximation of total energy that is within 11% of measured values. Pre-heating of trees with a low (2.5 kW/m2) radiant heat flux did not have a noticeable impact on the resulting heat release rate. In addition, fire spread between trees was highly dependent on the presence of ambient wind; in the absence of wind or wind-borne embers, the trees were very resistant to ignition even when in close proximity (3 spacing). With the addition of wind, the fire would spread, although the heat release rates were dramatically reduced for trees of sufficiently high moisture content (< 70%)."

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / No presente estudo foram utilizadas misturas de Ãleos em concentraÃÃes nutracÃuticas com razÃo de &#969;6:&#969;3 baixa que favorece uma aÃÃo antiinflamatÃria e a razÃo de &#969;9:&#969;6 alta com aÃÃo antioxidante. O objetivo do estudo foi estudar os efeitos das misturas de Ãleos de &#969;9, &#969;6 e &#969;3 na queimadura tÃrmica e avaliar se as fontes de &#969;3 (ALA, EPA ou DHA) interferem nos efeitos das misturas na queimadura. Foram utilizados 36 ratos Wistar, distribuÃdos em 6 grupos: Ãgua, queimado + Ãgua [Q + Ãgua], queimado + isolipÃdico [Q + Iso], queimado + mistura de Ãleos 1 [ALA], queimado + mistura de Ãleos 2 [ALA+EPA+DHA de peixe] e queimado + mistura de Ãleos &#969;3[ALA+DHA de algas marinhas] com seis animais em cada grupo. Realizada queimadura por conduÃÃo direta causando lesÃo de espessura total do dorso dos animais, em seguida admininstrada por via orogÃstrica as misturas de Ãleos por sete dias. Avaliada a lesÃo cutÃnea por macroscopia (planimetria digital), microscopia, imunohistoquimica (anti-Ki-67, anti-NF&#954;B, anti-HSP 27 e anti-HNEJ) e painel de citocinas (IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, TNF-alpha, INF-gama e CSF-GM). Na macroscopia os ratos que receberam a mistura 3 apresentaram menor Ãrea de lesÃo, assim como as misturas 1, 2 e isolipÃdica quando comparadas com a Ãgua. Na microscopia apenas os animais que receberam a mistura 3 (ALA+DHA de algas marinhas) apresentaram menor extensÃo da lesÃo em relaÃÃo a Ãgua. Ao avaliar o Ki-67 a mistura 3 induziu aumento da proliferaÃÃo celular em relaÃÃo aos demais grupos. Apenas a mistura 3 foi capaz de inibir NF&#954;B. NÃo houve diferenÃa entre os grupos em relaÃÃo a HSP 27, HNEJ e painel de interleucina. A mistura de Ãleos &#969;3, na qual a fonte à ALA+DHA de algas marinhas, tem efeitos de: inibir o NFkB, aumentar a proliferaÃÃo celular, reduzir Ãrea de lesÃo e extensÃo da queimadura.

Leaf litter samples were used to study arthropod diversity in the University of South Florida Ecological Research Area. Arthropods were collected from different plots of different prescribed burn frequencies (1year, 2 year, 5 year, 7 year and no burn frequencies). Differential responses of arthropods to burn frequency were studied. It was expected that burn frequency would affect arthropod richness and diversity and that the pattern of diversity and richness would follow the Intermediated Disturbance Hypothesis. It was also expected that richness and diversity would be correlated with the amount of leaf litter present. Preliminary results suggest that there are short-term and long-term differences among arthropod communities in response to fire history and vegetation and that the amount of leaf litter may influence the distribution of arthropod taxa.

The purpose of this study was to examine trends in MSW graduate student's self-reported levels of healthy habits, family support and relationships during education, self-care, personal standards, as well as time management, and what the implications of those things are related to student burnout. The hypothesis was that students are burned out before they enter the social work field professionally. This poses a problem because the social work field has an already high level of burnout, turnover, and compassion fatigue. This study examines the trends in both the online pathways program and the on-the- ground ground program.