Acidentes escorpiônicos podem evoluir com edema pulmonar de origem cardiogênica e não cardiogênica. O clearance de edema pulmonar está relacionado principalmente ao transporte ativo de sódio do espaço alveolar para o interstício. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do veneno de Tityus serrulatus e da dexametasona sobre a expressão dos transportadores de sódio e água e do TLR4 em pulmão de ratos. Foram utilizados ratos Wistar, divididos em três grupos: controle (salina); grupo Vn, que recebeu o veneno de T. serrulatus (3.8 mg/kg) por via intraperitoneal (ip), e o grupo Dx+Vn, que recebeu dexametasona (2.0 mg/kg) por via ip, uma hora antes da injeção do veneno. Os experimentos foram realizados uma hora após a injeção do veneno. Foram realizadas análise bioquímica e dosagens de citocinas no plasma. Nos pulmões foram estudados a expressão de -ENaC, Na+-K+- ATPase, NKCC1, AQP-5 e TRL4 através de western blotting, e a expressão do NF-kB e infiltração de células CD68+ (monócitos/macrófagos) e neutrófilos, através de imunoistoquímica. O veneno de T. serrulatus diminuiu a expressão pulmonar de -ENaC e AQP-5, enquanto aumentou a expressão do NKCC1. A dexametasona preveniu os efeitos do veneno sobre a expressão da -ENaC e NKCC1, mas não da AQP5. Não foi observada alteração da expressão da 1- Na+-K+-ATPase . A expressão do TLR4 foi maior nos animais envenenados que nos grupos Cont e Dx+Vn. O níveis plasmáticos de IL-6, IL-10 e TNF- estavam aumentados nos grupo Vn e Dx+Vn em relação ao controle. O infiltrado de células CD68+ foi maior no grupo Vn. A expressão de NF-kB e o infiltrado ne neutrófilos no tecido pulmonar foi semelhantes nos três grupos avaliados. Os resultados encontrados sugerem que o veneno de T. serrulatus tem efeito sobre as proteínas transportadoras de sódio em células do epitélio alveolar e também sobre a expressão do TLR4 em pulmão; a dexametasona pode regular essas ações / Scorpion envenomation can cause cardiogenic and noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. Pulmonary edema clearance is largely related to active Na+ transport out of the alveoli, rather than to reversal of Starling forces. Our objective was determine the effects of Tityus serrulatus venom and dexamethasone on the pulmonary expression of sodium and water transporters, and Toll-like receptor 4. Wistar rats were divided into groups and injected intraperitoneally: control (saline only); venom (T. serrulatus venom3.8 mg/kg body weight); and dexamethasone+venom (dexamethasone2.0 mg/kg body weight60 min before venom inoculation). At 60 min after venom inoculation, interleukin-6 and -10, together with tumor necrosis factor alpha, were analyzed in plasma. In lungs, we determined expression of the epithelial sodium channel alpha subunit; Na,K-ATPase alpha 1 subunit; Na-K-2Cl cotransporter, NKCC1; aquaporin 5; Toll-like receptor 4 (by Western blotting); and nuclear factor-kappa B. We determined CD68 and neutrophil counts by immunohistochemistry. In venom group lungs, the epithelial sodium channel alpha subunit and aquaporin 5 were markedly downregulated, whereas NKCC1 was elevated, although the Na,K-ATPase alpha 1 subunit was unaffected. Dexamethasone protected the epithelial sodium channel alpha subunit, NKCC1, and Toll-like receptor 4 but not aquaporin 5. Serum interleukin 6, interleukin 10, and tumor necrosis factor alpha were elevated in both groups, as was CD68 expression. Neutrophil counts and nuclear factor-kappa B expression were comparable across groups. Our data show that T. serrulatus venom alters sodium transport in alveolar epithelial cells and increases Toll-like receptor 4 expression. Dexamethasone appears to partially protect against those effects

Primary ciliary dyskinesia is a rare hereditary disorder with impairment of cilia characterized by chronic cough with sputum, bronchiectasis or pneumonia. Regular exercise training should affect pulmonary function, promote mucociliary clearance and improve quality of life. The aim of this thesis is to compare the aerobic fitness of patients with PCD with a control group.

Den 2 juli 2014 genomfördes en lagändring angående bygglovsfria åtgärder. Ändringen innebar att bygglovsfritt byggande på 15 kvadratmeter skulle utökas till 25 kvadratmeter, s.k attefallshus enligt PBL 9:4 a. Tanken var att det skulle bli en smidigare process och att mindre bostäder skulle komma till snabbare när de inte kräver bygglov. Dessa bostäder skulle kunna ge boende åt framförallt unga, studenter och nyanlända.  I denna studie utreds det hur utvecklingen har gått för attefallshus, hur många start- och slutbesked som beviljats genom åren samt de huvudsakliga användningsområdena. Tillsynen gällande attefallshus är också något som uppmärksammats i denna rapport. Rättsfallet MÖD P 7514-15 är ett fall som kan komma bli betydelsefullt för rutiner hos kommuner framöver. Domen stred mot det som sägs i PBL 13:15, att endast sökande kan överklaga ett startbesked. Detta kan i sin tur skapa oreda bland kommunernas rutiner kring detta moment, eftersom lagen säger en sak och domstolen en annan. Därför utreds frågan om kommunerna ändrat något kring detta sedan rättsfallet blev känt. Studien utfördes i alla kommuner inom Västra Götaland län. I studien användes både juridisk, kvantitativ och kvalitativ metod, i form av enkätundersökning och tolkning av rättskällor.  Sedan lagen trädde i kraft har det beviljats 1 258 startbesked och 308 slutbesked i Västra Götalands län. Dessa är relativt jämnt fördelade mellan 2014 och 2017, ingen tydlig trend kunde noteras utan verkar vara densamma under alla åren. När det gäller användningsområden så uppförs attefallshus huvudsakligen som komplementbyggnader och används som bland annat förråd, gäststuga eller garage. Slutsatsen här blev att utvecklingen av attefallshus i Västra Götalands län verkar vara densamma som när lagändringen trädde i kraft. När det gäller rutiner kring tillsynen, ställdes frågan hur kommunerna hanterar situationen då en granne inkommer med ett klagande angående ett attefallshus. 70 % av de kommuner som besvarat frågan, hanterade situationen på rätt sätt genom att de påbörjar ett tillsynsärende vid misstankar. Resterande kommuner hade olika svar, i form av att de förde vidare klagandet till högre instans eller helt enkelt inte tillät grannen att klaga. När kommunerna fick frågan om de förändrat något efter rättsfallet MÖD P 7514-15 blev svaren nej eller att de inte hade något att säga om det. Detta kan därför bli en lämplig fråga i en framtida studie, eftersom rättsfallet om några år kan komma ge en mer märkbar effekt hos kommuner. / On July 2nd 2014 a law Change was performed, concerning building-free measures. This suggestion would make it possible to build a 25 square meters building, without building permit. This building is also known as an Attefall house and can be found in PBL 9:4 a. The thought behind this change is to get a more flexible process and that smaller buildings can be built faster, when the building permit isn’t requested. These small buildings could be future homes especially for young people or newly arrived people. In this study it’s investigated how the development has taken place for Attefall house -  how many starting clearance and final clearance and what the main uses are. This report will also look at the supervision when it comes to an Attefall houses. The court case MÖD P 7514-15 is a case that perhaps will be important for routines at the building committees. The Court contradicted what is said in PBL 13:15, that only the applicant can appeal a refused start clearance. In the future can this case create controversy among the building committees and their routines around this moment because the court rules against what the law states. That´s why this question is investigated - to see if the building committees have to change anything since the court case became known. The study was conducted in all Building Committees in Västra Götaland. The study is using both legal, quantitative and qualitative methods, for example questionnaire and practice study. The result of the study shows that the development of an Attefall house appears to be the same now as it was in the beginning. Since the law change took effect has 1262 starting clearances and 311 finish clearances been granted in Västra Götaland. These are relatively evenly distributed between 2014 and 2017, no clear trend could be noted. And it seems to be the same throughout all years. When it comes to applications, Attefall house is mainly built as an accessory building and is used as storage, guesthouse or garage. The conclusion was that the development of Attefall house in Västra Götaland also seems to be the same as when the law change came into effect.  Regarding the question about routines of supervision, how the building committees handles the situation when a neighbor arrive with a complaint about an Attefall house, the answers were a little bit different. 70 % of the Building Committees who answered the question properly handled the situation by starting a supervisory case if suspected there are reasons for it. Remaining Building Committees had different answers, for example that they passed the appeal to a supreme court or simply didn’t allow the neighbor to complain.

In 2018 the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) funded a study in which data were collected to evaluate performance measures for UDOT's Incident Management Team (IMT) program. After that study was completed, UDOT received funding to expand the size of its IMT program. Additionally, TransSuite, a data source used by the UDOT Traffic Operations Center to log incident-related data, was reconfigured to provide a higher quantity of performance measure data. This study made use of the new data source, in addition to Computer Aided Dispatch logs provided by the Utah Highway Patrol that were used in the first study, to collect performance measure data of the expanded program and measure the impacts of the IMT program expansion. Using these two datasets, a reanalyzed 2018 dataset and a new 2020 dataset, a comparison of performance measures was made. Performance measures studied included those defined as important by the Federal Highway Administration's Focus States Initiative in 2009, namely Roadway Clearance Time, Incident Clearance Time, and Response Time. These performance measures were calculated for IMT responders at 320 incidents in 2018 and 289 incidents in 2020. In addition, data regarding the affected volume associated with incidents, the excess travel time accumulated due to incidents, and the excess user cost associated with incident congestion were gathered. In 2018, 188 incidents were analyzed for these user impacts, and in 2020 144 incidents were analyzed. Statistical analyses were conducted to compare IMT performance between the two years and to determine relationships between performance measures and user impacts. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic affected traffic volumes during this study, and statistical analyses were adjusted to account for volume differences between the two years. Results indicated that the expansion of the IMT program has allowed UDOT to respond faster to incidents, and respond to a larger quantity of incidents over a larger coverage area and in extended operating hours. Performance of the expanded IMT program has had significant effects in reducing incident-related congestion and its costs.

<p>With increasingly tighter tip clearances in modern turbomachinery, it is essential to precisely measure this parameter during turbomachinery characterization. Benefits from measuring tip clearances include monitoring the structural integrity of the machine and estimating aerodynamic losses incurred due to leakage flows. At present, capacitance probes are one of the most commonly used sensors for tip clearance measurements in turbomachines as they are accurate and robust. One of the main challenges when using capacitance probes is properly calibrating the sensors, which usually involves complex positioning systems and blade representative targets. This manuscript describes in detail the development of a methodology for in-house calibration of capacitance probes for tip clearance measurements. A novel calibration procedure that does not involve rotating components is investigated and compared against established calibration methods. First, a calibration bench was developed to demonstrate the static and dynamic performance of the acquisition system and perform quasi-static as well as dynamic calibrations in a controlled environment. An in-situ methodology was then developed to calibrate the sensors once installed in a two-stage rotating turbine rig. The proposed methodology does not require complex positioning systems and a regression analysis using a least squares scheme resulted in a coefficient of determination of 0.9998. The calibration was validated using specially designed instrumentation at various speeds that span the operating envelope of the rig. A Bayesian model that was developed to estimate measurement uncertainties for each method showed that uncertainties as low as ± 5μm can be achieved with the proposed system. The proposed methodology was used in a two-stage turbine rig. Measurements taken at three different circumferential locations were subsequently used to map the spatial distribution of tip clearances throughout the speed operational envelope of the turbine. Finally, a reduced order rotor displacement model was developed and fitted to capacitance probes data. The work presented in this thesis lays the foundation for high fidelity tip clearance measurement capabilities at the Purdue Experimental Turbine Aerothermal Laboratory and can be implemented into any rotating rig. </p>

In 2009 the Federal Highway Administration published a report regarding a Focus States Initiative that had been conducted with 11 states to discuss the development of national Traffic Incident Management (TIM) standards. Performance measures were defined, and a national TIM dashboard created, but very little data has been added to the dashboard since. In this research study, performance measures of the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) TIM program were analyzed. Data availability was first assessed to determine whether these performance measures could be calculated. It was determined that crash response data available from the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) could be used to calculate the performance measures of Incident Management Teams (IMT) and UHP units; however, roadway clearance data were missing. UHP personnel agreed to collect additional data regarding crash roadway clearance for six months of the study. Performance measures of response time (RT), roadway clearance time (RCT), and incident clearance time (ICT) were calculated for responding units at 168 crashes. Using the crash response data from UHP and traffic speed, travel time, and volume data from UDOT databases, 83 of the 163 crashes that met additional criteria were evaluated to determine the volume of traffic affected (AV) by each incident and the associated user cost (EUC). Statistical analyses to determine relationships between different measures such as RT, RCT, ICT, AV, and EUC were conducted to assist UDOT in optimizing the allocation of their IMT resources.

In 2019, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) funded a research study evaluating the performance measures of UDOT's expanded Incident Management Team (IMT) program. The number of IMTs patrolling Utah roadways increased from 13 to 25 between 2018 and 2020. Crash data were collected from the Utah Highway Patrol's Computer Aided Dispatch database and from the UDOT TransSuite database to compare IMT performance measures between the two years and to evaluate the benefits of the expanded IMT program. However, these data were compromised due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study collected data for 2022 using the same methodology as the Phase II study to compare IMT performance measures in 2022 with those of 2018 after traffic volumes had returned to a similar level as those of pre-pandemic levels. There were 283 and 307 incidents for the years of 2018 and 2022, respectively, that were analyzed for IMT performance measures which include response time, roadway clearance time, and incident clearance time. There were 172 and 236 incidents for the years of 2018 and 2022, respectively, that were analyzed for user impacts which were affected volume, excess travel time, and excess user costs. Results of the statistical analyses conducted on the 2018 and 2022 datasets show that IMTs can respond more quickly to incidents in a larger coverage area with significantly reduced user impacts. The expanded IMT program is also able to respond to more incidents, including those of high severity, while significantly decreasing congestion.

The central research problem of this study was the challenges that occur with the United States Joint Warfighters Center's (JWFC) implementation of information systems (IS) requirements-gathering process. Thus, this study investigated the contribution of perceived security clearance (PSC), developer perceived user involvement (DPUI), and computer self-efficacy (CSE) to efficiency of the perceived requirements-gathering process (PERGP). Due to the perceived efficiency of IS development, the U.S. Department of Defense statutory document called the Joint Capability Integration and Development System (JCIDS), mandated that as an IS development requirement, the rapid development of IS was needed to sustain U.S. warfighters. As a result, the central aim of this study was to look at several variables that may predict the efficiency to the IS requirements-gathering process at JWFC. The central research question behind this study was: What are the contributions of PSC, DPUI, and CSE to the PERGP at the JWFC? This study proposed a theoretical model, and two statistical methods were used to formulate models and test predictive power: Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) and Ordinal Logistic Regression (OLR). The sample size of this study included 61 IS developers from JWFC. The results of this study indicated a strong reliability for the measures of all variables (PSC, DPUI, CSE, and PERGP). Moreover, results of both models developed indicated that DPUI is a significant contributor to PEGRP, while CSE was demonstrated to be significant contributor to PEGRP only via the OLR model providing the indication that the relationships among the measured variables was non-linear. Additionally, results demonstrated that DPUI was the most significant contributor to PEGRP in both models, while PSC had little or no contribution to the dependent variable, PEGRP. This study also identified two key implications for practice and research. The first impaction of this study is the investigation of unique factors such as PSC and PEGRP in the context of military-based IS development within DOD organizations. Results of this study can help managers in government organizations that are faced with security clearance issues to identify contributors in the early phase of IS development that could possibly hinder PEGRP. The second implication of this study is the non-significant results related to PSC in this investigation. For researchers, such results may need future validation in other governmental and military-based organization. Moreover, such results may indicate to managers in government organizations that are faced with security clearance issues that security clearance, at least as indicated by the results of this study, has no major hindering on the PEGRP. These results maybe profound in their implications and, as such, needed additional validations.

RSAT (Reticulation Sag And Tension) software is a tool available for use as part of the medium voltage Eskom Distribution standard. This software is scrutinised for its usability and for errors such that it can be revised to improve the usability of the tool. The type of software being studied is used to ensure optimum design performance and reduce the probability of a conductor failure on distribution lines. The algorithms for calculating tension, sag and clearance values take into account research into optimum design tensions. This ensures low bending forces due to conductor vibration. An algorithm for creep is designed based on common life expectancy of line conductors. The design methodology and algorithms were then put into software form as RSAT. Review and alterations include the changing of compiler, user interface, data storage mechanisms and the inclusion of options allowing the addition of new data.

INTRODUÇÃO: As infecções pulmonares constituem uma das principais causas de morbidade e mortalidade após o transplante pulmonar. O transplante expõe a árvore brônquica a uma série de condições, como à lesão de secção e anastomose brônquica e à ação dos imunossupressores, alterando os componentes do epitélio mucociliar. O sistema mucociliar presente nas vias aéreas do sistema respiratório é o principal mecanismo de defesa do trato respiratório, assim a influência de drogas neste sistema precisa ser investigada. A prednisona é um importante corticosteróide usado após o transplante de pulmão, no entanto seu uso pode estar associado ao aumento da mortalidade no período pós por complicações como baixa cicatrização e infecções. Desta forma, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da secção brônquica e da terapia com prednisona na depuração mucociliar. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados 180 ratos machos Wistar distribuídos em 6 grupos (P1, P2, P3, ScP2, ScSal e Sal). Os animais dos grupos P1, P2 e P3 receberam diferentes doses de prednisona (0,625, 1,25 e 2,5 mg/kg/dia); os do grupo ScP2 foram submetidos à cirurgia de secção e anastomose brônquica e terapia com 1.25 mg/kg/dia de prednisona; do grupo ScSal foram submetidos à cirurgia de secção e anastomose brônquica e gavagem diária de solução fisiológica; por fim, os animais do grupo Sal receberam gavagem de solução fisiológica. Após o período de tratamento (7, 15 ou 30 dias), os animais foram sacrificados, e as medidas de freqüência de batimento ciliar (FBC), velocidade de transporte mucociliar (VTMC) e transportabilidade do muco (TM) coletadas. Para avaliar os efeitos da droga realizamos a análise estatística comparativa entre os grupos P1, P2, P3 e Sal. Para avaliar a possível interação da droga com o procedimento cirúrgico comparamos os grupos ScP2, ScSal e P2. RESULTADOS: A administração das diferentes doses de prednisona estudadas prejudicaram a TM e a dosagem mais alta (P3) diminuiu a VTMC. Os animais submetidos à secção e anastomose brônquica mostraram redução significativa de VTMC e FBC após 7 e 15 dias da cirurgia (p<0.001) Observamos a recuperação desses parâmetros após 30 dias do procedimento cirúrgico. A droga melhorou a TM dos animais submetidos à secção e anastomose brônquica (p<0,02). CONCLUSÕES: Altas dosagens de prednisona prejudicam a depuração mucociliar. A terapia com prednisona associada à cirurgia de secção e anastomose brônquica não altera a depuração mucociliar visto que, apesar de melhorar a transportabilidade do muco, a freqüência de batimento ciliar e a velocidade de transporte mucociliar não são influenciadas / INTRODUCTION: Infections have been and still are the major cause of morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation. Since mucociliary clearance (MCC) plays an important role on the human defense mechanism, the influence of drugs on MCC of patients submitted to lung transplantation must be examined. Prednisone is the most important corticosteroid used after lung transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of bronchial transection and prednisone therapy (P) on mucociliary clearance. METHODS: 180 rats were assigned to 6 groups (P1, P2, P3, ScSal, e Sal) according to surgical procedure or drug therapy: P1 (0.625mg/kg/day), P2 (1.25 mg/kg/day), P3 (2.5mg/kg/day), ScP2 (bronchial section and reanastomosis + 1.25 mg/kg/day ), Sal (saline solution 2ml/day) and ScSal (bronchial section + saline solution 2ml/day). After 7, 15 or 30 days they were killed and lungs were removed from thoracic cavity. Mucociliary transport velocity (MCTV), ciliary beting frequency (CBF) and mucus transportability (MT) were evaluated. RESULTS: The administration of different doses of prednisone studied harmed MT and the highest dosage (P3) decreased MCTV. FBC and MCTV was significantly impaired 7 and 15 days after bronchial transection and reanastomosis (p<0.001), but they showed a partial recovery on the 30th day after surgery procedure. Prednisone therapy improved MT after surgery procedure (p<0,02). CONCLUSION: High dosages of prednisone affect mucociliary clearance. The Prednisone therapy after section and reanastomosis surgery not affect mucociliary clearance since, despite improving MT, the CBF and MCTV are not influenced