Orientador: Valfrido Antonio Pereira Filho / Banca: Marisa Aparecida Cabrini gabrielli / Banca: Eduardo Sanches Gonçales / Resumo: O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar as alterações volumétricas da cavidade nasal de pacientes diagnosticados com deficiência transversa de maxila submetidos à expansão rápida de maxila assistida cirurgicamente. Foram avaliadas tomografias computadorizadas de feixe cônico de 28 pacientes adultos (17 mulheres e 11 homens), em três períodos distintos, a saber: período pré-operatório imediato (T1), pós-operatório ao final da expansão (T2) e 6 meses após do término da expansão (T3), no qual as imagens, em formato DICOM, foram importadas e reconstruídas por meio do software On Demand 3D, que permitiu a reconstrução multiplanar da região de interesse de maneira padronizada. Para cada imagem do corte gerado, dois examinadores treinados delimitaram manualmente o espaço aéreo nasal, utilizando o software ImageJ. Com base no principio de Cavalieri, a soma de todas as áreas medidas em cada paciente/período foi utilizada para gerar o volume da estrutura avaliada, em milímetros cúbicos. Os dados obtidos foram verificados pelo teste ANOVA e teste de Tukey, com nível de significância de 5%. Concluiu-se que as expansões maxilares cirurgicamente assistida em adultos não promoveram alterações de volume da cavidade nasal. / Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the volumetric changes of the nasal cavity in patients with transverse maxillary deficiency after surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion. Cone beam tomographic images of 28 adult patients (17 women and 11 men) were evaluated. They were obtained after three different time periods: immediate preoperative period (T1), postoperative after completion of expansion (T2) and 6 months after expansion (T3). The DICOM images were imported and reconstructed through the On Demand 3D software, which allowed standardized multiplanar reconstruction of the interest region. For each image two examiners manually delimited the nasal air space, using the Image J software. Based on the Cavalieri principle, the summation of all measured areas in each patient/period was used to calculate of the volume in cubic millimeters. The data were analysed by the ANOVA and Tukey tests at 5% significance level. It was concluded that surgically assisted maxillary expansion in adults did not promote volume changes of the nasal cavity. / Mestre

Computer tomography (CT) guided ablations of liver tumors using microwaves is a relatively new type of treatment. Studies examining treatment results and complications have been made but how the patients undergoing the treatment experience the care process has not yet been described closely. The aim of this study was thus to describe the experiences of patients undergoing CT-guided ablations of liver tumors using microwaves, focusing on identifying suffering during the time of care. A qualitative method was chosen, with a somewhat deductive approach. Eight semi-structured interviews were held and the data was analyzed using direct content analysis. For deductive application of categories, terms from Katie Erikssons theory on suffering were used. Both experienced actual suffering as well as potential suffering prevented or lessened was identified to present positive as well as negative experiences. The result was identification of suffering of illness such as pain, weariness, mictional dysfunction, breathing difficulties and anxiety directed towards a variety of aspects concerning situation and care; suffering of care such as lack of information, powerlessness, guilt and the feeling of being exposed; suffering of life such as regret and the feeling of mortal threat. Findings also include the opposite of many of the sufferings mentioned above, for example feeling of ease, thankfulness, hope and relieved pain. The conclusion was that the result largely confirms previous findings concerning complications from this kind of surgery as well as patient’s experiences of cancer and going through surgery. The respondents’ overall experience of the healthcare was found to be positive.

Timber drying is one of the most important processes whenmanufacturing sawn timber products. The drying processinfluences deformations, surface checking, discoloration andhence, the product quality and the manufacturing costs.Research in this field is of great importance for the woodindustry since the industrial drying process always needs to beimproved as market demands increases and new wood products aredeveloped. The aim of the present thesis was to investigate themoisture transport behaviour in wood based on measurementsduring drying from fresh condition down to end use moisturecontent. The behaviour near the surface interface has beenspecifically investigated since it is of great importance forthe theoretical description of the drying process. Furthermore,studies based on measurements in the wood surface layer duringdrying are not easy to find in the literature. The reason forthat is probably that it is very difficult to make accuratemoisture measurements with high spatial or temporal resolutionwithout disturbing the drying process. Measurements of moisture content profiles in Scots pineheartwood and sapwood during drying have been performed byusing three different methods. The first was a destructivemethod where the wood samples are sliced with a knife intoseveral smaller pieces. The moisture content in each piece wasdetermined with the dry weight method. The second method usedis non-destructive and it utilises a medical CT-scanner thathas been adapted for drying experiments. The samples are driedin-situ the scanner through the whole experiment. TheCT-scanner measures density and the moisture content arecalculated according to existing methods developed by otherscientists. The third method was also non-destructive and itutilises a Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI, technique. Withthis technique the amount of water in the wood sample ismeasured directly even though it has to be calibrated tomoisture content. The surface emission factor, S, or surface resistance, 1/S,has been studied by performing sorption experiments with MDF ina narrow moisture content range. The experiment was evaluatedusing a simple diffusion model that includes a surface emissionfactor S. The experimental result was compared with resultscalculated using well established boundary layer theories. Measurements of moisture content profiles in the wood bulkshowed an expected Fickian behaviour at moisture contents belowthe fibre saturation point. Above the fibre saturation pointalmost flat moisture profiles were observed. This behaviour wasnot expected and it is not possible to simulate this behaviourwith the existing drying models since they usually assume thatthere is a gradient in the moisture profile over the wholemoisture content range. From the moisture profiles thediffusion coefficients were determined over a moisture contentranging from 8 to 30%. The values for heartwood and sapwood areapproximately equal in radial and tangential direction tograin. Furthermore, the diffusion values in longitudinaldirection are much higher as expected. The sorption experiments with MDF gave a greater surfaceresistance compared with the calculation that was based onboundary layer theory. The ratio was three or higher. Thisimplied that there was a greater resistance in the surfacelayer. In addition, this was not well described in theliterature even though a few recent published studiesexist. High resolution measurements in the surface layer of woodshowed behaviour similar to that observed in the bulk wood. Theresults showed the very early development of a dry zone closeto the surface interface. In that zone or shell the moisturecontent was below the FSP even though the bulk moisture contentwas far above the FSP. At the end of the experiments themoisture content in the surface layer (0–300 µm)nearly reached the equilibrium moisture content even though thebulk moisture content still was much higher. Keywords:Computer tomography, Diffusion, Magneticresonance, Moisture measurements, Moisture profiles, Surfaceemission, Wood drying / <p>NR 20140805</p>

Changes occur to the mandible with dental loss and senescence. However, the influence that these changes have on sex and ancestry estimations remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of dental loss and senescence on changes in mandibular morphology. The outcome has implications for both forensic anthropology and restorative dentistry. The study sample consisted of 717 mandibles consisting of both male and female South Africans of African (SAA) and European ancestry (SAE). To minimise the effects of variation in dentition amongst sex-ancestry groups, the sample included individuals with a spectrum of tooth loss patterns, namely efficient and inefficient occlusions as well as no occlusions. Dentition was considered efficient when the remaining teeth in occlusion were evenly distributed between the sides. Linear measurements as well as geometric morphometric shape analyses were performed. Shape analyses of the complete mandible were performed on models from digitised landmarks by using a MicroScribe G2. Detailed shape analyses of the ramus and chin area as well as measurements of the cortical thickness at specific sites were executed on images generated by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). A comprehensive assessment of changes in shape, size and cortical thickness of the mandible with age and dental loss were made. Shape and size differences of the mandible were evaluated for discriminant abilities between sex and ancestry groups. Although most dimensions decreased with tooth loss, the greatest impact was noted in the loss of alveolar bone. The mandibular angle increased minimally in size when a few teeth were lost, but recovered to some extent with further tooth loss. The cortical thicknesses at the mental foramen lingually as well as in the midline in females, were relatively spared with tooth loss. Male individuals of SAA were often the most resilient to tooth loss. In general external linear dimensions were maintained with age despite tooth loss. Conversely, measurements of cortical bone thickness decreased slightly, but could have been influenced by dental loss. The shape of the chin and gonial area was more affected by aging in SAE. The sex and ancestry discriminant ability of the linear dimensions when considered collectively approximated 90%, in general improving further when tooth loss was taken into account. All linear measurements were smaller in females and in general tooth loss accentuated sex differences. SAA exhibited greater dimensions, apart from maximum ramus height, bigonial breadth and cortical thickness at the gonion. The mental tubercles were more prominent than the pogonion in SAE (square chin) and vice versa in individuals of SAA (pointed chin). The gonial area in individuals of African ancestry was broad and more convex and the gonial eversion more prominent with a more upright ramus. Discriminant qualities of the gonial shape for sex in individuals of African ancestry reached 90% within dentition groups. Ramus flexure and chin shape were not found to be useful in sex estimation. In conclusion, this research elucidated the effects of tooth loss and senescence on the morphology of the mandible for the forensic anthropological setting. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / tm2015 / Anatomy / PhD / Unrestricted

Objectives: Symmetry is essential for computer-aided surgical (CAS) procedures in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS). A critical step for successful CAS is mirroring the unaffected side to create a template for the virtual reconstruction of the injured anatomical structure. The aim was to identify specific anatomical landmarks of the midfacial skeleton, to evaluate the symmetry in a group of the real-world Central European population, and to use these landmarks to assess midfacial symmetry in CT scans. - Material and methods: The retrospective cross-sectional study defined landmarks of the midface’s bony contour using viscerocranial CT data. The distances of the skeletal landmarks (e.g., the frontozygomatic suture and temporozygomatic suture) of the left and right sides from the midline were measured and statistically compared. Midfacial symmetry for reference points was defined as a difference within 0 mm and their mean difference plus one standard deviation. - Results: We examined a total of 101 CT scans. 75% of our population shows symmetrical proportions of the midface. The means of the differences for the left and right sides ranged from 0.8 to 1.3 mm, averaging 1.1 ± 0.2 mm for all skeletal landmarks. The standard deviations ranged from 0.6 to 1.4 mm, with a computed mean of 0.9 ± 0.3 mm. - Conclusion: We established a methodology to assess the symmetry of the bony midface. If the determined differences were equal to or lower than 2.5 mm in the mentioned midfacial skeletal landmarks, then the symmetry of the bony midface was considered present, and symmetry-based methods for CAS procedures are applicable. - Clinical relevance: Many CAS procedures require facial symmetry. We provide an easy-to-apply method to probe for symmetry of the midface. The method may be used for population-based research, to check for proper reduction of fractures after reposition or to screen for symmetry prior to CAS planning.

AJ Knowledge of the soft facial tissues is the basis of any craniofacial reconstruction. It is of a great importance mainly for forensic practice, but it plays an important role in other fields, for example aesthetic surgery. Defining the thickness of facial tissues for different sexes, age and ethnic groups is an important aspect of forensic anthropology. The thesis specialises in finding out the thickness of soft facial tissues in modern czech population, it takes into consideration the sex, age and assymetry. The main source of information are the CT scans of the heads of 46 adult women and 56 adult men of czech nationality ranging between ages 21 to 83. 80 landmarks are defined in each scan, therefore 40 linear measurements between corresponding points have been evaluated. Data were analysed using the PCA, Hotelling test, linear discrimination analysis, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, MANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test and Wilcoxon paired test. Retrieved thicknesses of soft tissues will serve as the standards for the current czech population. Sexual dimorphism has been proven regarding the whole face, as well as both upper and lower parts of the face. The success of classification on the upper part of the face decresases significantly. Aging has been proven to have strong effect on the thickness of soft...

In Australia a class of soils known as sodic duplex soils covers approximately 20% of the continent. Their defining characteristic is a sharp texture contrast between the A (or E) and B horizon. The upper B horizon at the point of contact with the E horizon is often highly sodic and of such a high strength that root growth and proliferation, water conductivity, aeration, water storage and water uptake are restricted. Roots growing in these soils rely on channels created by previous roots or cracks arising from shrink– swell forces associated with seasonal wetting and drying. It has been suggested that by increasing the number of these channels in the subsoil, the structure and permeability of the subsoil would be increased as would be the number of preferential pathways for following generation roots. A biological approach for improving soil macroporosity would be to use plants that can grow through that hostile layer creating new channels. This is known as the primer plant concept. This concept is based on a better understanding of root soil interactions. It is accepted that root growth is influenced by the soil structure and the soil structure is influenced by root growth. However, a lot of these dynamics are still unknown. This project aims to contribute to improving that knowledge by investigating the use of modern techniques to study plant/root interactions in duplex soils. First macroporosity and mesoporosity were characterized in three dimensions using medical computer tomography and micro-tomography. Then the imaging methodology was improved by using a local and adaptive threshold technique based on indicator kriging instead of a global threshold. Using this new methodology, changes in porosity were analysed in intact samples when three different plant species were grown for 12 weeks. The plants were canola (Brassica napus); lucerne (Medicago sativum) and saltbush (Atriplex nummularia) hypothesizing saltbush would change the porosity more because it is a native plant species based on the primer plant concept. The results showed that the porosity changed significantly after root growth but no ii differences were found between plant species. The changes could also not all be attributed to root growth because cracks were also formed after 12 weeks. Therefore, the living roots were visualized and characterized using a new tracing algorithm 'rootviz'. This revealed that saltbush was growing more roots down through the profile. Lucerne seemed to grow roots down the profile as well but to a lesser extend. Both of these plants seemed to have more geotropic features than canola that seemed to grow more laterals and had a more exploratory behaviour.

Contents 1. Introduction 7 1.1. The aim of the study 8 1.2. Tasks of the study 9 1.3. The scientific novelty and originality of the study 9 1.4. Practical importance of the study 9 2. Material and methods 11 2.1. The contingent of studied patients 11 2.2. Methods 12 2.2.1.Coronary artery bypass grafting 12 2.2.2. The used equipment 12 2.2.3. The method of myocardial SPECT performance 12 2.2.4. Evaluation of myocardial SPECT 13 2.3. Statistical analysis of data 15 3. Results 16 3.1. The evaluation of influence of left ventricular ejection fraction on postoperative changes of perfusion of revascularized myocardium 16 3.2. The evaluation of influence of left ventricle ejection fraction on postoperative changes of contraction of revascularized myocardium 18 3.3. The evaluation of influence of collaterals on postoperative changes of perfusion of revasculized myocardium 19 3.4. The evaluation of influence of collaterals on postoperative changes of contraction of revasculized myocardium 21 3.5. The prediction of postoperative myocardial perfusion and contraction 23 3.6. The identification of period of the maximal recovery of myocardial perfusion and contraction after surgical revascularization 27 4. Conclusions 29 5. List of publications 30 6. Summary in Lithuanian 31 7. Autobiography 34 1. Introduction Heart and blood vessels diseases, the most common of which is coronary artery disease (CAD), are the leading causes of death and disability of middle-aged and elderly... [to full text]

Submitted by ARIANE DE SOUZA OLIVEIRA null (ariane.oliveira.2@hotmail.com) on 2016-05-17T00:24:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação.pdf: 1165162 bytes, checksum: 802092cd564571fefbc1c2524f006e37 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Grisoto (grisotoana@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-05-18T13:10:09Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 oliveira_as_me_arafo.pdf: 1165162 bytes, checksum: 802092cd564571fefbc1c2524f006e37 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-18T13:10:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 oliveira_as_me_arafo.pdf: 1165162 bytes, checksum: 802092cd564571fefbc1c2524f006e37 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-24 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar as alterações volumétricas da cavidade nasal de pacientes diagnosticados com deficiência transversa de maxila submetidos à expansão rápida de maxila assistida cirurgicamente. Foram avaliadas tomografias computadorizadas de feixe cônico de 28 pacientes adultos (17 mulheres e 11 homens), em três períodos distintos, a saber: período pré-operatório imediato (T1), pós-operatório ao final da expansão (T2) e 6 meses após do término da expansão (T3), no qual as imagens, em formato DICOM, foram importadas e reconstruídas por meio do software On Demand 3D, que permitiu a reconstrução multiplanar da região de interesse de maneira padronizada. Para cada imagem do corte gerado, dois examinadores treinados delimitaram manualmente o espaço aéreo nasal, utilizando o software ImageJ. Com base no principio de Cavalieri, a soma de todas as áreas medidas em cada paciente/período foi utilizada para gerar o volume da estrutura avaliada, em milímetros cúbicos. Os dados obtidos foram verificados pelo teste ANOVA e teste de Tukey, com nível de significância de 5%. Concluiu-se que as expansões maxilares cirurgicamente assistida em adultos não promoveram alterações de volume da cavidade nasal. / The objective of this study was to evaluate the volumetric changes of the nasal cavity in patients with transverse maxillary deficiency after surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion. Cone beam tomographic images of 28 adult patients (17 women and 11 men) were evaluated. They were obtained after three different time periods: immediate preoperative period (T1), postoperative after completion of expansion (T2) and 6 months after expansion (T3). The DICOM images were imported and reconstructed through the On Demand 3D software, which allowed standardized multiplanar reconstruction of the interest region. For each image two examiners manually delimited the nasal air space, using the Image J software. Based on the Cavalieri principle, the summation of all measured areas in each patient/period was used to calculate of the volume in cubic millimeters. The data were analysed by the ANOVA and Tukey tests at 5% significance level. It was concluded that surgically assisted maxillary expansion in adults did not promote volume changes of the nasal cavity. / FAPESP: 2014/10239-3

Abstract Biomechanics are especially important when it comes to the lower third of the face which is composed of a single load-bearing structure, the mandible. Implementation of recent developments in image processing, material sciences and computational technology allows the verification of these principles defining the appropriate practice. The studies listed in the thesis, benchmark from the simple to the more complicated mandibular surgical procedures. The aims were to build patient specific, custom made, composite reconstructions using newly learned techniques. Cross-sectional imaging with Cone Beam Computer Tomography was used to build bone models. The mandible at various ages, undergoing minor oral surgery, partial cross-section reduction with or without reinforcements and complete transection were simulated under biting conditions. Industry standard free form modelling, reverse engineering techniques and Finite Element Analysis were used. Internal and external validations of certain modelling elements were introduced. The mandible became stiffer with increasing age. Minimization of the reduction of the main load-bearing structures was noted to be crucial. The External Oblique Ridge was one such a structure. Partial thickness defects were best spanned by Dynamic Compression Plates. If the remaining amount of bone was insufficient or the bone quality was poor then Locking Compression Plates were preferred. Rounding or the use of a stop-hole was recommended to reduce the risk of fracture development especially without additional Prophylactic Internal Fixation. Fixation using a single reconstruction plate with three screws on either side in the four most common segmental defects was sufficient. Locking monocortical screw fixation was superior over non-locking systems. The suitability of CBCT in bone scanning was demonstrated, highlighting the positional dependent differences within the scanned volume. It should be noted that the relevance and validity of such simulations depends on the quality and the setup. In the future, biomechanically customized fixation can complement tissue engineering procedures and regenerative techniques by providing the precise physical dimensions and biomechanical requirements of the planned reconstructions. / Abstrakti Biomekaniikan ymmärtäminen on tärkeää kovakudoskirurgiassa. Periaatteet ovat erityisen tärkeitä, kun kyseessä on kasvojen alin kolmannes, joka muodostuu yhdestä kantavasta rakenteesta eli alaleuasta. Viime aikojen kehitys kuvankäsittelyssä, materiaalitieteessä ja tietokoneteknologiassa ovat mahdollistaneet näiden periaatteiden tarkistamisen käytännössä. Tämän opinnäytetyön osatöissä tutkittiin biomekaniikkaa erityyppisissä leikkauksissa. Tavoitteena on rakentaa tulevaisuudessa potilaille mittatilaustyönä erilaisista materiaaleista korjausosia käyttäen hyväksi uusinta tietoa ja tekniikkaa. Leikekuvantamista kuten Multi Detectoria ja viime aikoina kartiokeilatietokonetomografiaa (KKTT) käytettiin luumallien valmistamisessa. Eri-ikäisten alaleukoja, joihin tehtiin pieniä suukirurgisia toimenpiteitä, osaosteomioita vahvistuksen kanssa tai ilman vahvistusta ja täydellisiä alaleuan katkaisuja, simuloitiin kuormitusolosuhteissa. Teollisuudessa standardoitua vapaamuotoista mallinnusta ja käänteistä tekniikkaa sekä Finite Element Analysis-menetemää käytettiin. Mallinnuksessa käytettiin lisäksi sisäistä ja ulkoista validointia. Alaleuka koveni iän myötä. Leuan kestävyyden kannalta oli ratkaisevaa että tärkeisiin kantaviin rakenteisiin puututtiin mahdollisimman vähän. Oblique Ridge oli yksi tällainen rakenne. Osaosteotomioissa paras ratkaisu oli dynaaminen kompressiolevy. Jos jäljelle jäävän luun määrä tai laatu oli heikko niin sitten lukittuvat puristuskompressiolevyt toimivat parhaiten. Luun pyöristäminen tai pysäytysreiän käyttö oli suositeltavaa vähentämään murtumariskiä varsinkin ilman profylaktista kiskotusta. Neljän yleisimmän segmentaalisen defektin kiinnitys yhdellä levyllä ja kolmella ruuvilla levyn molemmin puolin oli riittävä. Lukittuva monokortikaalinen ruuvikiinnitys oli ylivoimainen verrattuna ei-lukittuvaan systeemiin. KKTT osoittautui parhaaksi menetelmäksi alaleuan kuvantamisessa. Kaikki havainnot voivat toimia yleisohjeena kun harjoitellaan edellä mainittuja toimenpiteitä. On huomattava, että tällaisen simulaation merkitys ja todenmukaisuus riippuu sen laadusta ja asennuksesta. Tulevaisuudessa biomekaanisesti tarkkojen mittausten perusteella suunniteltu luun kiinnitys voi palvella kudosteknologian avulla tehtäviä rekonstruktioita antamalla toimenpiteessä tarvittavat tarkat fysikaaliset mitat ja kuormitusarvot.