Esta tese investiga a denotação dos nomes comuns nas línguas naturais. De forma mais específica enfoca a denotação dos nomes comuns no português brasileiro (PB). O objetivo é investigar os mecanismos que licenciam contabilidade no PB. Primeiramente investiga-se a denotação dos nomes no PB frente à proposta de Borer (2005). A autora defende que interpretações contáveis são licenciadas estruturalmente, mas que interpretações massivas não, e, nesse sentido, interpretações massivas são default. Segundo Borer (2005), o plural, em línguas como o inglês, e os classificadores, em línguas como o chinês, são sintagmas de classificação que originam interpretações contáveis, cujo núcleo tem um valor aberto div, onde DIV é um operador de divisão. A ausência desses sintagmas confere uma interpretação massiva aos nomes. Diferentemente da maioria das línguas germânicas e românicas que permitem a ocorrência do plural nu, mas não permitem a ocorrência do singular nu, no PB, o singular nu é extremamente produtivo. Assim, se Borer (2005) estiver certa, no PB os nomes são massivos, pois os nomes nessa língua podem ocorrer sem nenhuma estrutura que os divida, denotando uma massa amorfa, sem divisão. No entanto, a análise dos dados do PB mostra, contra as previsões de Borer (2005), que a denotação default dos nomes, independentemente de ser indeterminada para número, pode ser massiva ou contável e que tais nomes já vêm com essa denotação marcada do léxico. Em segundo lugar, investiga-se a denotação dos nomes lexicalmente contáveis em estruturas não marcadas para contabilidade. Como Rullmann e You (2003) defendem para o chinês, o PB é uma língua em que os nomes possuem número geral, isto é, não são singular nem plural, são neutros para número, como defendem Müller (2001) e Schmitt e Munn (1999, 2002) para o PB. Línguas que possuem número geral geralmente não possuem morfologia de número, entretanto, o PB é um exemplo de língua que possui número geral, classificação e morfologia de número. Em terceiro lugar, investiga-se a denotação dos nomes segundo a proposta de Rothstein (2007). A autora defende que interpretações contáveis são licenciadas por um mecanismo de contabilidade gramatical. Segundo Rothstein (2007), o singular em línguas como o inglês e os classificadores numéricos em línguas como o chinês são operações gramaticais que licenciam interpretações contáveis. Como o PB é uma língua que possui número geral, classificadores numéricos e morfologia de número, defende-se a tese de que nessa língua o que licencia contabilidade são as operações de número e de classificação. / This thesis investigates common noun denotations in natural languages. To be more specific, it encompasses common noun denotations in Brazilian Portuguese (BP). Its objective is to investigate the mechanisms which licence countability in BP. Firstly, noun denotation in BP is investigated according to Borers proposal (2005). The author argues that count interpretations are structurally licensed, while mass interpretations are not, thus in this sense, mass interpretations are default. According to Borer (2005), the plural morphology, in languages such as English, and the classifiers, in languages such as Chinese, are classifiers phrases which originate count interpretations with opened value nucleus div, where DIV is a division operator. The absence of these classifiers phrases bestows mass interpretation to the nouns. Contrary to most Germanic and Romance languages which permit bare plurals, but do not permit bare singulars, in BP, the bare singular is extremely productive. Thus, if Borer (2005) is right, nouns are mass-denoting in BP since they can occur without any distinctive structure, denoted amorphous mass, undivided. However, data analysis in BP opposes the predictions of Borer (2005) that a default noun denotation, regardless of being indeterminate in number, can be a mass or count denotation, and that such nouns already have this lexical denotation. Secondly, lexical denotation of count nouns in unmarked structures is investigated for countability. As Rullman and Aili You (2003) defend Chinese, BP is a language in which nouns have general number, that is, they are neither singular nor plural, they are neutral for number, as defended by Müller (2001) and Schmitt e Munn (1999, 2002). Languages with general number do not have plural morphology, but BP is an example of a language that has general number, numeral classifier and plural morpheme. Thirdly, denotation of names according to Rothstein (2007) is investigated. The author argues that countable interpretations are licensed by a mechanism of grammatical countability. According to Rothstein (2007), singular morphology in languages such as English and numeral classifiers in languages such as Chinese are grammatical operations which licence count interpretations. Since BP is a language that has general number, numeral classifiers and plural morphology, the thesis that, in this language, number and classification operations licence countability is defended.

Esta dissertação investiga nomes nus e classificadores numerais do chinês mandarim, assim como a distinção lexical entre nomes contáveis e massivos do chinês. O objetivo deste trabalho é estudar e avaliar as possíveis denotações dos nominais do chinês mandarim. O texto é divido em três partes. Na primeira, investigam-se nomes nus do chinês mandarim, que manifestam número geral. Defende-se que o número geral não ocorre em sintagmas nominais em que existe numeral. No Chinês mandarim, nomes nus podem ser interpretados como indefinidos, definidos e genéricos de acordo com suas posições sintáticas e contextos em que ocorrem. A hipótese defendida na segunda parte da dissertação é a de que, no chinês mandarim, há distinção lexical entre nomes contáveis e massivos. Um fator importante na distinção contável-massivo do chinês mandarim é a presença de classificadores e suas relações com os nomes. Defende-se que a combinação entre os nomes e os classificadores é seletiva e, com base nisso, os nomes comuns do chinês podem ser divididos em nomes contáveis, nomes massivos, nomes coletivos, nomes abstratos e nomes próprios. Além de classificador, mais uma evidência para a contabilidade dos nomes do chinês é o morfema men. A terceira parte da dissertação avalia a presença de classificador nos sintagmas nominais com numerais. Defende-se que diferentes grupos de classificadores possuem diferentes funções: classificadores individuais são marcadores gramaticais de contabilidade e não têm a função individualizadora e, os outros grupos têm suas restrições na combinação com os nomes. A combinação entre numeral e classificador pode ser tratada como um núcleo complexo que ocorre morfologicamente como um item lexical, mas o numeral pode-se omitir dentro deste complexo e classificador não. Sendo assim, Os classificadores devem ser tratados como um sufixo na sua ocorrência dentro do complexo [Num-CL], mas como um clítico em outras ocorrências. / This dissertation investigates bare nouns and numeral classifiers in Mandarin Chinese, as well as the lexical distinction between count and mass nouns of Chinese. The goal of this work is to study and assess the possible denotations of nominals in Mandarin Chinese. The dissertation is divided in three parts. In the first part, the bare nominals in Mandarin Chinese will be investigated and they have general number. We argue that the general number can not happen in noun phrases when they contain numerals. In Mandarin Chinese, the bare nouns can be interpreted as indefinites, definites and generics, according to their syntactic positions and contexts in that they happen. The hypothesis presented in the second part of this dissertation is that in Mandarin Chinese, there is the lexical distinction between count and mass nouns. One important factor in this count-mass distinction of Mandarin Chinese is the presence of classifiers and their relationships with the nouns. We argue that, based on the selective combination between names and classifiers, the common nouns of Chinese can be divided in count nouns, mass nouns, collective nouns, abstract nouns and proper nouns. Besides the classifier, one more evidence for the accounting of Chinese\'s names is the morpheme men. The third part of the dissertation assesses the classifiers presence in the noun phrases with numerals. We argue that, different groups of classifiers have different functions: the individual classifiers are grammatical markers of accounting and they do not have the individualizing function, while the other groups have their restrictions in the combination with the nouns. The combination between the numeral and the classifier can be treated as a complex head that happens morphologically as a lexical item, but the numeral in which can be omitted in some contexts and the classifier can not. Thus, the classifiers should be treated as a suffix in his occurrence with the complex [Num-CL], but as a clitic in other occurrences.

Submitted by Rosivalda Pereira (mrs.pereira@ufma.br) on 2017-05-15T17:37:00Z No. of bitstreams: 1 GieseleSilva.pdf: 1262459 bytes, checksum: 4110f17f9c7f709f8e6e08765eeae663 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-15T17:37:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GieseleSilva.pdf: 1262459 bytes, checksum: 4110f17f9c7f709f8e6e08765eeae663 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-01 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão (FAPEMA) / Objective: Early Childhood Caries (ECC) has been associated with systemic conditions such as obesity and other nutritional deficiencies. These associations have not been adequately studied yet. The present study aimed at evaluating systemic conditions that may be underlying the severity of caries in early childhood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of interleukin- 1β (IL-1β), interleukin (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and lipocalin associated with human neutrophil gelatinase (NGAL) associated with higher caries severity in early childhood (number of cavities), in a theoretical model adjusted for social variables, BMI Z score and consumption of beverages with added sugar; and Chapter II aimed at comparing the mean hemoglobin, neutrophils and eosinophils in children with Severe Early Childhood Cavities (S-ECC) and carie-free children and also to analyze the association between these components of the hemogram with the presence of S-ECC, in models adjusted for socioeconomic variables and for the consumption of sugar rich beverages. Methods: A case-control study was carried out in São Luis, Maranhão, Brazil, from June 2015 to September 2016. The sample was obtained from the randomization of the original sample from a historical cohort; with 152 children aged between 4 and 5 years old, 72 cases (children with ECC) and 80 controls (caries free). The data were obtained through a structured and validated questionnaire containing socioeconomic, demographic and maternal schooling questions applied to mothers or caregivers; a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and anthropometric examination, to evaluate the nutritional status; oral clinical examination of children for assessment of decayed teeth (ceo-d index); blood tests and reading of serum inflammatory markers and blood count. For Article 1, a Poisson regression model was suggested to evaluate the association between social factors, the BMI Z score (Body Mass Index), sugar consumption and severity of ECC; and for the analysis of the association between serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and NGAL and severity of ECC with adjusted model for social variables, BMI Z score and consumption of added sugar beverages. The average ratio (AR) and the respective confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated at a significance level of 5%. For Article 2, a comparison test of the hemogram (hemoglobin, neutrophils and eosinophils) of children with and without S-ECC was performed, and Logistic Regression models were applied to test the association between Levels of hemoglobin, neutrophils, and eosinophils and presence of S-ECC and adjusted for family income, mother's schooling, sex and consumption of sugar-rich beverages, with estimated coefficients in OR, 95% confidence intervals, Significance level of 5%. Results: In chapter 1, the highest tertiles of the serum levels of IL-6 (2nd tercil- AR = 1,55, CI = 1,14-2,10, p = 0.005, 3rd tercil- AR = 1,54, CI = 13-2.09, p = 0.006), TNF-α (3rd tercil- RM = 1.33, CI = 1.00-1.78, p = 0.040) and NGAL (2nd tercil- AR = 1.79, CI = 1.10-2.90, p ≤ 0.001, 3rd tercil- AR = 2.04, CI = 1.26- 3.30, p = 0.003) were associated with the highest severity of caries in early infancy, even after adjusting for BMI, however after adjusting the model for the consumption of beverages with added sugar, the associations were maintained for IL-6 the strength of association of NGAL was reduced, and for TNF-α there was no association. In Chapter 2, lower mean hemoglobin levels (p = 0.036), higher mean neutrophils (p = 0.040) and eosinophils (p = 0.034) were found in children with S-ECC compared to caries-free ; in the regression models adjusted for economic and socioeconomic variables, higher levels of hemoglobin were protective for SECC (OR 0.64; IC=0,41-0,97; p=0,040) while higher levels of neutrophils were indicators of risk of S-ECC (OR 1.03; IC=1,02-1,06; p=0,040), and after adjustment for frequency of consumption of sugar-rich beverages, the strength of association of these components with the S-ECC was reduced, suggesting that the higher frequency of consumption of these sugars are a common factor that bind blood-to-blood changes to S-ECC. Conclusion: Higher serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α and NGAL are associated with higher caries severity in children, suggesting the presence of underlying systemic inflammation and excessive consumption of added sugars seem to be implicated in the relationship between higher serum levels of TNF-α and NGAL with Severity of caries in children. Higher levels of neutrophils and eosinophils and lower levels of hemoglobin have been shown in children with S-ECC suggesting that systemic alterations such as iron deficiency and inflammation should be investigated in the presence of S-ECC by multidisciplinary health teams. / Objetivo: A Cárie na Primeira Infância (CPI) tem sido associada a condições sistêmicas como a obesidade e outras carências nutricionais; no entanto, as evidências ainda são frágeis. O presente estudo propôs-se a avaliar condições sistêmicas que possam estar subjacentes à gravidade de cárie na primeira infância. Assim sendo, esta tese foi dividida em dois capítulos: O capítulo I teve como objetivo avaliar os níveis séricos de interleucina- 1β (IL-1β), interleucina (IL- 6), fator de necrose tumoral- α (TNF-α) e lipocalina associada à gelatinase dos neutrófilos humanos (NGAL) associados a maior gravidade da cárie na primeira infância (número de cavidades), em modelo teórico ajustado para as variáveis socioeconômicas e demográficas, escore Z do IMC e consumo de bebidas com açúcar de adição; e o capítulo II teve como objetivo comparar as médias de hemoglobina, neutrófilos e eosinófilos em crianças com Cárie Grave na Primeira Infância (CPI-G) e livres de cárie e analisar a associação entre esses componentes do hemograma com a presença da CPI-G, em modelos ajustados para variáveis socioeconômicas e demográficas e para o consumo de bebidas ricas em açúcar. Métodos: Estudo caso-controle foi realizado em São Luis, Maranhão, Brasil, no período de junho de 2015 à setembro de 2016. A amostra foi obtida a partir da aleatorização da amostra original de uma coorte histórica; sendo selecionadas 152 crianças, entre 4 e 5 anos de idade, 72 casos (crianças com CPI) e 80 controles (crianças livres de cárie). Os dados foram obtidos por meio de um questionário estruturado e validado contendo questões socioeconômicas, demográfica aplicado às mães ou responsáveis; de um Questionário de Frequência Alimentar (QFA) e de exame antropométrico, para avaliação do estado nutricional; exame clínico bucal das crianças para aferição de dentes cariados (índice ceo-d); exames de sangue e leitura de marcadores inflamatórios séricos e do hemograma. Para o Artigo 1, foi sugerido modelo de regressão de Poisson para avaliar: a associação entre os fatores sociais, o escore Z do IMC (Índice de Massa Corpórea), consumo de açúcar e gravidade de CPI; e para análise da associação entre os níveis séricos de IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α e NGAL e gravidade de CPI com modelo ajustado para variáveis socioeconômicas e demográfica, escore Z do IMC e consumo de bebidas com açúcar de adição. Estimou-se a razão das médias (RM) e os respectivos intervalos de confiança (IC 95%), a um nível de significância de 5%. Para o Artigo 2 foi feito um teste de comparação de médias (Teste T não pareado) das variáveis do hemograma (hemoglobina, neutrófilos e eosinófilos) em crianças com CPI-G e livres de cárie, e aplicados modelos de Regressão Logística para testar a associação entre os níveis de hemoglobina, de neutrófilos, e eosinófilos e presença de CPI-G e ajustados para renda familiar, escolaridade da mãe, sexo e consumo de bebidas ricas em açúcar, com os coeficientes estimados em OR, intervalos de confiança de 95%, a um nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: No capítulo 1, maiores tercis dos níveis séricos de IL-6 (2º tercil- RM= 1,55, IC= 1,14-2,10, p = 0,005; 3º tercil- RM=1,54, IC=1,13-2,09, p = 0,006), de TNF-α (3º tercil- RM=1,33, IC=1,00-1,78, p=0,040) e de NGAL (2º tercil- RM=1,79, IC= 1,10-2,90, p ≤ 0,001; 3º tercil- RM=2,04, IC=1,26-3,30, p = 0,003) se associaram com a maior gravidade da cárie na primeira infância, e se mantiveram associados mesmo após ajuste para IMC, entretanto após ajuste do modelo para o consumo de bebidas com açúcar de adição, as associações foram mantidas para IL-6, a força de associação do NGAL foi reduzida, e para TNF-α não houve associação. No capítulo 2, menores médias de hemoglobina (p=0,036), maiores médias de neutrófilos (p=0,040) e de eosinófilos (p=0,034) foram encontradas em crianças com CPI-G comparadas às livres de cárie; nos modelos de regressão ajustados para variáveis socioeconômicas, maiores níveis de hemoglobina foram protetores à CPI-G (OR 0,64; IC=0,41-0,97; p=0,040) enquanto maiores níveis de neutrófilos foram indicadores de risco da CPI-G (OR 1,03; IC=1,02-1,06; p=0,040), e após ajuste para a frequência de consumo de bebidas ricas em açúcares, a força de associação desses componentes do hemograma com a CPI-G foi reduzida, sugerindo que a maior frequência de consumo desses açúcares seja fator comum às alterações do hemograma em relação à CPI-G. Conclusão: maiores níveis séricos de IL-6, TNF-α e NGAL estão associados à maior gravidade de cárie em crianças, sugerindo presença de inflamação sistêmica subjacente e o excessivo consumo de açúcares de adição parece estar implicado na relação entre maiores níveis séricos TNF-α e NGAL com gravidade da cárie em crianças. Maiores níveis de neutrófilos e de eosinófilos e menores de hemoglobina foram mostrados em crianças com a CPI-G sugerindo que alterações sistêmicas como deficiência de ferro e inflamação devam ser pesquisadas na presença de CPI-G por equipes multidisciplinares de saúde.

Nas últimas décadas as espécies de Campylobacter spp. são reconhecidas como importantes agentes de gastroenterites de origem alimentar em humanos em diversos países, tendo como principal veículo de transmissão a carne de frango. Devido ao aumento da frequência com que é isolada a partir de humanos, animais, alimentos e água, esta bactéria tem sido foco crescente de atenção nos últimos 30 anos. No Brasil, ainda são limitadas as informações sobre esta bactéria na cadeia de produção de aves, não existindo legislação que contemple o controle de Campylobacter. A alta incidência na avicultura, a presença natural deste patógeno nos animais e os graves problemas de saúde pública gerados tornam essa bactéria alvo de esforços para prevenção e controle. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar se a metodologia de contagem direta proposta pela normativa MLG 41.02 teria eficiência na monitoria em diferentes amostras avícolas e paralelamente comparar o desempenho de dois ágares (mCCDA e Campy-Cefex) na contagem de Campylobacter spp. Foram realizadas quatro tomadas de amostras em um frigorífico da região Sul do país, durante um mês, sendo a amostragem composta por suabes de cloaca, carcaças pré-chiller, carcaças pós-chiller, água pré-chiller, água do chiller, e amostras de água de abastecimento. O ágar Campy-Cefex obteve maior frequência de isolamento de Campylobacter spp. em diferentes amostras avícolas quando comparado com o ágar mCCDA. Houve redução significativa de contaminação ao longo da linha de abate, com níveis de 9,8 x 102 UFC/mL em carcaças préchiller e 1,5x102 UFC/mL em carcaças pós-chiller. Do total de amostras em que foram realizadas a PCR, 72% foram positivas para Campylobacter jejuni e 38% positivas para Campylobacter coli. A metodologia mostrou-se eficiente e possível de ser aplicada na indústria avícola, em diferentes materiais, para monitoria de Campylobacter. / In recent decades the Campylobacter spp. species are recognized as important agents of foodborne gastroenteritis in humans in several countries and the broiler meat as are pointed as the main vehicle of transmission. Due the increase in frequency isolation from humans, animals, food and water, this bacteria has received great attention in the last 30 years. The information about this bacteria are still limited in Brazil and in the poultry production chain, there are no laws to the Campylobacter’s control. The high incidence in poultry industry, the natural presence of this pathogen in animals and the serious concern in public health, lead this bacteria as target to prevention and control efforts. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the direct counting methodology proposed by MLG 41.02 rules would be efficient on monitoring different poultry samples, as well as to compare two agars plate (mCCDA and Campy-Cefex) performance’s to Campylobacter cell count. We carried out four samples taken in a slaughterhouse located at southern region of Brazil, during one month. The samples were composed by cloacal swabs, pre-chiller carcasses, post-chiller carcasses, pre-chiller water, chiller water, and water supply samples. The Campy-Cefex agar showed higher Campylobacter spp isolation frequency of among different poultry samples than mCCDA agar. There was a significant reduction in contamination along the slaughter line with levels of 9.8 x 102 CFU/mL in pre- chiller carcasses and 1.5 x102 CFU/mL in post-chiller carcasses. The samples typified by PCR, showed 72% of the samples as Campylobacter jejuni and 38% as Campylobacter coli. The methodology was efficient and also possible to be used in the poultry’s industry for different samples to Campylobacter monitoring program.

Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating form of chronic lung injury of unknown aetiology characterised by progressive lung scarring. A diagnosis of definite IPF requires High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) appearances indicative of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), or in patients with 'possible UIP' CT appearances, histological confirmation of UIP. However the proportion of such patients that undergo SLB varies, perhaps due to a perception of risk of biopsy and additive diagnostic value of biopsy in individual patients. We hypothesised that an underlying UIP pathological pattern may result in increased risk of death and aimed to explore this by comparing the risk of SLB in suspected idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, stratified according to HRCT appearance. Additionally we sought to determine the positive-predictive value of biopsy to diagnose IPF in patients with 'possible UIP HRCT' in our population. In patients with possible UIP who are not biopsied, the clinical value of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is uncertain. We aimed to prospectively study the diagnostic and prognostic value of BAL differential cell count (DCC) in suspected IPF and determine the feasibility of repeat BAL and the relationship between DCC and disease progression in two successive BALs. We hypothesised that BAL DCC between definite and possible IPF was different and that baseline DCC and change in BAL DCC predicted disease progression. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are an integral part of the lung's reparative mechanism following injury, however in IPF they contribute to pathogenesis by releasing pro-fibrotic mediators promoting fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition. Expansion of novel subpopulations of pulmonary monocyte-like cells (PMLCs) has been reported in inflammatory lung disease. We hypothesised that a distinct AM polarisation phenotype would be associated with disease progression. We aimed to perform detailed phenotyping of AM and PMLCs in BAL in IPF patients. Several prognostic scoring systems and biomarkers have been described to predict disease progression in IPF but most were derived from clinical trial patients or tertiary referral centres and none have been validated in separate cohorts. We aimed to identify a predictive tool for disease progression utilising physiological, HRCT and serum biomarkers in a unique population of incident treatment naïve IPF patients. Methods Between 01/01/07 and 31/12/13, 611 consecutive incident patients with suspected idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) presented to the Edinburgh lung fibrosis clinic. Of these patients 222 underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy and histological pattern was determined according to ATS/ERS criteria. Post-operative mortality and complication rates were examined. Fewer than 2% received IPF-directed therapy and less than 1% of the cohort were lost to follow-up. Disease progression was defined as death or ≥10% decline in VC within 12 months of BAL. Cells were obtained by BAL and a panel of monoclonal antibodies; CD14, CD16, CD206, CD71, CD163, CD3, CD4, CD8 and HLA-DR were used to quantify and selectively characterise AMs, resident PMLCs, inducible PMLCs, neutrophils and CD4+/CD8+ T-cells using flow cytometry. Classical, intermediate and non-classical monocyte subsets were also quantified in peripheral blood. Potential biomarkers (n=16) were pre-selected from either previously published studies of IPF biomarkers or our hypothesis-driven profiling. Linear logistic regression was used on each predictor separately to assess its importance in terms of p-value of the associated weight, and the top two variables were used to learn a decision tree. Results Based on the 2011 ATS/ERS criteria, 87 patients were categorised as 'definite UIP', of whom 3 underwent SLB for clinical indications. IPF was confirmed in all 3 patients based on 2013 ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT diagnostic criteria. 222 patients were diagnosed with 'possible UIP'; 55 underwent SLB, IPF was subsequently diagnosed in 37 patients, 4 were diagnosed with 'probable IPF' and 14 were considered 'not IPF'. In this group, 30 patients were aged 65 years or over and 25/30 (83%) had UIP on biopsy. 306 patients had HRCTs deemed 'inconsistent with UIP', SLB was performed in 168 patients. Post6 operative 30-day mortality was 2.2% overall, and 7.3% in the 'possible UIP' HRCT group. Patients with 'definite IPF' based on HRCT and SLB appearances had significantly better outcomes than patients with 'definite UIP' on HRCT alone (P=0.008, HR 0.44 (95% CI 0.240 to 0.812)). BAL DCC was not different between definite and possible UIP groups, but there were significant differences with the inconsistent with UIP group. In the 12 months following BAL, 33.3% (n=7/21) of patients in the definite UIP group and 29.5% (n=18/61) in the possible UIP group had progressed. There were no significant differences in BAL DCC between progressor and non-progressor groups. Mortality in patients with suspected IPF and a BAL DCC consistent with IPF was no different to those with a DCC inconsistent with IPF (P=0.425, HR 1.590 (95% CI 0.502 to 4.967)). There was no difference in disease progression in either group (P=0.885, HR 1.081 (95% CI 0.376 to 3.106)). There was no statistically significant difference in BAL DCC at 0 and 12 months in either group. There was no significant change in DCC between 0 and 12 month BALs between progressors and non-progressors. Repeat BAL was well tolerated in almost all patients. There was 1 death within 1 month of a first BAL and 1 death within 1 month of a second BAL; both were considered 'probably procedure-related'. AM CD163 and CD71 (transferrin receptor) expression were significantly different between groups (P < 0.0001), with significant increases in the IPF group vs non fibrotic ILD (P < 0.0001) and controls (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.001 respectively). CD71 expression was also significantly increased in the IPF progressor vs non-progressor group (P < 0.0001) and patients with high CD71 expression had significantly poorer survival than the CD71low group (P=0.040, median survival 40.5 and 75.6 months respectively). CD206 (mannose receptor) expression was also significantly higher in the IPF progressor vs non-progressor group (P=0.034). There were no differences in baseline BAL neutrophil, eosinophil or lymphocyte percentages between IPF progressor or non-progressor groups. The percentage of rPMLCs was significantly increased in BAL fluid cells of IPF patients compared to those with non-fibrotic ILD (P < 0.0001) and healthy controls (P < 0.05). Baseline rPMLC percentage was significantly higher in IPF progressors vs IPF non-progressors (P=0.011). Baseline BAL iPMLC:rPMLC ratio was also significantly different between IPF progressor and non-progressor groups (P=0.011). Disease progression was confidently predicted by a combination of clinical and serological variables. In our cohort we identified a predictive tool based on two key parameters, one a measure of lung function and one a single serum biomarker. Both parameters were entered into a decision tree, and when applied to our cohort yielded a sensitivity of 86.4%, specificity of 92.3%, positive predictive value of 90.5% and negative predictive value of 88.9%. We also applied previously reported predictive tools such as the GAP Index, du Bois score and CPI Index to the Edinburgh IPF cohort. Conclusions SLB can be of value in the diagnosis of ILD, however perhaps due to the perceived risks associated with the procedure, only a small percentage of patients undergo SLB despite recommendations that patients have histological confirmation of the diagnosis. Advanced age is a strong predictor for IPF, and in our cohort 83% of patients aged over 65 years with 'possible UIP' HRCT appearances, had UIP on biopsy. BAL and repeat BAL in IPF is feasible and safe (< 1.5% mortality). Of those that underwent repeat BAL, disease progression was not associated with a change in DCC. However, 22% of lavaged patients died or were deemed too frail to undergo a second procedure at 12 months. These data emphasise the importance of BAL in identifying a novel human AM polarisation phenotype in IPF. Our data suggests there is a distinct relationship between AM subtypes, cell-surface expression markers, PMLC subpopulations and disease progression in IPF. This may be utilised to investigate new targets for future therapeutic strategies. / Disease progression in IPF can be predicted by a combination of clinical variables and serum biomarker profiling. We have identified a unique prediction model, when applied to our locally referred, incident, treatment naïve cohort can confidently predict disease progression in IPF. IPF is a heterogeneous disease and there is a definite clinical need to identify 'personalised' prognostic biomarkers which may in turn lead to novel targets and the advent of personalised medicines.

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram determinar a sensibilidade e especificidade do limiar de contagem de células somáticas (CCS) de vacas Gir para o diagnóstico de mastite subclínica causada por patógenos primários e secundários e avaliar os efeitos de rebanho, vaca, mês de coleta, quarto mamário, presença de infecção intramamária, tipo de microrganismo e suas interações sobre o logCCS e composição do leite. Avaliou-se a hipótese que o limiar da CCS para detecção de mastite subclínica é igual entre vacas Gir e Holandesas. Foram utilizadas 221 vacas Gir em lactação, provenientes de três fazendas comerciais. Foram coletadas amostras de leite individuais por quarto mamário e compostas uma vez por mês, durante um ano. Foram realizadas análises de CCS, composição do leite e cultura microbiológica. O quarto mamário e a vaca foram considerados unidades experimentais. Para determinar a sensibilidade, especificidade e odds ratio (OR) dos limiares da CCS para identificação de quartos infectados, foram utilizados quatro valores de CCS: 100, 200, 300 e 400 (x 103 células/mL), assim como a correlação entre a CCS e composição do leite. Não houve efeito do rebanho sobre o logCCS para amostras individuais de quartos mamários e compostas, mas vaca dentro de rebanho foi o principal fator responsável pela variação do logCCS. Houve efeito do rebanho sobre a composição do leite, assim como o mês de coleta apresentou efeito tanto sobre o logCCS quanto para a composição do leite, considerando as duas unidades experimentais. A presença de infecção intramamária afetou negativamente a composição do leite, exceto sobre o teor de gordura; sendo que os maiores teores de lactose, proteína e ESD foram encontrados em amostras sem isolamento bacteriano. Os maiores logCCS foram obtidos em amostras infectadas. O limiar da CCS de 100 x 103 células/mL apresentou, em ambas as unidades experimentais, maiores valores de sensibilidade e valor preditivo negativo. O limiar de 200 x 103 células/mL apresentou maior chance da ocorrência de mastite do que o limiar de 100 x 103 células/mL. Foi observada correlação negativa entre CCS com lactose e extrato seco desengordurado (ESD), mas a correlação foi positiva entre CCS com gordura e proteína, tanto em nível de quarto mamário quanto de vaca. Portanto, a composição do leite foi influenciada pela CCS, os teores de lactose e ESD diminuíram em altas CCS, enquanto que as concentrações de gordura e proteína aumentaram. / The aim of this study was to determine the sensibility and specificity of somatic cell count (SCC) threshold in Gyr cows to diagnosis the subclinical mastitis caused by primary and secondary pathogens, and to evaluate the effect of herd, cows, month, mammary quarter, intramammary infection, type of microorganism and their interactions on logSCC and milk composition. The hypothesis to be tested was that the SCC threshold to detection of subclinical mastitis is the same for Holstein and Gir cows. A total of 221 lactation Gir cows from three commercial dairy farms was selected. Composed and quarter individual milk samples were collected once a month, during one year for SCC, milk composition and bacteriological analysis. The mammary quarter and the cow were considered experimental units. To determine the sensibility, specificity and odds ratio (OR) from SCC threshold to identify the infected quarters four values of SCC: 100, 200, 300 and 400 (x 103 cells/mL) were used. It was also evaluated the correlation between SCC and milk composition. There was no effect of herd on logSCC in individuals and composed samples, but cow nested within herd was major factor responsible for the logSCC variation. The month of sampling presented significant effect on logSCC and milk composition in both experimental units. The intramammary infection presence affected negatively the milk composition, except of fat concentration. Higher lactose, protein and non-fat solids (NFS) percentages were found in negative samples and higher logSCC were observed in infected samples. The SCC threshold of 100 x 103 cells/mL presented the major sensibility and negative predictive value for subclinical mastitis detection. The threshold of 200 x 103 cells/mL had higher chance to have mastitis than the threshold of 100 x 103 cells/mL. It was observed a negative correlation between SCC with lactose and NFS; but the correlation was positive between SCC with fat and protein in mammary quarters and cow level. Milk composition was influenced by SCC, once the lactose and NFS percentages decreased in samples with high SCC and the protein and fat concentration increased.

With the emergence of quantum physics and computer science in the 20th century, a new era was born which can solve very difficult problems in a much faster rate or problems that classical computing just can't solve. In the 21st century, quantum computing needs to be used to solve tough problems in engineering, business, medical, and other fields that required results not today but yesterday. To make this dream come true, engineers in the semiconductor industry need to make the quantum circuits a reality. To realize quantum circuits and make them scalable, they need to be fault tolerant, therefore Clifford+T gates need to be implemented into those circuits. But the main issue is that in the Clifford+T gate set, T gates are expensive to implement. Carry Look-Ahead addition circuits have caught the interest of researchers because the number of gate layers encountered by a given qubit in the circuit (or the circuit's depth) is logarithmic in terms of the input size n. Therefore, this thesis focuses on optimizing previous designs of out-of-place and in-place Carry Look-Ahead Adders to decrease the T-count, sum of all T and T Hermitian transpose gates in a quantum circuit.

<p> <p>&nbsp / </p> </p> <p align="left">This study aims to analyse the clinical and immunological responses and survival pattern of HIV/AIDS patients receiving ART in Nyangana District.</p>

This thesis consists of three self-contained essays about absenteeism. Essay I analyzes if the design of the insurance system affects work absence, i.e. the classic insurance problem of moral hazard. Several reforms of the sickness insurance system were implemented during the period 1991-1996. Using Negative binomial models with fixed effects, the analysis show that both workers and employers changed their behavior due to the reforms. We also find that the extent of moral hazard varies depending on work contract structures. The reforms reducing the compensation levels decreased workers’ absence, both the number of absent days and the number of absence spells. The reform in 1992, introducing sick pay paid by the employers, also decreased absence levels, which probably can be explained by changes in personnel policy such as increased use of monitoring and screening of workers. Essay II examines the background to gender differences in work absence. Women are found, as in many earlier studies, to have higher absence levels than men. Our analysis, using finite mixture models, reveals that there are a group of women, comprised of about 41% of the women in our sample, that have a high average demand of absence. Among men, the high demand group is smaller consisting of about 36% of the male sample. The absence behavior differs as much between groups within gender as it does between men and women. The access to panel data covering the period 1971-1991 enables an analysis of the increased gender gap over time. Our analysis shows that the increased gender gap can be attributed to changes in behavior rather than in observable characteristics. Essay III analyzes the difference in work absence between natives and immigrants. Immigrants are found to have higher absence than natives when measured as the number of absent days. For the number of absence spells, the pattern for immigrants and natives is about the same. The analysis, using panel data and count data models, show that natives and immigrants have different characteristics concerning family situation, work conditions and health. We also find that natives and immigrants respond differently to these characteristics. We find, for example, that the absence of natives and immigrants are differently related to both economic incentives and work environment. Finally, our analysis shows that differences in work conditions and work environment only can explain a minor part of the ethnic differences in absence during the 1980’s.

Wildlife management deals with problems concerning sustainable harvest, conservation of threatened species and adjustment of wildlife populations to levels acceptable to for instance forestry, agriculture, traffic and conservation interests. A detailed knowledge of the population is then required. It is therefore important to develop reliable and cost-efficient survey methods. The purpose of this study was to test the distance sampling method where objects are observed while walking along a line, as a way of counting deer pellet groups and to compare the results with ordinary plot surveys. The inventory speed for distance sampling increases with increasing amount of droppings/km2. The amount of droppings seems to have little or no effect on the inventory speed of the plot survey method. Therefore the plot survey method could be a better alternative than the distance sampling method when the densities of droppings are high and vice versa. When comparing the two methods estimates of animal densities with data (orally) from game managers based on other surveys and flying observations and estimations in the different areas, both methods showed too low density for red deer in Valinge. This indicates that the supplementary feeding seem to have an effect on the results of red deer density for both methods.