Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-12T23:13:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 arquivo8725_1.pdf: 5515756 bytes, checksum: 875e04534167fe6c06de876ba89fa43f (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / A Febre Reumática continua um grave problema de Saúde Pública nos países em desenvolvimento, sendo causa comum de morbimortalidade e responsável por quase metade dos internamentos cardiovasculares em indivíduos jovens nesses locais. Embora seja uma doença de acometimento multissistêmico, apenas o envolvimento cardíaco leva à seqüela permanente, sendo o seu reconhecimento de vital importância, na medida em que a instituição de uma profilaxia secundária adequada previne o aparecimento de novos surtos que, via de regra, tendem a agravar lesões valvares preexistentes podendo, ainda, facultar o aparecimento de novas lesões. O diagnóstico de cardite na Febre Reumática, classicamente, é baseado nos achados de sopros, acompanhados ou não de insuficiência cardíaca. Entretanto, lesão valvar, em alguns casos, pode ser silenciosa. O advento do ecocardiograma, como método diagnóstico, e a generalização do seu uso em Cardiologia, foi associado ao relato de casos de valvite, reconhecidos como subclínicos, o que levantou uma série de questionamentos em relação à real magnitude desse achado. Neste estudo, foram avaliadas 27 crianças, encaminhadas ao Instituto Materno Infantil Professor Fernando Figueira, no período de dezembro de 2004 a novembro de 2005, com diagnóstico de Febre Reumática e isentas de sinais clínicos de comprometimento cardíaco. Todas foram submetidas à avaliação clínica, laboratorial, eletro e eco-Dopplercardiográfica. Artrite foi à manifestação clínica mais encontrada, seguida de coréia e nódulos subcutâneos. O exame do aparelho cardiovascular encontrava-se nos limites da normalidade, em todas as crianças. O eletrocardiograma evidenciou alongamento do intervalo QTc em oito (29,6%) pacientes.Todos os traçados apresentavam intervalo PR normal. O estudo eco-dopplercardiográfico detectou agressão valvar, que não foi diagnosticada, clinicamente, em 17 (63%) casos, com envolvimento em ordem decrescente de freqüência das valvas mitral, mitral e aórtica, e aórtica isoladamente. Todas exibiam graus leves de regurgitação. Concluímos que um exame cardiológico normal nestes pacientes, não exclui, com segurança, acometimento cardíaco, e o eco- Dopplecardiograma foi mais sensível do que a ausculta cardíaca para detectar insuficiência valvar de grau discreto

This thesis examines the issue of environmentalism through a study of the construction of the environment or the 'natural world' in contemporary society. It tackles the issue through a close analysis of a selection of material which engages with the environment in different ways. This material has been selected in order to identify methods of organisation and strategies of argument which are present across a range of texts and also to investigate the way in which environmentalism is entwined with other issues in society, such as science, feminism and consumerism. After exploring theories of discourse in the work of Raymond Williams, Claude Levi-Strauss, Roland Barthes and Judith Williamson, a framework of analysis is worked out. This is then used and modified in an examination of how representations of the environment feature in advertisements, eco-feminist texts and popular scientific discourse, and the way in which they become the focus of various discursive practices and techniques.

This study investigates how Canadian youth, nationally recognized as eco-civic leaders, perceive their own sense of agency and their capacity to effect ‘change.’ More specifically, this study explores how these youth are interpreting change (i.e., attitudinal, behavioural, social, political, etc.), and what their perspectives reveal about the relationship between school and community-based environmental learning experiences and their capacity to make change in society. This project explores the notion of ‘student agency’ as it relates to an emerging trend of environmental action learning aimed at active citizenship within the fields of environmental education (EE) and to a lesser extent, civics education. Drawing on different qualitative research methodologies, such as but not limited to narrative inquiry, 34 past recipients/finalists of the Toyota Earth Day Canada Scholarship participated in this study. I used three different dimensions of environmental action learning to construct the conceptual lens through which the findings were interpreted. My findings suggest a critical gap exists between how EE is widely practiced in Canadian schools (i.e., environmentally responsible stewarding), and how it is currently being taken up in recent EE policy and research (i.e., developing capacity to effect broader socio-ecological change). In turn, this research asserts that although we are cultivating ‘good stewards’ and ‘good citizens,’ we are not educating youth toward becoming ‘change agents.’ As such, the majority of youth in this study demonstrate an egocentric perception of their identity and capacity as young eco-civic leaders. Consequently, my research suggests that specific learning conditions, including youth and adults serving as co-participants in community-based action projects aimed at broader social, political, and environmental change, are important in the development of student agency.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-12T23:03:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 arquivo8819_1.pdf: 679321 bytes, checksum: 99724809cea94144da7bdb073ed9fc7d (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / O acometimento vascular no diabetes está fortemente associado a lesões ateroscleróticas, que tem como base fisiopatogênica a disfunção endotelial. Esta, por sua vez, é conseqüência de um processo inicial de inflamação vascular que pode ser representado, do ponto de vista anátomo-patológico, por um espessamento do complexo médio-intimal (ECMI). Este estudo avalia, através da ecografia de carótidas, a ocorrência do ECMI em pacientes diabéticos do tipo 2 e sua correlação com os níveis de proteína C-reativa de alta sensibilidade (PCR-as), com a microalbuminúria, e com outras complicações do tipo microvascular (retinopatia, úlcera de pé e neuropatia periférica) e macrovascular (doença ateromatosa de carótidas). Foram recrutados para o estudo 118 indivíduos, que foram submetidos a Ecografia de carótidas, sendo 64 pacientes portadores de Diabetes mellitus do tipo 2 (grupo A) e 54 indivíduos saudáveis que constituíram o grupo-controle (grupo B). Os resultados mostram a ocorrência do ECMI nos pacientes diabéticos do tipo 2 (p<0,001), todavia sem correlação estatisticamente significante com os níveis de PCR-as (p=0,8) e de microalbuminúria (p=0,45). Também não se verificou correlação com a presença de complicações microvasculares, exceto em relação à neuropatia periférica do tipo sensorial. Por outro lado, a presença de lesões ateromatosas de carótidas foi observada em maior proporção nos pacientes do grupo A do que nos do grupo B, correlacionando-se com uma maior expressão do ECMI que também aumentou com a idade e com o tempo de duração da doença (p<0,05). Tais resultados confirmam a importância da inflamação vascular como um processo inicial da lesão aterosclerótica que ocorre no paciente diabético e indicam a importância do ECMI na avaliação do risco cardiovascular desses pacientes

Concrete plants consume 10 billion tons of natural aggregates annually from quarries and gravel plants for produce concrete, this demand requires exploiting natural resources from mountains and rivers producing an ecological imbalance. One solution is to use Palm Oil Clinker (POC), which is eliminated in large quantities in the dumps and rivers without taking advantage of its puzolanic, binding and resistance properties as an aggregate in the concrete; another alternative is to apply rubber from abandoned and discarded tires as waste in landfills or burned, without taking advantage of its performance of improvement in concrete, increasing its resistance to impact and fatigue. Unable to find joint POC and rubber information, this research studies its influence replacing 2.5% rubber (grained and crushed) with 10%, 12.5% and 15% POC in the fine aggregate on traditional concrete; results indicate that with 12.5% of POC as the ideal percentage, the compressive strength, tensile strength and flexural strength rise between 2.16 - 9.54%, so the concrete obtained has a cost of less than 4.09% and has 3.65% less CO2 emission.

To predict the response of communities and ecosystems to rising levels of atmospheric CO2, the response of individual plants under natural conditions needs to be determined. Podalyria sericea, a fynbos legume, was grown in a greenhouse under ambient (35 Pa) and elevated (70 Pa) CO2 partial pressure for 18 months. Growth, leaf 615N and leaf gas exchange was measured to determine whether this N2-fixer could maintain a positive growth response under conditions of high competition. Results revealed a lack of positive growth response to elevated CO2, although far more flowers were produced in the elevated treatment. Allocation patterns were slightly different, with relatively higher shoot mass for plants exposed to elevated CO2. Leaf 61 5N and N concentrations were unaffected. Photosynthetic capacity was greatly reduced and maximum rates of Rubisco carboxylation (V cmaJ and light saturated electron transport (Jniax) were lower for plants exposed to elevated CO2. Net CO2 assimilation (A) at growth CO2 was higher for the plants from the ambient treatment. Shading appears to have been an important constraint on growth response to elevated CO2, and plants which received more light had significantly more biomass in the elevated treatment. The potential effect of restricted root growth and low soil nutrient availability are discussed as additional factors which may have negated a positive growth response.

Context: In this work a system, the eco service, is developed that incorporates elements from gamification to help drivers adapt to a more energy-efficient driving style. An energy-efficient driving style can help reduce fuel consumption, increase traffic safety and help reduce the emissions made from vehicles. Objectives: The main goal of this work is to explore ways of how gamification can be used in the context of eco-driving. Evaluating different elements and how they work in this context is important to help drivers to continue improving their driving style. Method: The eco service was tested on 16 participants where each participants was asked to drive a predetermined route. During the experiment the participants were given access to the eco service in order to gain feedback on their driving. Lastly interviews were held with each participant on questions regarding the use of gamification and how it can be improved in the context of eco-driving. The research was done in collaboration with a swedish company, Swedspot AB, that works with software solutions for connected vehicles. Results &amp; Conclusions: Positive results were found on the use of gamification. Participants reported that the eco service made them more aware of their driving situation and how to improve. Game elements with positive influence were reward and competitive based and helped motivate the driver to improve.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Masters Degree in Recreation and Tourism in the Department of Recreation and Tourism at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2009. / The study was conducted with the view of investigating the development of ecotourism in the Dukuduku Forest Reserve and surroundings, with specific attention paid to policy and its implementation. In an effort to develop this natural environment, there has been much overuse and degradation of the natural forest reserve. What has also been implicit is that tourist visitation numbers at the Dukuduku Forest Reserve, could decrease, and these reduced numbers of tourists could affect the employment rate within the local community. Pursuant to these observations and problems, the researcher found it appealing and necessary to explore the attitudes and perceptions of the local communities towards the usage of the natural forest reserve in Dukuduku. This would be achieved by investigating the participation, practices, and patterns associated with the existing policies and their implementation in the the Dukuduku Forest Reserve environment. In an attempt to investigate the research problem, the following research objectives were formulated: (a) To find out the extent to which stakeholders understand the meaning and importance of ecotourism in and around the Dukuduku Forest Reserve. (b) To investigate the adequacy of the provision of nature-based tourism facilities for employment purposes in the study area. (c) To examine whether there is undue over-emphasis on the commercialisation of the natural resources in the study area. (d) To reveal the degree to which tourism stakeholders participate in ecotourism development initiatives in the study area. (e) To establish whether the ecotourism related policies and practices, existing in the study area are geared towards benefitting the local community. The above listed objectives were investigated using a methodology process that involved the collecting of data from the local community of Dukuduku and other stakeholders, by means of questionnaires. The data collected was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences [SPSS] computer programme, which led to acquiring research findings. The findings that emerged showed that among the majority of respondents there is a relatively good understanding of the meaning and importance of ecotourism as a human activity. Notwithstanding, the social involvement of local communities in activities of the Dukuduku Forest and Settlement Area, were seen as inadequate. The majority of stakeholders indicated that they perceived a substantial number of ecotourism resources or facilities as inadequate and not employment based. Regarding the upholding the policy of conservation in contrast to the commercialisation of ecotourism resources, the majority of respondents were in favour of upholding the policy of conservation of ecotourism resources. The respondents were also asked to reveal how they perceive local community participation in ecotourism activities, the majority of the respondents agreed that there was no beneficial participation in ecotourism activities in the study area. Finally it was established that respondents in the study area revealed that the existing ecotourism related policies and practices were not clear to them and that the policies were geared to benefit the local community. In this regard the majority of the local community and the service providers individually indicated that the existence of policy formulation and its beneficiation was poor in the study area. The study concludes by offering some recommendations associated with the objectives of the study listed above.

Yes / This study introduces ‘eco-sectarianism’, which is a new concept that explains the relationship between sectarian violence and environmental pressures in divided societies in the Middle East. Against the backdrop of climate change, ‘eco-sectarianism’ poses a challenge to many fragmented and unequal societies where the sense of national consciousness is weak and nation-building projects are incomplete. This paper draws attention to the links between politicisation of sub-national identities and emerging ecological challenges in Syria.

The early developmental environment has a profound influence on an individual's life history trajectory and parents have tremendous influence over this environment. Despite the wealth of research demonstrating that incubation temperature affects a suite of traits important to fitness in reptiles, we are only now discovering that nest temperatures are a defining component of the avian developmental environment. Aspects of the nest environment may be an important and overlooked maternal effect in birds as nearly all birds physically incubate their eggs, thus providing a clear link between parental behavior and the developmental environment of the avian embryo. My research used an interdisciplinary approach, uniting concepts from life history theory, bioenergetics. immunology, and physiological ecology to investigate the importance of incubation temperature to avian phenotype. I found that incubation temperature affects a suite of traits important for future development, survival and reproduction in a species of birds. Using a population of wood ducks (Aix sponsa) that has been the subject of long term studies I investigated the effects of incubation temperature on embryonic developmental patterns and energy expenditure, and body size and condition, stress endocrinology, thermoregulatory performance, and immunocompetence in hatchling wood ducks. In all experiments freshly laid wood duck eggs were collected from nest boxes located in SC, transported to Virginia Tech and incubated at one of three temperatures (35.0, 35.9, 37.0Ë C) that fell within the range of naturally-incubated wood duck nest temperatures. I found that less than 1Ë C differences in incubation temperature affected duckling growth and body condition, stress endocrinology, immune responses, and energy expended to thermoregulate. Many of these effects persisted days to weeks after hatching. In most cases, ducklings that hatched from eggs incubated at lowest temperature performed poorer than ducklings that hatched from eggs incubated at the higher temperatures. Incubation temperature also affected wood duck embryonic developmental trajectories and energy expended during incubation with embryos from the low incubation temperature expended more energy and developing slower than ducklings incubated at the higher temperatures. Embryonic energy expenditure could contribute to effects observed on hatchling phenotype. Because I demonstrate that incubation temperature affects hatchling phenotypic quality, the variability upon which natural selection acts, my findings have implications for avian ecology, life history evolution and conservation. / Ph. D.