Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, November, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-168).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Erskine Theological Seminary, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 240-244).

In recent years, the Jewish prayer for healing, the Mi Sheberach (literally, "the one who blessed"), has become a central element of North American liberal (non-Orthodox) religious and ritual life. The growing centrality of these prayers comes at a time when American Judaism has shifted away from congregational and communal life to a more personalized approach to Jewish beliefs, practices and identities; participation in both ritual and prayer practices is now based in personal choice and the desire for an individually-meaningful experience, as well as communal obligation or belief in God. This dissertation seeks to understand the meanings and impacts of these Jewish prayers for healing, by using ethnography as a tool for understanding the lived experience of religious practices, beliefs, and identities. Based in two years of ethnographic field-work in Southern Arizona, it places the relationship between Judaism and healing within the larger social, communal and historical contexts in which both of these concepts acquire meaning. I describe the complexities and contradictions inherent in modern liberal American Jewishness, demonstrating that these modern Jewish American selves are multiply-situated, multi-voiced, and characterized by diversity and dissonance. My research shows that, among liberal American Jews, the individual's search for meaning blends with the collectivist nature of Judaism, in an ongoing process of interpretive interaction between text, tradition, personal experience, and other members of the community. I find that Jewish representations of God are also complex and contradictory. Many people have difficulty articulating their thoughts about God, and their views are dynamic and inconsistent. Furthermore, Jewish belief develops in a multifaceted relationship to Jewish ritual and communal practice. Within this context, healing prayer becomes become one site, among many, through which relationships to Jewish traditions, practices and communities are negotiated and constructed. Healing prayer leads to a feeling of connection to community, ancestors and traditions; it transforms fear and anxiety into comfort, strength and acceptance; promotes spiritual transcendence; and provides a sense of agency and control at times of vulnerability and helplessness. Healing in a liberal Jewish context may involve the physical body, but it more often involves emotions, spirit, relationships to other people, and relationships to Judaism. Prayer may refer to a dialogue with the divine, but it is also a dialogue between the individual and the community, and between Jewish history and modernity. Finally, this dissertation contributes to discussions of religion and secularism, demonstrating that these analytical categories, which emerged out of European Protestantism, are neither sufficient, nor appropriate, for the study of modern Jewish life.

Bones have a large intrinsic capacity for repair and regeneration following an injury, however, an estimated 5-10% of nearly 8 million fractures that occur every year in the United States lead to nonunions. The process of bone regeneration is a complex trait that brings together different complements of molecular and cellular interactions to carry out its necessary mechanical functions. These interactions may be attributable to the effects of genetic variations that contribute to differences in bone morphology and fracture healing. This study was undertaken to determine how genetic variability that controls phenotypic qualities of bone affect rates and patterns of fracture healing. Three inbred strains of mice (A/J (AJ), C57BL/6J (B6), and C3H/HeJ (C3)) with known structural and biomechanical differences resulting from fetal bone development were examined. Transverse fractures were generated in the femur and healing traits were evaluated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), micro-computed tomography (μCT), biomechanical torsional testing, and cartilage contrast-enhanced micro-computed tomography (CECT). The temporal analysis of gene expression revealed that B6 had the longest duration of chondrocyte maturation and the greatest relative expression of osteogenic genes relative to either C3 or AJ. While AJ and C3 exhibited similar patterns of chondrogenesis, AJ initiated osteogenesis earlier than C3. These results suggest that compared to either AJ or B6, the C3 strain exhibited the least temporal coordination between the chondrogenic and osteogenic stages. Consistent with the relative patterns of RNA expression, μCT evaluations at day 21 post fracture showed that B6 had higher callus mineralization than AJ and C3. μCT, cartilage CECT, and biomechanical testing revealed less tissue mineralization and more cartilage near the fracture gap, which indicated a less developed bony bridge in C3 calluses at day 21 post fracture. The lack of large amounts of cartilage in calluses of all strains by day 21 indicated that all strains had initiated osteogenesis by this time. Taken together, these results showed that mice with different genetic backgrounds express different patterns of mobilization and renewal of skeletal stem cells with differing temporal progressions of chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation. These data further show that these variations affect the phenotypic properties of fracture calluses during the process of fracture healing.

Concrete, a composite material consisting of aggregates bound together with cement paste, is the most widely used construction material. Concrete is relatively cheap, very versatile and has excellent compressive strength. However, its tensile strength is limited and for this reason steel rebars are often added to create reinforced concrete (RC). Cracking inevitably occurs in all RC materials and associated structures due to a variety of mechanical and environmental actions. The generation of tiny microcracks within concrete facilitates the flow of potentially aggressive fluids that can corrode the embedded steel rebars and, in extreme cases, lead to premature structural failure. Concrete, along with all cement-based materials, does possess some inherent self-healing capacity and is able to heal certain-size cracks autogenously. This self-healing capability is very limited and therefore researchers have attempted to improve upon it by using a variety of techniques. In particular, the use of engineered additions for autonomic self-healing has gained significant interest in the past two decades. An example is the addition of microcapsules that disperse throughout the hardened material subsequently providing reservoirs of healing agents. When cracks arise within the material, they rupture the embedded microcapsules causing a release of their contents into the crack volume. The released material then reacts to provide filling, sealing and healing of the crack. The primary aim of this research project was to investigate the autonomic self-healing performance of concrete containing microencapsulated sodium silicate. The effect of microcapsule addition on the fresh, hardened and self-healing properties of cement, mortar and concrete were all explored. Self-healing was monitored using a variety of techniques and results reveal the increased self-healing ability of microcapsule-containing cementitious materials as well as the efficacy of sodium silicate as a healing agent. Furthermore, the self-healing concrete field trial displays the great potential for microcapsules to be incorporated into large-scale self-healing concrete applications.

205f. / Submitted by Rodrigo Meirelles (rodrigomei@ufba.br) on 2013-08-26T12:43:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Rep. Int - A educação de um educador (Geraldo Ramos Soares).pdf: 698699 bytes, checksum: 357ae9e7c8564dd55aa0e6c76fadaf47 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Rodrigo Meirelles(rodrigomei@ufba.br) on 2013-08-26T13:01:38Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Rep. Int - A educação de um educador (Geraldo Ramos Soares).pdf: 698699 bytes, checksum: 357ae9e7c8564dd55aa0e6c76fadaf47 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-08-26T13:01:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rep. Int - A educação de um educador (Geraldo Ramos Soares).pdf: 698699 bytes, checksum: 357ae9e7c8564dd55aa0e6c76fadaf47 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Salvador

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:50:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:02:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 10430.pdf: 2501583 bytes, checksum: d9bc55d07c6e6e0db459c7c5d10481e7 (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado Profissionalizante em Lasers em Odontologia) / IPEN/D-MPLO / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / O lÃtex da planta medicinal Calotropis procera (Apocynaceae) à um produto quÃmico complexo, constituÃdo de uma diversidade de molÃculas e tem sido amplamente utilizado na medicina popular sobre enfermidades dermatolÃgicas. O potencial da fraÃÃo de proteÃnas do lÃtex (PL) em induzir danos celulares foi avaliado pelos testes de MTT e LDH. AlÃm disso, PL foi utilizada no preparo de uma biomembrana associada ao poli (Ãlcool vinÃlico) (BioMem PVA/PL 0,2% e 1%). As propriedades fÃsico-quÃmica das membranas controle (PVA 1%) e teste (BioMem PVA/PL 1%) foram avaliadas atravÃs da espectroscopia de absorÃÃo na regiÃo do infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR) e anÃlise termogravimÃtrica (TGA). O efeito das proteÃnas do lÃtex na cicatrizaÃÃo foi investigado apÃs induÃÃo de feridas incisionais ou excisionais no dorso de camundongos, seguido da implantaÃÃo da BioMem PVA/PL 0,2% ou 1%. O processo cicatricial foi avaliado de acordo com os parÃmetros: anÃlise macroscÃpica (induÃÃo da neoformaÃÃo tecidual em feridas incisionais e edema, hiperemia, reduÃÃo da Ãrea e reepitelizaÃÃo em feridas excisionais); microscÃpica (degranulaÃÃo de mastÃcitos, edema, infiltrado de leucÃcitos, nÃmero de fibroblastos e colagÃnese). Marcadores e mediadores da fase inflamatÃria (MPO, nitrito, IL-1β e TNF-α) foram avaliados em feridas incisionais e excisionais. O efeito da BioMem PVA/PL sobre a densidade microvascular foi avaliado em feridas incisionais. O possÃvel efeito de PL em estimular diretamente macrÃfagos foi investigado em uma cultura de cÃlulas. PL nÃo apresentou in vitro citotoxicidade sobre neutrÃfilos humanos, visto pela baixa atividade de LDH e a alta viabilidade dos neutrÃfilos pelo teste do MTT. A anÃlises fÃsico-quÃmicas demonstraram que nÃo ocorreram interaÃÃes fortes do PVA com PL, jà que nÃo foi observada a formaÃÃo de novas bandas ou o deslocamento destas. AlÃm disso, a solubilizaÃÃo destes compostos tornou a BioMem PVA/PL termicamente mais estÃvel. Nos modelos experimentais de cicatrizaÃÃo, as anÃlises macroscÃpicas demonstraram que BioMem PVA/PL 0,2% e 1% induziram a neoformaÃÃo tecidual em feridas incisionais nos dias 2, 7 e 14 apÃs a implantaÃÃo das membranas. Entretanto, nÃo interferiu na densidade da microvascularizaÃÃo ao tecido neoformado. Em feridas excisionais, BioMem PVA/PL 0,2% induziu aumento do edema, mas nÃo interferiu na hiperemia na fase inflamatÃria. Na fase proliferativa da cicatrizaÃÃo, acelerou a reduÃÃo da Ãrea das feridas e favoreceu a reepitelizaÃÃo. A anÃlise microscÃpica de feridas incisionais e excisionais evidenciou que BioMem PVA/PL 0,2% ou 1% conferiu um estÃmulo à degranulaÃÃo de mastÃcitos, edema e migraÃÃo de leucÃcitos na fase inflamatÃria do processo cicatricial. Na fase proliferativa foi evidenciado aumento na populaÃÃo de fibroblastos e colagÃnese. A anÃlise da reepitelizaÃÃo de feridas excisionais evidenciou um aumento da espessura do epitÃlio neoformado. A implantaÃÃo da BioMem PVA/PL 0,2% aumentou os nÃveis de marcadores e mediadores da resposta inflamatÃria, tais como MPO, nitrito, IL-1β e TNF-α. MacrÃfagos cultivados de camundongos e estimulados com PL foram induzidos a liberaÃÃo de TNF- e IL-1β. A anÃlise integrada de todos os resultados sugerem que as proteÃnas do lÃtex (PL) atuam significativamente na fase inflamatÃria da cicatrizaÃÃo, o que parece influenciar diretamente as fases subseqÃentes do processo cicatricial. / The latex of the medicinal plant Calotropis procera (Apocynaceae) is a complex chemical, consisting of a variety of molecules and has been widely used in folk medicine on skin diseases. The potential of the latex proteins fraction (LP) in induce cell damage was assessed by MTT and LDH tests. Moreover, LP was used to prepare a biomembrana associated with poly (vinyl alcohol) (BioMem PVA/PL 0,2% and 1%).The physical-chemical properties of control (PVA 1%) and test (BioMem PVA/PL 1%) were assessed by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis. The effect of laticifers proteins at healing was investigated after induction of incision or excision wounds on the back of mices, followed by implantation of BioMem PVA/PL 0,2% or 1%. Healing process was evaluated by the parameters: macroscopic analyses (induction of tissue neoformation of incisional wounds and edema, hyperemia, area reduction and re-epithelialization of excision wounds); microscopic (mast cell degranulation, edema, leucocyte infiltrate, number of fibroblasts and collagenesis). Inflammatory markers and mediators (MPO, nitrite, IL-1β e TNF-α) were evaluated in incision and excision wounds. Microvessel density was evaluated in incision wounds. The possible effect of soluble protein fraction (LP) to directly stimulate macrophages was investigated in a cell culture. PL shows no cytotoxicity in vitro in human neutrophils, since the low activity of LDH and high vibility of neutrophils by MTT test. The physico-chemical analysis showed that no strong interaction with PVA and LP occurred, since was not observed the formation of new bands or the displacement of these. Futhermore, the solubility of these compounds became the BioMem PVA/PL more thermally stable. At experimental healing models, macroscopic analyses showed that BioMem PVA/PL 0,2% e 1% leads tissue neoformation in incisional wounds at the 2, 7 and 14 days after membrane implantation. However, no effect on the microvascular density to neoformed tisse of incisional wounds were seen. At excisional wounds, BioMem PVA/PL 0,2% induce increase of edema, but not hyperemia at inflammatory phase. Moreover, accelerated the reduction in the wound area and an improved re-epithelialization at proliferative phase of wound healing. Microscopic analysis of incisional and excisional wounds showed that BioMem PVA/PL 0,2% or 1% lead a stimulus to mast cell degranulation, edema, leucocyte migration at inflammatory phase of the cicatricial process. At the proliferative phase, was evidenced an increase in the population of fibroblasts and collagenesis. Re-epithelialization of excisional wounds showed an increased thickness of the newly formed epithelium. BioMem PVA/PL 0,2% implantation increased the levels of markers and mediators of the inflammatory response, such as MPO, nitrite, IL-1β and TNF-α. Culture mouse macrophages stimulated with PL were induced to release of TNF- e IL-1β. Integrated analysis of all results suggest that PL act significantly in the inflammatory phase of healing, which seems to directly influence the subsequent phases of the healing process.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Ãlcera por pressÃo (UP) à uma lesÃo comum entre idosos e indivÃduos com mobilidade fÃsica prejudicada. Ela afeta a qualidade de vida dos indivÃduos e gera custos considerÃveis, uma vez que està se tornando um problema mundial crescente, devido ao envelhecimento da populaÃÃo. Ciclos de isquemia e reperfusÃo tÃm sido identificados como fatores causais primÃrios, mas existem outros fatores que influenciam a intensidade dos danos. Atualmente, nÃo existe um mÃtodo eficaz e de baixo custo para tratar esta condiÃÃo. O uso clÃnico da fumaÃa de Artemisia vulgaris (FAV) para o tratamento de lesÃes na pele de diversas origens està descrito na literatura. Entretanto à pouco documentado e atualmente nada foi descrito em modelos experimentais de ulcera por pressÃo a respeito da sua atividade cicatrizante, bem como o seu efeito tÃxico. Dessa forma objetivou-se investigar o perfil toxicolÃgico e o efeito cicatrizante da aplicaÃÃo tÃpica da fumaÃa de Artemisia vulgaris em modelo de Ãlcera por pressÃo em camundongos. Este trabalho foi aprovado pelo Comità de Ãtica (89/2011). Foi utilizado um modelo nÃo-invasivo de UP em camundongos Swiss machos, que consiste em 4 ciclos de isquemia e reperfusÃo atravÃs da colocaÃÃo de dois ÃmÃs na superfÃcie da pele dorsal. Cinco grupos experimentais foram testados: (1): com Ãlcera e sem tratamento, (2): com Ãlcera e FAV tÃpico, (3): com Ãlcera, FAV tÃpica e filme de poliuretano, (4): com Ãlcera e tratado com hidrogel e filme de poliuretano e (5) sem Ãlcera, e sem tratamento. A anÃlise foi realizada nos dias 5, 7, 14 e 21 apÃs a induÃÃo da Ãlcera. Foram avaliados parÃmetros macroscÃpicos de cicatrizaÃÃo atravÃs da escala EWAT (Experimental Wound Assessment Tool â Instrumento de avaliaÃÃo de ferida experimental), Ãrea da ferida e porcentagem de contraÃÃo. Nos parÃmetros microscÃpicos foram avaliados: a anÃlise histopatolÃgica, a espessura da camada de colÃgeno e densidade de colÃgeno na derme, a contagem de fibroblastos e fibrÃcitos e a mediÃÃo da espessura da epiderme. AvaliaÃÃo da imunomarcaÃÃo para NOSi e nitrotirosina e ensaio de malondialdeÃdo (MDA) foi realizado para investigar o stress oxidativo. Testes toxicolÃgicos com parÃmetros hematolÃgicos, bioquÃmicos, histopatolÃgicos e comportamentais foram realizados em animais tratados com FAV. Resultados: a FAV nÃo mostrou toxicidade nos parÃmetros avaliados. Em todos os resultados a FAV + filme transparente foi melhor do que a FAV. EWAT macroscÃpica e escores inflamatÃrios mostraram diferenÃas significativas entre o grupo tratado, FAV + filme de poliuretano e grupo controle (p <0,01). Ãrea contraÃÃo da ferida foi aumentada em no grupo FAV grupo + filme de poliuretano, por 99,62% (84,65% vs, controle), bem como a contagem de fibroblastos (112,7  7,9 vs 80,0  6,4; controle, p < 0,01) e densidade de colÃgeno (33,9%  6,6 vs 20,9  8,6%, controle, p <0,01). FAV + filme de poliuretano aumentou a espessura da epiderme (113,2  18,1 vs 52,1  8,9, controle p <0,01) e tambÃm a contagem do nÃmero de vasos sanguÃneo no tecido conjuntivo (142,3  15,1 vs 68, 5  8,6; controle, p <0,01). O nÃmero de cÃlulas marcadas para NOSi e nitrotirosina, foi reduzido no grupo FAV + filme de poliuretano (601,5  94,0 vs 95,7  2005,0, controle, NOSi e 666,0  142,4 vs 1877,2  133, 8; controle, nitrotirosina, p <0,01). O MDA tambÃm foi reduzido pelo tratamento com FAV + filme de poliuretano (0,08  0,03 vs 0,3  0,05; controle, p <0,05). ConcluÃmos que a aplicaÃÃo tÃpica da FAV nÃo produziu efeito tÃxico e acelerou a cicatrizaÃÃo de feridas possivelmente por propriedades antioxidantes. O uso do filme de poliuretano intensificou a aÃÃo da FAV. / Pressure ulcer (PU) is a common injury among elderly and subjects with impaired physical mobility. It affects the quality of life of individuals and generates considerable costs, since it is becoming a worldwide growing problem due to the aging of the population. Cycles of ischemia and reperfusion from pressure have been identified as primary causal factor but other factors influence the intensity of damage. Currently, there is no effective and inexpensive method to treat this condition. For this reason, we aimed to check whether the traditional indication of smoke from Artemisia vulgaris (SAV) really contributes to the wound healing process of the PU. This work was approved by Ethics Committee (89/2011). It was used a non-invasive model of PU in mice which consists of 4 cycles of ischemia and reperfusion by the placement of two magnets on the dorsal skin surface of mice. Five experimental groups were tested: negative control, with ulcer and without treatment; positive control, with ulcer and treated with hydrogel and transparent film; treated group 1, with ulcer and topical SAV, treated group 2, with ulcer and topical SAV and transparent film, and a group without ulcer and without treatment. The analysis was conducted on days 5, 7, 14 and 21 after ulcer induction. Macroscopic parameters of healing were assessed through the EWAT (Experimental Wound Assessment Tool). Wound area, percentage of contraction, histopathological analysis, collagen layer thickness and collagen density in the dermis, counting of fibroblasts and fibrocytes, measurement of epidermis thickness were also assessed. Evaluation of the immunostaining for iNOS and nitrotyrosine and malondialdehyde assay (MDA) was performed to investigate oxidative stress. Toxicological tests were conducted in treated animals and SAV showed no toxic effect. In all the results SAV+film treatment was better than SAV. Results: Macroscopic EWAT and inflammatory scores showed significant differences between SAV+film treated group and control group (p<0,01). Wound contraction area was enhanced in SAV+film group by 99,62% (vs 84,65%, control) as well as fibroblast count (112,7  7,9 vs 80,0  6,4; control, p<0,01) and collagen density (33,9%  6,6 vs 20,9%  8,6; control, p<0,01). Epidermal width was increased by SAV+film (113,2  18,1 vs 52,1  8,9; control p<0.01) and also the blood vessel counting in the conjunctive tissue (142,3  15,1 vs 68,5  8,6; control, p<0.01). The counting of iNOS and nitrotyrosine immunostained cells showed a reduction by SAV+film (601,5  94,0 vs 2005,0  95,7; control, iNOS and 666,0  142,4 vs 1877,2  133,8; control, nitrotyrosine, p<0.01). MDA assay showed also a reduction by SAV+film treatment (0,08  0,03 vs 0,3  0,05; control, p<0.05). In conclusion, SAV topical application promoted wound healing by anti-oxidant properties and by modulating the inflammatory process. The effect of SAV was enhanced when the wound area was covered by the transparent film after smoke application. In addition, this method showed no toxic effect and may be an effective and low cost alternative for PU healing treatment.

A utilização do ultra som com a finalidade de acelerar o reparo tecidual é muito freqüente na prática clínica, embora as bases científicas para sua utilização não estejam bem estabelecidas. Este estudo analisou os efeitos do ultra som na cicatrização de tendões flexores de coelhos após tenorrafia. Foram utilizados 30 coelhos da raça Nova Zelândia, com peso médio de 2,7 Kg, divididos em dois grupos de 15 animais submetidos a tenotomia e tenorrafia com sutura tipo Kessler do tendão flexor profundo do terceiro dedo da pata dianteira direita. Após 24 horas foi iniciado em um dos grupos tratamento com ultra som, sendo o outro grupo utilizado para controle. A freqüência utilizada foi a de 3 MHz e a intensidade de 0,8 W/centímetro quadrado (SATA), por contato direto durante 7 dias consecutivos. Cada grupo foi dividido em subgrupos com 5 animais cada, e estes sacrificados em períodos distintos (8, 15 e 30 graus PO), e o tendão operado, dissecado e submetido à análise histológica pela microscopia de luz, analisando a reação inflamatória, grau de necrose, proliferação de fibroblastos, deposição de colágeno e formação de granuloma. Os resultados mostraram que o ultra som interferiu com o processo de reparo tecidual após a tenorrafia dos tendões flexores de coelhos / The use of ultrasound aiming to accelerate tissue healing is very frequent in clinical pratice, although the scientific basis to its use are not well established. This study analized the effects of ultrasound on the healing of rabbit’s flexor tendons after repair. It was used 30 New Zealand rabbits, with an average weight of 2.7 Kg, divided in two groups of 15 animal. They were submetted to tenotomy and repair with Kessler’s suture on deep flexor tendon of the middle right front claw. After 24 hour one of the groups started the ultrasound treatment, and the other was de control group. The ultrasound frequency used was 3 MHz and the intensity was 0.8 W/square cemtimeter (SATA), by direct contact during 7 consecutive days. Each group was divided in subgroups with 5 animals each, and these were killed in distincts periods (PO 8, 15 and 30), and the operated tendon was dissected and submitted to histologic analises by light microscopy, anlaysing the inflammatory reaction, necrosis degree, fibroblasts proliferation, colagen synthesis and granulom formation. The result showed that ultrasound interfere on the tissue healing process after repair on the rabbit’s flexor tendons