The evolution of aerobic metabolic processes unavoidably led to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS have the ability to cause harmful oxidative damage to biomolecules. Increased ROS generation and subsequent oxidative stress have been associated with aging and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases as a result of the extreme sensitivity of the central nervous system to damage from ROS. Antioxidant defence systems have co–evolved with aerobic metabolic processes to counteract oxidative damage inflicted by ROS. The impact of neurodegenerative disorders on society is increasing rapidly as the life expectancy of the global population increases. In this day and age, a much younger group of the population is also experiencing neurodegenerative symptoms as a result of the harmful effect of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on the central nervous system. Plants are an invaluable source of medicinal compounds. The use of plants for their healing properties is rooted in ancient times. The aim of this study was to select from twenty one plants, the plant with the most promising antioxidant activity and to determine whether extracts of this plant could act as free radical scavengers, comparing the results to Trolox, a known free radical scavenger. The next step was to isolate and characterize a compound from an extract exhibiting promising antioxidant activity. Bioassay–guided fractionation was followed to achieve this. During screening trials, twenty one plants, namely Berula erecta, Heteromorpha arborescens, Tarchonanthus camphoratus, Vernonia oligocephala, Gymnosporia buxifolia, Acacia karroo, Elephantorrhiza elephantina, Erythrina zeyheri, Leonotis leonurus, Plectranthus ecklonii, P. rehmanii, P. venteri, Salvia auretia, S. runcinata, Solenostemon latifolius, S. rotundifolius, Plumbago auriculata, Clematis brachiata, Vangueria infausta, Physalis peruviana and Lippia javanica were selected from literature, based on reported antioxidant activity within the plant families, for screening of their antioxidant activity. One hundred and ten extracts were prepared from the leaves, using Soxhlet extraction and the solvents petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and ethanol (EtOH), consecutively. The focus during initial screening trials was on chemistry–based assays. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays were employed for the primary screening of the one hundred and ten leaf extracts. The ORAC assay was used to determine whether the plant extracts were able to scavenge peroxyl radicals and the FRAP assay was used to determine the reducing abilities of the extracts. Quantification of the peroxyl radical scavenging activity by the ORAC assay revealed that activity was observed for most of the extracts, with the ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of L. javanica exhibiting the most promising activity. This pattern of activity was also found with the reducing capacity evaluated by the FRAP assay in which the EtOAc and EtOH extracts of L. javanica also exhibited the most promising activity. L. javanica was selected for further study by screening for biological activity, employing the nitro–blue tetrazolium (NBT) assay and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay. Using a cyanide model to induce neurotoxic effects in rat brain homogenate, the neuroprotective properties of the extracts of L. javanica leaves were examined using the NBT assay and compared to that of Trolox. The NBT assay determines the level of superoxide anions. All the extracts of L. javanica significantly reduced superoxide anion generation at all concentrations used. The petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts, at all concentrations, reduced superoxide anion generation to values lower than that of the control, suggesting that these extracts may be able to attenuate normal free radical processes in the brain. The petroleum ether extract exhibited the most promising activity at a concentration of 1.25 and 2.5 mg/ml and also exhibited similar results as the ethyl acetate extract at a lower concentration than the ethyl acetate extract (2.5 mg/ml compared to 5 mg/ml). A toxin–solution consisting of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), iron(III)chloride (FeCl3) and ascorbic acid was used to induce lipid peroxidation and the ability of the extracts of the leaves of L. javanica to attenuate lipid peroxidation was investigated in rat brain homogenate and compared to that of Trolox. All of the extracts of L. javanica significantly attenuated toxininduced lipid peroxidation at all concentrations used. All of the extracts were also able to significantly attenuate toxin–induced lipid peroxidation to values lower than that of the control. These results suggest that all of the extracts of L. javanica possess the ability to attenuate not only toxin–induced lipid peroxidation, but also lipid peroxidation that occurs during normal processes in the brain. The petroleum ether extract was subjected to bioassay–guided fractionation using column and thin–layer chromatography and the NBT and TBARS assays. Fraction DD1 was investigated by means of nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared and mass spectrometry. The exact structure of fraction DD1 was not elucidated. Considering all the results, it is clear that L. javanica shows great potential as a medicinal plant with antioxidant activity and may therefore be beneficial in diminishing the destructive oxidative effects inflicted by free radicals. There are however still many compounds to be isolated from L. javanica. Key words: Verbenaceae, Lippia javanica, antioxidant, neurodegeneration, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), nitro–blue tetrazolium assay (NBT), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay (TBARS). / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutical Chemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The evolution of aerobic metabolic processes unavoidably led to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS have the ability to cause harmful oxidative damage to biomolecules. Increased ROS generation and subsequent oxidative stress have been associated with aging and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases as a result of the extreme sensitivity of the central nervous system to damage from ROS. Antioxidant defence systems have co–evolved with aerobic metabolic processes to counteract oxidative damage inflicted by ROS. The impact of neurodegenerative disorders on society is increasing rapidly as the life expectancy of the global population increases. In this day and age, a much younger group of the population is also experiencing neurodegenerative symptoms as a result of the harmful effect of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on the central nervous system. Plants are an invaluable source of medicinal compounds. The use of plants for their healing properties is rooted in ancient times. The aim of this study was to select from twenty one plants, the plant with the most promising antioxidant activity and to determine whether extracts of this plant could act as free radical scavengers, comparing the results to Trolox, a known free radical scavenger. The next step was to isolate and characterize a compound from an extract exhibiting promising antioxidant activity. Bioassay–guided fractionation was followed to achieve this. During screening trials, twenty one plants, namely Berula erecta, Heteromorpha arborescens, Tarchonanthus camphoratus, Vernonia oligocephala, Gymnosporia buxifolia, Acacia karroo, Elephantorrhiza elephantina, Erythrina zeyheri, Leonotis leonurus, Plectranthus ecklonii, P. rehmanii, P. venteri, Salvia auretia, S. runcinata, Solenostemon latifolius, S. rotundifolius, Plumbago auriculata, Clematis brachiata, Vangueria infausta, Physalis peruviana and Lippia javanica were selected from literature, based on reported antioxidant activity within the plant families, for screening of their antioxidant activity. One hundred and ten extracts were prepared from the leaves, using Soxhlet extraction and the solvents petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and ethanol (EtOH), consecutively. The focus during initial screening trials was on chemistry–based assays. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays were employed for the primary screening of the one hundred and ten leaf extracts. The ORAC assay was used to determine whether the plant extracts were able to scavenge peroxyl radicals and the FRAP assay was used to determine the reducing abilities of the extracts. Quantification of the peroxyl radical scavenging activity by the ORAC assay revealed that activity was observed for most of the extracts, with the ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of L. javanica exhibiting the most promising activity. This pattern of activity was also found with the reducing capacity evaluated by the FRAP assay in which the EtOAc and EtOH extracts of L. javanica also exhibited the most promising activity. L. javanica was selected for further study by screening for biological activity, employing the nitro–blue tetrazolium (NBT) assay and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay. Using a cyanide model to induce neurotoxic effects in rat brain homogenate, the neuroprotective properties of the extracts of L. javanica leaves were examined using the NBT assay and compared to that of Trolox. The NBT assay determines the level of superoxide anions. All the extracts of L. javanica significantly reduced superoxide anion generation at all concentrations used. The petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts, at all concentrations, reduced superoxide anion generation to values lower than that of the control, suggesting that these extracts may be able to attenuate normal free radical processes in the brain. The petroleum ether extract exhibited the most promising activity at a concentration of 1.25 and 2.5 mg/ml and also exhibited similar results as the ethyl acetate extract at a lower concentration than the ethyl acetate extract (2.5 mg/ml compared to 5 mg/ml). A toxin–solution consisting of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), iron(III)chloride (FeCl3) and ascorbic acid was used to induce lipid peroxidation and the ability of the extracts of the leaves of L. javanica to attenuate lipid peroxidation was investigated in rat brain homogenate and compared to that of Trolox. All of the extracts of L. javanica significantly attenuated toxininduced lipid peroxidation at all concentrations used. All of the extracts were also able to significantly attenuate toxin–induced lipid peroxidation to values lower than that of the control. These results suggest that all of the extracts of L. javanica possess the ability to attenuate not only toxin–induced lipid peroxidation, but also lipid peroxidation that occurs during normal processes in the brain. The petroleum ether extract was subjected to bioassay–guided fractionation using column and thin–layer chromatography and the NBT and TBARS assays. Fraction DD1 was investigated by means of nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared and mass spectrometry. The exact structure of fraction DD1 was not elucidated. Considering all the results, it is clear that L. javanica shows great potential as a medicinal plant with antioxidant activity and may therefore be beneficial in diminishing the destructive oxidative effects inflicted by free radicals. There are however still many compounds to be isolated from L. javanica. Key words: Verbenaceae, Lippia javanica, antioxidant, neurodegeneration, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), nitro–blue tetrazolium assay (NBT), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay (TBARS). / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutical Chemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Acid-related disorders are common, chronic conditions that have considerable impact on a patient's quality of life. In a study conducted by Majumdar et al. (2003:2411) the prevalence of chronic acid-related disorders was 2.3%. Acid-related disorders represent a major financial consideration with respect to the costs of drug prescribing (Whitaker, 1998:6). Health care cost increases each year. This leads to an increased interest in economic evaluation of health care and medical technologies (Anell & Svarvar, 2000:175). Health care providers no longer make treatment decisions independent of the consideration of the resultant cost. The treatment provided must not only provide value but the value must be documented to justify spending money. Economic evaluation research has emerged to offer guidance to policy makers, practitioners, health plans and institutions facing difficult treatment and coverage decisions (Ellis era/., 2002:271). The main objectives of this study were to investigate the prescribing patterns and cost of acid reducing medicine with special reference to proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor antagonists in a section of the private health care sector of South Africa from 2001 to 2006. A longitudinal retrospective drug utilisation study was done on acid reducing medicine items claimed through a national medicine claims database. The five study years were 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006. All the study years stretched from 1 January to 31 December. It was determined that acid reducing medicine items prescribed decreased from 2.74% during 2001 to 2.50% during 2006 of all medicine items claimed. The same decreasing trend was observed regarding the cost of acid reducing medicine items. The cost percentage decreased from 4.89% (2001) to 3.72% (2006). However, the average cost per medicine item for the acid reducers increased by 5.35% from 2001 (R230.04 ± 176.29) to 2002 (R243.72 ± 184.18) and then decreased by 15.23% from 2002 to 2004. It again decreased with 15.05% from 2004 (R206.19 ± 179.42) to 2006 (R175.70 ± 172.55). The changes in the average cost of acid reducers were of no practical significance. Proton pump inhibitors represented about half of the acid reducing medicine items prescribed and more than 70% of the total cost of acid reducing medicine items during the study years. The average cost of PPIs revealed a practical significant decrease (d > 0.8) from 2002 (R372.42 ± 156.62) to 2006 (R241.56 ± 177.21). H2RAs contributed between 15.00% and 18.26% of all acid reducing medicine items while contributing to between 9.68% and 16.85% of the total cost of all acid reducers. The active ingredient most often prescribed was lansoprazole during 2001 and 2002, esomeprazole during 2004 and omeprazole during 2005 and 2006. Lanzor® 30mg was the acid reducer with the highest cost from 2001 to 2005, while Pariet® 20mg took the lead in 2006. Zantac® 150mg effervescent tablets were the H2RA, with the highest cost, during the five study years. The percentage innovator items decreased by 4.50% from 2001 to 2002, increased by 1.01% from 2002 to 2004 and decreased again by 31.06% from 2004 to 2006. The slight increase in the percentage innovator medicine items claimed from 2002 to 2004 may be explained by the introduction of Nexiam® (esomeprazole) into the market in 2002. The total number of generic medicine items claimed contributed between 9.62% (n = R1 788 242.25) in 2001 and 30.75% (n = R3 196 163.34) in 2006 of the total cost of acid reducing medicine items. The average cost per day of innovator medicine items was higher than the average cost per day of generic medicine items. This might be explained by a lower average cost for generic medicine items. It was also determined that the prevalence of the two-drug regimens was the highest during the five study years. The Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) eradication treatments, which included different antibiotics, increased from 2.72% in 2001 to 5.05% in 2006. The PDD for most of the active ingredients of H2RAs and PPIs remained stable during the study years. However, it appears that the PDDs, of the PPIs, active ingredients were more constant than the PDDs, or the H2RAs, active ingredients. The median of the different PPI active ingredients was reasonably more constant than the median of the different H2RA active ingredients. Thus the changes between the PPIs' and H2RAs' active ingredients might be explained by the variation in the median (the number of days the relevant medicine item was claimed for). It is then also recommended that the aspects of generic substitution as well as the usage of H2RAs as prescribed vs. self medication should be further investigated to increase possible cost savings. / Thesis (M.Pharm. (Pharmacy Practice))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:33:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 BDTD - trabalhos retidos.docx: 11621 bytes, checksum: 0452b8296967440b491d0b515ed6814d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-07-01 / In Brazil, through social rights were recognized, in parallel, the civil and political rights. Even at authoritarian times, social rights have been formally recognized, given that the Federal Constitution of 1988 gave them enormous attention. However, realization of social rights requires, beyond the state action, the commitment of workers and their unions, occupying Article 8., III CF/88 position of prominence in this particular, by allowing the union, as a procedural substitute, to file lawsuits in defense of collective rights (especially of a certain workers class) and homogeneous individual rights of its members. This ensures isonomic access to justice to the members of the class (especially professional), and also decrease the excessive amount of individual claims and increase the number of workers protected. Finally, the most frequent activities of the union as a procedural substitute for workers, beyond strengthening the ties between them, will reduce the low rate of spontaneous compliance of the constitutional and legal norms which enshrine social rights by employers, also reducing, as a result, judicial cases and relieving the Labor Courts. / No Brasil, através dos direitos sociais, foram consagrados, de forma paralela, os direitos civis e políticos. Mesmo em períodos autoritários, os direitos sociais foram reconhecidos formalmente, sendo certo que a Constituição Federal de 1988 deu a eles enorme destaque. Contudo, a concretização dos direitos sociais, além de prestações do próprio Estado, requer o empenho dos trabalhadores e de seus sindicatos, ocupando o artigo 8º., III da CF/88, neste particular, posição de destaque, ao possibilitar que o sindicato, na condição de substituto processual, ajuíze ações em defesa dos direitos coletivos (da categoria profissional, enquanto tal) e dos direitos individuais homogêneos de seus membros. Isso garante aos integrantes da categoria (notadamente profissional) isonomia no acesso à justiça, além de diminuir a quantidade excessiva de reclamações individuais e aumentar o número de trabalhadores tutelados. Por fim, a atuação mais freqüente do sindicato como substituto processual dos trabalhadores, além de fortalecer os laços entre eles, aumentará o baixo índice de cumprimento espontâneo pelos empregadores das normas constitucionais e legais que consagram os direitos sociais, reduzindo também, via de conseqüência, os processos judiciais e desafogando a Justiça do Trabalho.

Slags plays a significant role at high temperature processes. The estimation of the slag viscosity is vital for the safe run of e.g. entrained flow gasifiers. One opportunity of determination is rotational viscometry. This technique is disadvantageous in view of elevated temperatures, applied materials and the necessary time. Additionally, the viscosity can be predicted by the help of viscosity models, where viscosity is a function of slag composition and temperature. Due to changing slag properties within the technical processes, the calculated viscosities can hugely differ from measured ones. In this work, the viscosities of 42 slags where measured up to 100 Pa s and temperatures up to 1700 °C. Oxidizing and reducing conditions were applied. Additionally, selected slag samples were quenched at defined temperatures to qualitatively and quantitatively determine the formed minerals by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Differential temperature analysis (DTA) was applied to find the onset of crystallization for the complementation of investigations. The Einstein-Roscoe equation was chosen to improve the classic viscosity models. Reducing atmosphere decreased viscosity and the number of formed minerals was increased. Slags show a shear-thinning behavior above ca. 10 vol.-% of solid mineral matter. Also, Newtonian behavior was observed up to 60 vol.-%. To overcome problems with the kinetic cooling behavior of the slags, a viscosity approximation method was applied afterwards. This can result in optimized viscosity predictions when several preconditions are fulfilled.

La Terre contient une quantité significative d’eau et son manteau est très oxydé par rapport aux conditions canoniques de la nébuleuse solaire, ce qui est contradictoire avec l’existence de son noyau métallique et sa position dans le Système solaire. Ceci implique que l’état rédox de la Terre ait augmenté au début de son histoire. Aujourd’hui, de nombreuses études suggèrent que cette évolution se soit faite à travers une accrétion hétérogène. Ainsi les premières briques élémentaires de notre planète seraient constituées de matériel très réduit et une grande partie de la différenciation précoce (extraction du noyau et différenciation silicatée) se seraient donc déroulées en conditions très réductrices (entre IW-5.5 et IW-2). L’objectif de cette thèse est de mesurer l’impact de ces conditions sur le comportement des terres rares (REE) et des éléments fortement chargés (HSFE), et de modéliser leur répartition dans les différents réservoirs lors de la différenciation précoce de la Terre. Nous réalisons une soixantaine d’expériences de fusion – cristallisation à l’équilibre de matériel chondritique à basse (5 GPa) et haute (26 GPa) pression, dans une gamme de conditions rédox allant de IW (tampon fer – wüstite) à IW-8. Afin de caractériser le paramètre fO 2 dans ces conditions extrêmes, nous développons un formalisme thermodynamique adapté, basé sur l’équilibre Si-SiO 2 . En analysant les différentes phases à l’équilibre dans les différents échantillons, nous calculons et établissons la première banque de données de partage cristal (enstatite, bridgmanite = pérovskite silicatée, majorite) – liquide silicaté, métal-silicate et sulfure-silicate pour les HFSE et les REE en conditions très réductrices. Grâce aux données enstatite – liquide nous développons un proxy de la fO 2 , basé sur le rapport D(Cr)/D(V) et grâce auquel nous mesurons la fO 2 de chondres de type I comme étant similaires aux conditions canoniques de la nébuleuse (IW-7). Nos données de partage métal – silicate prouvent que l’extraction du noyau terrestre n’est pas à l’origine d’un fractionnement des terres rares. Au contraire, en mesurant pour la première fois le spectre XANES du Nb 2+ et du Ta 3+ dans des verres silicatés à des teneurs de l’ordre du ppm, nous prouvons que le comportement de Nb et Ta est contrôlé par la fO 2 . En intégrant nos données de partage à un modèle d’accrétion hétérogène nous montrons que la signature sous-chondritique en Nb/Ta de la Terre silicatée peut être le résultat de l’accrétion d’un matériel chondritique évoluant avec le temps combinée à l’extraction du noyau en conditions réductrices, ce qui réfute l’hypothèse d’une Terre se formant à partir d’un matériel oxydé. Nos expériences de haute pression montrent que le partage des REE et des HFSE dans la majorite et la bridgmanite est très sensible à la fO 2. De plus, le processus de dismutation du fer, invoqué pour expliquer l’augmentation de la fO 2 du manteau lors de la cristallisation de l’océan magmatique, ne semble pas être un mécanisme efficace en-dessous de IW. Enfin, nos données montrent que Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Nb et Ta sont chalcophiles en conditions très réductrices. L’extraction précoce d’un liquide sulfuré dans ces conditions a donc pu modifier les rapports élémentaires supposés chondritiques dans la Terre silicatée. L’extraction d’une importante quantité de FeS pourrait aussi être à l’origine d’un découplage Zr/Hf. / The Earth contains significant amounts of water and its mantle is highly oxidized compared to the solar nebula canonical conditions, which is inconsistent with the existence of its metallic core and its location in the Solar System. This implies the redox state of the Earth has increased during its early history as suggested in heterogeneous accretion models. Thus, the first building blocks of our planet would have been made of highly reduced material, and the early Earth’s differentiation (core extraction and silicate differentiation) would have taken place under highly reducing conditions (between IW-5.5 and IW-2). The aim of this thesis is to measure the impact of these conditions on rare earth elements (REE) and high field strength elements (HFSE) behavior, and model their distribution into the main reservoirs formed early in Earth’s history. We run about sixteen melting – crystallization experiments, starting from chondritic material and equilibrating it at low (5 GPa) and high (26 GPa) pressure, spanning a redox range going from IW (iron – wüstite buffer) to IW-8. In order to characterize the fO 2 parameter in these extreme conditions, we develop an adapted thermodynamic formalism, based on Si-SiO 2 equilibrium. Analyzing the various equilibrated phases within our experimental samples, we calculate and propose the first crystal (enstatite, bridgmanite = Mg-perovskite, majorite) – silicate liquid, metal – silicate, sulfide – silicate partition coefficients database for HFSE and REE under highly reducing conditions. Using our enstatite-liquid data we develop a fO 2 proxy based on D(Cr)/D(V) ratio and we measure type I chondrule fO 2 as being similar to canonical nebular conditions (IW-7). Our metal-silicate partitioning data prove that Earth core extraction is not responsible for REE fractionation. On the contrary, recording for the first time Nb 2+ and Ta 3+ XANES spectra in silicate glasses and at ppm level concentrations, we prove that Nb and Ta behavior is mainly controlled by fO 2 . Using our partitioning data in a heterogeneous accretion model, we show that sub-chondritic Nb/Ta signature of the silicate Earth (14 ± 0.3) can be the result of the accretion of chondritic material changing with time, combined with the progressive extraction of the core in reducing conditions. This refutes the hypothesis of an oxidized material building the Earth. Our high-pressure experiments show that REE and HFSE partitioning in majorite and bridgmanite is very sensitive to fO 2 . Moreover, iron dismutation process, invoked to explain mantle fO 2 increase during magma ocean crystallization, does not seem to be an efficient mechanism below IW. Finally, our data show that Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Nb and Ta are chalcophiles under highly reducing conditions. Consequently, early extraction of a sulfide melt at an early and reduced stage could have modified chondritic elementary ratios in the silicate Earth. Extraction of a substantial amount of FeS may also cause a Zr/Hf decoupling.

The growing demand for clean water has led to the adoption of the EU Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60 EC). New legislation has a major impact on the water management and the national economy and provides numerous requirements, including "good status" of all water bodies. The Framework Directive also implies the need for an economic analysis of the optimal process to achieve good status by using the cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA). The application of this method in water management is struggling with a number of methodological complications. One of the affected areas in the Czech Republic is the catchment of the Orlik Reservoir that faces excessive eutrophication. Eutrophication is caused by excessive introduction of phosphorus. The main sources of phosphorus are municipal wastewater, aquaculture and agriculture. As illustrated by professional research mentioned in this work and the actual processing of CEA of the catchment of the Orlik Reservoir, a wide range of methodological problems can be avoided by using appropriate tools. This thesis also presents that achieving of good status of the catchment would require annual cost of CZK 602 million. The most significant cost bearers are according to the CEA fisheries and municipalities.

[pt] Processamento em arranjos de sensores é uma área com vasta aplicação, tanto civil quanto militar, por exemplo em sonar, radar, sismologia e comunicações sem fio. Por meio de processamento espacial e espácio-temporal é possível melhorar suas funcionalidades e explorar novas possibilidades. Esta área vem atraindo cada vez mais a atenção e os esfor¸cos da comunidade científica, especialmente agora, em que antenas phased-array se estabeleceram como uma tecnologia comercial e madura. Neste contexto, nós tratamos o problema de processamento com posto reduzido em processamento espacial (beamforming) e espácio-temporal de sinais radar e a nova área de radares com função dual de radar e comunicações (dualfunction radar-communications, DFRC), que pode ser resumida na incorporação de mensagens de comunicações nas transmissıes radar como uma tarefa secundária. Nesta tese, nós investigamos a aplicação de um novo esquema de reduções de posto baseado em interpolação e decimação em duas áreas distintas: processamento espacial e processamento espácio-temporal de sinais radar. Este algoritmo para redução de posto nunca havia sido testado nestes ambientes antes e apresentou resultados bastante expressivos. Nós também propomos simplificações para reduzir a complexidade computacional do algoritmo em bemforming. Quanto ao tópico de DFRC, nós propomos dois métodos originais para incorporar modulação de amplitude/fase aos lóbulos laterais do diagrama de irradiação do radar de forma robusta. Os métodos propostos são muito mais simples do que o estado-da-arte e apresentam desempenho superior em termos de robustez e aplicabilidade em operações de tempo-real. Nós ainda provemos várias outras análises, comparações e contribuições a esta nova área. / [en] Array processing is an area with many civilian and military applications, e.g. sonar, radar, seismology and wireless communications. By means of space and space-time processing it is possible to enhance their features and explore new possibilities. This area has been attracting increasingly more attention and gathering more efforts of the science community, especially now, that phased array antennas are established as a commercial and mature technology. Within this context, we address the problem of reduced rank processing in space and space-time radar signal processing and the new area of dual-function radar-communications (DFRC), which may be summarized as embedding communication messages into radar emissions as a secondary task for the radar. In this thesis, we investigate the application of a new joint interpolation and decimation rank reducing scheme in two different areas: beamforming and space-time radar processing. This rank reducing algorithm was never tested within these contexts before and shows impressive results. We also propose simplifications for decreasing the computational complexity of the algorithm in beamforming. In the topic of DFRC, we propose two original robust radar-embedded sidelobe phase/amplitude modulation methods which have simple closed form equations. The proposed methods are much simpler than the state of the art and have superior performance in terms of robustness and real-time applicability.

INTRODUÇÃO: A alta prevalência da obesidade infantil em diferentes partes do planeta a posiciona como um dos principais focos de atenção da saúde pública, conhecida a associação dos seus agravos às doenças cardiovasculares e à morte prematura. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar as intervenções escolares que se utilizam das práticas em atividade física e educação nutricional na antropometria e na pressão arterial de crianças e adolescentes. MÉTODOS: Os artigos foram recuperados por buscas sistemáticas em quatorze bases de dados eletrônicas e por busca manual em listas de referências, com atualização até 30 de setembro de 2012. Dois revisores independentes avaliaram os trabalhos e extraíram os dados. Os trabalhos deveriam atender adequadamente aos seguintes critérios de elegibilidade: população dos 6 aos 18 anos de idade; intervenções comunitárias randomizadas no ambiente escolar, fundamentadas nas práticas em atividade física ou educação nutricional, ou nas duas formas combinadas; presença de grupo controle em paralelo, com seguimento concomitante; descrição de pelo menos um dos desfechos: índice de massa corporal, peso corporal e pressão arterial. A meta-análise foi desenvolvida pelo modelo de efeito randômico, com diferença padronizada entre médias pelo método de Hedges. Também foi realizada a meta-análise de regressão para identificação das fontes de heterogeneidade entre os ensaios, envolvendo as variáveis tempo e tipo de intervenção, faixa etária e qualidade. O grau de heterogeneidade entre os estudos foi verificado pelas estatísticas Q de Cochran e I2, e o viés de publicação foi avaliado subjetivamente por meio da distribuição no gráfico funnel plot. RESULTADOS: Dos 5.899 trabalhos inicialmente recuperados, 140 tiveram seus dados extraídos e 60 remanesceram para a composição das sínteses, assim subdivididas: 12 em atividade física, 8 em educação nutricional e 40 com intervenção combinada. A análise das intervenções combinadas apresentou significância estatística a favor do grupo de intervenção no índice de massa corporal, com a magnitude e variabilidade na medida do efeito em diferença padronizada de -0,14 (IC95%: -0,24 a -0,03; p=0,01; n=29471; I2= 94,4%), ao contrário dos resultados obtidos nas duas intervenções em separado, que não foram conclusivos. No desfecho peso corporal, os resultados foram significantes nas intervenções em atividade física (-0,14; IC95%: -0,27 a -0,02; I2= 7,84%) e nas combinadas (-0,65; IC95%: -1,17 a -0,13; I2= 99,3%). As análises da pressão arterial não obtiveram resultados com significância estatística. O conjunto de todas as intervenções com dados em índice de massa corporal, incluindo 55 estudos, mostrou o resultado de -0,02 (IC95%: -0,03 a 0,00; I2= 94,5%), e nenhuma das covariáveis incluídas na meta-regressão, tempo de intervenção, qualidade metodológica do estudo e faixa etária da população mostrou significância para explicar a heterogeneidade observada. A análise de subgrupos mostrou redução do efeito no estrato por tempo de intervenção curto, de até quatro meses, com estimativa de -0,04 (IC95%: -0,06 a -0,03; I2= 96,6%), e na faixa etária dos seis aos dez anos, com estimativa de -0,23 (IC95%: -0,27 a -0,19; I2= 97,9%). CONCLUSÕES: As intervenções escolares que combinaram atividade física e educação nutricional mostraram redução do índice de massa corporal, ao contrário das intervenções que se utilizaram destes elementos em separado. Os efeitos positivos estão associados aos estudos com menor tempo entre as avaliações iniciais e finais e com as faixas populacionais mais jovens. A alta heterogeneidade observada compromete a validade externa dos resultados e sugere cautela quanto à capacidade de generalização para outras populações. / INTRODUCTION: Because of its high prevalence of in different parts of the planet childhood obesity is one of the main public health issues, with obesity worsening known to be associated with cardiovascular diseases and premature death. The aim of this study was to evaluate school interventions that use physical activity and nutrition education practices in anthropometric measurements and blood pressure in children and teenagers. METHODS: The articles were retrieved via a systematic search of fourteen electronic databases and manual search through reference lists updated until September 30, 2012. Two independent reviewers assessed studies and extracted data. The papers should meet the following eligibility criteria: population aged 6 to 18 years old; randomized community interventions targeting the school environment based on physical activity or nutrition education practices, or a combination of the two approaches; placebo- controlled parallel group and concomitant monitoring; description of at least one of the outcomes: body mass index, body weight and blood pressure. Random-effects meta-analysis was used, with Hedges\'g standardized mean differences. Also, meta-analysis was performed to identify sources of heterogeneity between trials, involving the variables such as duration and type of intervention, age group and quality. The degree of heterogeneity between studies was assessed using Cochran\'s Q statistics and I2 tests, and publication bias was subjectively assessed by a funnel plot. RESULTS: Of the 5,899 papers initially retrieved, 140 were data-extracted and 60 were used in synthesis, as follows: 12 in physical activity, 8 in nutrition education and 40 in combined intervention. Analysis of the combined interventions showed that BMI was statistically more significant in the combined intervention group, with magnitude and variability in the measure of the effect size in standardized difference of (-0.14; CI95%: -0.24 to -0.03; p=0.01; n=29471; I2= 94.4%), unlike the results obtained in the two separate interventions, which were not conclusive. Regarding the body weight outcome, the results were significant for physical activity (-0.14; CI95%: -0.27 to -0.02; I2= 7.84%) and in the combined interventions (-0.65; CI95%: -1.17 to -0.13; I2= 99.3%). Blood pressure analyses did not obtain statistically significant results. The set of all interventions with BMI data (55 studies), showed the result of -0.02 (CI95%: -0.03 to 0.00; I2= 94.5%), and none of the covariates included in meta-analysis, intervention duration, methodological quality of the study and population age could explain the heterogeneity observed. Subgroup analysis showed a reduced effect in the short intervention duration stratum (up to four months), with an estimate of -0.04 (CI95%: -0.06 to -0.03; I2= 96.6%), and in the age group of 6-10 years old, with an estimate of -0.23 (CI95%: -0.27 to -0.19; I2= 97.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The school interventions that combined physical activity and nutrition education led to reduced body mass index, unlike the interventions that used these approaches separately. The positive effects are associated with studies with shorter periods of time between the initial and final evaluations and younger populations. The high heterogeneity observed jeopardizes the external validity of the results and suggests caution in generalizing these findings to other populations.

Slags plays a significant role at high temperature processes. The estimation of the slag viscosity is vital for the safe run of e.g. entrained flow gasifiers. One opportunity of determination is rotational viscometry. This technique is disadvantageous in view of elevated temperatures, applied materials and the necessary time. Additionally, the viscosity can be predicted by the help of viscosity models, where viscosity is a function of slag composition and temperature. Due to changing slag properties within the technical processes, the calculated viscosities can hugely differ from measured ones. In this work, the viscosities of 42 slags where measured up to 100 Pa s and temperatures up to 1700 °C. Oxidizing and reducing conditions were applied. Additionally, selected slag samples were quenched at defined temperatures to qualitatively and quantitatively determine the formed minerals by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Differential temperature analysis (DTA) was applied to find the onset of crystallization for the complementation of investigations. The Einstein-Roscoe equation was chosen to improve the classic viscosity models. Reducing atmosphere decreased viscosity and the number of formed minerals was increased. Slags show a shear-thinning behavior above ca. 10 vol.-% of solid mineral matter. Also, Newtonian behavior was observed up to 60 vol.-%. To overcome problems with the kinetic cooling behavior of the slags, a viscosity approximation method was applied afterwards. This can result in optimized viscosity predictions when several preconditions are fulfilled.:List of Tables ............................................................................................................ vi List of Figures ........................................................................................................ viii Symbols and Abbreviations .................................................................................. xviii 1. Introduction and Aim ....................................................................................... 1 2. General Overview of Slag ............................................................................... 2 2.1 Viscosity ...................................................................................................... 2 2.1.1 Viscosity Introduction ........................................................................... 2 2.1.2 Flow behavior of fluids ......................................................................... 3 2.2 Slag Definition and Phase Diagrams ........................................................... 4 2.3 Solid Slag Structure .................................................................................... 5 2.4 Liquid Slag Structure ................................................................................. 10 2.5 Basicity and B/A-ratio ................................................................................ 11 2.6 Slag Components...................................................................................... 13 2.6.1 Silicon dioxide .................................................................................... 13 2.6.2 Aluminum oxide ................................................................................. 13 2.6.3 Calcium oxide .................................................................................... 15 2.6.4 Iron oxide ........................................................................................... 16 2.6.5 Magnesium Oxide .............................................................................. 18 2.6.6 Potassium Oxide ................................................................................ 19 2.6.7 Sodium Oxide .................................................................................... 20 2.6.8 Titanium Oxide ................................................................................... 21 2.6.9 Phosphorous ...................................................................................... 22 2.6.10 Sulfur .............................................................................................. 22 2.7 Summary of Last Chapters ........................................................................ 23 3. Slag Viscosity Toolbox .................................................................................. 25 3.1 Slag Viscosity Predictor............................................................................. 25 3.2 Slag Viscosity Database............................................................................ 26 3.3 Prediction Quality of Viscosity Models ....................................................... 27 4. Classic Slag Viscosity Modelling ................................................................... 30 4.1 Selected Classic Viscosity Models ............................................................ 31 4.1.1 S2 ....................................................................................................... 32 4.1.2 Watt-Fereday ..................................................................................... 32 4.1.3 Bomkamp ........................................................................................... 32 4.1.4 Shaw .................................................................................................. 32 4.1.5 Lakatos .............................................................................................. 33 4.1.6 Urbain ................................................................................................ 33 4.1.7 Riboud ............................................................................................... 33 4.1.8 Streeter .............................................................................................. 34 4.1.9 Kalmanovitch-Frank ........................................................................... 34 4.1.10 BBHLW .......................................................................................... 34 4.1.11 Duchesne ....................................................................................... 34 4.1.12 ANNliq ............................................................................................ 35 4.2 Need of Improvement in Viscosity Literature ............................................. 35 4.3 Summary of Last Chapters ........................................................................ 36 5. Advanced Slag Viscosity Modelling .............................................................. 37 5.1 Crystallization ............................................................................................ 37 5.1.1 Nucleation .......................................................................................... 38 5.1.2 Crystallization Rate ............................................................................ 39 5.1.3 Crystallization Measurement Methods ............................................... 39 5.2 Slag Properties Changes During Crystallization ........................................ 40 5.2.1 Slag Density ....................................................................................... 40 5.2.2 Solid Volume Fraction ........................................................................ 46 5.2.3 Estimation of Slag Composition During Cooling ................................. 46 5.3 Viscosity Depending on Particles and Shear Rate..................................... 47 5.3.1 Einstein-Roscoe Equation .................................................................. 48 5.3.2 Improved Modelling Approach by Modified Einstein-Roscoe .............. 49 5.4 Summary of Last Chapters ........................................................................ 50 6. Experimental Procedures ............................................................................. 52 6.1 Viscosity Measurements ........................................................................... 52 6.1.1 Estimating Parameter Ranges of Viscosity Measurements ................ 53 6.1.2 Viscosity Measurement Procedure ..................................................... 54 6.2 Thermal Analysis of Slags ......................................................................... 55 6.2.1 Experimental Conditions of DTA ........................................................ 55 6.3 Phase Determination ................................................................................. 55 6.3.1 Quench Experiment Processing ......................................................... 56 6.3.2 Phase Determination on XRD Results ............................................... 56 6.4 Summary of Last Chapters ........................................................................ 57 7. Results and Discussion ................................................................................ 58 7.1 Selected Slag Samples ............................................................................. 58 7.1.1 Slag Sample Composition Before Viscosity Measurements ............... 58 7.1.2 Slag Sample Composition After Viscosity Measurements .................. 59 7.2 General Results of Viscosity Measurements ............................................. 60 7.2.1 Viscosity under Air Atmosphere ......................................................... 63 7.2.2 Viscosity under Reducing Atmospheres ............................................. 65 7.2.3 Viscosity under Constant Partial Oxygen Pressure ............................ 66 7.2.4 Summary of Last Chapter .................................................................. 68 7.3 Mineral Formation ..................................................................................... 69 7.3.1 General Results on Primarily Mineral Formation ................................ 69 7.3.2 Influences on Primarily Mineral Formation ......................................... 70 7.3.3 Mineral Formation over Wide Temperature Ranges ........................... 71 7.3.4 Summary of Last Chapter .................................................................. 77 7.4 Results Obtained by DTA .......................................................................... 78 7.4.1 Comparing Results obtained by DTA and Quenching ........................ 80 7.4.2 Summary of Last Chapter .................................................................. 82 7.5 Shear Rate Influence on Slag Viscosity ..................................................... 82 7.5.1 Shear Rate Influence under Oxidizing Atmospheres .......................... 83 7.5.2 Shear Rate Influence under Reducing Atmospheres .......................... 87 7.5.3 Shear Rate Influence under Constant Atmospheres .......................... 91 7.5.4 Summary of chapter ........................................................................... 92 7.6 Atmospheric Influence on Viscosity ........................................................... 93 7.6.1 Summary of Last Chapter .................................................................. 95 7.7 Cooling Rate Influence on Slag Viscosity .................................................. 95 7.7.1 Summary of Last Chapter .................................................................. 97 8. Advanced Viscosity Modelling Approach ...................................................... 99 8.1 Prediction Quality of Classical Viscosity Models ........................................ 99 8.1.1 Selecting the Best Viscosity Model for Newtonian Flow ..................... 99 8.1.2 Summary of Last Chapter ................................................................ 103 8.2 Predicting Liquidus Temperature ............................................................. 103 8.2.1 Comparing Liquidus Calculations and Quenching Experiments ....... 103 8.2.2 Comparing DTA Results and Liquidus Calculations ......................... 105 8.2.3 Summary of Last Chapter ................................................................ 107 8.3 Predicting Liquid Slag Composition ......................................................... 108 8.3.1 Results of Slag Composition Calculations at Oxidizing Conditions ... 108 8.3.2 Results of Slag Composition Calculations at Reducing Conditions ... 110 8.3.3 Summary of Last Chapter ................................................................ 111 8.4 Modelling Approach ................................................................................ 112 8.4.1 Development of Datasets for Advanced Viscosity Modeling ............. 113 8.4.2 Summary of Last Chapter ................................................................ 116 8.5 Results of Advanced Slag Viscosity Modelling Approach ........................ 116 8.5.1 Summary of Last Chapter ................................................................ 121 9. Summary .................................................................................................... 123 10. Appendix: Information on Classic Viscosity Modelling ................................. 126 10.1 Backgrounds of Applied Viscosity Models............................................ 126 10.2 Viscosity Model of the BCURA (S2) ..................................................... 129 10.3 Watt-Fereday ....................................................................................... 130 10.4 Bomkamp ............................................................................................ 130 10.5 Shaw ................................................................................................... 131 10.6 Lakatos Model ..................................................................................... 132 10.7 Urbain Model ....................................................................................... 133 10.8 Riboud Model ...................................................................................... 134 10.9 Streeter Model ..................................................................................... 136 10.10 Kalmanovitch-Frank Model .................................................................. 137 10.11 BBHLW Model ..................................................................................... 137 10.12 Duchesne Model .................................................................................. 139 10.13 ANNliq Model ...................................................................................... 141 11. Appendix: Settings of Equilibrium Calculations ........................................... 143 12. Appendix: Parameters of Einstein-Roscoe Equation ................................... 153 13. Appendix: Ash and Slag Sample Preparation ............................................. 155 14. Appendix: Experimental Procedures: Viscometer ....................................... 159 14.1 General Viscometer Description .......................................................... 159 14.2 Temperature Calibration ...................................................................... 160 14.3 Viscometer Calibration ......................................................................... 160 14.4 Accuracy and Reproducibility of HT-Viscosity Measurements .............. 161 14.5 Influence of Inductive Heating .............................................................. 163 14.6 Influence of Measurement System Materials ....................................... 164 15. Appendix: Experimental Procedures: Quenching Furnace .......................... 167 16. Appendix: Slag Sample Parameters and Composition ................................ 168 17. Appendix: Slag Viscosity Measurements Results ....................................... 175 18. Appendix: Viscosities at Different Cooling Rates ........................................ 182 19. Appendix: Slag Viscosity Modelling: AALE Calculations ............................. 187 20. Appendix: Advanced Viscosity Modelling: a-factors .................................... 193 21. Appendix: Slag Mineral Phase Investigations and Modelling ...................... 197 22. Appendix: Results of DTA Measurements on Slags .................................... 207 23. Appendix: Advanced Slag Viscosity Modelling Approach ............................ 211 References ........................................................................................................... 228