Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar os processos de migrações pendulares verificados entre os municípios pertencentes à Região Metropolitana de Manaus. Para isto buscaremos compreender como se deu o processo de constituição desta região, bem como a relação de sua criação com a lógica de criação de Regiões Metropolitanas no Brasil. Duas de suas características que a colocam em situação de diferença é, em princípio, sua dimensão, 101.475 Km², e sua distribuição, dada em uma área de características predominantemente rural, florestal e sem conurbação, onde a cidade mais próxima do centro da cidade Manaus é a do Careiro da Várzea, a 22 km de distância e a mais distante é a de Itacoatiara, com 177 km, ambas por linha reta, sendo que a primeira se liga a capital apenas através de barcos, e a segunda através de rodovia. A Região Metropolitana de Manaus se apresenta como um arquipélago onde Manaus pode ser compreendida como resultado de uma urbanização macrocefálica, praticamente vinte vezes maior que o segundo municípios, Itacoatiara, e mais de cem vezes o de menor população, Careiro da Várzea, sendo que esses municípios se apresentam como resultado de uma urbanização ainda insipiente, apresentando muitas características rurais. Frente a isto buscamos quantificar e qualificar os fluxos de trabalhadores e estudantes diários, observados entre os municípios, tendo como ênfase de análise os municípios com maior propensão à integração com a cidade de Manaus, Careiro da Várzea e Iranduba, pois são as que se encontram separadas da capital apenas por curso d´água. Entre Manaus e Iranduba especificamente analisaremos como a construção da Ponte sobre o Rio Negro possibilitará o processo de urbanização acelerada em Iranduba, bem como a especulação gerada pelo capital imobiliário no município. Frente a isto buscamos compreender qual o papel do Poder público, no modelo de desenvolvimento que se espera para a região. / This research has as objective Analyze the processes of commuting recorded between the municipalities in the Metropolitan Region of Manaus. This is why we will understand how the process of constitution of the region, as well as the relation of its creation with the logic of creation of Metropolitan regions in Brazil. Two of its characteristics that place in a situation of difference, it is, in principle, its size, 101.475 Km², and its distribution, given in an area of features predominantly rural, forestry and without conurbation, where the closest city to the center of the city Manaus is the Careiro da Varzea, 22 Km away and the more distant is the Itacoatiara with 177 km, both by straight line, being that first binds to the capital only through boats, and the second through road. The Metropolitan Region of Manaus is presented as an archipelago where Manaus can be understood as the result of an urbanization macrocephalic, with a population almost 20 times higher than the second municipalities, Itacoatiara, and more than a hundred times the smaller the population, Careiro da Varzea, Being that these municipalities are presented as a result of urbanization is still insipient, presenting many rural characteristics. Front of the that we seek to quantify and qualify the flows of workers and students daily, observed between the municipalities, with the emphasis of analysis the municipalities with the highest propensity for integration with the city of Manaus, Careiro da Várzea and Iranduba, because they are the ones that are separated of the capital only for watercourse. Between Manaus and Iranduba specifically we will examine how the construction of the Bridge over the Rio Negro will enable the process of accelerated urbanization in Iranduba, as well as speculation generated by real estate capital of the municipality. Because of that we seek to understand what is the role of the public Power, In the model of development that is expected for the region.

The production of fully functional haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for clinical transplantation is a highly sought after goal in the field of regenerative medicine. Given their capacity for extensive self-renewal and differentiation into any cell type, human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) provide a potentially limitless source of haematopoietic cells in vitro for clinical application. However, to date, fully functional HSCs have not been produced from hPSCs without the overexpression of transcription factors. In this study I first investigated the production of HSCs and haematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) in an established clinical-grade haematopoietic differentiation protocol. I demonstrated the efficient and reproducible production of HPCs but showed that the strategy did not produce fully functional HSCs that could repopulate the haematopoietic system of immune-deficient mice. Modification of the protocol by manipulation of the hedgehog signalling pathway and co-aggregation with OP9 stromal cells did not provide any significant enhancement of HPC production. To gain the required knowledge with which to improve our current protocol, I therefore switched my focus towards studying the development of HSCs in the early human embryo. It has been shown that HSCs first emerge from the ventral wall of the dorsal aorta in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region of the human embryo but the precise location and the mechanisms underpinning this process remain unknown. In this study, I established a culture system to map the spatio-temporal distribution of HSCs and to investigate the presence of HSC precursors. I showed that embryonic HSCs emerge predominantly around and above the vitelline artery entry point in the dorsal aorta and can be maintained in our explant culture system. I then performed RNA-sequencing of cells derived from AGM sub-regions, and this identified molecular signatures which could potentially underlie the ventral polarity of HSC emergence in the AGM. To elucidate the role of the stromal compartment in this unique haematopoietic niche, I derived stromal cell lines from the human AGM region and showed they were capable of supporting haematopoiesis in vitro. This work has provided some important insights into the mechanisms regulating HSC development in the human AGM region and identified interesting candidate molecules for future testing in differentiation protocols. This knowledge brings us a step closer to the successful in vitro production of HSCs for clinical use.

This study investigates issues impeding effective school leadership in Solomon Islands' secondary schools. In particular, it examines principals' perceptions of those issues that impede their effective leadership of their schools. There is an international literature focusing on this area that has contributed to the study. However, many of the research findings in western contexts are invalid in the context of a developing nation such as the Solomon Islands. Thus contextual specificity was an important underlying factor in the study. The research data was gathered using qualitative methods. Specifically, interviews with five principals were conducted using semi-structured interviews and was analysed using a thematic analysis approach. The research fieldwork was carried out in the Solomon Islands in August 2006. A sample of five participants was used. They were selected from five schools representing Community High Schools (CHS) and senior Provincial Secondary Schools (PSS) in two provinces and the Honiara City Council. The key findings of the study identify a range of factors that inhibit effective school leadership. These included a lack of initial training and support for on-going professional learning, unfavourable conditions of service, poor quality of teachers' professional practice, poor school facilities and infrastructure, poor administrative infrastructure, lack of appropriate and adequate financial resources, lack of support personnel, policy and systemic issues, social and cultural issues, and issues pertaining to school-community partnerships. Based on the findings identified in the study, recommendations were made on how to improve effective leadership of the schools throughout the Solomon Islands. Of particular importance is the establishment of professional development programmes for both newly appointed and servicing principals. Such programmes should enhance the leadership capacity of the principals in the schools and create a more conducive learning environment.

Vol. 2 includes five folded maps in pockets. Bibliography: v. 1, leaves 252-271. Vol. 1. Text and appendices -- v. 2. Figures -- v. 3. Plates.

Current designs of bileaflet mechanical heart valves (BMHVs) and trileaflet polymeric heart valves(TPHVs) are plagued by unacceptable levels of hemolysis and thrombus formation in critical areas thereby producing mediocre clinical performance. The objective of this study is: (1) to investigate the influence of BMHV designs on hinge flow characteristics, (2) to quantify the influence of hinge gap width tolerance in a BMHV design, and (3) to investigate the influence of TPHV design on flow characteristics. St. Jude Medical (SJM) provided four transparent mitral BMHVs: one 23 mm CarboMedics (CM), one 27 mm SJM Standard and two 27 mm prototype BHMVs with altered hinge gap widths. Aortech Inc. provided three 23 mm aortic prototype TPHVs. Laser Doppler velocimetry and Particle Image velocimetry were used to measure flow velocity inside these valve prostheses. The flows through the valves were maintained within physiological limits. All valves revealed Reynolds shear stress (RSS) levels greater than 200 Pa far exceeding the threshold for platelet activation and hemolysis. MHV hinge flows in the mitral position were characterized by a strong recirculation during ventricular diastole while leakage jets over and adjacent to leaflets were prominent during ventricular systole. CM hinge flow had higher RSS than in the SJM hinge. The large gap width hinge had the largest leakage jet size and highest RSS (>400 Pa) during ventricular diastole. The Standard gap width hinge showed better washout during systole and provided optimum hemodynamic performance than the prototype designs. In aortic prototype PHVs, elevated RSS conducive to hemolysis was observed along the central jet during systole and the leakage jet at the high central region inside the valve during diastole. This study showed that hinge geometry designs and hinge gap width tolerance governed the success of the bileaflet MHV design. Also the performance of the three aortic PHVs is dependent on commissural designs and leaflet thicknesses. Owing to the critical nature flow fields on clinical outcomes studies such as the current study should be conducted in the pre-clinical evaluation phase for all new MHV or PHVs.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Florida, 2005. / Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 326 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

Completion Report / Contract No. 26-235-816-40-2-050-0735 / Arizona Department of Health Services / Bureau of Water Quality Control

Authors' manuscript for published article / paper presented at Symposium on U.S.-Mexican Transboundary Resources, Part II. (publication information from WorldCat.) / This article discusses ground-water resources along the Arizona-Sonora border from Yuma, Arizona to the Douglas-Rio Yaqui region in Eastern Arizona. Transfrontier physiography and geology are reviewed to understand the physical occurrence of ground water, its storage, movement, depth, and availability. The border region is divided into five zones or basins for ground-water supply; then the utilization of ground-water resources is detailed, including kinds of development and production water quality considerations, and present and future resource supply problems. Particular attention is paid to the extensive pumping proposals at San Luis, Sonora near the Colorado River. The need for better institutional arrangements to plan and manage the conjunctive use of both surface and ground-water supplies is discussed as a summary conclusion.