Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationEach year in the United States, a quarter million cases of stroke are caused directly by atherosclerotic disease of the cervical carotid artery. This represents a significant portion of health care costs that could be avoided if high-risk carotid artery lesions could be detected early on in disease progression. There is mounting evidence that Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the carotid artery can better classify subjects who would benefit from interventions. Turbo Spin Echo sequences are a class of Magnetic Resonance Imaging sequences that provide a variety of tissue contrasts. While high resolution Turbo Spin Echo images have demonstrated important details of carotid artery morphology, it is evident that pulsatile blood and wall motion related to the cardiac cycle are still significant sources of image degradation. In addition, patient motion artifacts due to the relatively long scan times of Turbo Spin Echo sequences result in an unacceptable fraction of noninterpretable studies. This dissertation presents work done to detect and correct for types of voluntary and physiological patient motion

Os conhecimentos e as práticas adotadas pelos enfermeiros dos cuidados de saúde primários, na prevenção da recorrência da urolitíase.

A probabilidade de recorrência da urolitíase é elevada, e manifesta-se no sofrimento do doente, da sua família e pessoas significativas. Há gastos dispendiosos em novos internamentos, medicação, bem como ocorrência de absentismo laboral. Daí a necessidade urgente do ensino ao doente e à família no sentido de adotar medidas de forma a prevenir a formação de novos cálculos e nada melhor do que envolver o enfermeiro que é um educador para a saúde por excelência. Decorrente desta necessidade decidiu-se avaliar os conhecimentos e as práticas adotadas pelos enfermeiros dos cuidados de saúde primários, alargando e tornando mais equitativo o acesso à prevenção da urolitíase. Com o objetivo de avaliar os conhecimentos e as práticas adotadas pelos enfermeiros dos cuidados de saúde primários de um Agrupamento de Centros de Saúde na Região Centro de Portugal, na prevenção da recorrência da urolitíase, realizou-se um estudo de natureza quantitativa, descritivo, correlacional e transversal. O método de recolha de dados foi o questionário construído para o efeito. Definiu-se como população todos os enfermeiros de cuidados de saúde primários que prestam cuidados num ACES na Região Centro de Portugal e que participaram de forma voluntária. Neste estudo verificou-se que o nível de conhecimentos dos inquiridos não foi influenciado pelo perfil académico e profissional. Constatou-se que o nível de conhecimentos no geral é bom. Identificaram-se como áreas deficitárias a eliminação urinária diária e a dieta. Quanto aos dados obtidos e relacionados com as práticas e comportamentos de educação para a saúde, observa-se que a frequência é baixa e por este motivo os dados são pouco expressivos. Pode-se afirmar que há bons conhecimentos nesta área, mas há pouca implementação prática e comportamental dos mesmos. Espera-se que com este estudo haja um despertar para a necessidade da elaboração de novos estudos nesta área. Sugere-se que em estudos futuros, explorem a compreensão das práticas e dos comportamentos de educação para a saúde adotados pelos enfermeiros de cuidados de saúde primários, comparando-o com uma população de enfermeiros que cuidam diariamente de utentes diagnosticados com urolitíase

Oral History Conversation with Christopher Yanov (Reality Changers)

This is an oral history conversation with Christopher Yanov (Reality Changers)

Oral History Conversation with Jason Buys

This is an oral history conversation with Jay Buys

Seismic structural assessment of the Christchurch Catholic Basilica, New Zealand

An evaluation of the seismic performance of the Christchurch Catholic Basilica, New Zealand, also known as the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, is presented. The cultural importance of the Basilica has been recognised, as it is listed as a Category I building on the New Zealand heritage register. Four strong earthquakes that occurred between September 2010 and June 2011 caused progressive damage and local collapse in the Basilica. Numerical analyses were performed to allow a seismic assessment of the Basilica using the Finite Element Method. A macro-modelling approach following homogenization concepts was considered and the seismic behaviour of the structure was evaluated through pushover analysis with the distribution of forces being proportional to the mass. The analyses allowed damage patterns and capacity curves to be determined, and identified the most vulnerable elements, the maximum load capacity, and the expected collapse mechanisms. Furthermore, a comparison between the numerical output and the existing crack patterns was undertaken, and good agreement was obtained. Finally, two strengthening techniques were evaluated with the aim of reducing the seismic vulnerability of the structure by avoiding collapse of the most vulnerable structural elements.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

NEW RECORD AND DISTRIBUTION EXTENSION OF Leptodactylus paraensis HEYER, 2005 (AMPHIBIA, ANURA, LEPTODACTILIDAE) IN STATE OF PARÁ, BRAZIL.

We report a new record of Leptodactylus paraensis in the state of Pará, extending its distribution over 500km northwest of the type-locality. Key words: Leptodactylus; distribution; Amazon; state of Pará. ABSTRACT Novo registro e extensão da distribuição de Leptodactylus paraensis Heyer, 2005 (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactilidae) no estado do Pará, Brasil. Nós relatamos um novo registro de Leptodactylus paraensis no estado do Pará, estendendo a sua distribuição com mais de 500 quilômetros a noroeste da localidade-tipo. Palavras-chave: Leptodactylus, distribuição, Amazônia, Pará

Free-breathing black-blood CINE fast-spin echo imaging for measuring abdominal aortic wall distensibility: a feasibility study.

The paper reports a free-breathing black-blood CINE fast-spin echo (FSE) technique for measuring abdominal aortic wall motion. The free-breathing CINE FSE includes the following MR techniques: (1) variable-density sampling with fast iterative reconstruction; (2) inner-volume imaging; and (3) a blood-suppression preparation pulse. The proposed technique was evaluated in eight healthy subjects. The inner-volume imaging significantly reduced the intraluminal artifacts of respiratory motion (p  =  0.015). The quantitative measurements were a diameter of 16.3  ±  2.8 mm and wall distensibility of 2.0  ±  0.4 mm (12.5  ±  3.4%) and 0.7  ±  0.3 mm (4.1  ±  1.0%) for the anterior and posterior walls, respectively. The cyclic cross-sectional distensibility was 35  ±  15% greater in the systolic phase than in the diastolic phase. In conclusion, we developed a feasible CINE FSE method to measure the motion of the abdominal aortic wall, which will enable clinical scientists to study the elasticity of the abdominal aorta

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mindfulness-Based Weight Loss Intervention on Cardiovascular Reactivity to Social-Evaluative Threat Among Adults with Obesity.

Objective:Mindfulness-based interventions have been found to reduce psychological and physiological stress reactivity. In obesity, however, stress reactivity is complex, with studies showing both exaggerated and blunted physiological responses to stressors. A nuanced view of stress reactivity is the "challenge and threat" framework, which defines adaptive and maladaptive patterns of psychophysiological stress reactivity. We hypothesized that mindfulness training would facilitate increased challenge-related appraisals, emotions, and cardiovascular reactivity, including sympathetic nervous system activation paired with increased cardiac output (CO) and reduced total peripheral resistance (TPR) compared to a control group, which would exhibit an increased threat pattern of psychophysiological reactivity to repeated stressors.Methods:Adults (N=194) with obesity were randomized to a 5.5-month mindfulness-based weight loss intervention or an active control condition with identical diet-exercise guidelines. Participants were assessed at baseline and 4.5 months later using the Trier Social Stress Task. Electrocardiogram, impedance cardiography, and blood pressure were acquired at rest and during the speech and verbal arithmetic tasks to assess pre-ejection period (PEP), CO, and TPR reactivity.Results:Mindfulness participants showed significantly greater maintenance of challenge-related emotions and cardiovascular reactivity patterns (higher CO and lower TPR) from pre to post-intervention compared to control participants, but groups did not differ in PEP. Findings were independent of changes in body mass index.Conclusions:Mindfulness training may increase the ability to maintain a positive outlook and mount adaptive cardiovascular responses to repeated stressors among persons with obesity though findings need to be replicated in other populations and using other forms of mindfulness interventions

Una colección de los anfibios y reptiles del instituto nacional de pesquisas de la amazônia

Scientific collections with regional representation are relevant sources for taxonomic, ecological, biogeographic and conservation status of species. Alongside this importance, we present a list of amphibians and reptiles stored at the herpetological collection of the National Institute of Amazonian Research – INPA, in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.Colecciones científicas de fuentes regionales son relevantes para la taxonomía, la ecología, biogeografía y la conservación de las especies. Junto a esta importancia, se presenta una lista de los anfibios y reptiles depositados en la colección herpetológica del Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia - INPA, en Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil