In-situ X-ray diffraction studies during growth of Ni-Ti shape memory alloy films and their complementary ex-situ characterization

Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) Ni-Ti films have attracted much interest as functional and smart materials due to their unique properties. However, there are still important issues unresolved like formation of film texture and its control as well as substrate effects. Thus, the main challenge is not only the control of the microstructure, including stoichiometry and precipitates, but also the identification and control of the preferential orientation since it is a crucial factor in determining the shape memory behaviour. The aim of this PhD thesis is to study the optimisation of the deposition conditions of films of Ni-Ti in order to obtain the material fully crystallized at the end of the deposition, and to establish a clear relationship between the substrates and texture development. In order to achieve this objective, a two-magnetron sputter deposition chamber has been used allowing to heat and to apply a bias voltage to the substrate. It can be mounted into the six-circle diffractometer of the Rossendorf Beamline (ROBL) at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), Grenoble, France, enabling an in-situ characterization by X-ray diffraction(XRD) of the films during their growth and annealing. The in-situ studies enable us to identify the different steps of the structural evolution during deposition with a set of parameters as well as to evaluate the effect of changing parameters on the structural characteristics of the deposited film. Besides the in-situ studies, other complementary ex-situ characterization techniques such as XRD at a laboratory source, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy(RBS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (X-TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrical resistivity (ER) measurements during temperature cycling have been used for a fine structural characterization. In this study, mainly naturally and thermally oxidized Si(100) substrates, TiN buffer layers with different thicknesses (i.e. the TiN topmost layer crystallographic orientation is thickness dependent) and MgO(100) single crystals were used as substrates. The chosen experimental procedure led to a controlled composition and preferential orientation of the films. The type of substrate plays an important role for the texture of the sputtered Ni-Ti films and according to the ER results, the distinct crystallographic orientations of the Ni-Ti films influence their phase transformation characteristics.

Complementary filter design with three frequency bands: robot attitude estimation

This paper extents the by now classic sensor fusion complementary filter (CF) design, involving two sensors, to the case where three sensors that provide measurements in different bands are available. This paper shows that the use of classical CF techniques to tackle a generic three sensors fusion problem, based solely on their frequency domain characteristics, leads to a minimal realization, stable, sub-optimal solution, denoted as Complementary Filters3 (CF3). Then, a new approach for the estimation problem at hand is used, based on optimal linear Kalman filtering techniques. Moreover, the solution is shown to preserve the complementary property, i.e. the sum of the three transfer functions of the respective sensors add up to one, both in continuous and discrete time domains. This new class of filters are denoted as Complementary Kalman Filters3 (CKF3). The attitude estimation of a mobile robot is addressed, based on data from a rate gyroscope, a digital compass, and odometry. The experimental results obtained are reported.

Fisioterapia : influ��ncia na qualidade de vida da mulher com cancro da mama : contributo para a qualidade do servi��o em oncologia

RESUMO - O cancro da mama �� uma preocupa����o da sa��de p��blica a n��vel mundial, pela sua incid��ncia, mortalidade e custos econ��micos associados. As terapias utilizadas no seu tratamento, embora eficazes, conduzem a altera����es de todas as dimens��es da Qualidade de Vida (QdV) da mulher com cancro da mama. A garantia de uma qualidade de servi��o prestado deve ser uma prioridade das organiza����es de sa��de, sendo a QdV uma medida de resultado. Partindo do pressuposto que em Portugal existe uma diferen��a potencial na forma como as mulheres com cancro da mama recebem o apoio por parte da fisioterapia, importa saber se a fisioterapia tem ou n��o influ��ncia na QdV da mulher com cancro da mama, o que, no caso de ser afirmativo, poder�� constituir uma mais-valia para a qualidade do servi��o prestado em oncologia. O Objectivo deste trabalho �� construir um modelo de an��lise no sentido de responder �� quest��o inicial de investiga����o: ���Ser�� que a fisioterapia contribui para a melhoria da Qualidade de Vida das mulheres com cancro da mama submetidas a cirurgia e outras terapias oncol��gicas?���. Neste sentido o trabalho de projecto dividiu-se por etapas. Inicialmente foi realizado um enquadramento te��rico, atrav��s de uma revis��o de literatura e da realiza����o de entrevistas explorat��rias, permitindo desta forma ter um conhecimento actual das tem��ticas que definem as vari��veis e o objecto de estudo. Na etapa seguinte, foi feita uma an��lise cr��tica sobre o conhecimento actual do tema em estudo, que permitiu definir as vari��veis a estudar, escolher o instrumento de medida a utilizar, ter conhecimento dos procedimentos a seguir. Ap��s a defini����o do objectivo geral (avaliar se a fisioterapia tem influ��ncia na QdV das mulheres submetidas a cirurgia e outras terapias oncol��gicas) e dos objectivos espec��ficos, iniciou-se o delineamento da metodologia tida como adequada para responder ��s quest��es de investiga����o levantadas (tipo de estudo, as vari��veis, a unidade de an��lise, os m��todos e t��cnicas de recolha de dados, os procedimentos e a metodologia de tratamento de dados). No ��mbito do trabalho de projecto est�� definida a coloca����o em campo de um caso de estudo efectivo que permita dar um contributo real no delineamento da metodologia. Neste trabalho optou-se pela realiza����o de um estudo piloto, que se enquadra nos procedimentos da metodologia e que teve por objectivo retirar algumas conclus��es sobre: a aplicabilidade do instrumento de medida; os tempos definidos para a recolha de dados; as caracter��sticas sociodemogr��ficas e cl��nicas da amostra; as quest��es de investiga����o levantadas. O estudo piloto consistiu num estudo pr��-experimental, com uma amostra de 35 indiv��duos, submetidos a cirurgia a cancro da mama e a outras terapias oncol��gicas. Foram avaliadas as dimens��es do bem-estar f��sico e actividades quotidianas, bem-estar psicol��gico, rela����es sociais, sintomas e caracter��sticas sociodemogr��ficas/cl��nicas, no in��cio do tratamento individual de fisioterapia e no momento de alta. Utilizou-se como instrumento de medida o question��rio EORTC QLQ���30 e o seu question��rio complementar EORTC QLQ���23. Tendo sido constru��da uma ficha para recolha de dados sociodemogr��ficos e cl��nicos. A signific��ncia estat��stica foi aceite para valores de p<0,05. Para compara����o entre grupos e evolu����o dentro de cada grupo aplicou-se o teste t-student e o teste de Mann-Whitney. A an��lise dos resultados do estudo piloto permitiu verificar que: - O instrumento de medida proposto (question��rio EORTC QLQ30 e BR23) mostrou ser de f��cil aplica����o, n��o tendo existido dificuldade por parte das doentes no seu preenchimento. N��o houve problemas no c��lculo dos scores e na sua interpreta����o; - Parte consider��vel das mulheres com cancro da mama ser�� submetida a protocolos que se poder��o prolongar por v��rios meses ap��s a cirurgia (ex: QT+RT+HT). Esta realidade leva-nos a propor que sejam realizados v��rios momentos de avalia����o, para que possam ser avaliadas as dimens��es da QdV ao longo dos diferentes protocolos de tratamentos. Pensamos que o ideal seria a realiza����o de 4 momentos de avalia����o (3 a 4 semanas ap��s a cirurgia, 3 meses, 6 meses e 9 meses ap��s cirurgia). Sugerimos tamb��m que o estudo proposto seja realizado com uma amostra de maior dimens��o; - O estudo piloto como recorreu a uma metodologia pr��-experimental (aus��ncia de grupo de controlo e apenas dois momentos de avalia����o), n��o permite a consist��ncia dos resultados; no entanto os resultados obtidos podem constituir um indicador de que a fisioterapia tem influ��ncia nas diferentes dimens��es da QdV da mulher com cancro da mama submetida a cirurgia e a outras terapias oncol��gicas, podendo constituir uma mais-valia para a qualidade do servi��o prestado em oncologia. Os resultados do estudo piloto permitiram redefinir a metodologia tida como adequada para responder �� quest��o de investiga����o inicial. Apresentamos de seguida a mesma: Estudo quase-experimental, sendo a amostra constitu��da por dois grupos de 60 mulheres cada, submetidas a cirurgia a cancro da mama e a outras terapias oncol��gicas. O grupo experimental ser�� submetido a tratamentos individuais de fisioterapia. Ser��o avaliadas as dimens��es do bem-estar f��sico e actividades quotidianas, bem-estar psicol��gico, rela����es sociais e sintomas. A recolha de dados ser�� realizada 3 semanas, 3 meses, 6 meses e 9 meses ap��s a cirurgia. Como instrumento de medida ser�� utilizado o question��rio EORTC QLQ���30 e o seu question��rio complementar EORTC QLQ���23, ser��o tamb��m recolhidos dados sociodemogr��ficos e cl��nicos. A signific��ncia estat��stica ser�� aceite para valores de p<0,05. Para compara����o entre grupos e evolu����o dentro de cada grupo ser��o utilizados testes param��tricos e n��o param��tricos. A realiza����o de um estudo que seguisse a metodologia acima referida permitiria uma maior consist��ncia dos resultados, podendo eventualmente existir a confirma����o de que a fisioterapia pode ter influ��ncia na QdV da mulher submetida a cirurgia a cancro da mama e a outras terapias oncol��gicas. A evid��ncia de que a fisioterapia tem influ��ncia na QdV da mulher com cancro da mama, e o facto de a QdV ser um indicador da qualidade do servi��o prestado em oncologia, poder��o constituir um agente facilitador para a mudan��a na gest��o de recursos humanos em organiza����es de sa��de com a val��ncia de oncologia, levando a uma altera����o dos padr��es de pr��tica na ��rea da fisioterapia em oncologia em Portugal, que poder�� conduzir a uma melhor qualidade de servi��o prestado ao doente oncol��gico. ----- ABSTRACT - Breast Cancer is a worldwide public health concern due to the incidence, mortality and economic costs associated. Although effective, therapies used in its treatment lead to changes in all Quality of Life (QoL) dimensions of a woman suffering from Breast Cancer. QoL is an outcome measure, and the insurance of quality of care provided should be a priority to health organizations. Taking into consideration that in Portugal there is a potential difference in the way women with Breast Cancer are provided with physical therapy, it is important to know whether physical therapy does or does not influence the QoL of women with breast cancer. If it does, it will lead to a health care quality improvement to cancer patients. The goal of the following study is to build an analysis model in order to answer the initial investigation question: ���Does Physical Therapy contribute to enhance the Quality of Life of women with breast cancer who underwent surgery and other oncology treatments?��� The project was divided in different stages. Initially, a literature revision was elaborated and exploratory interviews were held, which allowed an actual knowledge of the themes that define the variables and the object of study. The next stage included a critical analysis of the theme, which allowed the definition of variables of study, the choice of instrument of measure and the acquisition of some knowledge on how to proceed. After the definition of the general goal (to evaluate the influence of physical therapy on the QoL of women with breast cancer who underwent surgery and other oncology treatments) and specific goals, the choice of a right methodology took place, in order to answer the investigation questions (type of study, variables, unit analysis, methods and techniques on data collection, procedures and data treatment). In the scope of the project, it is decided to put out on the field an effective case-study which assures a real contribution on the choice of te methodology. In this particular work, there was a pilot study, included in the methodology procedures, with the goal of obtaining conclusions on the applicability of the instrument of measure; the length of time to collect data, the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the sample; the investigation questions. The pilot study consisted on a one group pretest-postest design, with a sample of 35 individuals who underwent surgery and other oncology treatments. Dimensions such as physical well-being and everyday life activities, psychological well-being, social relationships, symptoms and socio-demographical/clinical characteristics were assessed at the beginning of physical therapy individual treatment and at the moment of release. The instrument of measure used was the EORTC QLQ���30 questionnaire and its complementary questionnaire EORTC QLQ���23. A chart was made in order to collect socio-demographic and clinical data. Statistic significance was accepted for values of p<0,05. To compare between groups and to detect the evolution within each group, the t-student test and the Mann-Whitney test were applied. The outcome analysis of the pilot study allowed to verify that: - The instrument of measure proposed (EORTC QLQ30 and BR23) was easy to apply, and the subjects did not show any difficulty in filling it up. There was also no problem on calculating the scores or interpreting them; - A considerable part of the women with breast cancer will be submitted to protocols that may occur throughout several months after surgery (e.g., QT+RT+HT). This reality leads us to suggest several moments of assessment of the QoL dimensions in various moments of the different protocol treatments. We consider that the ideal number of evaluations would be 4 (3/4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 9 months after surgery). We also suggest the use of a larger sample; - Since the pilot study resorted to a one group pretest-postest design (there is an absence of control group and only two moments of assessment), there is no consistency of outcome. However, the results obtained indicate that physical therapy influences the dimensions of QoL on women with breast cancer who underwent surgery and other oncology treatments, which may be an asset to the quality of care provided to cancer patients. The outcome of the pilot study allowed to redefine the methodology given as adequate to answer the initial investigation question. Our suggestion is as follows: quasi-experimental design, with a sample of 120 subjects (2 groups of 60 women) with breast cancer who underwent surgery and other oncology treatments. The experimental group will be submitted to individual treatments of physical therapy. Dimensions such as physical well-being and everyday life activities, psychological well-being, social relationships and symptoms will be assessed. The collection of data will occur at 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 9 months after surgery. The instrument of measure is the EORTC QLQ���30 questionnaire and its complementary questionnaire EORTC QLQ���23, and social-demographic and clinical information will also be collected. The statistic significance will be accepted for values of p<0,05. Parametric and non-parametric tests will be used to compare between groups and to detect the evolution within each group. Carrying out a study that followed the methodology discussed above would allow a better consistency of results, possibly enabling the confirmation that physical therapy influences the QoL of women with breast cancer who underwent surgery and other oncology treatments. The evidence that physical therapy influences the QoL of women with breast cancer, and the fact that QoL is an indicator of quality of care provided to cancer patients, may work as a facilitating agent in the change of human resources management in health organizations associated to oncology, which will lead to a change in oncology physical therapy practice patterns in Portugal, guiding to a health care quality improvement to cancer patients.

A Rat Model of Diabetic Wound Infection for the Evaluation of Topical Antimicrobial Therapies

Diabetes mellitus is an epidemic multisystemic chronic disease that frequently is complicated by complex wound infections. Innovative topical antimicrobial therapy agents are potentially useful for multimodal treatment of these infections. However, an appropriately standardized in vivo model is currently not available to facilitate the screening of these emerging products and their effect on wound healing. To develop such a model, we analyzed, tested, and modified published models of wound healing. We optimized various aspects of the model, including animal species, diabetes induction method, hair removal technique, splint and dressing methods, the control of unintentional bacterial infection, sampling methods for the evaluation of bacterial burden, and aspects of the microscopic and macroscopic assessment of wound healing, all while taking into consideration animal welfare and the '3Rs' principle. We thus developed a new wound infection model in rats that is optimized for testing topical antimicrobial therapy agents. This model accurately reproduces the pathophysiology of infected diabetic wound healing and includes the current standard treatment (that is, debridement). The numerous benefits of this model include the ready availability of necessary materials, simple techniques, high reproducibility, and practicality for experiments with large sample sizes. Furthermore, given its similarities to infected-wound healing and treatment in humans, our new model can serve as a valid alternative for applied research.

Giardia intestinalis and nutritional status in children participating in the complementary nutrition program, Antioquia, Colombia, May to October 2006

Giardia intestinalis infection is prevalent throughout the world and widely distributed in developing countries. In general, children display serious consequences to their state of health, including slow height-weight development; therefore, the main aim of this study was to determine the association between Giardia infection and the nutritional status of children who participate in the program of complementary feeding (Mejoramiento Alimentario y Nutricional de Antioquia (MANA) - Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar (ICBF)). A cross-sectional study examining the association of giardiasis with nutritional status was conducted. A total of 2035 children aged eight months to six years-old were studied. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, anthropometric measurements and laboratory analysis of blood and stool samples. Analysis of the results showed that 27.6% of children were infected with G. intestinalis, while 8.1% and 1.9% were mildly and significantly underweight, respectively, and 14.1% presented stunting. Giardiasis was statistically identified as a strong predictor of stunting in this study population.

Compliance with ESPGHAN Position on Complementary Feeding in a Multicultural European Community. Does Ethnicity Matter?

Introduction: In 2008, ESPGHAN published a position paper on complementary feeding providing recommendations to health care professionals. Cultural and socio-economic factors might affect the compliance to these orientations. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of inadequacies during complementary feeding (ESPGHAN, 2008) and its association with different ethnic backgrounds. Methods: Cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of caretakers of children up to 24 months of age in a single community health centre in Greater Lisbon, through a volunteer, self-applied questionnaire. Results: From a sample of children with wide cultural diversity, 161 valid questionnaires were obtained (median child���s age 9 months, median mother���s age 32 years). The prevalence rate of at least one complementary feeding inadequacy was 46% (95%CI: 38.45-53.66). The commonest inadequacies were: avoiding lumpy solid foods after 10 months of age (66.7%), avoidance or delayed introduction of foods beyond 12 months (35.4%), introduction of gluten beyond 7 months (15.9%) or salt before 12 months (6.7%). For each increase of 1 month in the age of the child, the odds of inadequacies raised 36.7% (OR = 1.37; 95%CI: 1.20-1.56; p < 0.001). The odds for inadequacies in children of African or Brazilian offspring was three times higher that of Portuguese ancestry (OR = 3.31; 95%CI: 0.87-12.61; p = 0.079). The influence of grandparents was related to an increase in the odds of inadequacies (OR = 3.69; 95%CI: 0.96-14.18; p = 0.058).Conclusion: Inadequacies during complementary feeding are frequent and may be influenced by the cultural background.

Green innovation: How firms leverage capabilities, resources and complementary assets

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA ��� School of Business and Economics

Lean construction and sustainability - complementary paradigms - a case study

Proceedings IGLC-19, July 2011, Lima, Per��

Novel Cryopreservation Strategies for Cell���Therapies and Pre���Clinical Research

The expanding need for complex biologics for therapeutic applications, in���vitro pharmacology and toxicology studies and fundamental research demands the production of banks of well���characterized and safety���tested stocks of a large number of cell/tissue samples. This implies the development of effective cryopreservation methodologies that can cope with process scalability and automation and must reflect the biological and physical properties of the cells as these can be significantly altered by the process.

Analyzing Geospatial patterns of syrian refugee flows in southeastern Turkey by use of remote sensing and complementary data

Crisis-affected communities and global organizations for international aid are becoming increasingly digital as consequence geotechnology popularity. Humanitarian sector changed in profound ways by adopting new technical approach to obtain information from area with difficult geographical or political access. Since 2011, turkey is hosting a growing number of Syrian refugees along southeastern region. Turkish policy of hosting them in camps and the difficulty created by governors to international aid group expeditions to get information, made such international organizations to investigate and adopt other approach in order to obtain information needed. They intensified its remote sensing approach. However, the majority of studies used very high-resolution satellite imagery (VHRSI). The study area is extensive and the temporal resolution of VHRSI is low, besides it is infeasible only using these sensors as unique approach for the whole area. The focus of this research, aims to investigate the potentialities of mid-resolution imagery (here only Landsat) to obtain information from region in crisis (here, southeastern Turkey) through a new web-based platform called Google Earth Engine (GEE). Hereby it is also intended to verify GEE currently reliability once the Application Programming Interface (API) is still in beta version. The finds here shows that the basic functions are trustworthy. Results pointed out that Landsat can recognize change in the spectral resolution clearly only for the first settlement. The ongoing modifications vary for each case. Overall, Landsat demonstrated high limitations, but need more investigations and may be used, with restriction, as a support of VHRSI.

A utiliza����o de terapias alternativas e complementares. Um estudo explorat��rio

Disserta����o de Mestrado apresentada ao ISPA - Instituto Universit��rio

Conservative therapies for hemorrhagic radiation proctitis: a review

Chronic radiation proctitis represents a challenging condition seen with increased frequency due to the common use of radiation for treatment of pelvic cancer. Hemorrhagic radiation proctitis represents the most feared complication of chronic radiation proctitis. There is no consensus for the management of this condition despite the great number of clinical approaches and techniques that have been employed. Rectal resection represents an available option although associated with high morbidity and risk of permanent colostomy. The effectiveness of nonoperative approaches remains far from desirable, and hemorrhagic recurrence represents a major drawback that leads to a need for consecutive therapeutic sessions and combination of techniques. We conducted a critical review of published reports regarding conservative management of hemorrhagic chronic radiation proctitis. Although prospective randomized trials about hemorrhagic radiation proctitis are still lacking, there is enough evidence to conclude that topical formalin therapy and an endoscopic approach delivering an argon plasma coagulation represent available options associated with elevated effectiveness for interruption of rectal bleeding in patients with chronic radiation proctitis.

Bacterial vaginosis biofilms: challenges to current therapies and emerging solutions

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common genital tract infection in women during their reproductive years and it has been associated with serious health complications, such as preterm delivery and acquisition or transmission of several sexually transmitted agents. BV is characterized by a reduction of beneficial lactobacilli and a significant increase in number of anaerobic bacteria, including Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, Mobiluncus spp., Bacteroides spp. and Prevotella spp.. Being polymicrobial in nature, BV etiology remains unclear. However, it is certain that BV involves the presence of a thick vaginal multi-species biofilm, where G. vaginalis is the predominant species. Similar to what happens in many other biofilm-related infections, standard antibiotics, like metronidazole, are unable to fully eradicate the vaginal biofilm, which can explain the high recurrence rates of BV. Furthermore, antibiotic therapy can also cause a negative impact on the healthy vaginal microflora. These issues sparked the interest in developing alternative therapeutic strategies. This review provides a quick synopsis of the currently approved and available antibiotics for BV treatment while presenting an overview of novel strategies that are being explored for the treatment of this disorder, with special focus on natural compounds that are able to overcome biofilm-associated antibiotic resistance.

Hydrogels and cell based therapies in spinal cord injury regeneration

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a central nervous system- (CNS-) related disorder for which there is yet no successful treatment. Within the past several years, cell-based therapies have been explored for SCI repair, including the use of pluripotent human stem cells, and a number of adult-derived stem and mature cells such as mesenchymal stem cells, olfactory ensheathing cells, and Schwann cells. Although promising, cell transplantation is often overturned by the poor cell survival in the treatment of spinal cord injuries. Alternatively, the therapeutic role of different cells has been used in tissue engineering approaches by engrafting cells with biomaterials. The latter have the advantages of physically mimicking the CNS tissue, while promoting a more permissive environment for cell survival, growth, and differentiation. The roles of both cell- and biomaterial-based therapies as single therapeutic approaches for SCI repair will be discussed in this review. Moreover, as the multifactorial inhibitory environment of a SCI suggests that combinatorial approaches would be more effective, the importance of using biomaterials as cell carriers will be herein highlighted, as well as the recent advances and achievements of these promising tools for neural tissue regeneration.

Current approaches and future perspectives on strategies for the development of personalized tissue engineering therapies

Personalized tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) therapies propose patient-oriented effective solutions, considering individual needs. Cell-based therapies, for example, may benefit from cell sources that enable easier autologous set-ups or from recent developments on IPS cells technologies towards effective personalized therapeutics. Furthermore, the customization of scaffold materials to perfectly fit a patient�� s tissue defect through rapid prototyping technologies, also known as 3D printing, is now a reality. Nevertheless, the timing to expand cells or to obtain functional����in vitrotissue substitutes prior to implantation prevents advancements towards routine use upon patient����s needs. Thus, personalized therapies also anticipate the importance of creating off-the-shelf solutions to enable immediately available tissue engineered products. This paper reviews the main recent developments and future challenges to enable personalized TERM approaches and to bring these technologies closer to clinical applications.