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The present study was performed aiming to investigate a large number and a wide variety of mosquitoes from various regions of Germany for the presence of defined groups of parasites. Accordingly, during three successive years between 2010 and 2012, more than 140.000 mosquitoes, trapped at various sites in Germany, were characterized and analysed. The selected trapping sites, most of them located in southwest and northeast Germany, are known tor their abundant occurrence of mosquitoes, such as the foodplains of the river Isar. In addition, some of them represent important stepping stones for migrating birds, such as the Lake Chiemsee or the Lake Constance. The mosquitoes were characterized on the basis of morphological criteria. The results indicated, that the main autochthonous species generally present in Germany were trapped, in particular abundant species such as Aedes vexans and Culex pipiens s. l.. As morphological criteria do not allow the discrimination of members of the Culex pipiens complex or between females of Culex pipiens and Culex torrentium, a multiplex real-time PCR was developed for the rapid genetic differentiation of the various Culex species and biotypes. Using this method, hybrids of Cx. pipiens pipiens biotype pipiens and biotype molestus were detected in Germany for the first time. These hybrids are known as important bridge vectors for the transmission of West Nile virus from birds to humans. To fascilitate the detection of parasites in such a large number of mosquio samples within a reasoonable period of time, further multiplex real-time PCR assays were developed to allow analyses of respective microbial DNAs by high-throughput screening. The results indicated that a considerable number of German mosquitoes are carrying filariae. In this context, a new filarial species was detected, occuring primarily in southern Germany. The reservoir of this new filarial species is probably birds, as it was detected mainly in ornithophilic mosquitoes. Studies on Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens as well as Onchocerca lupi, three zoonotic filarial species endemis in southern Europe and pathofenic for humans, revealed the detection of a focus of stable transmission of D. repens in the federal state of Brandenburg. This rilarial species was detected in several mosquito catches from 2011 and 2012, along the Oder Valley in the vincinity of the town of Eberswalde. As there were reports on cases of avian malaira in the zoo of Heidelberg in 2010 screening of mosquitoes was extended for the presence of Haemosporidia, such as Haemoproteus sp., Leukocytozoon sp. or Plasmodium sp.. A multiplex real-time PCR was developed able to detect nematodes as well as blood protozoans. Depending on the catchment area, more than 70 % of the mosquitoes were positive for at least one of the two groups of parasites.

Rehabilitasyondaki yeni gelişmeler ve biyopsikososyal modelin ortaya çıkması, SKY rehabilitasyonunda öncelikli hedef olarak fiziksel fonksiyonu iyileştirmekten çok yaşam kalitesi ve topluma uyumu artırmaya odaklanılmasına yol açmıştır. Bu çalışmada 1999 yılında gerçekleşen Gölcük depreminde SKY gelişen bireylerin demografik verileri ile depresyon, anksiyete, yaşam kalitesi, algıladıkları sosyal destek ve psikososyal uyumlarının değerlendirilmesi amaçlandı. Ayrıca bulgular deprem dışı nedenlerle SKY gelişen hastaların sonuçlarıyla karşılaştırıldı.Gölcük depremi sonrası 1999 yılında SKY gelişen ortalama yaşı 42.5±12 olan 27-63 yaş aralığındaki 10'u kadın 14'ü erkek 24 paraplejik hastaya ulaşıldı. Depremzede ve deprem dışı SKY grubunda çok boyutlu algılanan sosyal destek ölçütü, psikososyal uyum ve Beck depresyon skorlarında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı herhangi bir farklılık saptanmadı (p0.05). SF-36 alt skorlarından fiziksel fonksiyon deprem dışı SKY'lilere göre depremzedelerde daha düşük (p=0.05), genel sağlık algısı (p=0.01) ise daha yüksek olarak saptandı.Depremzede SKY'li hastalar; daha fazla oranda lezyon seviyesi altında ağrı (%80'e karşılık %40) (p=0.047), cinsel yaşamda daha fazla oranda problem (%50'ye karşılık %5) (p=0.003), ASIA bozukluk skalasına göre daha alt nörolojik seviyede yaralanma, yaralanma sonrası daha fazla oranda psikiyatrik destek alma (%75'e karşılık %50) ve deprem dışı SKY'li gruba göre daha az iş hayatına dönme oranlarına sahipti (%17 ye karşılık %30) (p=0,017). Çalışmamız Türkiye'de Gölcük depremi sonrası SKY gelişen hastaların demografik özellikleri ile birlikte nörolojik seviye, yaşam kalitesi, depresyon, algılanan sosyal destek ve psikososyal uyumunu değerlendiren ve deprem dışı SKY grubu ile karşılaştıran ilk çalışma olması nedeniyle önemlidir. Depremzede SKY'liler daha fazla ağrı, daha fazla cinsel sorun ve daha az iş sahibi olmaları göz önünde tutularak rehabilitasyon programı düzenlenmelidir Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a cause of disability affecting patient's physical, social, cognitive and emotional functions. New developments in rehabilitation and invention of bio-psychosocial evaluation model of disability resulted in improvement of quality of life and adaptation to the society rather than improvement physical functional status, which is primary goal.This study aims evaluation of depression, anxiety, quality of life, social support and psychosocial adaptation perception in persons who had SCI following Gölcük earthquake in 1999. Also these findings were compared to with non-earthquake SCI patients.We identified 24 paraplegic patients (14 men, 10 women) who had SCI with mean age of 42.5±12, ranging from 27 to 63. The difference between social support measurement perception, psychosocial adaptation and Beck depression scores were not earthquake victims with SCI and control group statistical significant (p=0.05). SF-36 scores for physical functioning were lower in non-earthquake SCI patients than in earthquake victims. Patients with earthquake SCI had more pain in below lesion (%80 versus %40) (p=0.047), had more sexual problems (%50 versus %5) (p=0.003), had lower employment rate (% 17 versus %30), had lower neurological level according AIS and got more psychiatric support (%50 versus %75) than non- earthquake SCI patients.Our study is important because it is the first analysis comparing neurologic level, quality of life, depression, perceived social support and psychosocial adaptation in earthquake SCI patients to those of non-earthquake SCI patients. Rehabilitation program must be compose while keeping in mind that people with SCI due to earthquake have more pain, sexual problems and higher unemployment rate 95

The interstellar medium fills the space between the stars in our Galaxy. Depending on the thermodynamic state, it is possible to distinguish between three phases: a cold and dense phase consisting of clouds of atomic and molecular hydrogen; a warm inter-cloud phase comprising tenuous ionised and neutral gas; a dynamic hot phase represented by highly ionised gas, shock-heated by supernova explosions. The cold phase includes the cosmic dust, which represents only a small fraction of the mass of the interstellar medium, but it fulfils an important role in the Galaxy, especially in star and planet formation. This thesis studies the extinction of X-rays by dust grains in our Galaxy. In particular, this work investigates the physical and chemical characteristics of all phases of the interstellar medium, especially of interstellar dust. This is carried out by combining high-resolution spectroscopy of bright X-ray sources and with new extinction models, based on synchrotron measurements.

お茶の水女子大学人間文化創成科学研究科博士(理学)学位論文･令和元年度3月23日授与(甲第350号) 学位論文

Основни циљ истраживања у дисертацији је испитивање примене дистрибуираних акустичких сензора на проблем аутоматског препознавања говора. Услед реверберације говора у затвореном простору долази до проблема да снимљени сигнал садржи више одјека и шума него директног звука. Овај проблем се решава применом различитих алгоритама базираних на обради сигнала помоћу микрофонских низова и решетки. На основу аналитичког модела простора са реверберацијом реализован је систем дистрибуираних акустичких сензора за подршку говорне комуникације у паметним кућама. Добијени резултати указују да је једноставним дистрибуираним сензорима могуће остварити тачност препознавања говора попут тачности код комерцијалних система. Osnovni cilj istraživanja u disertaciji je ispitivanje primene distribuiranih akustičkih senzora na problem automatskog prepoznavanja govora. Usled reverberacije govora u zatvorenom prostoru dolazi do problema da snimljeni signal sadrži više odjeka i šuma nego direktnog zvuka. Ovaj problem se rešava primenom različitih algoritama baziranih na obradi signala pomoću mikrofonskih nizova i rešetki. Na osnovu analitičkog modela prostora sa reverberacijom realizovan je sistem distribuiranih akustičkih senzora za podršku govorne komunikacije u pametnim kućama. Dobijeni rezultati ukazuju da je jednostavnim distribuiranim senzorima moguće ostvariti tačnost prepoznavanja govora poput tačnosti kod komercijalnih sistema. The main goal of the dissertation is to examine the application of distributed acoustic sensors to the problem of automatic speech recognition. Due to the reverberation of indoor speech, there is a problem that the recorded signal contains more echoes and noise than direct sound. This problem is solved by applying different algorithms based on signal from microphone arrays and microphone grids. Based on the analytical model of the reverberated space, a system of distributed acoustic sensors was realized to support voice communication in smart home environment. Results show that simple distributed sensors can achieve recognition performance similar to those found in state–of-the-art systems available on the market.

Unter den verschiedenen additiven Fertigungsverfahren stellt das selektive Laserschmelzen (SLM) eine optimale Technologie für die Herstellung von metallischen Bauteilen mit komplexen Geometrien und hervorragenden Eigenschaften dar. SLM-Bauteile werden Schicht für Schicht mit hochenergetischen Laserstrahlen hergestellt, was das SLM flexibler als konventionelle Produktionstechnologien wie das Gießen macht. Die beim SLM auftretenden schnellen Aufheiz-/Kühlraten können zu deutlich unterschiedlichen Gefügen im Vergleich zu herkömmlichen Herstellungsverfahren führen. Die beim SLM entstehenden Hochtemperaturgradienten können sich weiterhin positiv auf die Gefügeentstehung (Phasenbildung, Morphologie, …) und damit auf die mechanischen Eigenschaften der SLM-Bauteile auswirken. Darüber hinaus können die mit SLM gefertigten Teile mit der Notwendigkeit einer minimalen Nachbearbeitung in den Einsatz genommen werden. Bisher wurden mehrere Studien zu den Parametern: Optimierung oder Verarbeitung von Verbundwerkstoffen mit fehlerfreien Teilen durchgeführt Die Scanstrategie hat dabei einen besonders großen Einfluss bei der Materialbearbeitung durch die additive Fertigung. Die Optimierung der Scanstrategie ist daher von zentraler Bedeutung für die Synthese von Materialien mit verbesserten physikalischen und mechanischen Eigenschaften. Diese Arbeit untersucht die Wirkung von vier verschiedenen Scanning-Strategien auf das Gefüge und das mechanische Verhalten von 316L Edelstahl, synthetisiert durch selektives Laserschmelzen (SLM). Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass die Scanstrategie einen vernachlässigbaren Einfluss auf die Phasenbildung und die Art des Gefüges hat, die während der SLM-Verarbeitung entsteht: Austenit ist die einzige Phase, die sich bildet, und alle Proben weisen eine zelluläre Morphologie auf. Die Scanstrategie beeinflusst jedoch erheblich die charakteristische Größe von Zellen und Körnern, die wiederum der Hauptfaktor für die Festigkeit unter Zugbelastung zu sein scheint. Andererseits haben Eigenspannungen offenbar keinen Einfluss auf die quasi-statischen mechanischen Eigenschaften der Proben. Das mit einem Streifenmuster mit Konturstrategie hergestellte Material weist das feinste Gefüge und die beste Kombination mechanischer Eigenschaften auf: Streckgrenze und Bruchdehnung liegen bei 550 MPa und 1010 MPa und die plastische Verformung bei über 50 %. Ein weiterer wichtiger Aspekt für die Anwendung des mittels SLM synthetisierten 316L-Stahls ist seine thermische Stabilität. Daher wurde der Einfluss des Glühens bei verschiedenen Temperaturen (573, 873, 1273, 1373 und 1673 K) auf die Stabilität der Phasen, der Zusammensetzung und des Gefüges des 316L-Edelstahls untersucht, der unter Verwendung des Streifenmuster mit Konturstrategie hergestellt wurde. Darüber hinaus wurden die durch die Wärmebehandlung induzierten Veränderungen genutzt, um die entsprechenden Variationen der mechanischen Eigenschaften der Proben unter Zugbelastung zu verstehen. Das Glühen hat keinen Einfluss auf die Phasenbildung: Bei allen hier untersuchten Proben wird ein einphasiger Austenit beobachtet. Darüber hinaus ändert das Glühen nicht die zufällige kristallographische Orientierung, die im Material nach der Synthese beobachtet wird. Das komplexe zelluläre Gefüge mit feinen Subkornstrukturen, die für die as-SLM-Proben im Ausgangszustand charakteristisch sind, ist bis zu 873 K stabil. Die Zellgröße nimmt mit steigender Glühtemperatur zu, bis das zelluläre Gefüge bei hohen Temperaturen nicht mehr beobachtet werden kann (T ≥ 1273 K). Die Festigkeit der Proben nimmt mit steigender Glühtemperatur durch die mikrostrukturelle Vergröberung ab. Die ausgezeichnete Kombination von Festigkeit und Duktilität des Materials im Ausgangszustand ist auf das komplexe zelluläre Gefüge und die Subkörner sowie die Fehlausrichtung zwischen Körnern, Zellen, Zellwänden und Subkörnern zurückzuführen. Mit dem Ziel, das mechanische Verhalten des 316L-Stahls weiter zu verbessern, wird der Einfluss harter Partikel einer zweiten Phase auf das Gefüge und die damit verbundenen mechanischen Eigenschaften untersucht. Dazu wurde mittels SLM ein Verbund aus einer 316L-Stahlmatrix und 5 Vol.% CeO2-Partikeln hergestellt. Die SLM-Parameter, die zu einer fehlerfreien 316L-Matrix führen, sind für die Herstellung von 316L/CeO2-Verbundproben nicht geeignet. Hochdichte Verbundproben können jedoch durch sorgfältige Einstellung der Laserscangeschwindigkeit unter Beibehaltung der anderen Parameter prozessiert werden. Die Zugabe der CeO2-Verstärkung verändert die Phasenbildung nicht, beeinflusst aber das Gefüge des Verbundwerkstoffs, welches im Vergleich zum partikelfreien 316L-Material deutlich verfeinert ist. Das verfeinerte Gefüge bewirkt eine signifikante Verstärkung im Verbund, ohne die plastische Verformung zu beeinträchtigen. Die Analyse des Einflusses einer zweiten Phase wird fortgesetzt, indem untersucht wird, wie TiB2-Partikel das Gefüge und die mechanischen Eigenschaften eines 316L-Edelstahls beeinflussen, der durch selektives Laserschmelzen hergestellt wird. Das für die unverstärkte 316L-Matrix charakteristische komplexe zelluläre Gefüge mit feinen Subkörnern ist in allen Proben zu finden. Die Zugabe der TiB2-Partikel reduziert die Größe der Körner und Zellen erheblich. Darüber hinaus sind die TiB2-Partikel in der 316L-Matrix homogen dispergiert und bilden kreisförmige Ausscheidungen mit einer Größe von etwa 50-100 nm entlang der Korngrenzen. Diese mikrostrukturellen Merkmale führen zu einer signifikanten Verfestigung im Vergleich zu den unverstärkten 316L-Proben. Diese Ergebnisse belegen, dass SLM erfolgreich zur Synthese von Verbundwerkstoffen aus dem Edelstahl 316L mit herausragenden mechanischen Eigenschaften im Vergleich zu einer unverstärkten 316L-Stahlmatrix eingesetzt werden kann. Dies könnte dazu beitragen, den Einsatz von SLM bei der Herstellung von Stahlmatrix-Verbundwerkstoffen für die Automobilindustrie, die Luft- und Raumfahrt und zahlreiche andere Anwendungen zu erweitern. Among the different additive manufacturing processes, selective laser melting (SLM) represents an optimal choice for the fabrication of metallic components with complex geometries and superior properties. SLM parts are built layer-by-layer using high-energy laser beams, making SLM more flexible than conventional processing techniques, like casting. The fast heating/cooling rates occurring during SLM can result in remarkably different microstructures compared with conventional manufacturing processes. The high-temperature gradients characterising SLM can also have a positive effect on the microstructures and, in turn, on the mechanical properties of the SLM parts. Additionally, the SLM parts can be put into use with the necessity of minimal post-processing treatments. To date, a number of studies have been devoted to the parameters optimization or processing of composite materials with defect-free parts. The scanning strategy is one of the most influential parameters in materials processing by additive manufacturing. Optimization of the scanning strategy is thus of primary importance for the synthesis of materials with enhanced physical and mechanical properties. Accordingly, this thesis examines the effect of four different scanning strategies on the microstructure and mechanical behaviour of 316L stainless steel synthesized by selective laser melting (SLM). The results indicate that the scanning strategy has negligible influence on phase formation and the type of microstructure established during SLM processing: austenite is the only phase formed and all specimens display a cellular morphology. The scanning strategy, however, considerably affects the characteristic size of cells and grains that, in turn, appears to be the main factor determining the strength under tensile loading. On the other hand, residual stresses apparently have no influence on the quasi-static mechanical properties of the samples. The material fabricated using a stripe with contour strategy displays the finest microstructure and the best combination of mechanical properties: yield strength and ultimate tensile strength are about 550 and 1010 MPa and plastic deformation exceeds 50 %. Another important aspect for the application of 316L steel synthesized by SLM is its thermal stability. Therefore, the influence of annealing at different temperatures (573, 873, 1273, 1373 and 1673 K) on the stability of phases, composition and microstructure of 316L stainless steel fabricated by using the stripe with contour strategy has been investigated. Moreover, the changes induced by the heat treatment have been used to understand the corresponding variations of the mechanical properties of the specimens under tensile loading. Annealing has no effect on phase formation: a single-phase austenite is observed in all specimens investigated here. In addition, annealing does not change the random crystallographic orientation observed in the as-synthesized material. The complex cellular microstructure with fine subgrain structures characteristic of the as-SLM specimens is stable up to 873 K. The cell size increases with increasing annealing temperature until the cellular microstructure can no longer be observed at high temperatures (T ≥ 1273 K). The strength of the specimens decreases with increasing annealing temperature as a result of the microstructural coarsening. The excellent combination of strength and ductility exhibited by the as-synthesized material can be ascribed to the complex cellular microstructure and subgrains along with the misorientation between grains, cells, cell walls and subgrains. With the aim of further improving the mechanical behaviour of 316L steel, this works examines the effect of hard second-phase particles on microstructure and related mechanical properties. For this, a composite consisting of a 316L steel matrix and 5 vol.% CeO2 particles was fabricated by SLM. The SLM parameters leading to a defect-free 316L matrix are not suitable for the production of 316L/CeO2 composite specimens. However, highly-dense composite samples can be synthesized by carefully adjusting the laser scanning speed, while keeping the other parameters constant. The addition of the CeO2 reinforcement does not alter phase formation, but it affects the microstructure of the composite, which is significantly refined compared with the unreinforced 316L material. The refined microstructure induces significant strengthening in the composite without deteriorating the plastic deformation. The analysis of the effect of a second phase is continued by investigating how TiB2 particles influence the microstructure and mechanical properties of a 316L stainless steel synthesized by selective laser melting. The complex cellular microstructure with fine subgrains characteristic of the unreinforced 316L matrix is found in all samples. The addition of the TiB2 particles reduces significantly the sizes of the grains and cells. Furthermore, the TiB2 particles are homogeneously dispersed in the 316L matrix and they form circular precipitates with sizes around 50-100 nm along the grain boundaries. These microstructural features induce significant strengthening compared with the unreinforced 316L specimens. These findings prove that SLM can be successfully used to synthesize 316L stainless steel matrix composites with overall superior mechanical properties in comparison with the unreinforced 316L steel matrix. This might help to extend the use of SLM to fabricate steel matrix composites for automotive, aerospace and numerous other applications.

Bu araştırmada, Türk televizyonlarında yayınlanan çizgi filmlerin ilköğretim (4., 5. ve 6. sınıf öğrencileri) öğrencilerinin toplumsallaşma süreci üzerine etkilerinin analiz edilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Tez çalışması için betimleyici ve tanımlayıcı araştırma yöntemlerinden ?tarama modeli? uygulanmıştır. Geliştirilen ölçek ile derlenen verilerin değerlendirildiği araştırmada örneklem ?Küme Örneklemesi? yönteminin ?Basit Seçkisiz Örnekleme? türüyle belirlenmiştir.Ölçek uygulama çalışması, Ankara'daki 9 merkez ilçedeki ilköğretim okulları arasından rastlantısal olarak seçilen 18 okulda yapılmıştır. Ölçek geliştirmesinde; Açıklayıcı Faktör Analizi (AFA) kapsamında 572 kişi ile; Doğrulayıcı Faktör Analizi (DFA) kapsamında 350 kişi ile uygulama gerçekleştirilmiştir.Araştırma çerçevesinde veri elde etmek için ölçek 150 öğrenciye uygulanmıştır. Değişkenlerin nitelikleri değerlendirilerek t-testi, varyans analizi (anova), Kruskal Wallis H Testi ve Mann-Whitney U Testi yapılmıştır.Araştırmada, Televizyonda canlandırma film izleme saatleri arasında toplumsallaşma ölçek puanı açısından anlamlı bir farklılık görülmemiştir (p>0,05). Araştırmaya katılan çocukların sınıf düzeyleri arasında toplumsallaşma ölçeği puanı açısından anlamlı farklılık bulunmamıştır (p>0,05). Araştırmaya katılan çocukların ivailelerinin gelir grupları arasında toplumsallaşma ölçeği puanı açısından anlamlı farklılık bulunmuştur (p<0,05). Canlandırma filmlerin teknik özelliklerine ilişkin yürütülen çalışmada örneklemdeki 136 öğrenciye açık uçlu sorular yöneltilmiştir. Verilerin yorumlanmasında frekans (f) ve yüzde (%), değerleri hesaplanmıştır. Uygulama sonucunda ilköğretim öğrencilerinin izledikleri çizgi filmleri seçimlerinde yapımların grafik tasarıma ilişkin özelliklerinin etkili olduğu görülmüştür.Tez çalışmasında TV'de yayınlanan canlandırmaların yapımların ilköğretim öğrencilerinin toplumsallaşma sürecine kısmi etkisi olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır. Anahtar Kelimeler: Canlandırma, çizgi film, kitle iletişim, televizyon, toplumsallaşma, grafik eğitimi The purpose of this work is analyzing the effects of animated cartoons to the socialization process of primary schools' students (4th, 5th and 6th grade) in Turkey. `Screening Model` which is one of the descriptive research methods was applied for the thesis. The research sample of the work which consists of the evaluation of the data gathered by the application of the developod scale was determined with `simple random sampling` type of `cluster sampling method`. The application of the study is carried out among fourth, fifth and sixth grade students of 18 randomly selected elementary schools situated in 9 central districts of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality. During the the scale development process, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) carried out with 572 students and ConfirmatoryFactor Analysis (CFA) carried out with 350 students.To obtain the data within the framework of the research the scale was applied with 150 students. By the evaluation of the variables it is decided to use t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann-Whitney U tests.In the study, between the hours of animation viewing there were no significant differences in terms of socialization scale score (p>0.05). There were no significant difference between children's grade levels groups in terms of the scale score (p> 0.05). viThere was a significant difference between children's families' income groups in terms of the scale score (p<0.05). In the context of the work carried out on animation films' technical specifications; 136 students were questioned with open ended questions . In the phase of interpretation of the data gathered in relation to the sub-problems of the research frequency (f) and percentage (%) values were calculated. As a result of the application it was seen that the choosing process of the cartoons watched by elementary school students is affected with their graphic design related technical specialities. As a result of the research it is concluded that the animated cartoons on TV have a partial effect on elementary school students' socialization process. Keywords: Animation, animated cartoon, mass media, television, socialization, graphics trainin 304

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease that can be generalized, affecting more than one arterial bed simultaneously, or localized, manifested in one system. Ultrasound based measurements of plaque textural features, such as low grey scale median (GSM), echolucent (hypoechoic) plaque types and juxtaluminal black (hypoechoic) area (JBA) are manifestation of potentially unstable lesions. Conventional carotid IMT (intima media thickness) and the recently introduced IM-GSM (echogenicity of the intima media complex) are important measures of subclinical atherosclerosis and are used to predict future ischemic events. The aims of this thesis were to study, in detail, the systemic nature of atherosclerosis by evaluating the carotid disease burden contralateral to symptomatic arteries, determining the relationship between proximal (subclinical atherosclerosis) and distal segments (well established disease) of the same artery and comparing local plaque features with systemic burden of atherosclerosis disease. In addition, the effect of statins on carotid plaque echogenicity was evaluated in a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We have measured ultrasound-based textural carotid plaque features (GSM, JBA, entropy, coarseness), surface morphology, as well as IMT and IM-GSM. An in-house custom developed research software package was used for plaque feature extraction. For the meta-analysis we used Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 3 software. Results: Study 1. In 39 patients, the carotid plaques contralateral to symptomatic arteries had similar morphological and textural features to those in the symptomatic arteries and are more vulnerable than those in asymptomatic arteries; more often mildly or markedly irregular with more vulnerable textural plaque features (lower GSM and larger JBA). Study 2. In 87 asymptomatic patients, an increased IMT in CCA correlated with plaque irregularities in the bifurcation and ICA while IM-GSM was closely related to plaque echogenicity (GSM), and other textural plaque features. Study 3. In the same cohort in study 2, patients with previous disease in the coronary arteries had higher IMT and lower IM-GSM and those with prior stroke had lower IM-GSM. Neither IMT nor IM-GSM was different between patients with and without previous lower extremity disease. IM-GSM decreases significantly with increasing number of arterial territories p<0.001 (asymptomatic vs symptoms in one vs multiple arterial systems) but conventional IMT was not different between groups p=0.49. Study 4. In a meta-analysis of 9/580 identified studies including 566 patients with 7.2 months follow-up, a consistent increase in the carotid plaques echogenicity after statin therapy, was reported. The perpetual (over 12 months) effects of which were shown in a meta-regression analysis to be related to changes in hsCRP. Conclusion: Symptomatic patients have similar plaque morphology and textural features of vulnerability in the contralateral carotid system, compared with asymptomatic ones. In the latter, measurements of proximal disease reflect distal pathology and the number of affected arteries. Finally, statin therapy and the drop of LDL cholesterol result in better plaque stability and optimum control of arterial inflammation, shown by arterial wall echogenicity and hsCRP changes, respectively.

In the Maya area, funerary practices are tightly linked to residential spaces. The proximity between the living and the dead is, therefore, at its apex. This situation raises a number of questions regarding the relationship between these defunct and their living heirs, inter-rogations reinforced by the high selectivity that seems to affect the sample. The residential Groups appear to be restricted areas for the dead, places that only a selected few can access according to different parameters. Amongst these, status is certainly the most prominent. It is further complexified by the existence of regional variations.This study opens with a general approach that deals with the practice of burying the dead within the house, complete with an extensive methodological discussion. A presentation of the excavation results from Naachtun’s Unit 5N6 (Guatemala) follows to illustrate the foregoing. Finally, data from several sites are statistically compared to show similarities and differencies, then discussed in light of several ethnographical studies.; Les pratiques funéraires sont, dans l’aire maya, étroitement associées aux ensembles résidentiels. La proximité entre les vivants et les morts y est donc maximale, l’espace quotidien étant tout à la fois un lieu d’habitat et un espace funéraire. Cela soulève un certain nombre de questions quant à la relation entre ces individus défunts et leurs descendants, interrogations encore renforcées par l’important degré de sélection qui semble s’exercer à l’endroit des morts. Les Groupes résidentiels sont, pour ces derniers, des lieux dont l’accès est restreint par un certain nombre de paramètres dont le plus important est sans nul doute le statut - situation complexité par l’existence de nombreuses nuances régionales.La présente étude comprend en premier lieu une discussion générale autour de la question des morts dans l’habitat, augmentée d’une discussion méthodologique approfondie concernant la fouille. Elle se poursuit avec la présentation des résultats de la fouille intensive de l’unité 5N6 de Naachtun (Guatemala), qui illustre concrètement le propos développé précédemment. Enfin, les données de différents sites sont confrontées pour mettre en évidence schémas récurrents et différences, puis discutées à la lumière de quelques exemples ethnographiques.

Programa Oficial de Doutoramento en Equidade e Innovación en Educación .5016V01 [Resumo] Esta investigación busca coñecer a configuración da ensinanza da música dentro da vía do Bacharelato de Artes Escénicas, Musicais e Danza, establecida dentro do marco lexislativo da LOE. Así, trátase de analisar a natureza e os fundamentos destas aprendizaxes observando, á súa vez, como se trasladan a nível de aula. O seu carácter etnográfico adecúase ao obxectivo de revelar como a música, alén de ser unha materia escolar, forma parte da cultura das persoas involucradas, sendo axentes musicais activos na súa vida diaria. Así, a etnografía permite acadar unha comprensión sobre as actitudes, bagaxe e preferencias dos estudantes cara a música, enriquecendo a visión de como se desenvolven as aprendizaxes dentro da aula. Tamén permite observar como o currículo das materias se adapta aos coñecementos, capacidades e expectativas do alumnado mediante a labor desenvolvida pola profesora. Como resultado, ao considerar a música como unha práctica culturalmente situada, a pesquisa esclarece as influencias que os presupostos culturais e sociais teñen sobre o deseño curricular, cuestionando criticamente a súa adecuación respeito ás diferentes culturas e sensibilidades musicais presentes na aula e ás necesidades de formación profesionalizadora do alumnado desta vía académica. [Resumen] Esta investigación busca conocer la configuración de la enseñanza de la música dentro de la vía del Bachillerato de Artes Escénicas, Musicales y Danza, establecida dentro del marco legislativo de la LOE. Así, se trata de analizar la naturaleza y fundamentos de estos aprendizajes observando, a su vez, como se trasladan a nivel de aula . Su carácter etnográfico se adecúa al objetivo de revelar cómo la música, más allá de ser una materia escolar, forma parte de la cultura de las personas involucradas, siendo agentes musicales activos en su vida diaria. Así, la etnografía permite alcanzar una comprensión sobre las actitudes, bagajes y preferencias musicales de los estudiantes, enriqueciendo la visión de cómo se desarrollan los aprendizajes dentro del aula. También permite observar cómo el currículo de las materias, mediante la labor desarrollada por la profesora, se adapta a los conocimientos, capacidades y expectativas del alumnado. Como resultado, al considerar la música como una práctica culturalmente situada, el estudio esclarece las influencias que los presupuestos culturales y sociales tienen sobre el diseño curricular, cuestionando criticamente su adecuación respecto a las diferentes culturas y sensibilidades musicales presentes en el aula y a las necesidades de formación profesionalizadora del alumnado de esta vía académica. [Abstract] This research seeks to know how music education is stablished within the Bacharelato de Artes Escénicas, Musicais e Danza option, stablished within the LOE legal framework. Thus, we investigate the nature and foundations of these learnings also observing how they occur at the classroom level. The ethnographic character of this research fits the goal of exploring how music, beyond of being a scholar subject, is an important part of people involved in this education process, as they are active music agents in their daily life. Thus, ethonography allows us to broaden the understanding of students´music backgrounds, preferences and attitudes, deepening our vision about how learnings take place within the classroom. Furthermore, it helps to illuminate how music subjects curricula, through the teacher work, are adapted to the exiting prior knowledge, skills and expectations of students. As a result, through considering music as a culturally situated practice, this study illuminates the influence of cultural and social premisses over the music curriculum design, critically examinating it actually fits the cultural and music sensitiveness of students, as well as the professionalizating education needs of students within this academic option.