Tesis sobre el tema "Aska"

The Swedish production of biogas was 1,5 TWh 2011. About half of the production was used as vehicle fuels. The cost for upgrading biogas depends on the size of the biogas plant and its gas production. If the gas flow is low the cost will be high. However, further development of existing upgrading technologies or development of new ones, have good potential to decrease the upgrading cost for small scale biogas plants. The aim of this master thesis is to investigate a new technology for upgrading biogas to vehicle fuel standards. The investigated technology is based on the carbonation principle, which means that carbon dioxide is fixed by calcium oxide under the formation of calcite. Wood ash, which is rich of calcium oxide, has been used for capturing carbon dioxide in biogas during the lab-scale tests. During the tests the composition of the ingoing biogas was 35 % carbon dioxide and 65 % methane. When the gas passes through the ash bed the carbon dioxide was fixed by the ash and that is the reason why the methane yields is about 95-100 % in the outgoing gas. Three different types of wood ashes have been investigated. They originate from combustion of wood pellets respectively different assortment of wood chips. Ash from combustion of wood pellets shows the best ability to capture carbon dioxide, 0,24 g CO 2/g dry ash. A Proposal on a system design has been developed based on the results from the lab-scale tests. Simplified calculations showed that the upgrading cost for the proposed system was 0,24 kr/kWh. That is about half of the cost compared to the available small-scale upgrading technologies on the market. The calculations were based on a biogas plant with the annual gas production of 1 GWh, which is a typical size for a Swedish farm-scale biogas plant

It is essential to reuse- and recycles residues to decrease the amount of deposit materials and reach sustainable energy use. Two ways to work towards this is to recycle wood ashes to the forest as nutrient compensation and extract biogas from combustion of biomass. The aim with this study was to decide whether wood ashes that been used for biogas upgrading with accelerated carbonation also can be used as a nutrient compensation in the woods according to recommendations from the Swedish Forest Agency (Skogsstyrelsen). The ashes that were used in this study came from Johan Andersson who works at JTI in Uppsala, who also treated the ashes with biogas. The ashes have, in both untreated and treated condition, been analyzed in this study according to contents of elements, leaching properties, hardening properties and contents of crystalline phases, to evaluate what impact carbonation with biogas has on the ashes. The accelerated carbonation led to hardening of the ash, and decreased amount of CaO- and increased amount of CaCO3. The CO2-uptake also entails a dilution of the elements, and the content of nutrients and trace elements decreases. However the results show an indication of an uptake of S from the biogas to the ash, since the dilution had a smaller impact on S than the rest of the elements. No conclusions could be made according to what affect carbonation has on the leaching properties. This study showed that the ashes from biomass incineration that were analyzed in this study can be used both for biogas upgrading and nutrient compensation in the woods; since the results confirm that the ashes that been treated with biogas fulfills all the limits from the Swedish Forest Agency.

I Sverige idag är förbränning av avfall med energiåtervinning den primära lösningen för avfall som inte återanvänds eller återvinns. Avfall innehåller en stor variation av material, och med det följer en del drifttekniska problem som kan uppstå i en panna, vilket begränsar pannans effektivitet. Olika grundämnen återfinns i olika avfallsfraktioner och somliga kan orsaka svåra problem med korrosion och beläggningsbildning i värmeöverförande delar nedströms förbränningszonen i en panna. Kraftvärmeindustrin har länge varit medvetna om riskerna till följd av klorrikt bränsle, då klor är ett ämne man vet bidrar till korrosion. Nya material gör dock att höga halter av, för kraftvärmeindustrin, tidigare okända grundämnen kommer in i anläggningarna. Ett av dessa grundämnen är fluor som förekommer bland annat i fluorpolymerer som är kemiskt inerta och hållbara plaster. Fluorpolymerer återfinns i exempelvis sport- och friluftskläder samt köksredskap och produktionen av dessa material bedöms öka kraftigt de närmaste åren.   Syftet med det här arbetet var att genom termodynamiska beräkningar och med förbränningsförsök i bänkskala undersöka fraktionering och sulfatering av fluor under ett antal olika förutsättningar. Fyra bränsleblandningar undersöktes vid förbränning i en 20 kW undermatad pelletsbrännare med rena träpellets dopade med natriumsalt. En blandning innehöll enbart natriumfluorid (NaF), en blandning innehöll enbart natriumklorid (NaCl), en blandning innehöll både NaF och NaCl samt en blandning innehöll NaF, NaCl och svavel. Under förbränningsförsöken noterades halterna av HCl, HF och SO2 i rökgaserna. Efterföljande analys av bottenaska, beläggningar och partiklar i rökgasen genomfördes med SEM/EDS samt XRD-analys. Resultatet visade att fluor verkar ha större benägenhet än klor att stanna i bottenaska, detta bekräftades både genom termodynamiska beräkningar och genom förbränningsförsök. Vidare visade termodynamiska beräkningar att en stor del av det fluor som tillsätts bör hamna i rökgasen som HF. Förbränningsförsöken visade att tillsats av svavel är ett effektivt sätt att minska andelen fluor i beläggningar samt partiklar i rökgasen och att sulfatering av fluorsalter sker vid lägre halter av svavel jämfört med klorsalter. I praktiken innebär detta att om halterna av fluorrikt bränsle ökar i en avfallsförbränningsanläggning bör andelen HF i rökgaserna öka samt att en del av det svavel som återfinns i bränsleblandningen och/eller tillsätts genom additiv kommer i första hand gå åt till sulfatering av fluorsalter om sådana bildas. Om distributionen är likartad om organiskt bundet fluor tillsätts, till exempel genom fluorplast, är inte undersökt i det här arbetet och är något som bör utredas framöver.
Combustion of waste in combined heat- and power plants are the primary solution for waste that is not recycled or reused in Sweden today. Municipal solid waste contains a wide range of ash-forming elements, which could lead to operational problems in the boiler that limits the plant’s efficiency. Different elements are found in different waste fractions, and some can cause severe corrosion problems in heat transferring parts of the boiler. The heat and power industry has been aware of the problems associated with chlorine for a long time, as this is an element that is known to contribute to corrosion. New materials mean that high levels of previously unknown elements for the heat and power industry enters the plants. One of these elements is fluorine which is found in fluoropolymers which are chemically inert plastics. Fluoropolymers are found in sports and outdoor clothing, as well as cookware and a number of other products, and the production of these type of materials is expected to increase significantly over the next few years.   The purpose of this work was to investigate the distribution of fluorine by addition of sodium fluoride (NaF) to pure wood pellets. This was done through thermodynamic calculations and bench scale combustion tests. Four fuel mixtures were tested, one containing NaF alone, one containing sodium chloride (NaCl), one containing both NaF and NaCl and one containing NaF, NaCl and sulfur. During combustion tests, the concentrations of HCl, HF and SO2 in the flue gases were logged. Analysis of bottom ash, deposits and particles in the flue gas was performed with SEM/EDS and XRD-analysis after each combustion test. The results showed that fluorine appears to be more likely than chlorine to stay in the bottom ash. This was confirmed by thermodynamic equilibrium calculations and by combustion tests. Furthermore, the thermodynamic equilibrium calculations showed that a large share of fluorine should end up in the flue gas as HF. Furthermore, the combustion tests showed that sulfation of fluorine salts occurs at lower levels of sulfur than sulfation of chlorine salts. In practice, this means that if the levels of fluorine-rich fuel increases in a waste incineration plant, the proportion of HF in the flue gases should increase and that some of the sulfur in the fuel mixture will be used for sulfation of fluorine salts if they are formed. The distribution of fluorine if fluorinated plastics are added to the fuel is not investigated in this work and something that should be investigated in the future.

The purpose of this essay is to investigate how the crisis communication was perceived between SAS, massmedia and citizens during the volcano crisis in 2010. The questions posed are: - How did the communication between SAS, media and citizens function during the crisis? - How did senders, intermediaries and beneficiaries experience the information and communication during the crisis? - How important was the internet communication for SAS, media and citizens during the crisis? The collected material consists of interviews and desktop research of material from Internet. The study shows that the communication between SAS, the media and citizens worked well on the social medias but was weaker in all other mediachannels. SAS was also weak in following up information received by media and travelers, and they therefore they had a different picture of the situation during the crisis. SAS thought that the communication worked fine between the parties involved. Media and citizens felt that SAS gave them poor information and that they could have been better with giving deeper and more information. Internet played an important part in communication during the crisis. Internet and social media has become increasingly important for SAS and without the internet in this crisis, SAS would have had difficulties in maintaining its credibility and reputation for many customers. With the social media, SAS could easier establish a dialogue and help their passengers.

I takt med ökande intresse för uttag av grot så ökar också intresset för återföring av aska tillbaka till skogen. I rapporten utreds hur mycket återföringsbar aska som produceras av förbränningsanläggningar. Arbetet begränsas genom att endast förbränningsanläggningar med större kapacitet än 10 GWh träbränsle per år tas med . Dessutom sker en avgränsning geografiskt till att endast ta med anläggningar placerade söder om en tänkt linje mellan Karlstad och Stockholm. Datainsamlingen för förbränningsanläggningarnas askmängder har gjorts både med telefonintervju och enkätundersökning. Totalt har 107 förbränningsanläggningar tillfrågat. Askan från anläggningarna används till askåterföring, sluttäckning av deponi, deponi och bärlager till vägar. Kostnaderna mellan de olika användningsområdena varierar stort, kostnaderna att sluttäcka en deponi är hälften mot att spridas i skog. En stor del av förbränningsanläggningarna är överens att kostnaderna för askåterföring till skogen är för dyr. Fler anläggningar kan tänka sig att återföra askan till skogen men anger kostnaderna som orsak till val av andra alternativa användningsområden.
In line with increased interest for using of branches and tops, increases also the interest for retransfer of ash back to the forest. In the report investigated how much ash from the incineration plants that can retransfers back to the forest. The work is limited through that only incineration plants with bigger capacity than 10 GWh wood fuel a year is taken with. Moreover, a demarcation happens geographic to only to take with plants placed south about an intended line between Karlstad and Stockholm. The data collection for the incineration plants ash quantities have been done both with telephone interview and questionnaire survey. Total has 107 incineration plants consulted. The ash from the plants is used to ash retransfer, end coverage off landfill, landfill and berry stocks to roads. The costs between the different use areas vary bigly, the costs to end to cover landfill is the half against being disseminated in forest. A big part of the incineration plants is agreed that the costs for ash retransfer to the forest is for costly. More plants can intend itself to bring back the ash to the forest but because of the price the plants choice other alternative use areas.

Kalmar Energis kraftvärmeverk har sedan det togs i drift 2009 blandat bottenaskan med askan ifrån konvektionsstråken. Eftersom Kalmar Energi söker nya användningsområden för askorna var för sig har en separering av dessa blivit aktuell att undersöka. Syftet med rapporten var att ta fram en teknisk lösning åt Kalmar Energi för att transportera aska från konvektionsstråk 2 och 3 till flygasksilon på Moskogen kraftvärmeverk. Rapporten har skrivits i nära samarbete med Moskogens driftpersonal samt med tillgång till deras arkiv och DCS. Rapporten har gjorts som en kvalitativ undersökning med intervjuer och en litteraturstudie. Den tekniska lösningen resulterade i att aska från konvektionsstråk 2 och 3 transporteras via cellmatare, skruvar och fallrör till en ny gemensam stoftsändare. Stoftsändaren kommer sedan pneumatiskt transportera askan via en ny transportledning direkt till flygasksilon.

This study examines how smells were perceived in 18th century Stockholm by analyzing odor references in the poetry collection Fredman’s Epistles (1790) (Sw. Fredmans epistlar) by Carl Michael Bellman (1740–1795). Using a specific form of contextualizing, the purpose of the study is to show how the meaning of smells in 18th century Stockholm appears when the smelling objects in the epistles are put in a relevant context. By extension, the investigation will show how the smell sensations in the epistles reveal attitudes towards life, death and certain social and cultural phenomena. I argue that the inhabitants of Stockholm in the 18th century, depending on their social and cultural belonging, shared many of the attitudes towards places, people and phenomena that are reproduced in the epistles. I also argue that 18th century Stockholm was not as dominated by foul smells as has been claimed by previous research. This study sheds new light on how different smells were perceived, described and understood in 18th century Stockholm.

Denna litteraturstudie har syftat till att synliggöra användningspotentialen av aska kopplat till ett miljö- och hållbarhetsperspektiv. Aska, som klassas som en avfallsprodukt, används idag i stor omfattning i olika applikationer. I examensarbetet har en kartläggning gjorts över skillnader i sammansättning mellan olika typer av aska samt vilka regelverk som gäller vid användning av aska. Vidare har sex användningsområden för aska studerats och i arbetet klargörs vilka vinster, såväl ekonomiska som miljömässiga, och miljörisker som finns förenade med att använda aska. Användningsområdena har ställts mot miljöbalkens definition av hållbar utveckling och mot några av Sveriges miljömål för att på så sätt kunna bedöma om askanvändningen bidrar till en hållbar utveckling. Undersökningen visar att totalhalterna av ämnen kan skilja sig mycket åt mellan olika typer av aska. Det finns därför ett behov av en noggrann klassificering och karaktärisering av såväl askor som bränslen. Det finns även ett behov av förtydligade regelverk för askanvändningen samt av vägledningar som miljömyndigheterna kan använda sig av vid tillståndsprövningen. För miljömyndigheterna finns också ett behov av ett livscykelperspektiv där de, förutom lokal miljöaspekter, även bör se över regionala och globala miljöaspekter av askanvändningen. Resultatet visar på att val applikation av aska idag styrs mycket av ekonomiska skäl snarare än av miljömässiga och tekniska skäl. Resultatet visar också att det finns utrymme för lagstiftare och miljömyndigheter att kunna styra användningen, exempelvis med ekonomiska styrmedel, av aska mot en mer hållbar användning. Undersökningen av om askanvändningen bidrar till en hållbar utveckling är en komplicerad fråga men en slutsats som dras av arbetet är att det bidrar till en hållbar utveckling om det tas hänsyn till tre aspekter, nämligen: att alla rekommenderade säkerhetsåtgärder följs, att askan har ett lågt innehåll av miljöstörande ämnen och att val av plats där askan ska användas väljs i enlighet med platsspecifika miljömål.
The aim of this study has been to reveal the potential for using ash from an environmental and sustainability point of view. Ash, often classified as a waste product, is today used to a great extent in many different applications. In this thesis a literature survey has been done in order to map different types of ash and its chemical composition as well as regulation regarding the use of ash. Furthermore, six specific applications for ash have been examined, in terms of advantages and disadvantages, from both an environmental and economic perspective. The six applications have been assessed as to whether or not they are sustainable according to Swedish laws and national aims for sustainable development. The study shows the content differs considerable between different types of ash. Therefore, there is a need for a meticulous classification and characterisation of ash similar to that done for fuels. Furthermore the results show that environmental authorities lack clear guidelines for licensing and approvals, and there is therefore a need for such guidelines. For the environmental authorities there is also a need for a life cycle perspective where they, besides local environmental issues, also should review regional and global environmental aspects of the use of ash. The results also reveal that the choice of what the ash is used for is largely determined by economic factors rather than environmental and technical concerns. However, it is possible for legislators and environmental authorities to guide the use of ash towards more sustainable development, for example with the help of fiscal incentives. How the use of ash can contribute to sustainable development is an issue of some complexity. However, the clear message given is that this could be achieved if the following three aspects are taken into account: if all recommended safety measures are complied with, if the ash contains a low amount of pollutants, and if the decision as to where the ash is to be located is selected according to site-specific environmental goals.

Aska från mindre biobränsleeldade rostpannor har ofta ett högt innehåll av oförbränt organiskt material. Det försvårar återföring av askan till skogsmark. Återföring förutsätter att askan kan härdas till en fast produkt, men härdningen blir ofullständig om askans innehåll av oförbränt material är för stort. I detta arbete har därför två rostpannor studerats med målet att identifiera åtgärder för att minska halten oförbränt organiskt kol i askan. Dessa var panna 1 på fjärrvärmecentralen Notnäs i Torsby och panna 1 på Sannaverket i Kristinehamn Askanalyser visade att askan från panna 1 på Notnäs i dagsläget är av god kvalitet men attpanna 1 på Sannaverket är i behov av åtgärder för att sänka halten oförbränt. Den bark ochtorrflis som förbränns på Notnäs kan dock komma att ersättas med rått sågspån och då krävsåtgärder för att askans kvalitet inte ska försämras. De åtgärder som identifierats sammanställs i tabellen nedan tillsammans med den förväntade inverkan på halten oförbränt samt uppskattad kostnad. De åtgärder som föreslagits i rapporten skulle minska halten oförbränt i askan från panna 1 påSannaverket till mycket låga nivåer om de implementeras. Om ingen askåterföring kommertill stånd kan åtgärderna utnyttjas för att förbränna fuktigare bränsle. Det medför ekonomiska besparingar i bränsleekonomin eftersom inköpspriset bland annat beror på fukthalten. Åtgärderna är i första hand presenterade med de studerade pannorna i åtanke, men flertalet kan genomföras även i andra typer av rostpannor.
Ash that is produced from combustion of bio-fuel in small grate furnaces often contains high levels of unburnt organic material. This complicates returning the ash to the forest. In order to return the ash, it must be hardened into a solid product, but the hardening process will not be effective if large amounts of unburnt material are present in the ash. In this work, two Swedish grate furnaces have been studied with the purpose of identifying measures to decrease levels of unburnt material in the ash. These were Furnace 1 at the district heatingplant Notnäs in Torsby and Furnace 1 at Sannaverket in Kristinehamn. Results from analysis of the ash have shown that the ash from Furnace 1 at Notnäs at presentis of high quality, while measures need to be taken in Furnace 1 at Sannaverket. However, thebark and woodchips that are used as fuel at Notnäs could be replaced by raw sawdust.Measures would then be required to prevent seriously lowering the quality of the ash. Theidentified measures are shown in the table below as well as the expected effect on the level of unburnt material and the estimated cost. The measures presented would, if implemented, reduce the content of unburnt material in theash from Furnace 1 at Sannaverket to a very low level. If the ash is not to be returned to the forest, the suggested measures can be used for the combustion of fuel with higher moisturecontent. This would result in savings since the fuel price partly depends on the moisturecontent. The measures are presented with the studied furnaces in mind, but the majority of them arealso viable in other types of grate furnaces.
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Memoria para optar al título de Diseñador Gráfico
¿Qué? Diseño de objetos y productos inspirados en el patrimonio inmaterial de culturas originarias, iniciando con la marca Aska espíritu Selk’nam, de tal etnia. ¿Por qué? —— Realizar un emprendimiento con bases en lo cultural, en específico: poner en valor el legado de las culturas originarias de nuestro país dentro del escenario actual. —— Se escoge esta cultura en particular por tener una rica visión de mundo, visualidad reflejada en sus pinturas corporales ligadas a su cosmovisión y encontrarse extinta de individuos originarios. —— Valorar las expresiones visuales y espirituales de su identidad proyectados en la intangibilidad de los ritos actuales occidentales. —— Generar valor cultural al espacio que construimos cotidianamente como nuestra identidad. ¿Para qué? Rescatar el patrimonio inmaterial de una cultura originaria abordando sus costumbres, rituales, expresiones orales e iconografía, y ponerlo en valor a través de la creación de objeto y producto con enfoque en su valor de signo y uso. ¿Cómo? A través del a + d, alianzas con artesanos, artífices y expertos locales, en sus talleres o espacios de trabajo, adquiriendo los recursos en la economía local, generando una industria creativa con los principios del comercio justo. ¿Cuándo? ¿Dónde? En el rito sibarita culinario. En espacios hogareños, interiores privilegiados o externos controlados, donde exista cercanía eléctrica. El escenario del producto está en las tiendas de diseño y artesanía contemporánea ubicadas en los barrios culturales de Santiago y Providencia. ¿Para quiénes? Pensado para adultos jóvenes y adultos, de entre 25 y 45 años, mujeres u hombres, nacionales o extranjeros, que comienzan ha habitar el nuevo hogar o ambientan el actual y/o el segundo hogar (vacacional). Que prefieran temas relacionados al patrimonio, cultura originaria, moda y diseño.

Effective use of resources is essential in the development towards a sustainable industry. Waste products, such as sludge from industrial waste water treatment, often contain valuable reserves of plant nutrients but this resource is nonetheless commonly disposed of as contaminated waste.  Approximately 1 500 ton phosphorus per year is added in biological waste water treatment at the Swedish pulp and paper industries and this non-renewable resource thereby ends up in their so called biosludge. The most common way to discard the sludge is by incineration. Besides the high levels of phosphorus, the biosludge usually contains high levels of moisture and ash forming elements, sulfur and chlorine, which makes it a rather problematic fuel. The aim with this study was to investigate different aspects on ash transformation chemistry during co-combustion of biosludge, from the pulp and paper mill SCA Packaging Obbola AB, with wood fuels and wheat straw. The phosphorus recovery potential, and the effects on deposit formation and emissions,  were examined by SEM-EDS- and XRD-analysis of ash from co-combustion experiments. The experimental results were complemented with theoretical analysis based on thermochemical equilibrium calculations. The biosludge from SCA Obbola contained high levels of Ca which had a large impact on the ash transformation reactions. Most of the phosphorus from the fuels stayed in the solid ash during combustion, and in all ash assortments, except for the pure wood fuel, it was primarily found in the crystalline structure whitlockite, Ca9(K,Mg,Fe)(PO4)7. Hydroxyapatite, Ca5(PO4)3OH, was identified in ash from combustion of the pure wood fuel and wheat straw, and in the mixture of biosludge and wood fuels with the lowest proportion of sludge. Of the two phosphorus compounds, hydroxyapatite is more difficult to break down. It is therefore promising from a phosphorus recovery perspective that whitlockite was the main phosphorus compound in most of the ash assortments. Some of the sulfur in the sludge reacted with Ca and formed solid CaSO4, which stayed in solid ash during combustion, while chlorine generally left the bottom ash by volatilization. K- and Si-rich agricultural residues, such as wheat straw, are associated with a number of ash-related problems, including deposit formation due to low ash-melting points. During co-combustion of biosludge and wheat straw, the melting tendencies of the wheat straw ash elements were examined. According to the thermochemical equilibrium calculations, the composition of the mixed fuels would result in a significantly higher initial slag formation temperature compared to the pure wheat straw. This trend was also observed in the experimental results. It is likely that the relatively high levels of Ca, Al and P in the sludge all contributed to reduced slag formation in the wheat straw ash, by formation of ash compounds with higher melting temperatures. The high calcium levels may however have reduced some of the positive effects of increased P and Al contents by these elements preferably reacting with Ca instead of capturing alkali in crystalline structures.

Sammanfattning Medlemsländerna i FN enades om ett klimatavtal i Paris 2015. För att möta utmaningarna som klimatavtalet kräver behöver samhället en omställning från ett beroende av fossil energi. Förbränning av biobränslen har god potential att konkurrera ut fossila bränslen. Pellets av stamved har ett högt energivärde och har goda framtidsutsikter till att bli en stark konkurrent till fossilbaserad energi, främst för små- och mellanskalig värme- och kraftproduktion. För att göra pellets mer attraktivt på marknaden gäller det att den levereras med hög kvalitet, med fokus på energivärde, hållbarhet och avsaknaden av driftproblem vid förbränning. Härjeåns Energi i Sveg vill veta mer om driftproblemet slaggbildning och hur det kan undvikas genom åtgärder i hela kedjan från råvaruhantering till pelletsproduktion och förbränning. Det övergripande syftet med projektet var att kartlägga askrelaterade problem vid förbränning av träpellets i rosterpannor med fokus på sintring och slaggning samt att ge rekommendationer på åtgärder hur producenten och privatpersoner kan undvika sådana problem. Arbetet med detta examensarbete delades upp i två delar, dels en genomgång av forskningen på området, och dels en utredning av hanteringen hos Härjeåns Energi samt dess underleverantörer. Forskningsgenomgången genomfördes genom att läsa och sammanfatta den forskning som har bedrivits på området under de senaste 25 åren. Utredningen av hanteringen hos företaget och dess underleverantörer genomfördes med hjälp av tidigare gjorda analyser av pellets, råmaterial och slaggningsprov, samt intervjuer med personal på företagen. Resultatet av studien visade att den viktigaste faktorn som påverkar slaggbildning är halten av vissa askbildande element i bränslet, så som kisel, kalium, kalcium, natrium, magnesium, aluminium och järn i aska. Även askhalt, förbränningsteknik och förbränningstemperatur är betydande faktorer. Slaggningsbenägna ämnen härstammar ofta från olika typer av kontamineringar av råmaterial, i form av sand, jord och lera, vilket troligtvis är fallet för Härjeåns Energi. Resultatet visade även att asksmältstemperaturer hos råmaterial var konstant höga under sommarveckorna 2016, för att variera med flera lägre temperaturer under det resterande året. Den tillverkade pelletsen höll höga asksmältstemperaturer hela 2016, utom i oktober. Vad de lägre asksmältstemperaturerna hos Härjeåns Energi exakt beror på är svåra att svara på. Fler utredningar är i behov för att säkert fastställa orsaken. Det är upp till pelletsproducenten, underleverantörer av råmaterial och utrustningstillverkaren att minimera riskerna för slaggbildning och dess effekt på driften. Privatpersoner har små möjligheter att själva påverka förbränningsresultatet gällande slagg och sintring i sin förbränningsutrustning.
Abstract The member states of the UN have united behind a convention on climate change 2015, the “Paris agreement”. To face the challenges of a required conversion to renewable energy, the dependence of fossil fuels need to be drastically reduced. Combustion of biomass has a god potential to replace fossil fuels in many applications. Pellets made from stemwood has a high energy value and is a good candidate to replace fossil fuels in small and medium scale heat and power production. To make pellets more attractive on the market, the delivered pellets need to have high quality and enable low maintenance and operational problems during combustion. Härjeåns Energi in Sveg would like to know more about the ash related issues like slagging and sintering, and how it can be avoided be measures related to handling, pellet production and end use (combustion). The overall objectives of the present work was to identify ash related problems during combustion of wood pellets in heating boilers, focusing on sintering and slagging, and to provide recommendations on measures how to avoid such problems for producers and individuals. This work with the report was divided into two parts. The first part included a research review on the subject. The second part included an investigation of the handling by Härjeåns Energi and their subcontractors. The research review was carried out by reading the research, mainly in scientific peer- review papers from the last 25 years. The investigation of the handling was carried out by evaluating analysis data of pellets, raw material and slagg samples. The results showed that the most important factor that influence slag formation is the concentrations of certain ash forming elements in fuel, such as silicon, potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium aluminum and iron. Also ash content, combustion technology and combustion temperature are of importance. Substances in the fuels that are associated with slagging tendencies originate mainly from different kinds of contaminations, e.g. sand, soil and clay. This is most likely the case for Härjeåns Energi. The results also showed that the ash fusion temperatures of the raw material ash where constantly high during the weeks of the summer 2016. The remaining weeks of the year showed more varying ash melting temperatures. The produced pellets from Härjeåns Energi 2016 had a high ash molting temperature during the year of 2016, except in October. The exact reason behind the relative low ash melting temperatures is difficult to point out specifically in this work, and need more careful investigations. Overall, it is the pellets producer, the subcontractors and the manufacturer of the heating devices that have the possibilities to develop product and measures which avoid or reduces slagging related problems. The end users (customers) have very small opportunities to influence the outcome of the combustion of pellets.

This literature review analyses and discusses different theories and results regarding impact of volcanic eruptions on climate change in Earth's history. Present global warming has been attributed to anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, however changes in global temperatures have occurred before the onset of anthropogenic emissions. Certain prehistoric climate changes are thought to be caused by emissions of volcanic gases to the atmosphere. Many studies have investigated the connection between volcanic events and subsequent changes in global temperatures. A majority have concluded that volcanic sulfur dioxide is the main direct and indirect climate forcing gas influencing temperatures over time. Increased volcanic activity over the last 15 years is thought to be an inhibiting factor on present global warming. This is supported by evidence of past volcanic events preceding global cooling and warming periods during Holocene and prehistoric times. Further, there are indications that factors such as geographical position, season, gas composition, magnitude and duration of an eruption influences the extent of the climate forcing.Records of climate such as ice cores and tree growth rings and isotopic characterization have made it possible to identify volcano eruptions over time and determine the identity of the erupting volcano. Past and present data from these can be used to gain a better understanding of past climate changes as well as making predictions about future changes as a result volcanic eruptions. However, accuracy regarding temporal and spatial resolution of these records is of great importance for the validity of the results.

Two eruptions from Icelandic volcanoes have in the last years caused widespread dispersalof volcanic ash in the atmosphere. The transportation of tephra from Iceland to mainlandEurope is not an uncommon event and it can cause large disruptions to society. In thisthesis I present the ndings of a tephrochronological study of recent sediment from a bogcalled Trolls mosse in southern Sweden. The results show the presence of recent tephrafrom what is most likely the Grímsvötn eruption in May 2011, but geochemical analysisof the tephra could not conrm the exact origin of it, and a possibility that the Eyafjal-lajökull eruption also has contributed exists. By correlating atmospheric data about thelocation of the ash clouds produced during the eruptions and tephrochronological studiesof where tephra fallout has occurred could improve our understanding of tephra falloutdynamics and could help understand complex fallout patterns for past eruptions.

Overactivity of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) is a frequent event in many types of solid tumors. Therefore, it is of great importance to uncover the mechanisms that regulate PDGF/PDGFR signalling, to develop efficient inhibitors targeting this pathway. The first step of downregulation of PDGFR activity upon ligand binding is internalization; thus we investigated how endocytosis pathways affect PDGFR signaling. We showed that in Ras-transformed fibroblasts, the internalization of PDGFR is shifted from the routine clathrin-dependent endocytosis to macropinocytosis, which results in enhanced PDGFR activity and subsequent downstream signalling, promoting anchorage-independent growth. We were also interested in how intracellular trafficking regulates signalling attenuation of PDGFR. We found that His-domain containing protein tyrosine phosphatase (HD-PTP) positively regulates phosphorylation level of the ubiquitin-ligases c-Cbl and Cbl-b; consistently, silencing of HD-PTP led to a decreased level of PDGFR ubiquitination (paper II). Consequently, internalized PDGFR could not be sorted properly and escaped degradation. This resulted in enhanced activation of phospholipase C γ (PLCγ) and changed kinetics of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 signalling, which further increased colony formation of HD-PTP silenced cells in soft agar, indicating a tumor suppressor role of HD-PTP. Activation of PDGFR leads to stimulation of downstream pathways. We identified Fer kinase as a critical signal transducer downstream of PDGFR in a proteomic screen. We showed that Fer kinase is essential for PDGF-induced STAT3 activation; as a result (paper III), Fer depletion severely blunted the ability of PDGFR signalling to promote anchorage-independent growth in soft agar and delayed tumor initiation in a mouse model. The crosstalk between host and tumor plays a critical role in tumor progression. At present most anti-cancer drugs are targeting tumor cells; we were interested in how targeting tumor host cells affects the efficacy of anti-tumor therapy. We found that selective PDGFRβ inhibition in host cells exerted tumor inhibitory effects on growth and vascularization of tumors with autocrine PDGF signaling, whereas tumors lacking such stimulation show only minor response on tumor growth (paper IV). Meanwhile, we demonstrated that PDGF/PDGFRβ signalling promotes expression of NG2, a marker for pericytes.

Norska pappersmassaindustrin Norske Skog Saugbrugs AS använder flera olika biobränslen i en bränslemix vid produktion av ånga för internt bruk. Biobränslen visar stora variationer i asksammansättning och producerad askmängd, varför syftet var att studera dessa i förhållande till bränslemixen, via en statistisk analys av Saugbrugs befintliga data. Rökgaserna från förbränningen renas med ett elektrofilter med tre avskiljningsfält för askstoftet, och en teori om fraktionering av aska från de olika fälten vad gäller innehåll av ekotoxiska metaller fanns. Provtagning, analys av partikelstorlek och laboratorieanalys av askstoft i rökgasen samt aska avskilt av de olika fälten i elektrofiltret var därför motiverat. Förbränningen som helhet alstrar stora mängder aska som sedan deponeras. En undersökning av alternativa användningsområden i enlighet med myndighetskrav för aska gjordes baserat på resultaten från den statistiska analysen och de fyra provuttagningarna. Att statistiskt sammanföra bränslena i en varierande bränslemix med asksammansättning gav litet resultat, men bekräftade att stora variationer finns. Askmängden varierade till följd av vilka bränslen som eldades, snarare än mängden bränsle. Det ackrediterade laboratoriet hade använt sig av två olika analysmetoder vars resultat visade olika koncentrationer för vissa ämnen. Multivariat dataanalys tyder på att koncentrationerna var likvärdiga mellan den gamla och den nya metoden, därmed berodde koncentrationsförändringen inte på Saugbrugs förbränning eller bränslemix. Den befintliga askan innehåller höga koncentrationer av arsenik, bly och krom, och är inte direkt lämplig för alternativ användning. Innehållet av ekotoxiska metaller beror troligtvis främst på förbränning av RT-flis, men till viss del även slam och eget avfall. Mikroskopisk analys av askproven visar att partikelstorleken minskar ju längre in i rökgasreningen askstoftet kommer, och kemisk analys visar en tydlig fraktionering mellan de olika fälten där halten ekotoxiska metaller ökar med minskande partikelstorlek. Askan i de två sista fälten innehåller kritiska koncentrationer av ekotoxiska metaller. Askan uppfyller därmed inte myndighetskrav för skogsspridning eller liknande, och särskilt arsenikkoncentrationen är mycket hög. Saugbrugs aska måste fraktioneras eller behandlas om den skall användas. Fraktionering av aska för olika ändamål kan vara möjligt, men variationer kan förekomma och bör beaktas. Lämpligast vid alternativ användning är att späda askan eller en askfraktion med en annan aska, eller kalk.
The Norwegian paper pulp industry Norske Skog Saugbrugs AS combusts a variety of biofuels in a fuel mix, producing steam for internal use. Biomass is often associated with large variations in ash composition and produced ash quantity, thus the aim was to study these in relation to the used fuel mix through a statistical analysis of Saugbrugs existing data. Flue gases from the combustion are purified with an electrostatic precipitator (ESP), which consists of three fields for ash trapping. Other studies have shown that fractionation of ash from the different fields regarding the content of ecotoxical metals is possible; therefore the study also included sampling, particle size analysis and chemical analysis of samples from ash in the flue gas and ash from the three fields in the ESP respectively. The combustion produces large amounts of ash which is landfilled. An investigation of alternative uses in accordance with regulations for ash was made based on results from the statistical analysis and the four ash samples. The statistical analysis of the fuel mix in relation to the ash composition yielded little results, but showed that large variations exist. The produced ash quantity also varied due to the type of fuel used, rather than how much fuel is combusted. The existing data was based on different analytical methods at the accredited laboratory resulting in different substance concentrations. With multivariate analysis it was concluded that the different concentrations are equivalent between the old and the new method, thus the change is not due to Saugbrugs combustion or fuel mix. The ash contains high concentrations of arsenic, lead and chrome, and is not directly suitable for alternative use. The content of ecotoxic metals in the ash is mainly due to combustion of demolition wood, but also to sludge and waste in some extent. Analysis of the samples show that particle size decreases as the ash moves further in the flue gas purification process, and a distinct fractionation between the different fields where the content of ecotoxic metals increase with decreasing particle size. The ash collected in the two last fields therefore contains critical concentrations of ecotoxic metals. The ash does not meet the requirements regarding forest spreading or similar, and the concentration of arsenic is particularly high. Saugbrugs ash must be fractionated or treated if it is to be used alternatively. Fractionation of ash for various purposes might be possible, although variations may occur and must be considered. The most suitable approach is to dilute the ash or ash fraction with another ash, or lime.

The thesis describes a completely new biofuel system to generate particle-free heat from combustion of ash-containing biofuel particles at high temperatures.

The suggested system gives opportunities to introduce biofuels in new areas.

Main components in the suggested system is a heat radiating combustion chamber intended for pulverized wood, combined with regenerators to extract heat from flue gases and simultaneously preheating the combustion air.

The thesis contains a description of the suggested system, theoretical considerations, calculations regarding the combustion, and includes results from tests performed.

The results from calculations and tests performed concludes that the system is workable and possible to apply.

Uppsatsen beskriver ett helt nytt system för att åstadkomma partikelfri värme och höga temperaturer från biobränslen.

Det föreslagna systemet ger goda möjligheter att använda biobränslen inom helt nya områden.

Systemet består huvudsakligen av en brännkammare för träpulver, utförd som en hålrumsstrålare, samt regenerativa värmeväxlare mellan avgående rökgas och inkommande förbränningsluft.

Uppsatsen innehåller en beskrivning av det föreslagna systemet, teoretiska överväganden, beräkningar rörande förbränningen, samt redovisar resultat från gjorda försök.

Resultat från beräkningar och genomförda försök visar att det föreslagna systemet fungerar och är praktiskt möjligt att tillämpa.

Filtermaterial av 75 % torv och 25 % kolaska har använts under 2 respektive 4 år för rening av avloppsvatten från två biltvättar. Jämförelse med Kristianstads kommuns riktvärden för avloppsvatten från fordonstvättar visar att filtren fungerat. För avfallsklassning krävs kunskap om innehåll av miljöfarliga ämnen i produkter som använts i tvätthallarna. I brist på kunskap om innehåll av ej analyserade miljöfarliga ämnen i filtren anses förbränning vara ett bra omhändertagande ur miljösynpunkt, då energi och aska återvinns.

Sewage water from two car washes has been treated during 2 and 4 years respectively, using a filter made of 75 % peat and 25 % carbon-containing ash. A comparison with the guiding values for car wash sewage water in Kristianstad municipality shows that this type of filter works well. Classification of the filter as waste requires knowledge about the content of environmentally harmful substances in products used in the car washes. Because of the lack of knowledge about the content of non-analyzed substances in the filters, combustion must be regarded as an environmentally good way of disposing the filter material, as both energy and ashes are recycled.

The theme of this work is the history of Carlos Chagas Nursing School (Escola de Enfermagem Carlos Chagas, EECC), founded in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, on July 7th , 1933, which was the origin of the current Nursing School of Minas Gerais Federal University. The study focused the period from the creation of the school until 1950, when there were changes in its organization and administrative subordination. The goal was to analyze the process of institutionalization of EECC and, in the dynamic of this movement, learn the academic culture that was constituted on it. In an attempt to understand the constitution of a remarkable institutional culture, it was privileged the analysis of the academic culture from its basilar elements the subjects, the times and spaces and the academic knowledge. The theoretical and methodological contributions of the academic culture and the researches developed in the field of the history of the educative institutions and of the genre question were fundamental for the research. Besides, the condition of first nursing school that would supposedly follow the nightingale teaching system in a Brazilian state out of the Republic Capital contributed for the first directors to turn their attention to the establishment of the institutional history and memory. This way, this study was only possible in the coming and going between the memory and the archive. Its main sources were the ones that can be found in the Memory Center of UFMG Nursing School, carefully registered and preserved in the first years of EECC operation. It can be stated, with this work, that the EECC, in its institutionalization process, constituted and legitimated an academic culture that gave singularity to it. This way, it was given social visibility to an institutional culture that was being constituted at the same time that representations of the School, the nursing and the professional were being elaborated, full of distinctively love for Brazil, patriotism and religiosity. That is to say that, in EECC, there was a configuration of an academic culture that gave to it institutional identity in consonance with the intellectual debate reigning in Brazil in 1920s and 1930s, in which the national identity was put as a point of first importance. It was realized an institutional identity that in its materiality and in its academic practices times, spaces, curricula, didactic materials, evaluative and control processes, teaching body, among others should be similar to the official rules of the Brazilian system in general and to the nursing teaching in particular. Finally, it can be said that the EECC, in its institutionalization process, searched to get a position as a catholic Brazilian school in Minas Gerais, getting a great allied for its struggles, the Catholic Church, represented by Laís Netto dos Reys and by other intellectual catholic militants. Thus, it can also be said that the school, in the studied period, acted in a way to put in practice its motto: to God for the humanity for Brazil.
Este trabalho tem como tema a história da Escola de Enfermagem Carlos Chagas (EECC) fundada em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, em 7 de julho de 1933, que deu origem à que veio a ser a atual Escola de Enfermagem da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. O estudo enfocou o período entre a criação da Escola até 1950, quando ocorreram transformações na sua organização e subordinação administrativa. O objetivo foi analisar o processo de institucionalização da EECC e, na dinâmica desse movimento, apreender a cultura escolar que nela se constituiu. Na tentativa de compreender a constituição de uma cultura institucional singular, foi privilegiada a análise da cultura escolar a partir de seus elementos basilares os sujeitos, os tempos e espaços e os conhecimentos escolares. As contribuições teóricas e metodológicas da cultura escolar e as pesquisas desenvolvidas no campo da história das instituições educativas e da questão de gênero foram primordiais para a pesquisa. Além disso, a condição de primeira Escola de Enfermagem que supostamente seguiria o sistema nightingale de ensino em um Estado brasileiro fora da Capital da República contribuiu para que as primeiras diretoras voltassem a atenção para o estabelecimento da história e da memória institucional. Dessa forma, este estudo só foi possível no vaivém entre a memória e o arquivo, tendo como principais fontes aquelas que se encontram no Centro de Memória da Escola de Enfermagem da UFMG, cuidadosamente registradas e preservadas nos primeiros anos de funcionamento da EECC. Pode-se afirmar, com este trabalho, que a EECC, em seu processo de institucionalização, constituiu e legitimou uma cultura escolar que lhe conferiu singularidade. Dessa forma, deu-se visibilidade social a uma cultura institucional que foi se constituindo ao mesmo tempo em que se elaboravam representações da Escola, da enfermagem e da sua profissional imbuídas do espírito de brasilidade, de patriotismo e de religiosidade. Isto é, pode-se dizer que na EECC ocorreu a configuração de uma cultura escolar que lhe imprimiu uma identidade institucional em consonância com o debate intelectual reinante no país nas décadas de 1920 e 1930, em que a identidade nacional era colocada como questão de primeira ordem. Percebeu-se, pois, uma identidade institucional que em sua materialidade e em suas práticas escolares tempos, espaços, currículos, materiais didáticos, processos avaliativos e de controle, corpo docente, dentre outros deveria assemelhar-se às normas oficiais do sistema educacional brasileiro em geral e do ensino de enfermagem em particular. Finalmente, pode-se dizer que a EECC, em seu processo de institucionalização, buscou posicionar-se como uma escola brasileira católica cristã em solo mineiro, trazendo para o seu campo de luta uma grande aliada, a Igreja Católica, representada por Laís Netto dos Reys e por outros intelectuais militantes católicos. Assim, pode-se dizer também que a Escola, no período estudado, atuou de forma a colocar em prática o seu lema: a Deus pela humanidade para o Brasil.

All life forms require the nutrient phosphorus and it cannot be substituted by any other element. The global cycle of phosphorus is special among the major biogeochemical cycles, since it has no significant gaseous compounds and only closes every 10-100 million years. However, human activities, as application of mineral fertilizers, conversion of natural ecosystems to arable land and releases of untreated waste, intensify remarkably thephosphorus flows. The problems with linear flows of a limited resource leading to eutrophication of aquaticenvironments, for instance, have generated national environmental quality objectives for phosphorus in Sweden. The main objective of this master thesis is to get a holistic overview of how phosphorus is moving through Gothenburg today, using Material Flow Analysis as method. The spatial system boundary is the municipality of Gothenburg and the temporal system boundary is the year of 2009. One way of dealing with the linear flows ofphosphorus might be to develop the wastewater systems used in Gothenburg today. Possible changes in phosphorus flows, if kitchen grinders or urine-diverting toilets were installed in Gothenburg, are evaluated. In order to make the phosphorus management more sustainable, the linear flows have to be closed to a larger extent than today. One way towards this ambition is to emphasize other fertilizers than the mineral ones, like urine and low-contaminated sludge. The MFA shows that the absolutely largest input of phosphorus to Gothenburg is via the food. The two large outputs of the same magnitude are the digested sludge from the wastewater treatment plant of Rya and the ashes from the waste-fuelled district heating power plant of Sävenäs. About 7% of the phosphorus input to Gothenburg continues into the aquatic environment. According to this study, urine diversion and separate collection of food seem prospective in order to decrease the phosphorus flows in digested sludge from the wastewater treatment plant, ashes and aquatic deposition. An additional advantage would be generation of recycled fertilizing products with good quality.
Näringsämnet fosfor är nödvändigt för alla levande organismer och kan inte ersättas av något annat grundämne. Den globala fosforcykeln är speciell då den inte innehåller några gasformiga föreningar och sluts var 10-100 miljonte år. Användning av konstgödsel, omvandling av tidigare orörda ekosystem till odlingsmark och utsläppav förorenat avfall är exempel på mänskliga aktiviteter som intensifierar fosforflöden. Problemet med att linjäraflöden av denna begränsade resurs leder till övergödning av vattenmiljöer har genererat nationella miljömål i Sverige för fosfor. Det huvudsakliga målet med detta examensarbete är att få en översikt av hur fosfor rör sig genom Göteborg idag med hjälp av substansflödesanalys. Den rumsliga systemgränsen är kommungränsen för Göteborg och den tidsmässiga avgränsningen är året 2009. Ett sätt att förbättra de linjära fosforflödena kan vara att utveckla deavloppssystem som idag används i Göteborg. Förändringarna som uppstår i fosforflödena vid installation av urinsorterande toaletter alternativt köksavfallskvarnar undersöks. Linjära flöden måste bli återcirkulerade i en högre utsträckning än idag ifall fosforhushållningen ska gå mot hållbarhet. Ett sätt att nå denna ambition är att lyfta fram andra gödselprodukter än konstgödsel, exempelvis urin och renare slam. Flödesanalysen visar att det definitivt största inflödet av fosfor till Göteborg är via livsmedel. De två största fosforutflödena, båda i samma storleksordning, är rötat slam från Ryaverket och aska från sopförbränningsanläggningen Sävenäs. Cirka 7% av den fosfor som flödar in i Göteborg fortsätter vidare ut i vattenmiljön. Enligt denna studie verkar urinsortering och separat insamling av matavfall vara goda lösningar för en framtid med mindre fosfor i slammet från Rya och i aska samt till vattenmiljön. En ytterligare fördel skulle vara erhållandet av hållbara gödselprodukter med god kvalitet.

This master thesis has also been published as a technical report at Chalmers with Report No. 2011:124.

Krematoriet är en tvåfaldig byggnad: dels en funktionell anläggning där döda kroppar hanteras rationellt men också en byggnad med behov av känsla och ritual för att undvika att kremationen reduceras till likhantering på löpande band. Dödsritualer basereras ofta på gemensamma trosuppfattningar, något som är sällsynt i vårt postmoderna samhälle. En ledande frågeställning är hur arkitekturen kan skapa rum för mening utan att formulera egna godtyckliga ritualer eller försvåra för den praktiska verksamheten. En sista sekvens är ett krematorieprojekt som eftersträvar att skapa ritual genom rumssekvenser. Ritualens symboliska handlingar översätts till fysiska platser som passeras vid varje kremation. Hierakiskt ordnade, karaktärisktiska rum förbereder för och markererar kremationens olika steg utan att göra avsteg från det funktionella. Hypotesen är att kremationsprocessen kan upphöjas till en rumslig ritual som skapas av rumssamband och form. Varje kista som förs mot ugnen omsluts av karaktärisktiska rum: spatiala ögonblick, som skapar värdighet för den döde, tröst för de närstående och och en påminnelse till de anställda att deras arbete är viktigt. Resultatet är ett krematorium med funktionella rumssekvenser där industriella rum och passager har fått sensoriska kvaliteér. Om rumssekvenserna är starka nog för att få rituell mening är svårt att utvärdera utifrån ritningar men det föreslagna krematoriet har tydlig ambition att lyfta fram och skapa särskiljande och sensoriska rum för en industriell process.
A crematory is an ambigous structure: in part a functional facility where corpses are processed but also a building that require emotion and ritual to keep the crematory from becoming a death factory. In many cultures rites of passage are based on a common belief of what happens after death but these collective beliefs are scarce in today's post-modern society. One of the main questions in the project is how architecture can create meaningful space without inventing its own arbitrary rituals or compromising the building's functionality. Spaces of Passage is a crematory project that aims to create ritual through spatial sequences. The symbolic acts of the ritual are translated into physical places. Hierachically organised space with specific character enhance and foreshadow each step of the cremation process without sacrificing effectivness. The hypothesis is that the cremation process can be become a spatial ritual - a ritual created from form and relations. Every coffin that is transported towards the owen will pass through architectural moments, which convey a sense of dignity for the deceased, comfort for the bereaved and a a reminder that the work done at the crematory is of outmost importance. The resulting architecture is a crematory with functional spatial sequences where industrial spaces have aestetic qualities. Without studying how people interact with the actual building it is hard to evaluate if the spatial sequences have gained ritual value but the proposed crematory is indeed a clear attempt at creating emotional significance in an industrial process.

O controlo da asma brônquica, apesar da sua prevalência e dos tratamentos disponíveis, continua a ser sub-óptimo. Para melhorar o controlo, doentes e médicos devem conhecer melhor esta patologia, formas de prevenção e tratamento. Num esforço de informar ambas as partes intervenientes criou-se a “webpage” www.asma.com.pt, com apresentações Flash® sobre asma, incluindo fotografias da técnica inalatória de 5 dos principais inaladores. Para avaliar o impacto da “webpage” nos conhecimentos sobre asma e na técnica inalatória, aplicaram-se questionários específicos a doentes e clínicos, antes e após a consulta da “webpage”. Estabeleceram-se dois grupos de doentes (Grupo 1: n=4; Grupo 2: n=4), o primeiro com acesso à “webpage”. Um questionário foi aplicado a 6 clínicos do Centro de Saúde do Fundão seguido pela apresentação da “webpage”. A progressão dos conhecimentos nos doentes e médicos foi reavaliada após três e duas semanas respectivamente, utilizando os mesmos questionários. A pontuação do Grupo 1 na segunda avaliação foi estatisticamente superior à do Grupo 2: 8,5 pontos vs 2 pontos; (p < 0,001). Quanto à técnica inalatória, tanto o Grupo 1 como o Grupo 2 registaram melhorias, no entanto sem diferenças significativas entre ambos. Sobre os médicos, apenas 3 consultaram a “webpage”, sendo estes os que mais progrediram na segunda avaliação: +6 pontos vs -5 pontos; (p = 0,014). Os resultados fortemente sugerem que o endereço www.asma.com.pt permite a aquisição de conhecimentos sobre asma brônquica em doentes e médicos, o que poderá eventualmente traduzir-se em melhorias clínicas no futuro. Já em relação à técnica inalatória a diferença não é tão clara, possivelmente por aspectos da própria “webpage”, como também pela necessidade que todos os doentes sentiram em rever a técnica inalatória. No futuro será necessário realizar um estudo com uma amostra maior e com critérios de avaliação e impacto clínico mais específicos. A utilização de fotografias da técnica inalatória deverá ser substituída por vídeos.
Asthma control, despite its prevalence and available treatments, remains suboptimal. To improve control, patients and doctors should know more about asthma, its prevention and treatment. An effort to inform both parts has been made by creating a webpage, www.asma.com.pt, with Flash® presentations about asthma, including photographs illustrating inhalational techniques for the 5 most commonly used inhalers. To assess the webpage impact on the inhalation technique and asthma knowledge, specific questionnaires were given to patients and general practitioners, before and after webpage consultation. Two patient groups were established (Group 1: n=4; Group 2: n=4), the first one with access to the webpage. The doctor’s questionnaire was applied to 6 general practitioners from Fundão Healthcare Centre, followed by presentation of the webpage. Patient’s and doctor’s knowledge progression was assessed three and two weeks later, respectively. At the second evaluation moment, Group 1 classification was statistically superior to that of Group 2: +8,5 points vs +2 points; (p<0,001). As far as the assessment of the inhalational technique is concerned, patients from both groups showed improvements by the end of the third week, although there were no significant differences between them. In what concerns doctor’s assessment, only three of the general practitioners consulted the webpage, but it was these who most positively progressed at the second evaluation: +6 points vs -5points (p=0,014). The results strongly suggest that the www.asma.com.pt website is associated with improved knowledge on bronchial asthma in patients and doctors, which may eventually result in subsequent clinical improvement. In terms of inhalational technique, differences were not as clear, possibly because of webpage-related aspects but also because every assessed patient might have felt the need to review his/her own inhalational technique. In the future, a study with more participants and more specific evaluation and clinical impact criteria is needed. Inhalation technique photographs should be replaced by movies.

Dissertations on Asia and Australia's relations with Asia, either completed in 1999 or 2000 or in progress in 2000 in Australian universities. The list was compiled by Robert Elson from information supplied to the Asian Studies Association of Australia. Arranged by regions of Asia: general or comparative; Australia and Asia; East Asia; South Asia; Southeast Asia; West Asia.
Description based on contents viewed June 4, 2002; title from home page.

När glöden falnat En urban begravningsplats i fridfull natur Var kommer jag att begravas? Idag flyttar fler och fler in till storstäderna, och man lämnar ofta släkten kvar på hemorten.  Det nya livet i storstaden byggs upp runt arbete och de nära relationer till vänner man får, och inte uppbyggda på släktskap. Som storstadsbo kanske man inte identifierar sig med ”hela” Stockholm, det som innefattar de främmande förorterna, där inga anhöriga eventuellt kunnat bo, utan mer med staden ”som sådan”. Om man då mitt i livet avlider – skulle lösningen vara att skickas till födelseorten för en jordfästning?    I mitt fall finns ingen familj kvar där, föräldrarna är döda och syskonen är spridda över landet. Det känns märkligt och tomt att veta att man hamnar på en plats som sällan skulle bli besökt, och som de flesta av mina vänner inte alls känner till. Så kom jag att fundera över begravningsplats – en urban och nydanande sådan – i detta fall i Stockholm - en som inte måste ligga på Sergels torg precis, men som kunde vara så pass central att det inte skulle kännas främmande eller långt bort. Så tog min idé form. Den kunde appliceras som ”Djurens urbana minneslund” också – Välj själva! I detta arbete har jag dock valt att fokusera på mänskligheten.   Kerstin Persson, Norrmälarstrand, Stockholm
As the ember has gone out An urban burial ground in peaceful nature Where will they bury me? Today more nd more people move into the big cities, leaving relatives behind. The new life becomes different and connects to work and the new relations one makes here, not connected to family bounds. As a big-city dweller one may not identify with the “whole of the city”, as one has no relatives living in that or that area, but with the City itself. Then, if one in the middle of walk of life unexpectedly passes away – would the solution be to be sent back to one´s birthplace to be bried? Well, in my case there are no family left there as mother and father have passed away and sister and brother lives at different places in our country. It feels remarkably and empty to be put at a place where people seldom or never would come to, as most of my friends don´t even really know where it is. Here I came to think of forming some kind of cemetery that also would fill “My needs”, a one – kind of urban but in the peaceful nature – fitting many peoples – of today´s  need – in the city of Stockholm. This idea could also very well fit into the idea of an urban cemetery for animals. Here I have focused on the idea for humans though. Choose Yourself!   Kerstin Persson, Norrmälarstrand, Stockholm

Introdução: A asma é uma das doenças crónicas mais comuns na infância e tem apresentado um aumento da prevalência, sobretudo nas idades mais jovens. É caracterizada por uma reação de sensibilidade exagerada a determinadas substâncias apresentando uma etiologia multifatorial, predominantemente alérgica, mas podendo ser desencadeada por estímulos ambientais e emocionais. Algumas correntes consideram a asma como uma doença psicossomática, podendo as suas manifestações ser compreendidas como dificuldades no processo de integração derivadas de falhas do cuidado ambiental. Alguns estudos referem relação entre perturbações psicossomáticas e vinculação dando, assim, grande importância aos padrões de ligação afetiva que se estabelecem entre a mãe e a criança. Objetivos: Este trabalho pretende avaliar os tipos de ligação afetiva de crianças asmáticas seguidas no Centro Hospitalar Hova da Beira e compará-los com os encontrados em crianças com outras doenças e em crianças saudáveis, de modo a verificar se existe relação entre determinados tipos de ligação afetiva e a asma. É, ainda, um objetivo secundário deste trabalho caracterizar a população asmática do ponto de vista familiar e social. Material e métodos: Os dados foram recolhidos mediante a aplicação de questionários a 120 crianças: 40 crianças asmáticas, 40 crianças com outras patologias e 40 crianças saudáveis, de modo a caracterizar demograficamente os três grupos em estudo, bem como os tipos de ligação afetiva estabelecidos. Analisaram-se e compararam-se os dados relativos aos três grupos. As crianças asmáticas também responderam um questionário que permitiu caracterizar sucintamente a doença. Resultados: Os resultados obtidos sugeriram haver predomínio de ligação materna do tipo constrangimento afetivo e controlo afetivo em crianças asmáticas, relativamente aos outros grupos em estudo. A parentalidade ótima foi mais evidente em crianças saudáveis. Analisando a superproteção materna, encontrou-se uma maior prevalência em crianças asmáticas quando comparada com crianças saudáveis ou crianças com outras patologias. Obteve-se resultados sobreponíveis nos três grupos relativamente ao tipo de ligação e superproteção paternas. Conclusão: Este estudo mostra uma tendência para as crianças asmáticas apresentarem uma ligação materna do tipo constrangimento afetivo e controlo afetivo. Foi, ainda, possível estabelecer a existência de relação entre ligação afetiva materna superprotetora e asma. Em conclusão, este estudo sugere a existência de uma associação entre vinculação e asma, mostrando a importância de avaliar a relação mãe-criança nesta população.
Introduction: Asthma is one of the most frequent chronic diseases in childhood. The prevalence of asthma has been increasing over the last years, particularly in young people. The etiology of the disease is multifactorial. Most cases are due to allergic factors but the disease can also be triggered by environmental or emotional factors. Asthma is considered a psychosomatic illness. Its manifestations could result from difficulties in emotions understanding and symbolization. Some studies report a relationship between attachment and psychosomatic disorders, highlighting the great importance of emotional connection between mother and child. Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the patterns of emotional attachment in asthmatic children of the Centro Hospitalar Cova da Beira, and to compare them with those found in healthy children and in children with other disorders, in order to determine if there is a relationship between certain affective connection types and asthma. It is also a secondary purpose of this study to characterize the asthmatic population from a social and familiar perspective. Methods: We collect data from 120 children questionnaires: 40 in asthmatic children, 40 in children with other diseases and 40 in healthy children. We analyzed and compared the three groups regarding to demographic data and patterns of emotional connection. Results: Data suggests that there may be a predominance of affectionate constraint and affectionless control in asthmatic children in comparison to the other groups. The optimal parenting was more prevalent in healthy children. We also found a higher prevalence of maternal overprotection in asthmatic than in healthy children or children with other diseases. We found similar results in the three study groups regarding to the parental bonding pattern of the father and father overprotection. Conclusion: This study suggests an association between attachment and asthma. There seems to be a trend for asthmatic children to show an affectionate constraint or an affectionless control attachment pattern. It was possible to conclude that there is a relationship between maternal overprotection and asthma emphasizing the importance of evaluating the motherchild relationship in this population.

Dissertação de Mestrado em Ciências de Enfermagem, área de especialização em Pediatria, apresentada à Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto
A asma constitui uma das patologias importantes na infância, tornando-se, conjuntamente com outras doenças imunoalérgicas, numa preocupação constante; o aumento da sua prevalência, com principal incidência nos países ocidentais e desenvolvido. Apesar de nos últimos anos se ter verificado um aumento dos conhecimentos da etiopatogenia da asma e dos avanços nas técnicas de biologia molecular e genética, as condições do seu aumento permanecem obscuras.A multiplicidade de factores que podem coexistir na génese da asma só recentemente começou a ser especificada em diferentes estudos epidemiológicos e anatomopatológicos, permitindo uma exploração mais real e pormenorizada.É do conhecimento da comunidade científica que o leite materno é o único alimento para a criança nos primeiros meses de vida, não só porque contém os nutrientes necessários ao óptimo crescimento e desenvolvimento, como também contribui de forma acentuada para a prevenção de patologias infecciosas e alérgicas.O aleitamento materno constitui, também, um dos primeiros actos de comunicação interactiva Mãe-Filho de forma gratificante, pois cria laços de vinculação extremamente fortes, aumentando a estabilidade emocional e afectiva de ambos, contribuindo para um desenvolvimento equilibrado do Filho e da Família.As propriedades protectoras do leite materno podem ser divididas em factores celulares e factores humorais, no entanto, os dois actuam de forma complementar.Vários estudos demonstraram que o aleitamento materno exclusivo pode levar à menor incidência de doença atópica e alergias alimentares. Os anticorpos passam para as crianças através do leite materno fazendo parte do que chamamos sistema imune enteromamário .Este estudo tem como finalidade estudar a relação entre a duração do aleitamento materno e a manifestação de asma na criança.A população sobre a qual o nosso estudo incidiu foi o das crianças que frequentam a Consulta de Imuno-Alergologia do Departamento de Pediatria do Hospital de S. João ...

Thesis: S.M. in Management Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2016.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 47-48).
Southeast Asia countries are forming the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), one of the largest markets in the world with an over $2 trillion economy and population of over 600 million. This represents great opportunities not only for ASEAN citizens but also for foreigners to benefit from the combined economy. As a student from Thailand with strong interest in equity investment, I am interested in exploring equity investment opportunities in the region. I particular I want to look at Southeast Asia Equity ETFs as I believe that ETFs will play an important role in allowing investors to benefit from an exposure to the region's economy. In this thesis, I developed key investment highlights of Southeast Asia. I then explained why ETFs are an attractive tool for investors based on their special characteristics that distinguish them from typical mutual funds. Next, I explored and analyzed currently available Southeast Asia regional-focused ETFs. Finally, I developed several key considerations for new entrants who might consider getting into the market in offering Southeast Asia Equity ETFs.
by Napol Kamthornkittikul.
S.M. in Management Studies

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-12T23:15:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 arquivo8706_1.pdf: 1817930 bytes, checksum: f2ac6cbb0fce841bf670e49e6225a371 (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004
Objetivo: Revisar a literatura científica acerca do papel do interferon gama (IFN-y) na doença atópica, especificamente asma. Métodos: Pesquisados dados do Medline e Lilacs nos últimos 10 anos. Resultados: Vários autores discutem a importância da relação entre a secreção de IFN-y e o componente atópico per se, por outro lado é questionado se esta citocina tem relação direta com a doença asmática, independente do estado atópico. Foi verificada a existência de várias pesquisas relacionando asma e IFN-y; entretanto, os resultados destas pesquisas se apresentam controversos. Conclusão: Ainda não se chegou a uma conclusão definitiva do verdadeiro mecanismo de atuação desempenhado pelo IFN-y na doença asmática, é indiscutível a importância de novas pesquisas esclarecedoras sobre este assunto

Mestrado em Física Aplicada
Desde a antiguidade, povos como os Egípcios e Romanos associavam o aparecimento das doenças a aspectos relacionados com o ambiente. Nos últimos anos. o desenvolvimento do conhecimento cientifico. aliado a uma maior consciência das pessoas sobre a influencia da qualidade ambienta1 na saúde, tem revelado que o ambiente tem muita influência na saúde do ser humano. E objectivo deste estudo analisar a relação existente entre as condições atmosféricas, alguns poluentes, e a saúde pública, particularmente no que concerne as doenças do aparelho respiratório, como é o caso da asma. A escolha da asma deve-se ao facto de ser uma doença respiratória de carácter muito complexo e limitante para quem a possui. Somos de opinião que este estudo poderá contribuir para o despertar do ser humano dos possíveis factores de risco, para que estes, quando expostos, possam decidir as estratégias adequadas, melhorando, deste modo a sua qualidade de vida. Vários estudos de caso foram realizados na tentativa de se conhecer um padrão de comportamento da agudização da doença. Por se considerai relevante, avaliaram-se alguns índices Bioclimáticos que poderão indicar situações para a agudização da asma. O estudo realizado, no seu aspecto geral, permitiu compreender como alguns factores condicionam a agudização de asma e consequentemente recurso aos serviços de urgência hospitalar. Por último, espera-se que este trabalho, ao ser lido pelas entidades envolvidas, possa condicionar no futuro. a continuação do saber acerca das relações tempo - clima -saúde - serviços de urgência e possa contribuir para ajudar os serviços de urgência hospitalar na adopção de um planeamento adequado, tendo por base a informação das alterações do meio ambiente.
Since antiquity. people like the Egyptians and Romans relate the manifestation of the diseases to aspect related to the environment. In the last years, the development of the scientific knowledge, and the better conscience of the population about the influence of the environment quality in the health, places the environment like one of the elements that are more important in what concerns the health of the populations. The aim of this study isto analyse the relationship between the atmospherics conditions, some atmospheric pollutants, and the public health, particularly in what concerns diseases of the respiratory system like the asthma. The choice of Asthma is due to the fact that this disease is very complex and limitative to the ones that have it. We have the opinion that this study can contribute to alert the population about the possible risk factors, with the propose that they can take the needed precautions when exposed. and, in this way, improve their life quality. It was made severa1 studies in the attempt to establish one standard of behaviour of the disease, having in consideration the principal risk factors that are thought to be the ones that more influence asthma attacks. It was also analysed the influence of some Bioclimatic index in asthma attacks.

Monografia apresentada à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Licenciada em Ciências Farmacêuticas.
Este trabalho tem como objectivo aprofundar os conhecimentos do farmacêutico e do público em geral ao nível da terapêutica inalatória da Asma, que constitui um importante problema de saúde pública por se tratar de uma das doenças crónicas mais frequentes na criança e no jovem, analisando alguns dos dispositivos utilizados nas diferentes idades e fases da doença. Esta monografia assenta na importância do aconselhamento farmacêutico e sua descrição pormenorizada e detalhada dos diferentes aparelhos inaladores, facilitando no seguimento do doente asmático, no sentido de reforçar a aderência à terapêutica inalatória. Assim, pretende-se fornecer informação relevante relativa aos dispositivos utilizados através de uma revisão bibliográfica sobre o tema e o papel do farmacêutico no uso correcto dos inaladores. Ao longo desta monografia demonstra-se o porquê do uso de formas farmacêuticas inaladas, e as inúmeras vantagens que apresentam em relação a outras. O farmacêutico pode constituir, desta forma, o elo de ligação entre o doente e uma terapêutica inalatória correcta.

Dissertação de Mestrado em Ciências de Enfermagem, área de especialização em Pediatria, apresentada à Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto
A asma constitui uma das patologias importantes na infância, tornando-se, conjuntamente com outras doenças imunoalérgicas, numa preocupação constante; o aumento da sua prevalência, com principal incidência nos países ocidentais e desenvolvido. Apesar de nos últimos anos se ter verificado um aumento dos conhecimentos da etiopatogenia da asma e dos avanços nas técnicas de biologia molecular e genética, as condições do seu aumento permanecem obscuras.A multiplicidade de factores que podem coexistir na génese da asma só recentemente começou a ser especificada em diferentes estudos epidemiológicos e anatomopatológicos, permitindo uma exploração mais real e pormenorizada.É do conhecimento da comunidade científica que o leite materno é o único alimento para a criança nos primeiros meses de vida, não só porque contém os nutrientes necessários ao óptimo crescimento e desenvolvimento, como também contribui de forma acentuada para a prevenção de patologias infecciosas e alérgicas.O aleitamento materno constitui, também, um dos primeiros actos de comunicação interactiva Mãe-Filho de forma gratificante, pois cria laços de vinculação extremamente fortes, aumentando a estabilidade emocional e afectiva de ambos, contribuindo para um desenvolvimento equilibrado do Filho e da Família.As propriedades protectoras do leite materno podem ser divididas em factores celulares e factores humorais, no entanto, os dois actuam de forma complementar.Vários estudos demonstraram que o aleitamento materno exclusivo pode levar à menor incidência de doença atópica e alergias alimentares. Os anticorpos passam para as crianças através do leite materno fazendo parte do que chamamos sistema imune enteromamário .Este estudo tem como finalidade estudar a relação entre a duração do aleitamento materno e a manifestação de asma na criança.A população sobre a qual o nosso estudo incidiu foi o das crianças que frequentam a Consulta de Imuno-Alergologia do Departamento de Pediatria do Hospital de S. João ...

The aim of this Master’s thesis is to investigate Umeå University Library’s provision for its visiting international students. Questions addressed include: whether this library considers its international students to have specific needs which are different from those of domestic students; what kind of provision is offered to international students; and whether and what kind of affective barriers international students experience in this academic library.

For this case study two semi-structured interview questionnaires were designed, one for librarians and the other for international students. Three contact librarians and five international students were interviewed. The students differ as to nationality, gender, and level of education. They are non-native English speakers and have stayed in Sweden longer than six months.

The theoretical framework for this study is partially based on Budd’s library instruction model and partially on Bostick‘s five dimensions of library anxiety: barriers with staff, affective barriers, comfort with the library, knowledge of the library, and mechanical barriers.

The empirical findings are that apart from a library introduction and a library tour the library does not provide any special services for international students. The library appears to work on a one-size-fits-all assumption, sprinkled with a feel-free-to-ask-me attitude, rather than offering course-integrated library instruction sessions. At best, international students might get one timely library instruction opportunity. At worst, they use the library only for studying in it rather than for information searching. The study confirms the findings from the literature that the international students experience library anxiety. In order to overcome this anxiety, this thesis proposes that library instruction sessions are introduced into all international programmes and courses; that a liaison librarian should be appointed; and that a library website tailored to the needs of international students should be designed.

Introdução: Asma e rinite são as doenças crônicas mais comuns da infância, e causam importante impacto negativo na qualidade de vida. As suas prevalências vêm aumentando ao redor do mundo nas últimas décadas, de forma gradual e constante. Os fatores genéticos, embora sejam importantes, não são capazes de justificar, isoladamente, esses aumentos observados nas prevalências, e é provável que os fatores ambientais tenham maior relevância na determinação das manifestações dessas doenças. Nesse sentido, é importante que estudos epidemiológicos sejam realizados com questões padronizadas e medidas objetivas de avaliação de prevalência e gravidade, conduzidos em mais de uma ocasião, em todo o mundo, para obter dados confiáveis que possibilitem acompanhar a tendência mundial das prevalências dessas doenças e detectar variações em diferentes regiões geográficas, buscando também identificar possíveis fatores ambientais associados a essas doenças. Objetivos: estimar a prevalência e gravidade de asma e rinite em escolares de 6 e 7 anos morando em Fortaleza; estimar as prevalências dessas doenças entre os adolescentes de 13 e 14 anos, também morando em Fortaleza, e fazer estudo comparativo dos dados atuais com as taxas encontradas em 2006\2007 em estudo ISAAC nesta faixa etária; descrever possíveis fatores de risco associados a asma nesses dois grupos etários. Método: Estudo transversal utilizando o protocolo do International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), módulos asma e rinite, além dos seus questionários ambientais, e composto de dois inquéritos: o primeiro, em 2006\2007 envolvendo amostra aleatória de 3.015 adolescentes de 13 e 14 anos, de escolas públicas e particulares; o segundo, em 2.010, com amostragem aleatória de 3.020 adolescentes de 13 e 14 anos e 2.020 escolares de 6 e 7 anos, de escolas públicas e particulares. Resultados: Entre os adolescentes, em 2010, houve um aumento significativo na prevalência de sibilos após exercícios, tosse seca noturna e asma diagnosticada (p < 0,01 para todos); houve redução significativa na prevalência de rinite grave (p = 0,01). Em ambos os períodos, tosse seca noturna, rinite atual e rinoconjuntivite foram significativamente mais prevalentes nas mulheres (p < 0,01 para todos); asma atual, rinite atual e rinoconjuntivite foram significativamente mais prevalentes entre os adolescentes das escolas particulares (p < 0,01 para todos). Nos 2 inquéritos, as taxas de “asma diagnosticada” e “rinite diagnosticada” foram bem menores que as respectivas taxas de “asma atual” e “rinite atual". Além de rinoconjuntivite, o consumo de biscoitos recheados e salgados fritos 3 ou mais vezes por semana foram independentemente associados à asma, como fatores agravantes, enquanto o consumo de frutas 3 ou mais vezes por semana esteve associado à asma como fator protetor. Entre os escolares de 6 e 7 anos, a prevalência de “sibilos cumulativos” (sibilos na vida) foi 52,6%; a de “sibilos nos últimos 12 meses” (asma atual), 28,3%, e a taxa de “asma diagnosticada”, 12,4%. Para os sintomas associados à gravidade da asma, como “sibilos com limite da fala”, “quatro ou mais crises de sibilos no último ano” e “sono interrompido por sibilos uma ou mais noites por semana”, as taxas foram, respectivamente, 4,1%, 3,9% e 6,7%. A taxa de “sibilos pós-exercícios” foi 7,2%, e a de “tosse seca noturna” foi de 39,7%. Houve predomínio no sexo masculino, com significância estatística, de sibilos cumulativos (p<0,001) e asma atual (p=0,04). “Sibilos com limite da fala”, “sono interrompido por sibilos uma ou mais noites por semana” e “sibilos pós exercícios” predominaram no grupo das escolas públicas (p=0,002, p=0,002 e p=0,003, respectivamente). As prevalências de rinite cumulativa, rinite atual, rinoconjuntivite e rinite diagnosticada foram, respectivamente, 49,9%, 42,0%, 15,0% e 28,1%, predominando entre as crianças das escolas particulares (p<0,001 para todos), sem diferença entre os sexos. Interferência dos sintomas nasais com as atividades diárias foi relatada por 25,3% dos pesquisados, sem diferença entre os sexos. Além de rinoconjuntivite, o uso de paracetamol pelo menos uma vez\mês no último ano, o tabagismo materno, o tabagismo paterno e a exposição a animais domésticos no 1º ano de vida foram, independentemente, associados à asma, nesse grupo etário, como fatores agravantes. Conclusões: As prevalências de sintomas de asma e rinite continuam elevadas e crescentes entre os adolescentes de 13-14 anos em Fortaleza, mantendo o predomínio no sexo feminino e entre os alunos das escolas particulares. As prevalências de asma e rinite em escolares de 6 e 7 anos morando em Fortaleza mostraram-se elevadas, e acima da média nacional, com predomínio dos sintomas de asma no sexo masculino e entre o grupo das escolas públicas, onde a asma também é mais grave. Os sintomas de rinite predominaram no grupo das escolas privadas, e não apresentaram diferenças entre os sexos. Nos dois grupos etários, asma e rinite mostraram-se subdiagnosticadas. Fatores clínicos, ambientais e hábitos alimentares estão associados a essas elevadas taxas; o consumo de frutas 3 ou mais vezes por semana mostrou-se protetor contra os sintomas de asma entre os adolescentes. Intervenções que atuem nesses fatores podem reduzir a ocorrência de asma nessas populações.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of asthma and rhinitis in 6-7 years old schoolchildren in Fortaleza; to describe the prevalences of asthma and rhinitis in 13-14 years old adolescents in the same city, in 2010, comparing the results with those obtained in a prevalence survey conducted in 2006-2007; and to identify factors associated with asthma in these two age groups in the city of Fortaleza, state of Ceará, Brazil. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire, involving probabilistic samples of 3,015 and 3,020 adolescents in surveys conducted in 2006-2007 and 2010, respectively, and 2,020 schoolchildren in 2010. Results: Among adolescents, comparing the two periods, the prevalences of exercise-induced wheezing, dry cough at night, and physician-diagnosed asthma were significantly higher in 2010 than in the 2006-2007 period (p < 0.01 for all). There were no significant differences regarding cumulative wheezing, active asthma, four or more wheezing attacks within the last year, sleep disturbed by wheezing more than one night per week, and speech-limiting wheezing. The prevalence of severe rhinitis was significantly lower in 2010 (p = 0.01), whereas there were no significant differences between the two periods regarding cumulative rhinitis, current rhinitis, and rhinoconjunctivitis. In both periods, cumulative wheezing, dry cough at night, cumulative rhinitis, current rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis were significantly more prevalent in females than in males (p < 0.01 for all). Also in both periods, active asthma, current rhinitis, and rhinoconjunctivitis were more prevalent in private school students than in public school students (p < 0.01 for all). Rhinoconjunctivitis and the consumption of stuffed biscuits and fried snacks three or more times per week were independently and positively associated with asthma; consumption of fruits three or more times per week was negatively associated with asthma. Among schoolchildren (6-7 years of age), the prevalences of “wheezing ever”, “wheezing within the last 12 months” (active asthma) and “asthma ever” (physician-diagnosed asthma) were 52.6%, 28.3% and 12.4%, respectively. The prevalences of symptoms associated with asthma severity, such as "speech-limiting wheeze", "four or more wheezing attacks in the last 12 months" and "sleep disturbed due to wheezing one or more nights a week", were, respectively, 4.1%, 3.9% and 6.7%. The rate of "wheezing after exercise" was 7.2%, and that of "night cough" was 39.7%. The prevalences of “wheezing ever” (p<0.001) and active asthma (p=0.04) were higher among males. Public school students presented higher prevalences of "speech-limiting wheezing", “sleep disturbed due to wheezing one or more nights a week" and "wheezing after exercise" (p=0.002, p=0.002 and p=0.003, respectively). The prevalence of cumulative rhinitis, current rhinitis, rhinoconjunctivitis and physician-diagnosed rhinitis was 49.9%, 42.0%, 15.0% and 28.1%, respectively. Rhinitis symptoms and physician-diagnosed rhinitis were significantly more prevalent among private school students (OR = 0.55, CI 95%: 0.46 – 0.66, p<0.001; OR= 0.50, CI95%: 0.41 – 0.60, p<0.001; OR = 0.67, CI95%: 0.52 – 0.85, p<0.001; OR=0.15, CI95%: 0.12-0.19, p<0.001, respectively), without differences between genders. Interference with daily activities was reported by 25.3% and 5.7% reported to be moderately or severely affected, without difference between genders. Rhinoconjunctivitis (OR=2.19, CI: 1.24-3.86, p=0.007), paracetamol at least once per month in the last 12 months (OR=3.48, CI: 1.94-6.24, p < 0.001), maternal smoking (OR=3.18, CI: 1.21-8.30, p=0.018), paternal smoking (OR=2.14, CI: 1.01-4.54, p=0.047) and contact with cat or dog in the first year of life (OR=2.26, CI: 1.25-4.06, p = 0.007) were independently and positively associated with asthma. Conclusions: Our data show that the prevalences of asthma and rhinitis symptoms remain increasing among 13-14-year old adolescents in Fortaleza, predominantly among females and private school students. The prevalence rates of asthma and rhinitis in schoolchildren aged 6-7 years are also high, above the national average. Symptoms related to asthma were predominant among males and public school students, whereas rhinitis was predominant among private school students, without differences between genders. It was also observed that asthma and rhinitis are underdiagnosed in these two populations in the city of Fortaleza, state of Ceará, Brazil. Among adolescents, dietary factors were the most associated with asthma in this study. Besides rhinoconjunctivitis, the consumption of stuffed biscuits and fried snacks (foods with high content of saturated fat) three or more times per week were independently associated with asthma as aggravating factors, while the consumptions of fruits three or more times per week was associated with asthma as protective factor. Among schoolchildren (6-7 years of age), besides rhinoconjunctivitis, paracetamol at least once per month in the last 12 months, maternal smoking, paternal smoking and contact with cat or dog in the first year of life were independently associated with asthma as aggravating factors. Interventions acting on these factors may decrease the occurrence of asthma in these populations.

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Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-04T14:14:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 DISSERTACAO Mauro de Aguiar.pdf: 4166249 bytes, checksum: 9a5988c6d20ed765b6f93bfd6b610831 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013
Esta dissertação origina-se da criação de um ambulatório especializado no atendimento de gestantes asmáticas, no Hospital das Clínicas (hospital de ensino da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco). Os estudos resultantes tiveram como foco principal questões relacionadas à asma na gravidez, sendo concluídos dois artigos de revisão e um artigo original. A revisão narrativa intitulada: “Asma na gravidez: atualização no manejo” discorre sobre os principais aspectos desta patologia em gestantes, pois trata-se de uma doença crônica frequente na gestação, cujo descontrole encontra-se associado a desfechos maternos e perinatais desfavoráveis. O manejo da doença apresenta desafios, tais como a resistência das pacientes em utilizar medicações durante a gravidez, além de queixas frequentes de dispnéia associada ao estado gravídico, não relacionada à asma. O controle adequado da asma, juntamente com vigilância obstétrica cuidadosa, devem ser integrados e constituírem objetivos globais do tratamento de gestantes asmáticas. O tratamento medicamentoso deve ser encorajado e permite o uso de algumas medicações utilizadas em pacientes não gestantes. A revisão sistemática intitulada: “Beclometasona inalatória em gestantes asmáticas-Revisão Sistemática” tem como objetivo rever de forma sistemática as evidências sobre a segurança e eficácia do uso de beclometasona inalatória em gestantes asmáticas. Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática a partir das bases de dados MedLine, LILACS e SciELO. Foram encontrados 3433 artigos dos quais nove foram selecionados. A maioria dos estudos, nesta revisão, atestou a segurança e eficácia do uso de beclometasona inalatória para o tratamento da asma na gravidez, tendo apenas um artigo sugerido risco fetal e um artigo associado a risco de distúrbios endócrinos e metabólicos na infância. Não encontramos evidências que sugerissem uma menor eficácia ou segurança da beclometasona, em comparação a outras drogas utilizadas na gestante asmática. No artigo com título: “O Teste de Controle da Asma é válido em gestantes asmáticas?”, buscou-se a validação do questionário padronizado Teste de Controle da Asma (TCA) em gestantes asmáticas. Estudo de validação de teste diagnóstico com 40 gestantes asmáticas avaliadas em até quatro oportunidades (113 consultas), a cada visita foram submetidas à prova de função pulmonar, avaliação do controle da doença por obstetra treinado em manejar asma na gravidez e foi utilizado o TCA. O ponto de corte com maior acurácia foi 16, com sensibilidade de 95,4%, especificidade de 68,8%, valor preditivo negativo de 91,7%, valor preditivo positivo de 80,5%. As razões de verossimilhança positiva e negativa foram respectivamente 3,052 e 0,067. O questionário tem grande capacidade de discriminar asma controlada, com uma área sob a curva ROC de 0,846 (IC 95% 0,748 a 0,92). A reprodutibilidade foi verificada entre pacientes que mantiveram a mesma classificação clínica, apresentando um coeficiente de correlação intraclasse de 0,86 (IC 95% 0,75 a 0,93). Entre aquelas que melhoraram a classificação clínica houve melhora significativa no escore TCA (p< 0,005), indicando boa responsividade. O TCA apresentou boa reprodutibilidade e foi capaz de discriminar o nível de controle da asma em gestantes, demonstrando ser uma ferramenta útil no manejo da asma durante a gravidez.

The capstone reviews the issue of injection safety in Central Asia. Unsafe injections have been a cause of several HIV outbreaks in the region and poses a significant public health challenge. The capstone goes over the process used to engage the local health departments to assess injection practices in the region and the development of an assessment tool to be used to evaluate injection safety practices in the region.

Es va determinar el risc d'asma i la seva associació amb les exposicions laborals, així com la càrrega d'asma relacionat amb el treball, entre professionals sanitaris. Després de validar un qüestionari nou, es va administrar una enquesta a 5600 metges, infermers, i tècnics en teràpia respiratòria i ocupacional a Texas (tasa de resposta-66%). S'evidencia un risc elevat d'asma desprès d'haver començat a treballar per tasques de neteja general, desinfecció d'instruments mèdics, l'ús de guants de làtex i l'administració de medicaments en aerosol. També s'evidencien associacions significatives entre símptomes de hiperreactivitat bronquial i l'ús de productes generals de neteja, l'administració de medicaments en aerosol, l'aplicació de productes adhesius/dissolvents, i en persones amb antecedents d'exposició a un vessament químic. El risc per làtex desaparegué desprès de l'any 2000. Les exposicions laborals contribueixen de manera important a l'asma en el personal sanitari, justificant tant la implementació de controls adequats com la recerca addicional.
The magnitude of asthma risk, its associations with occupational exposures, and the burden of work-related asthma was estimated in healthcare professionals. After validating a new asthma questionnaire, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 5600 Texas physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and occupational therapists (response rate, 66%). Elevated risks of asthma after entry into the profession were found for general cleaning tasks, medical instrument cleaning, use of powdered latex gloves, and administration of aerosolized medications. Significant associations were also found between bronchial hyperresponsiveness-related symptoms and use of general cleaning products, administration of aerosolized medications, use of adhesives or solvents as products in patient care, and with a history of acute exposure to a chemical spill. The risk associated with latex disappeared after the year 2000. Occupational exposures contribute importantly to asthma among healthcare professionals and are not trivial, meriting both further study and implementation of appropriate controls.

Es va determinar el risc d'asma i la seva associació amb les exposicions laborals, així com la càrrega d'asma relacionat amb el treball, entre professionals sanitaris. Després de validar un qüestionari nou, es va administrar una enquesta a 5600 metges, infermers, i tècnics en teràpia respiratòria i ocupacional a Texas (tasa de resposta-66%). S'evidencia un risc elevat d'asma desprès d'haver començat a treballar per tasques de neteja general, desinfecció d'instruments mèdics, l'ús de guants de làtex i l'administració de medicaments en aerosol. També s'evidencien associacions significatives entre símptomes de hiperreactivitat bronquial i l'ús de productes generals de neteja, l'administració de medicaments en aerosol, l'aplicació de productes adhesius/dissolvents, i en persones amb antecedents d'exposició a un vessament químic. El risc per làtex desaparegué desprès de l'any 2000. Les exposicions laborals contribueixen de manera important a l'asma en el personal sanitari, justificant tant la implementació de controls adequats com la recerca addicional.
The magnitude of asthma risk, its associations with occupational exposures, and the burden of work-related asthma was estimated in healthcare professionals. After validating a new asthma questionnaire, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 5600 Texas physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and occupational therapists (response rate, 66%). Elevated risks of asthma after entry into the profession were found for general cleaning tasks, medical instrument cleaning, use of powdered latex gloves, and administration of aerosolized medications. Significant associations were also found between bronchial hyperresponsiveness-related symptoms and use of general cleaning products, administration of aerosolized medications, use of adhesives or solvents as products in patient care, and with a history of acute exposure to a chemical spill. The risk associated with latex disappeared after the year 2000. Occupational exposures contribute importantly to asthma among healthcare professionals and are not trivial, meriting both further study and implementation of appropriate controls.