Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationSupercritical carbon dioxide is injected into underground formations to enhance oil recovery and for subsurface sequestration to minimize the impact of CO2 emissions due to global warming. The complex phase behavior of CO2 with oil determines the effectiveness of the CO2 injection for enhanced oil recovery. The injection of CO2 into the subsurface is also affected by the large and small scale heterogeneities in the formations. These two aspects of CO2 injection are examined in this research. Development of multiple-contact miscibility is important in the success of a carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery. CO2 displacements are often designed to operate above the minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) to ensure the development of multiple contact miscibility between the oil and CO2. Compositional histories in different parts of a two-dimensional domain are examined in this study in relation to displacement pressure employed. The second part of this dissertation deals with the effect of faults on the CO2 sequestration process and on the integrity of storage. Outcrop-based studies of faulted, aeolian Navajo sandstone provide detailed, quantitative insight regarding the range of fault characteristics that might be encountered as injected CO2 migrates through the faulted aquifer. Faults can act as barriers, conduits, or integrated barrier-conduit systems. Uncertainty in knowing whether a subsurface fault will act as a barrier or conduit leads to uncertainty in evaluating the likelihood for economically sequestering CO2 in sandstone aquifers. EclipseR black oil reservoir simulator is used to explore how different, 3-D, fault-related permeability/porosity structures might impact CO2 injection into, migration through, and leakage from a sequestration aquifer. Sandstone permeability values range from 10s to 1000s of mD. Simulator output shows how fault conduits and barriers can restrict migration of CO2 through the aquifer as a consequence of bypassing (conduits) or compartmentalization (barriers). In addition, the simulation results reveal how the geoscientists' ability to quantify and discriminate between high-permeability versus low-permeability faults in sandstone aquifers can play an important role in designing CO2 sequestration operations

Alcohol Abstinence Does Not Fully Reverse Abnormalities of Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells in the Blood of Patients With Alcoholic Hepatitis

OBJECTIVES: Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) develops in approximately 30% of chronic heavy drinkers. The immune system of patients with AH is hyperactivated, yet ineffective against infectious diseases. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are innate-like lymphocytes that are highly enriched in liver, mucosa, and peripheral blood and contribute to antimicrobial immunity. We aimed to determine whether MAIT cells were dysregulated in heavy drinkers with and without AH and the effects of alcohol abstinence on MAIT cell recovery. METHODS: MR1 tetramers loaded with a potent MAIT cell ligand 5-(2-oxopropylideneamino)-6-d-ribitylaminouracil were used in multiparameter flow cytometry to analyze peripheral blood MAIT cells in 59 healthy controls (HC), 56 patients with AH, and 45 heavy drinkers without overt liver disease (HDC) at baseline and 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Multiplex immunoassays were used to quantify plasma levels of cytokines related to MAIT cell activation. Kinetic Turbidimetric Limulus Amebocyte Lysate Assay and ELISA were performed to measure circulating levels of 2 surrogate markers for bacterial translocation (lipopolysaccharide and CD14), respectively. RESULTS: At baseline, patients with AH had a significantly lower frequency of MAIT cells than HDC and HC. HDC also had less MAIT cells than HC (median 0.16% in AH, 0.56% in HDC, and 1.25% in HC). Further, the residual MAIT cells in patients with AH expressed higher levels of activation markers (CD69, CD38, and human leukocyte antigen [HLA]-DR), the effector molecule granzyme B, and the immune exhaustion molecule PD-1. Plasma levels of lipopolysaccharide and CD14 and several cytokines related to MAIT cell activation were elevated in patients with AH (interferon [IFN]-α, interleukin [IL]-7, IL-15, IL-17, IL-18, IL-23, IFN-γ, and tumor necrosis factor α). Decreased MAIT cell frequency and upregulated CD38, CD69, and HLA-DR correlated negatively and positively, respectively, with aspartate aminotransferase level. MAIT cell frequency negatively correlated with IL-18. HLA-DR and CD38 levels correlated with several cytokines. At follow-ups, abstinent patients with AH had increased MAIT cell frequency and decreased MAIT cell activation. However, MAIT cell frequency was not fully normalized in patients with AH (median 0.31%). DISCUSSION: We showed that HDC had a reduction of blood MAIT cells despite showing little evidence of immune activation, whereas patients with AH had a severe depletion of blood MAIT cells and the residual cells were highly activated. Alcohol abstinence partially reversed those abnormalities

Design of Robust Load Frequency Controller for Multi-Area Interconnected Power System Using SDO Software

The response of the load frequency control problem in multi-area interconnected electrical power system is much more complex with increasing size, changing structure and increasing load.  This paper deals with Load Frequency Control of three area interconnected Power system incorporating Reheat, Non-reheat and Reheat turbines in all areas respectively.  The response of the load frequency control problem in a multi-area interconnected power system is improved by designing PID controller using different tuning techniques and proved that the PID controller which was designed by Simulink Design Optimization (SDO) Software gives the superior performance than other controllers for step perturbations. Finally the robustness of controller was checked against system parameter variations.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Literature Reported Mac and Phy Enhancements of Zigbee and its Alliances

Wireless communication is one of the most required technologies by the common man. The strength of this technology is rigorously progressing towards several novel directions in establishing personal wireless networks mounted over on low power consuming systems. The cutting-edge communication technologies like bluetooth, WIFI and ZigBee significantly play a prime role to cater the basic needs of any individual. ZigBee is one such evolutionary technology steadily getting its popularity in establishing personal wireless networks which is built on small and low-power digital radios. Zigbee defines the physical and MAC layers built on IEEE standard. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of literature reported MAC and PHY enhancements of ZigBee and its contemporary technologies with respect to performance, power consumption, scheduling, resource management and timing and address binding. The work also discusses on the areas of ZigBee MAC and PHY towards their design for specific applications

The 'Drama' of the Messiah in Matthew 8-9. A Study from a Communicative Perspective

En contraste con los otros evangelistas sinópticos, el autor de Mateo actuó de modo diverso en varios aspectos. ¿Por qué colocó diez narraciones de milagros seguidas sin apenas interrupciones? ¿Por qué colocó estos capítulos justo tras el sermón de la montaña? ¿Por qué los incluyó a cada uno entre dos resúmenes? Partiendo de la teoría de Aristóteles sobre el drama o la tragedia, el autor propone que el evangelista ha reelaborado y reorganizado las narraciones de milagros conforme a la estructura del drama clásico. Descubriendo las estrategias narrativas y el aspecto del discurso, se ve cómo cada episodio corresponde a los diferentes momentos de una trama: situación incial, inicio de la acción, complicación, clímax con suspense y resolución final y conclusión. El resultado final del drama es la justificación de los pecadores. Basándose en la teoría del “Texto espejo”, el autor también demuestra cómo todo el evangelio de Mateo está compuesto como un drama desde el punto de vista temático y estructural

O cuidado de enfermagem no pré-natal com competência a partir do olhar de gestantes

Orientadora: Profa. Dra. Marilene Loewen WallCoorientadora: Profa. Dra. Deisi Cristine Forlin BenedetDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem. Defesa : Curitiba, 11/02/2022Inclui referências: p. 111-122Resumo: Introdução: A atenção à saúde da mulher sofreu diversas mudanças ao longo do tempo, caminhando para estratégias e melhorias no cuidado, a fim de superar o modelo biomédico e cuidar da saúde materna e infantil em todos os seus aspectos. O pré-natal visa a assegurar acompanhamento de qualidade, com identificação precoce de fatores de risco e complicações que venham repercutir na saúde da mãe e do bebê. Intervenções precoces qualificam a atenção e reduzem as taxas de morbidade e mortalidade materna e fetal. Objetivos: Descrever as vivências e expectativas da gestante em relação ao pré-natal na Atenção Primária à Saúde. Apreender a competência da enfermeira no cuidado pré-natal sob a ótica da gestante. Método: Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa e descritiva. O estudo foi conduzido em um município da região metropolitana de Curitiba/PR. Os critérios de inclusão foram gestantes maiores de 18 anos, em acompanhamento com enfermeira e ou médico, de qualquer risco gestacional, primíparas ou multíparas, no 2º ou 3º trimestre gestacional. Foram excluídas gestantes no 1º trimestre de gestação ou que não tinham compreensão do idioma português. A coleta de dados foi mediante entrevista semiestruturada com 27 participantes analisadas com base nos passos sugeridos de Creswell e apoio do software Iramuteq® para organização dos dados. Resultados: Foram identificadas duas categorias centrais: 1 - "O cuidado esperado e idealizado no pré-natal a partir das vivências e expectativas das gestantes", que evidenciou as vivências que estão ligadas ao contexto de vida e experiências passadas da gestação e pré-natal, expectativas e idealização do cuidado na Atenção Primária à Saúde, satisfação da atenção recebida no pré-natal e a influência da pandemia por Covid-19. A segunda categoria, intitulada 2 - "O cuidado recebido no pré-natal a partir das vivências e expectativas das gestantes", permitiu discutir aspectos relacionados aos cuidados recebidos na gestação pela identificação da competência da enfermeira, englobando a consulta de vinculação e subsequentes, rotinas, orientações e atenção despendida. Considerações finais: A percepção do cuidado vivenciado e as expectativas frente ao pré-natal são influenciadas por aspectos da gestação. Como potencialidades da prática da enfermeira identificadas pela gestante, estão o vínculo, o acolhimento e a escuta ativa, por vezes ofuscada pela hegemonia do cuidado médico, que ainda permeia o âmbito da atenção à saúde, limitando a visão do cuidar com qualidade. A formação da enfermeira e o contínuo desenvolvimento de competência para uma prática centrada na individualidade da gestante e promoção à saúde fortalecem o cuidado realizado e permitem avanços para um cuidado integral e para visibilidade da profissão.Abstract: Introduction: Woman health care has undergone several changes over the time leading to strategies and improvements of care, in order to overcome the biomedical model and take care of mother and child health na all its aspects. The goal of prenatal is to ensure quality follow-up, with early identification of risk factors and complications that may affect the health of the mother and baby. Early interventions qualify care and reduce maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality rates. Objectives: To describe the experiences and expectations of pregnant women in relation to prenatal care in Primary Health Care. To understand the nurse's competence in prenatal care from the perspective of the pregnant woman. Methods: This is a qualitativa and descriptive research. The study was performed in a city of the metropolitan region of Curitiba/PR. He inclusion criteria were in pregnant women older than 18 years, in follow-up with nurse and/or doctor, of any gestacional risk, primiparous ou multiparous, in the 2nd or 3rd gestational trimester. Pregnant women in the 1st trimester of pregnancy or those who did not understand the Portuguese language were excluded. Data was obtained by semi-structured interviews with 27 participants analyzed based on steps of Creswell and supported by Iramuteq® software for data organization. Results: Two main categories was identified: 1 – "The expected and idealized prenatal care based on experiences and expectations of pregnant Woman" which evidenced the experiences that are linked to the context of life and past experiences of pregnancy and prenatal care, expectations and idealization of care in primary health care, satisfaction with the care received in prenatal care and the influence of the Covid-19 pandemic. The second category, entitled 2 - "The care received in prenatal care from the experiences and expectations of pregnant women", allowed to discuss aspects related to the care received during pregnancy from the identification of the nurse's competence, covering the bonding consultation and subsequents, routines, orientations and attention spent. Final considerations: The perception of experienced care and expectations regarding prenatal care are influenced by aspects of pregnancy. As potentialities of the nurse's practice identified by the pregnant woman are the bond, reception and active listening, sometimes overshadowed by the hegemony of medical care that still permeates the scope of health care, limiting the vision of quality care. The training of nurses and the continuous development of competence for a practice centered on the pregnant woman's individuality and health promotion strengthen the care provided and allow advances towards comprehensive care and visibility of the profession

A COMPETÊNCIA DA ENFERMEIRA NO CUIDADO PRÉ-NATAL SOB A ÓTICA DE GESTANTES

Objetivo: apreender a competência da enfermeira no cuidado pré-natal sob a ótica de gestantes e descrever os cuidados recebidos na perspectiva da competência da enfermeira obstetra com base no documento do International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). Método: pesquisa qualitativa, descritiva, realizada mediante entrevista semiestruturada com 27 gestantes, analisadas com base nos passos sugeridos por Creswell e apoio do software Iramuteq®. Resultados: os cuidados realizados durante o pré-natal pela ótica das gestantes se enquadraram em atitudes e habilidades da enfermeira no pré-natal no contexto das competências definidas pelo documento do ICM, majoritariamente presentes como vínculo, acolhimento e escuta ativa. Considerações finais: os aspectos relevantes da consulta realizada pela enfermeira são, por vezes, ofuscados pela hegemonia do modelo biomédico. A formação e o contínuo desenvolvimento de competência, para uma prática individualizada, fortalecem e permitem avanços na integralidade do cuidado e visibilidade da profissão. Descritores: Pré-natal. Enfermeira. Cuidado de enfermagem. Atenção Primária à Saúde. Competência profissional

Effect of lockdown on activities of daily living in the built environment and wellbeing

In an effort to arrest the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, a nationwide lockdown was declared in India in March 2020. To assess how personal built environments affected the citizens in the first few weeks, an explorative online survey was conducted, eliciting responses about work habits before the lockdown, psychological wellbeing, time spent in various activities, characteristics of those who worked from home, and food and sleep patterns. We received 121 (76 male and 45 female) responses with an average age of 35.5 years [max: 70 years, min: 18 years, standard deviation (SD): 12.9 years]. The major difference caused by the lockdown was a reduction in the time taken and distance travelled of the commute to workplaces, which was an average of 30 minutes and 9.5 km, respectively. In terms of diet, subjects who were vegetarian did not experience any difference, unlike those who were non-vegetarians (p < 0.05). The results show an association of the dependent variable of ‘feeling in general’ with predictor variables of ‘energy, pep, vitality’ and ‘feel healthy to work’ during the pandemic, whereas the predictor variables of ‘energy, pep, vitality’, ‘happy and satisfied personal life’, ‘feel healthy to work’ show an association with the dependent variable of ‘feeling in general’ before the lockdown with a significance of p < 0.02 and R2 = 0.51 and R2 = 0.60, respectively. Among those who worked from home in constrained environments, people found spaces and seemed to adapt reasonably well to the built environment with employees showing a preference for working from bedrooms and students for working from ‘sit-out’ (outside) spaces (p < 0.05). There was no change in the quality or quantity of sleep during the lockdown. This study in the early weeks of the lockdown documents the way in which individuals lived through it in terms of the built environment at home