Frequency estimation plays an important role in many digital signal processing applications. Many areas have benefited from the discovery of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) decades ago and from the relatively recent advances in modern spectral estimation techniques within the last few decades. As processor and programmable logic technologies advance, unconventional methods for rapid frequency estimation in white Gaussian noise should be considered for real time applications. In this thesis, a practical hardware implementation that combines two known frequency estimation techniques is presented, implemented, and characterized. The combined implementation, using the well known FFT and a less well known modern spectral analysis method known as the Direct State Space (DSS) algorithm, is used to demonstrate and promote application of modern spectral methods in various real time applications, including Electronic Counter Measure (ECM) techniques.

Submitted by Ana Lúcia Torres (bfmhuap@gmail.com) on 2017-09-20T15:54:57Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) JORGE HENRIQUETESE COM CORREÇÕES DA BANCA JAN 2017.pdf: 4201838 bytes, checksum: f47ae0fb55a2d648c74ac2facf85217d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Lúcia Torres (bfmhuap@gmail.com) on 2017-09-20T15:55:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) JORGE HENRIQUETESE COM CORREÇÕES DA BANCA JAN 2017.pdf: 4201838 bytes, checksum: f47ae0fb55a2d648c74ac2facf85217d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-20T15:55:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) JORGE HENRIQUETESE COM CORREÇÕES DA BANCA JAN 2017.pdf: 4201838 bytes, checksum: f47ae0fb55a2d648c74ac2facf85217d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016 / Universidade Federal Fluminense. Centro de Ciências Médicas. Instituto Biomédico. Departamento de Morfologia. Anatomia Humana / A uretra masculina humana possui uma macro estrutura uniforme. Apesar disso apresenta evidências clínicas, morfológicas e moleculares ao longo de seus segmentos, que indicam haver diferenças estruturais e patológicas entre os mesmos. A maioria das alterações da uretra prostática (UP), em homens acima dos 50 anos, são consideradas como sendo secundárias à compressão devido ao crescimento de nódulos fibromatosos hiperplásicos do tecido prostático. Os sinais obstrutivos consequentes a Hiperplasia Prostática Benigna (HPB) incluem hesitação para iniciar a micção, redução da força e calibre do jato urinário, bem como, tardiamente, retenção urinária. Para tentar explicar as alterações que ocorreram na estrutura histológica da UP, no processo da HPB, estudamos as variações qualitativas e quantitativas que ocorreram na densidade volumétrica (Vv) do componente fibroso da matriz extracelular (MEC) e do músculo liso da UP de pacientes com HPB submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico. Foram estudadas amostras obtidas da UP de 10 pacientes com HPB sintomática, submetidos à prostatectomia aberta. Os pacientes não tinham história de tratamento prévio, para HPB. A idade dos pacientes selecionados para o presente estudo variou entre 63 a 79 anos. Para fins de comparação, foram usadas amostras controle obtidas durante a necropsia de 10 indivíduos adultos jovens com idades variando de 18 a 25 anos, vítimas de morte violenta sem comprometimento do sistema urogenital e/ou manipulação uretral. Todas as Próstatas do grupo controle apresentavam peso entre 20-25g, sendo consideradas adultas e dentro dos limites da normalidade. As amostras foram fixadas em solução de formol 10% e processadas para inclusão em parafina. Para análise da Vv, foram usadas as técnicas de coloração de tricrômico de Masson e, de Weigert. Também foram submetidas a análise imunohistoquímica. A Vv do componente fibroso da MEC e do músculo liso foi determinada pela análise de 25 campos aleatórios de cada fragmento de UP usando um sistema teste M-42. Os dados quantitativos foram analisados por meio do teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov e Mann-Whitney. A Vv (%médio±SD) nos grupos controle e HPB foram respectivamente: 20,3±0,3 e 17,12±1,1 para as fibras do sistema elástico (p <0,007); 29,7 ± 1,9 e 25,1 ± 2,4 para colágeno (p <0,03). A Vv do músculo liso apresentou aumento, não significativo, no grupo HPB, 49,9 ± 0,4 e 52,3 ± 2,3. Por outro lado, 21,9±1,5 e 29,1±1,2 para a fibronectina (P < 0. 0001). / The human male urethra has a uniform structure. Despite this, presents morphological, molecular and clinical evidence throughout their segments that indicates pathological and structural differences between them. Most of changes in prostatic urethra (PU) in men over 50 years, are considered to be secondary to compression due to the growth of fibrous hyperplastic prostate tissue nodules. The signs of obstructive Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) reflect the decreased distendibility of the prostatic urethra; that includes hesitation to begin urination, reduced force and caliber of the urinary stream, as well as (late) retention. To explain the histological, structural changes that occurred in the prostatic urethra, studies were made to analyse the changes in quality and quantity that occurred in the volumetric density of the fibrous component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and smooth muscle of the urethra of patients with BPH submitted to surgical treatment. Samples were obtained from the urethra of 10 patients with symptomatic BPH who had undergone open prostatectomy. No patient had a history of previous treatment for BPH. The age ranged from 63-79 years. To compare we used control samples obtained during autopsy of 10 young adults subjects aged 18-25 that died from violent death without involvement of the urogenital system or uretral manipulation. The samples were fixed in formalin 10% and processed for paraffin embedding. For analysis of Vv, were used staining techniques tricomic Masson and Weigert. Were also submitted to immunohistochemical analysis. The Vv fibrous component of MEC and smooth muscle was determined by the analysis of 25 random fields of each fragment of a test system using M-42. Quantitative data were analyzed using the olmogorov-Smirnov and Mann-Whitney test. The Vv (mean ± SD) in the control and BPH groups respectively were: 20.3±0.3 and 17.12±1.1 in the elastic fiber system (p<0.007); and 29.7±1.9 and 25.1±2.4 in the collagen compartment (p<0.03). Smooth muscle cell volume was increased in BPH cases, 49.9±0.4 and 52.3±2.3 (not statistically significant). On other hand was 21.9±1.5 and 29.1±1.2 in the fibronectin (P < 0. 0001).

Expression studies have implicated Fibronectin Leucine Rich Transmembrane protein 2 (FLRT2) in cranial neural crest cell migration and pre-chondrogenic cell condensation during craniofacial skeletogenesis. This aim of this study was to characterize the expression of FLRT2 and its relationship to the extracellular matrix (ECM) in ATDC5 chondroprogenitor cells. Immunofluorescence studies localized FLRT2 to the cell membrane as well as exracellularly, where it colocalized with fibronectin. FLRT2 was identified in the ATDC5-derived ECM after cell extraction. Further to its colocalization with fibronectin, FLRT2 associated with fibronectin-coated beads in cell cultures. Co-immunoprecipitation confirmed that FLRT2 and fibronectin interact, either directly or indirectly. Blocking fibronectin fibril formation in ATDC5 cell cultures demonstrated a concomitant decrease in extracellular FLRT2 accumulation. It appears that FLRT2 may exist in both a membrane-bound and a shed form. Either or both of these forms may participate in cell-ECM interactions in cooperation with fibronectin or other ECM proteins.

Expression studies have implicated Fibronectin Leucine Rich Transmembrane protein 2 (FLRT2) in cranial neural crest cell migration and pre-chondrogenic cell condensation during craniofacial skeletogenesis. This aim of this study was to characterize the expression of FLRT2 and its relationship to the extracellular matrix (ECM) in ATDC5 chondroprogenitor cells. Immunofluorescence studies localized FLRT2 to the cell membrane as well as exracellularly, where it colocalized with fibronectin. FLRT2 was identified in the ATDC5-derived ECM after cell extraction. Further to its colocalization with fibronectin, FLRT2 associated with fibronectin-coated beads in cell cultures. Co-immunoprecipitation confirmed that FLRT2 and fibronectin interact, either directly or indirectly. Blocking fibronectin fibril formation in ATDC5 cell cultures demonstrated a concomitant decrease in extracellular FLRT2 accumulation. It appears that FLRT2 may exist in both a membrane-bound and a shed form. Either or both of these forms may participate in cell-ECM interactions in cooperation with fibronectin or other ECM proteins.

The main objective of this research paper is to find the association between unemployment rate and GDP growth which is presented empirically by Arthur Okun’s in early 1960s. For this purpose I have used annual time series data during the period 1981-2005 of Pakistan. I applied difference version of Okun’s law which is more appropriate to access results directly from empirical data. In order to find long run relation between the variables I used Engle-Granger cointegration technique and Error Correction Mechanism (ECM) to find the short term behavior of GDP growth to its long run value. This paper verifies negative relationship between unemployment rate and GDP growth and both variables have long run relation with each other. Moreover GDP growth will adjust more quickly towards equilibrium in the long run.

Articular cartilage is the connective tissue that lines joints and provides a smooth surface for articulation and shock absorption. Osteoarthritis, the progressive degeneration of cartilage, is a painful, debilitating, and widespread disease, affecting 70% of people over 65. Because cartilage is avascular, molecular transport occurs primarily via diffusion. The goal of these studies was to examine whether cartilage matrix structure and composition have a significant effect on diffusive transport. We hypothesized that diffusion is anisotropic in the surface zone of cartilage where collagen structure is aligned and densely packed. A theoretical model and experimental protocol for fluorescence imaging of continuous point photobleaching (FICOPP) were developed to measure diffusional anisotropy. Significant anisotropy was observed in ligament, a highly ordered collagenous tissue. In less ordered articular cartilage, diffusional anisotropy was dependent on site in the tissue and size of the diffusing molecule. These findings suggest that diffusional transport of macromolecules is anisotropic in collagenous tissues, with higher rates of diffusion along primary orientation of collagen fibers. We hypothesized that structural differences in the pericellular matrix of cartilage (PCM) would lead to differences in diffusive properties as compared to the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). We modified the scanning microphotolysis (SCAMP) technique to allow measurement of diffusion coefficients within the PCM. Diffusion coefficients in the PCM were lower than in the adjacent ECM in normal cartilage, but with early stage arthritis, the PCM diffusivity was not different from that of the ECM. These data suggest that breakdown of the PCM is an early step in arthritis development. We hypothesized that compression of cartilage would cause site‐specific diffusivity decreases and diffusional anisotropy increases. We utilized SCAMP and FICOPP to measure diffusion coefficients and diffusional anisotropy in cartilage as it was compressed. We found that diffusivity decreased and anisotropy increased with increasing strain in a site‐specific manner. These findings suggest that the high surface zone strains that lead to low diffusivity and high anisotropy will decrease transport between cartilage and synovial fluid in compressed cartilage. We have shown that matrix structure and composition have a significant effect on diffusive transport in cartilage. / Dissertation

In this thesis I provide general guidelines for a commercial building owner’s decision making process for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system energy efficiency projects, discuss an example HVAC project at an existing building, and recommend the most energy-efficient, cost-effective project option. First, a building’s HVAC system’s inefficiencies are identified. The systems and the components can be investigated to understand the nature of the operations. In the building owner’s interests, possible alternatives can be developed to address the systems with improvements. Consulting engineers, contractors, and other building professionals can assist in this process. There are necessary engineering and construction considerations for defining realistic project alternatives. With the alternatives, there are costs, benefits, and trade-offs. The costs, which mainly include the investment and the operational costs, and the benefits, which mainly include the available financial incentives, defined in dollars, are identified for the alternatives. The alternatives can be evaluated with Building Life Cycle Cost (BLCC) software. In this evaluation the net present-value (NPV) method is used to rank the alternatives. Then, the highest-ranking, lowest life-cycle cost, alternative is recommended for the owner. In the example, an existing commercial building’s HVAC systems are considered. The construction plans, the facilities records, and the existing field conditions were investigated and analyzed. A few operational inefficiencies were identified. To address two of these existing inefficiencies, there were alternatives considered to replace the standard-efficiency air handling unit motors with premium-efficiency motors and to renovate the ventilation system with an energy recovery wheel. The investment costs, the available rebates, the net annual energy savings, and the energy and other operational costs were estimated, over a 30-year study period, for each of these alternatives, and compared to the costs of the existing system. The BLCC evaluations were performed across a range of discount rates in the present-value calculations. Based on the lowest present-value life-cycle cost reports, the premium-efficiency motor replacement project only is recommended. / text

TGF-β isoforms are important signalling molecules in wound repair in the skin. Transforming growth factor β3 (TGF-β3) has been implicated in scarless healing. In both animal and human models the application of exogenous TGF-β3 causes a reduction in the inflammatory response and improves the architecture of the neodermis. Research into the influence of TGF-β on scarring has tended to focus on fibroblasts. However, keratinocytes play a major role in scarring both indirectly, as a result of their influence over the behaviour of fibroblasts and also by directly influencing wound contraction. Thus, experiments were carried out to investigate the influence of TGF-β3 on the behaviours of a keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). Incubation with TGF-β3 increased cell spreading and appeared to reduce cell-surface contacts indicated by both SPR imaging and a detachment assay. TGF-β3 also caused a decreased cell alignment response to microcontact printed protein patterns, in part due to the deposition of laminin which is associated with the TGF-β induced cell migration. There is evidence that TGF-β isoforms differentially influence the outcome of wound healing. Similar to the results produce following addition of exogenous TGF-β3, the neutralisation of TGF-β1 and 2 has been shown to reduce scar formation in the adult wounds. During reepithelialisation keratinocytes experience a dynamic environment. Both extracellular matrix proteins and growth factors influence the progression of wound repair which includes both cell migration and proliferation. Few studies have examined collective cell behaviour in response to TGF-β isoforms and ECM coated substrates. Thus both wound closure and cell proliferation assays were conducted for different ECM proteins fibronectin, laminin and collagen type I and for TGF-β1, 2 and 3. Rates of wound closure were significantly reduced on laminin coated substrates while cell proliferation rates were increased. TGF-β2 and 3 induced significant increases in wound closure rates. This appeared to correspond with an increase in the number of cells independently migrating out from the wound margins. Only TGF-β3 caused a significant decrease in cell proliferation over a 4 day period. Laminin332 deposition is central to the reepithelialisation process and is known to be induced in response to TGF-β. Thus experiments were carried out to investigate HaCaT cell laminin332 deposition in response to TGF-β1, 2 and 3. Both an immunofluorescence staining technique and an ELISA based semi-quantification method was used. Following 4 day incubation all TGF-β isoforms significantly increased laminin332 deposition; however TGF-β2 and 3 caused the most significant increases. Integrin receptors enable cell-matrix interactions during wound repair. TGF-β is known to influence the expression of integrin subunits. Thus, experiments were carried out to compare the influence of each TGF-β isoform on the expression of subunits β3, β2, β5, β1 and β4. All TGF-β isoforms significantly increased all subunit expression. TGF-β3 caused the most significant increase in β4 and both TGF-β2 and 3 caused the most significant increase in β2. While there were differences in cell responses to each isoforms, TGF-β3 did not stand out from the other two isoforms. Interestingly, TGF-β2 shared more similarities with TGF-β3 than it did with TGF-β1, in its role in enhancing wound closure and LN332 deposition. These comparative studies have shown that differences exist in the way TGF-β isoforms influence HaCaT cell behaviour, namely migration, laminin deposition and integrin expression.

Resulting from the deregulation and prosperity of the economic and financial sectors in Asia during 1980s, a significant increase in cross-bordered financial transactions ultimately accelerated the region of Southeast Asia to be on a process of financial integration and consequently diminished opportunities for portfolio diversification. Financial Integration is a multidimensional process through which allocation of financial assets becomes lastly borderless. This purpose of this paper is to examine a progress thus far in capital market integration or preferentially, the co-movement of the equity markets between the U.S. and the Southeast Asian nations: Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines by employing the methodology of Gregory and Hansen Cointegration and Error Correction Analysis (ECM). The consequence of the U.S. market performance on each Southeast Asian national markets are extensively analyzed by decomposing monthly price-index time series into three distinct sub-periods based on an occurrence of the Subprime Mortgage Financial Crisis in 2007. The results indicate that these four emerging markets had been considerable influenced by the U.S. market performance, regardless of crisis or non-crisis periods. Nevertheless, some countries like Indonesia and the Philippines acted differently during the pre-crisis and crisis sub-periods respectively due to their domestic market infrastructure and regulation adjustment. However, these two markets had eventually turned to share an interdependent long-run relationship with the U.S. equity market since the ending of the Subprime financial downturn. Moreover, this finding suggests that ongoing capital market integration in the Southeast Asian region would mitigate portfolio diversification benefits for investors by virtue of increasing in correlation among securities and assets. Therefore, more exhaustive investigation about equity market integration is significantly beneficial in macroeconomic and financial perspective.

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