This thesis describes the dynamics of mitochondrial RNA-binding protein 1 and 2 (MRP1/2) complex in different cell lines of Trypanosoma brucei under an optimized immobilized condition. This study reveals the influence of RNA on the complex's dynamics. Furthermore, the function of RNA-binding complex 1 (MRB1) core has been studied via reverse genetic, biochemical and molecular techniques, with its role in RNA editing being proposed.

The purpose of this study is to investigate how accurately the distribution factor method estimates the live load deflections under the principles of the 2012 AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications (AASHTO LRFD specifications) compared to the results of the NISA finite element analysis software. The simple span bridge model analyzed is developed very similarly to the design example of the PCI Bridge Design Manual. The main difference is a shorter span length and smaller AASHTO-PCI bulb tee sections. Three main finite element models are created to estimate the live load deflections under the recommended live load conditions as per AASHTO LRFD specifications. The first model is simulated with simple support conditions. The purpose of this model is two-fold: compare the deflections to the distribution factor method and to the deflections of the second model that is simulated with elastomeric steel reinforced bearing pads. Thus, the stiffnesses of the elastomeric bearing pads of the second model are varied within the AASHTO LRFD specifications acceptable limits and under low temperature conditions the stiffness is increased accordingly for two cases. The purpose is to investigate if the stiffness have any significant affect on the deflections of the girders. Then a third model is created to investigate if the removal of the intermediate diaphragms have any affect on the deflections. The results of the first and second models, including the models with the allowed varied stiffnesses of the bearing pads, found only the interior girders deflecting up to 4% more and the exterior girders were deflecting up to 5.55% less than the estimates of the distribution factor method. In the case when the diaphragms are removed, the deflections of the inner most interior girders are deflecting up to 10.85% more compared to the same girders of the model which includes the intermediate diaphragms and the bearing pads. In the unique case of the second model where the bearing pads may stiffen significantly under low temperatures, the girders are deflecting up to 23% less than when at room temperature conditions. All these findings and other summarized results are discussed in greater detail in this study.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-05-06Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:17:52Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 langbecker_a_me_botfm.pdf: 1104804 bytes, checksum: a5dfc9292c86d2da678be3b0ea5a1239 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / As atividades grupais estão presentes em várias áreas do conhecimento e têm sido uma importante ferramenta na Atenção Primária à Saúde. Quando entendido como processo, o grupo pode representar a resistência aos modos individualizantes, pode atuar como um dispositivo capaz de construir modos de produção de desejo e criatividade, provocando uma subjetividade singular. O presente trabalho descreveu e analisou a experiência de um grupo de vivência de mulheres enquanto espaço de produção de desejos, desmistificando modos de ser e de viver. A investigação, de natureza qualitativa, foi conduzida com as integrantes do grupo de convivência Reviver, constituído por senhoras na faixa dos 50 anos ou mais. O grupo teve início em 1999 tendo como público-alvo original usuárias da área de saúde mental do Centro de Saúde Escola (CSE), da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu da Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), e, como proposta, ser um espaço de promoção da saúde e de lazer. Inicialmente, eram encaminhadas pelo CSE, mas, com o fortalecimento do grupo, as próprias participantes começaram também a convidar amigas e familiares. As técnicas de coleta utilizadas foram observação participante, entrevista com formuladores do grupo e entrevistas baseadas nas histórias de vida de cinco mulheres. As histórias de vida foram integralmente transcritas e estudadas mediante análise temática de conteúdo. Os núcleos temáticos foram identificados segundo os diferentes ciclos da vida, tendo como mais relevantes: na infância e juventude (as dificuldades financeiras e a violência) e na vida de casada (“o lugar de mulher é dentro de casa”, laços sociais fragilizados, dificuldades financeiras, experiências de violência e a ajuda profissional). Reconheceu-se, ainda, os núcleos temáticos significativos... / Group activities are present in many fields of knowledge and are an important tool within primary healthcare. When regarded as a process, the group may represent resistance to individualization and may act as a device with the capacity to construct ways of producing desire and creativity, thereby causing singular subjectivation. The present study described and analyzed a group experience among women as a space for producing desires and demystifying the ways to exist and live. This investigation of qualitative nature was conducted among members of the Reviver (“Live Again”) social group, formed by women aged 50 years and over. This group was started in 1999, and its original target population was female users of the mental health sector of the Health Center School of the Botucatu Medical School, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Its aim was to provide a space for health promotion and leisure. Initially, women were referred to the group by the Health Center but as the group strengthened, the participants themselves started to invite friends and family members to join. The data gathering techniques used were participant observation, interviews with group organizers and interviews based on the life histories of five women. The life histories were transcribed in full and evaluated by means of thematic content analysis. The core topics were identified according to different cycles of life, and the most important of these during childhood and young adulthood were financial difficulties and violence, while during married life they were “a woman’s place is in the home”, weakened social ties, financial difficulties, experiences of violence and professional help. Significant core topics relating to experiences within the Reviver group were also recognized, namely: experiences that... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2005-04-18Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:39:36Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 gabriel_va_me_rcla.pdf: 781557 bytes, checksum: 14c35f8bd36a58f818bd1e877323dd1d (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Esta pesquisa investigou o uso de cercas-vivas por aves em uma paisagem fragmentada de Mata Atlântica semidecídua em Itatiba, São Paulo. Objetivou-se (1) determinar quais espécies de aves utilizam as cercas-vivas, (2) que atividades aí realizam, (3) verificar a disponibilidade de frutos e artrópodes nas cercas-vivas, (4) se a presença das aves nas cercas-vivas está relacionada à disponibilidade desses recursos alimentares e (5) caracterizar a estrutura da vegetação das cercas-vivas e compará-las aos fragmentos estudados. Foram estudados cinco fragmentos e três cercas-vivas, que conectam tais fragmentos. Nove redes de neblina foram instaladas nas cercas-vivas e 15 nos fragmentos para a captura e anilhamento de aves. Pela recaptura das aves foi inferida a função das cercas-vivas como corredor. Taxas de captura nas cercas-vivas e fragmentos foram comparadas. Para isso foram consideradas, separadamente, guildas de aves frugívoras, insetívoras, granívoras-frugívoras, granívoras-insetívoras e nectarívorasinsetívoras. Quanto às taxas de captura, excetuando-se a taxa de captura de aves insetívoras, houve diferença significativa entre cercas-vivas e fragmentos, sendo sempre maiores nas cercas-vivas. Não houve diferença na oferta de frutos e artrópodes entre cercas-vivas e fragmentos. As taxas de captura de aves frugívoras e insetívoras não estiveram relacionadas à disponibilidade de frutos e artrópodes. Cercas-vivas e fragmentos pouco diferiram quanto à estrutura da vegetação. Concluiu-se que a presença de cercas-vivas pode amenizar os efeitos do isolamento a que estão sujeitas muitas aves tropicais devido à fragmentação de seu habitat. / This study investigated the use of live fences by birds in a fragmented Atlantic forest landscape in Itatiba, SE Brazil. The purpose of it was (1) identify what bird species use the live fences, (2) record what they do in the live fences, (3) investigate the availability of food resources (fruit and arthropod) in live fences, (4) investigate if the food availability influences the use of live fences by birds and (5) characterize the vegetation structure of live fences and forest fragments. Five forest fragments and three live fences that connect such fragments were studied. Nine mist-nets were installed in live fences and 15 in forest fragments to capture and band birds. For this, captured birds were classified into the following foraging guilds: frugivores, insectivores, granivores-frugivores, granivoresinsectivores and nectarivores-insectivores. Except for insectivorous birds, significant differences in capture rates between live fences and forest fragments were detected. Capture rates in live fences were always greater than in fragments. There was no difference in the availability of food resources between live fences and fragments. The capture rates of frugivorous and insectivorous birds were not related to the availability of fruits and arthropods. The vegetation structure at live fences and forest fragments differed little from each other. I concluded that live fences can serve as movement corridors for birds at the study site, thus helping to reduce the usually deleterious effects of isolation caused forest fragmentation.

Context: Cloud computing is one of the most widely used technologies all over the world that provides numerous products and IT services. Virtualization is one of the innovative technologies in cloud computing which has advantages of improved resource utilisation and management. Live migration is an innovative feature of virtualization that allows a virtual machine or container to be transferred from one physical server to another.  Live migration is a complex process which can have a significant impact on cloud computing when used by the cloud-based software.  Objectives: In this study, live migration of LXC and OpenVZ containers has been performed.  Later the performance of LXC and OpenVZ has been conducted in terms of total migration time and downtime. Further CPU utilisation, disk utilisation and an average load of the servers is also evaluated during the process of live migration. The main aim of this research is to compare the performance of LXC and OpenVZ during live migration of containers.  Methods: A literature study has been done to gain knowledge about the process of live migration and the metrics that are required to compare the performance of LXC and OpenVZ during live migration of containers. Further an experiment has been conducted to compute and evaluate the performance metrics that have been identified in the literature study. The experiment was done to investigate and evaluate migration process for both LXC and OpenVZ. Experiments were designed and conducted based on the objectives which were to be met. Results:  The results of the experiments include the migration performance of both LXC and OpenVZ. The performance metrics identified in the literature review, total migration time and downtime, were evaluated for LXC and OpenVZ. Further graphs were plotted for the CPU utilisation, disk utilisation, and average load during the live migration of containers. The results were analysed to compare the performance differences between OpenVZ and LXC during live migration of containers. Conclusions.  The conclusions that can be drawn from the experiment. LXC has shown higher utilisation, thus lower performance when compared with OpenVZ. However, LXC has less migration time and downtime when compared to OpenVZ.

Este trabalho teve como por objetivo desenvolver dietas nutricionalmente adequadas e financeiramente viáveis para o lambari, além de analisar economicamente a viabilidade de produção desta espécie no sistema de tanques-rede como alternativa de renda ao pescador artesanal. Previamente, foram realizados dois ensaios, os quais tiveram por finalidade determinar a densidade de estocagem adequada para lambaris em tanques-rede, bem como ajustar o manejo experimental (sistema de contagem e povoamento, tempo de exposição a anestésicos, dinâmica das biometrias, etc.). Os experimentos foram realizados no verão, entre os meses de janeiro e abril , na UPD de Pirassununga - APTA Polo Centro Leste, em 20 tanques-rede de 1 m3 alocados em tanque escavado de 1,5 m de profundidade, área de 180 m2, renovação de água de 10% ao dia e densidade de povoamento de 450 peixes/m3. No primeiro experimento, que teve início em 16/02/2011 e duração de 63 dias, avaliou-se a substituição da proteína de origem animal por proteína de origem vegetal nas dietas sobre o desempenho produtivo dos lambaris. Embora a substituição de 100% das fontes proteicas de origem animal por vegetal tenha afetado negativamente o ganho em biomassa [Biomassa (g) = 2945g - 2,2 POV], em termos práticos, este resultado é considerado de pouca relevância, já que 220g em 2945g não representam mais que 7% de ganho em peso. O aumento do custo de fórmula em dietas com base proteica de origem animal não justifica a diferença observada. Quanto à composição corporal dos peixes observou-se que houve influência dos tratamentos, sendo que dietas contendo inclusões de 50, 75 e 100% de ingredientes proteicos de origem vegetal proporcionaram maior deposição de extrato etéreo nos peixes. No segundo experimento, com início em 12/01/2012 e término em 12/03/2012, avaliou-se a relação entre níveis de proteína bruta (26 e 36%) e qualidade de ingredientes (basal ou premium) na alimentação e desempenho produtivo do lambari. Não foram observadas diferenças de desempenho produtivo entre os níveis proteicos utilizados, sugerindo que níveis de 26% de proteína bruta podem ser usados para o lambari; no entanto, a escolha de matérias-primas de qualidade é recomendada, já que estas influenciaram no desempenho. Os tratamentos deste experimento não influenciaram na composição corporal dos peixes. As análises bromatológicas de ambas as rações experimentais apresentaram valores condizentes com os propostos na formulação e, portanto, não interferindo no propósito da pesquisa. Complementando os estudos e utilizando os resultados de desempenho produtivo obtidos, realizou-se análise econômica a partir das dietas utilizadas no segundo experimento através do sistema de Partial Budget Analysis in Aquaculture, bem como a projeção de cultivo do lambari em módulos de um a quatro tanques-rede, seguida de análise da viabilidade econômica sob dois cenários de comercialização: R$ 0,30 e 0,20 por unidade. Observou-se que o melhor custo/benefício foi proporcionado pelos peixes alimentados com ração contendo 26% de PB e ingredientes premium, enquanto que a produção de lambaris no sistema de tanques-rede mostrou-se viável, quando comparado com as receitas obtidas por pescadores artesanais, a partir do cultivo em duas unidades de produção (TR), desde que sejam comercializados ao valor de R$ 0,30 por peixe. / This study aimed to develop nutritionally appropriate and financially viable diets for lambari, besides analyze economically the practicability of producing this species in cage system as an alternative f or subsistence fishermen. Previously, two experiments were done, which had the purpose of determin ing the appropriated stocking density for lambaris in cages, as well as adjusting the experimental management (counting and settlement systems, time of exposure to anesthetics, dynamics of biometrics, etc.). The experiments were done on summer, from January to April, in Pirassununga UPD - APTA Polo Centro Leste, in 20 cages of 1m3 allocated in a pond of 180m2, water renovation of 10% a day, and stocking density of 450 fish/m3. The first experiment, which started at 02/16/2011 and lasted 63 days, was about the replacement of animal origin protein by vegetal origin protein in order to evaluate productive performance of lambaris. Although the 100% substitution of protein source from animal by vegetal origin protein had negatively affected the gain in biomass [Biomass (g) = 2945g - 2,2 POV], in practical terms, this result is considered of low relevance, since 220g in 2945g doesn\'t represent more than 7% of weight gain. The increase of cost in diets with animal protein source doesn\'t justify the difference observed. Substitution of more than 50% of POA by POV on diet increased fat deposition on the fish carcass. On the second experiment, which began at 01/12/2011 and was finished at 03/12/2012, it was evaluated the relation between levels of crude protein (26 and 36%) and quality of ingredients (basal or premium) on feeding and productive performance of lambari. Differences of productive performance weren\'t noticed, suggesting that levels of 26% crude protein can be used for lambari, however, the choice of quality raw materials is recommended since it influenced the performance. The treatments in this experiment did not influence body composition of fish. Bromatological analysis of both experimental diets had values consistent with those proposed in the formulation and, therefore, didn\'t interfere on the purpose of this research. Finally, complementing the studies and using the results of productive performance obtained, it was performed an economic analysis was performed from the diets used on the second experiment using the model Partial Budget Analysis in Aquaculture, as well as the projection of lambari cultivation in modules from 1 to 4 cages, followed by an analysis of economic viability in two scenes of commercialization: R$ 0,30 and 0,20 per unit. It was observed that the best cost/benefit was provided by fish fed with diet of 26% crude protein and premium ingredients, whereas the production of lambaris in cage system was viable when compared to incomings obtained by subsistence fishermen, since they are cultivated, at least, in 2 modules of production, and the fish are commercialized for R$ 0,30/unit.

Programming is a very complex activity that has many simultaneous learning elements. The area of Live-programming offers possibilities for enhancing programming work by speeding up the feedback loop and providing means for reducing the cognitive load on the working memory during the task. This could allow for better education for novice programmers. In this work a number of systems with a shared aim of providing educational tools for scholars from compulsory level to undergraduate college were studied. The common approach in the majority of the tools was to use program abstractions like tangible morphs, playing cards, capsules for code segments, and visual stories. For the user these abstractions and tools offer better focus on the constructive and creative side of programming because they relieve the user from the cumbersome work of writing program code, but they also sacrifice some of the expressiveness of a low-level language. A Live programming system, called PyMorphic, based on the Morphic model was built in the Python programming language. Two different solutions, based on the Wx toolkit for Python, were constructed and evaluated. The results show that Morphic and Python go well together because Python is a programming language that allows for compact and dynamic code. PyMorphic was evaluated with the cognitive dimensions framework and theories on cognitive load and working memory. A user attitude test was performed and the results showed that the users had a positive attitude towards the PyMorphic system. The PyMorphic project is open-source and it is hosted on Sourceforge. The code can be downloaded from the project web-site: http://pymorphic.sourceforge.net. Anyone is welcome to take part in further development of PyMorphic.

Bridge load rating is a procedure to determine the live load carrying capacity of a bridge. This rating is generally given out on a two-year period, which leaves the structural capacity unknown for this time interval. Conventional bridge load rating is obtained according to the bridge inspection results and commercial bridge rating software. However, this approach cannot effectively reflect actual live load carrying performance of the bridge, due to intrinsic limitation of visual inspection. Structural sensing has been utilized for measuring realistic structural behaviors to reflect the live load carrying capacity. However, this expensive and time-consuming process requires a known-weight vehicle and a substantial number of sensors under controlled full-scale field test conditions. In this research, a continuous live load performance index (LLPI) is proposed to monitor the live load capacity that the bridge can withstand without knowing the vehicle weight while also using a limited number of sensors. The LLPI uses existing bridge load rating methodology, in conjunction with experimental data and numerical simulations, to generate a value that describes the performance of the bridge due directly to the live load applied. Furthermore, the LLPI procedure utilizes an advanced state estimation algorithm, known as the Kalman Filter, to estimate the strain responses of the bridge at various locations while using a limited number of sensors. This procedure allows for an efficient structural health monitoring approach to determine the live load carrying capacity that the bridge can withstand. This research uses a lab-scaled truss structure with known properties for numerical and experimental validation. Because of this, this paper proposes a framework as to which the live load carrying performance can be monitored in real time. Future updates include testing on a real-life bridge structure while also determining optimal sensor placement for obtaining the LLPI. This research looks to develop a new live load performance index (LPPI) by considering: (1) the benefits and limitations of conventional bridge load rating approach, (2) the system identification and multi-metric data acquisition for the bridge structure, (3) numerical modeling and updating to best reflect the current dynamic properties of the bridge, (4) augmented Kalman Filter to estimate structural responses at various unknown locations, (5) LLPI formulation using experimental data, current bridge load rating methodology, and model-response estimations. The results obtained from this research provide a progressive live load capacity performance template to promote the advancement in civil infrastructure smart monitoring.

No description available.

Magister Artium - MA / This study focuses on a story featured on Sowetan LIVE, one of South Africa’s online newspapers. The flexibility of the mode in which the newspaper is produced, enables users to comment on its articles as they are published. The online newspaper was preferred due to its socio-political history and the huge South African audience it seems to attract. This study looks at one particular story which appeared on Sowetan LIVE and generated much interest in South Africa. The story is about a painting depicting President Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed, termed The Spear by Brett Murray. This painting triggered a high volume of comments and engagement among South Africans on the Sowetan LIVE website, making it a valuable resource of online discourse. Therefore, this study explored comments in response to the two articles published on the Sowetan LIVE namely, “ANC takes battle of The Spear to court” and “Will Zuma’s spear stay up?” which when combined, ‘generated’ 1358 comments. This study particularly investigates the identities that emerged from the discourses found in the data and analyses the type of linguistic practices evident in the comments. In this regard, the main objective of the study is not only to determine how users style their social identities, but also their ‘linguistic’ ones during online interactions. In terms of social identities, the findings illustrate a distinction between traditional and modern identities ‘represented’ by Jacob Zuma and Brett Murray, respectively. However, although a distinction is evident, contradictions exist among the respective identities which feed back into the notion of identity as performative and fluid. In this way, the study reveals that the identities emanating from these discourses provide a glance at South Africa’s intricate identity ‘battle’, a ‘battle’ which is no longer solely based on race or collective identity, but more on the creation of new identities and perceptions based on traditional ones or a complete divorce of traditional identities. With regards to linguistic identity, the findings indicate that hybrid linguistic practices are a norm among the participants. This is because all participants employ netspeak features such as phonetic spellings, letter / number homophones and creative use of punctuation / capitalisation for emphasis or stress. Interestingly, although netspeak is evident from the findings common in online linguistic practices, this study has found that the use of such features is not random. This is so because participants tend to strategically fuse these features into the linguistic practices as a means to avoid censorship. This fusion and, ultimately, censorship avoidance strategies, rely on the re-purposing of semiotic resources. In this vein, the most used censorship avoidance strategies in the study are discussed and analysed in terms of context and the discourses that inform them. Furthermore, upon analysing the usernames and avatars selected by participants as part of identity construction, the findings demonstrate that these are used as an extension of the participants’ identities. From the findings of the study, it can be concluded that the South African youth’s identity and their perception of identity itself is in flux – ‘norms’ are constantly being re-invented. In essence, this study adds to an understanding of how historical material is re-purposed through an exploration of an online interactive feature that is posting of comments on an article of interest. It also contributes to an understanding of the hybrid nature of online linguistic practices.