Studies have investigated and dismissed the effect of freeze-thaw cycles on both skeletal muscle and on trabecular bone, but have failed to properly address the effects of these storage methods on the integrity of articular cartilage. Preventing cartilage injury is important in minimizing the long term debilitating effects of osteoarthritis. Accurate subfracture injury prediction must take into account the possible effects that freeze thaw cycles may have on the mechanical properties of cartilage tissue. This paper addresses this concern with matched pair testing of various low temperature storage techniques against fresh control groups. Controlled mechanical indention tests were performed on bovine articular cartilage-on-bone specimens to compare stiffness, peak stress, and loading energy of the cartilage. Findings showed that a slow freeze thaw or flash freeze cycle caused cartilage stiffness to decrease by 37% and 31% respectively. Compressive stress at this strain was also lowered by 31% with a single freezing process. These results may be indicative of a weakened extracellular matrix structure caused by the freeze-thaw process. It is still unclear whether these changes in mechanical properties will result in a change in injury susceptibility for articular cartilage. / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1965 I72 / Master of Science

No description available.

Climate change is expected to have a strong impact on subarctic ecosystems. Increased temperatures as well as altered precipitation and snow cover patterns are predicted to change species distribution and affect biogeochemical processes in the subarctic tundra. Bryophytes are an essential vegetational component in northern ecosystems, due to their high abundance and importance in many ecological processes. In this study the effects of elevation and altered snow cover on the temporal dynamics of freezing damage in three subarctic bryophyte species (Hylocomium splendens, Ptilidium ciliare, and Sphagnum fuscum) were studied in a snow manipulation field experiment in Abisko, during early spring. Soil temperature and field moisture of moss shoots were collected. A freeze-thaw incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the freeze-thaw cycle resistance of H. splendens and P. ciliare originating from habitats with two differing snow-cover thicknesses. Freezing damage differed significantly between the bryophytes species with P. ciliare experiencing the least and S. fuscum the highest damage. Damage was higher at the low elevation, possibly attributable to acclimation effects. Snow removal led to higher damage in moss shoots, but no interactions of the different snow cover treatments with elevation, species or time were found. Freezing damage increased over time and no recovery occurred, likely due to temporal patterns in soil freeze-thaw cycles during early spring. Soil freeze-thaw cycles were the main factor influencing damage in bryophytes after snow melt. Measured environmental parameters could not explain the entire variation in damage. Damage might additionally be attributable to increased UV radiation or disturbances by herbivores.

Resumo: Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o efeito da congelação e do meio sobre as características físicas e químicas do sêmen de 10 reprodutores suínos durante o inverno e o verão. No protocolo utilizado para a congelação seminal, 2 diluentes de congelação foram testados em combinação com 2 diluentes de transporte e refrigeração. Os resultados encontrados demonstraram que os parâmetros de integridade de membranas, morfologia e cinética espermática nos momentos que antecederam a congelação não foram influenciados, de forma geral, pela estação do ano. Apesar do número de células espermáticas totais e o volume do ejaculado terem sido superiores no inverno em relação ao verão, a motilidade progressiva pós-descongelação foi melhor no verão do que no inverno na maior parte dos meios de congelação avaliados. A metodologia de congelação aplicada e os diluentes utilizados mostraram índices de viabilidade espermática do sêmen descongelado sem precedentes e superiores aos encontrados na literatura, independentemente do diluente ou da estação do ano avaliada. Em relação ao perfil químico seminal, apenas os níveis de sódio no sêmen e de cálcio no plasma seminal foram mais elevados durante o verão, devido ao menor volume seminal produzido neste período. As temperaturas e umidades foram evidentemente superiores durante o verão e as concentrações de metabólitos fecais de corticosterona mais elevadas nesta mesma estação, porém estes índices não ocasionaram alterações consistentes na viabilidade do sêmen descongelado dos cachaços. Desta forma, os resultados do presente trabalho indicam que os animais encontram-se adaptados ao ambiente, não apresentando alterações marcantes de suas características seminais de acordo com as condições climáticas / Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of freezing and environment on physical and chemical characteristics of the semen of 10 breeding pigs during the winter and summer. In the protocol used for the freezing of semen, 2 freezing extenders were tested in combination with 2 diluents for transport and refrigeration. The results show that the parameters of membrane integrity, sperm morphology and kinetics in the moments preceding the freezing were not affected, in general, by the season. Although the number of sperm cells and the total volume of the ejaculate were higher in winter compared to summer, the post-thaw motility was better in summer than in winter in most media tested for freezing. The freezing methodology and the extenders applied showed indices of viability of the thawed sperm unprecedented and higher than those found in the literature, regardless of the diluents or the season assessed. Regarding the chemical seminal profile, only the levels of sodium and calcium in semen in the seminal plasma were higher during the summer due to lower volume seminal produced in this period. Temperatures and humidities were clearly higher during the summer and the concentrations of fecal corticosterone metabolites higher in the same season, but these rates did not cause consistent changes in the viability of frozen-thawed semen of boars. Thus, the present results indicate that the animals are adapted to the environment, showing no marked changes in their semen characteristics according to the season / Orientador: Eunice Oba / Coorientador: Daniella Jorge de Moura / Banca: Frederico Ozanam Papa / Banca: Sony Dimas Bicudo / Banca: Aníbal Sant'Anna Moretti / Banca: Rubens Stahlberg / Mestre

Orientador: Jose Tomaz Vieira Pereira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecanica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-23T07:55:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PrattsMilanes_RafaelLincoln_M.pdf: 7529457 bytes, checksum: a46683408a5f159faa50eae4fff6c712 (MD5) Previous issue date: 1997 / Resumo: Neste trabalho tenta-se determinar as melhorias tecnológicas que devem ser feitas em um sistema de refrigeração por absorção que usa o par água-amônia como refrigerante para a fabricação de gelo. O estudo é feito sobre uma planta desse tipo que se encontra atualmente na área de serviços do Hospital das Clínicas da UNICAMP e que foi doada a esta Universidade pela empresa MADEF S.A., produtora deste tipo de fábrica no país. Foram usadas as avaliações energéticas e exergéticas, conjuntamente com o cálculo verificativo de trocadores de calor. Para conseguir isso instalou-se um sistema de aquisição de dados via computador, através do qual obtivemos os valores de pressão e temperatura da solução em diversos pontos, definidos geralmente pela entrada e saída de cada equipamento. Com estes dados determinou-se as propriedades termodinâmicas em cada ponto, com ajuda do software AQUAM, e do diagrama entalpia vs. exergia de Merkel-Bonsjakovich. A partir das avaliações energéticas e exergéticas, conseguiu-se determinar os pontos fracos do sistema, verificando os valores das irreversibilidades de cada equipamento pela aplicação do conceito de geração de entropia (Teorema de Gouy-stodola), metodologia válida para a análise de qualquer tipo de sistema. O sistema avaliado apresentou um coeficiente de operação de 0.42; as maiores irreversibilidades, 32 %, no conjunto gerador coluna de retificação; a maior eficiência exergética, 81 %, no pré-aquecedor de solução rica; e a menor, 14,29 %, no sub-resfriador de líquido. Os cálculos realizados indicam o subdimensionamento do absorvedor, do pré-resfriador de solução pobre, e do condensador evaporativo, pouco tempo de congelamento, baixa concentração de amônia no evaporador, dimensões excessivas da válvula de pressão constante e grandes perdas de calor / Abstract: It is focused the technological developments that must be done on absortion freezing systems using the couple water-ammonia as absorber refrigerant for ice inclustries. This study was made over this kind of plant which actually is found in the service area of Hospital das ClinicaslHC in UNICAMP. That plant was freely given to this University by MADEF S.A., producer of this kind of industry in Brazil. Energetic and exergetic evaluations were used jointly to verificative account of heat exchangers. To achieve this goal it was installed a data adquisition system by means of computer through which we got the pressure and temperature values of the solution in different points, genera1ly defined by input and output of each equipment. Using this data, it was determined the thermod:ynamics properties in each point, with AQUAM software help as well as enthalpy exergy diagram ofMerkel and Bonsjakovic. Since the exergetic and energetic evaluations, it was found the weak points of the system verifying irreversibility values of each equipment by applying the entropy theory concept (Gouy-Stodola's Theorem), which is considered an appropriate methodology to analyze any kind of system. The evaluated system presented a coefficient of performance, COP of 0,42, major irreversibilities representing 32% on the generator complex rectifYing column, a major exergetic efficiency, 81%, in rich solution pre-heating and the minor, 14,29%, in the liquid sub-cooling. The calcu1atedvalues indicate the absorber subdimension of the weak solution pre-cooling and of the evaporative condensation, little time of cooling, low ammonia concentration in the evaporator, excessive size of the constant pressure valve and great heat losses / Mestrado / Mestre em Planejamento de Sistemas Energéticos

Das ON-Freezing ist ein seltenes, aber generell extrem schwer zu therapierendes Phänomen. Es betrifft Parkinson-Patienten mit und ohne THS. Die derzeitige Literaturlage spiegelt wider, dass es unterschiedliche Strategien gibt, diesem Phänomen zu begegnen. Ein allgemeingültiges Therapiekonzept existiert dabei nicht. Für einige Patienten mit STN-THS konnte durch eine Reduktion der Stimulationsfrequenz eine Besserung der Gangstörung erzielt werden. Andere profitierten vom Einsatz sogenannter Interleaving-Protokolle mit gleichzeitiger Stimulation der Substantia nigra (Sn). Im Vergleich zu anderen Arbeiten, die keine vorhersagbaren Parameter gefunden oder sich auf Symptome, Ausprägung der Subtypen und Erkrankungsdauer oder den Zeitpunkt der Erkrankung konzentriert haben, verfolgten wir die Absicht, die Effekte der LF-Stim des STN auf Parkinson-Patienten mit Gangstörung und Freezing-Phänomen zu untersuchen und herauszufinden, ob man Gangparameter identifizieren kann, an Hand derer man das Ansprechen auf eine LF-Stim vorhersagen kann. Unter der Einschränkung, dass die Zahl der Probanden unserer Studie sehr gering ist, haben wir herausgefunden, dass diejenigen Patienten besser auf eine LF-Stim ansprechen, die unter der Standard-HF-Stim eine signifikant höhere Ganggeschwindigkeit und eine größere Schrittlänge aufzeigen und nur ein intermittierendes Freezing haben. Darüber hinaus zeigte sich ein besseres Ansprechen der LF-Stim bei Parkinson-Patienten mit akinetisch-rigidem Parkinson-Phänotyp. Unsere Ergebnisse bestätigen die Annahme, dass sich L-Dopa additiv zur Stimulationstherapie bei manchen Parkinson-Patienten zusätzlich positiv auf die motorischen PD-Symptome auswirken kann. In Bezug auf die Verbesserung der Gangparameter zeigte sich in unseren Ergebnissen allerdings, dass L-Dopa eher eine untergeordnete Rolle spielt. Aufgrund der niedrigen Anzahl von Respondern in unserer Studie lässt sich daher sicherlich noch keine allgemeingültige Regel ableiten. Es bedarf letztlich weiterer Studien mit größeren Untersuchungszahlen, um unsere Thesen zu stützen und abzusichern. In jedem Fall wird aber das ON-Freezing auch weiterhin eine therapeutische Herausforderung bleiben. / Patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) often demonstrate continues severe gait disturbances including freezing of gait (FOG). Individual cases report an improvement of kinematic gait parameters as well as a reduction of freezing episodes. To determine, if a change in STN-DBS frequency to 80 Hz improves gait disturbances and reduces freezing episodes and to identify characteristics of responders, a multitask protocol was carried out in 6 patients with PD, STN-DBS and severe gait disorders involving an analysis if linear walking at different velocities.

Severe dehydration is lethal for most biological species, however there are a number of organisms which have evolved mechanisms to avoid damage during dehydration. One of these mechanisms is the accumulation of small solutes (e.g. sugars), which have been shown to preserve membranes by inhibiting deleterious phase changes at low hydration. Specifically, sugars reduce the gel to fluid phase transition temperatures of model lipid/water mixtures. However, there is debate about the precise mechanism, the resolution of which hinges on the location of the sugars. An experimental investigation into the effects of small solutes on the phase behaviour of phospholipid membranes is presented in order help identify the mechanisms by which solutes facilitate desiccation tolerance. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine the first comprehensive phase diagram for the synthetic phospholipid DPPC over a wide range of hydration and solute molar ratios between 0.1 and 1.0 sugars per lipid. Over the same range of hydrations and solute concentrations Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS) was used to measure the structural parameters of the membrane bilayers necessary to determine both the phase of the membrane lipids and the location of the solutes. SAXS was also used to conduct the first comprehensive study of the effect of solutes on the kinetics of the fluid - gel transition of DPPC over a range of both hydration and solute concentration. Finally, contrast variation Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) was used to quantitatively determine the location of the solutes. Data from these complimentary techniques are presented which show a monotonic relationship between both transition temperature and repeat spacing with respect to solute concentration. This relationship exists between solute:lipid molar ratios between 0.1 to approximately 0.5, after which higher concentrations of solute are shown to have no further effect on either the bilayer repeat spacing or transition temperature. It is proposed that the exclusion of small solutes into sugar/water micro-phases external to the bilayer can account for this behaviour. A theoretical model previously used to describe membrane phase behaviour at low hydrations is modified to account for the presence of solutes between membrane bilayers. This model is shown to be in quantitative agreement with the experimental data up until approximately 0.5 sucrose molecules per lipid, the point of solute exclusion. Once exclusion is taken into account, the model is quantitative over the whole range of sugar concentrations.

No description available.

Tardigrades are microscopic aquatic invertebrates that are known for their ability to survive extreme conditions. Different species of tardigrades tolerate extreme conditions to a varying degree. It has been suggested that limnic tardigrades would have a lower tolerance to desiccation compared to limno-terrestrial tardigrades. In this study limno-terrestrial species Ramazzottius oberhaeuseri and the limnic species Hypsibius dujardini is compared in regard to their tolerance to desiccation and freezing. The results show that there indeed is a difference in the tolerance and that Ramazzottius oberhaeuseri show better tolerance.