[pt] Avaliar a forma como as áreas verdes são distribuídas, sua quantidade e qualidade, na malha urbana das cidades brasileiras, traz a possibilidade de entender como a população local é servida por essas estruturas. Pretende-se discorrer sobre importância da infraestrutura verde na urbe criando uma metodologia de avaliação das áreas verdes urbanas, buscando na literatura existente premissas coincidentes que qualifiquem o verde urbano. A utilização de mapeamento de uso e cobertura do solo permite adquirir dados geográficos e o montante de áreas verdes, gerando índices como o IAV (Índice de Área Verde) e permitindo a apreciação dos volumes obtidos nas regiões e bairros da cidade de Niterói, no estado do Rio de Janeiro – cidade utilizada como estudo de caso. Ao examinar o quantitativo geral de IAV a cidade tem um bom desempenho, com 117,21m quadrados de área verde por habitante. Contudo na avaliação da unidade de bairro percebe-se que dezoito dos cinquenta e dois bairros apresentam quantitativo vegetacional inferior ao das premissas estabelecidas (mínimo de 15m quadrados de área verde por habitante) nesse estudo e ainda que dez locais não possuem nenhuma vegetação. São levantadas algumas proposições que poderiam auxiliar na qualidade de vida das vizinhanças nos bairros menos providos de área verde, como telhados verdes, hortas urbanas e jardins de chuva. / [en] Presenting a great relevance to the urban environment, green areas comprise a point of balance between built and non-built environments. Society, which lives in areas considered urban, needs not only the basic infrastructure for its survival (such as sanitary, road, health and education infrastructures), i/t also lacks the connection with nature, free construction spaces and an ecologically balanced environment. The benefits of green areas in urban areas go beyond the ecological aspect; such as air filtration, dust and microorganisms retention, reducing noise, balance temperature, absorb part of the sun s rays, retain moisture in the soil, which avoids erosion, floods, providing regulation of the water cycle, shelter for fauna and exchange of gene flow between natural areas; they also act on the psychological well-being of the human being with biophilia, the need for man to pursue non-building areas. Non-building and green areas have the ability to explain the relationship between man and nature, that is, for the purposes of this study, the relationship among society, natural physical means, vegetation, rivers, seas and other elements. In order to support this scientific research, explanations about how the distribution of green areas happen in some cities, such as Rio de Janeiro (having the basis of research carried out by Data Rio - an entity owned by the City of Rio de Janeiro, in 2017) were analyzed ) and by developing and applying this methodology in a specific study having the city of Niterói in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro, as a basis for the analysis of its quantitative and the assessment of green areas in the urban environment. Having the municipality of Rio de Janeiro as a first example, by assessing urban green areas in Brazilian municipalities - there was a huge difference in the volume and distribution of green areas by neighborhoods.

Einsatz von Optimierungen innerhalb von Pro/Engineer zur Konstruktion von Kanälen

<div>Single phase immiscible fluid flow in porous media is often described by Darcy’s law. However, in two-phase or multi-phase conditions, the properties of porous medium rely on the saturation of each phase. One of the constitutive equations, the relationship between capillary pressure and saturation, exhibits hysteresis property. To accurately describe two-phase immiscible fluid in porous media, some researchers used interfacial area per volume (IAV) as an additional variable. Previous experiments were done by other experimenters to support the uniqueness of IAV in capillary pressure – saturation hysteresis relationship by externally changing the capillary pressure. </div><div>A technique called Electro-Wetting On Dielectric (EWOD) was developed for sealed micro-models to examine the saturation-pressure relationship by internally manipulating the saturation which in turns affects IAV. Single-plate EWOD samples were used to select material properties and experimental parameters. These experiments found that Poly-Di-Methyl-Siloxane (PDMS) is a good dielectric material that enabled changes in the contact angle between a droplet and PDMS from ~120° (non-wetting) to ~50° (wetting). Double-plate EWOD was used to demonstrate that discrete electrodes (with PDMS as dieletric on both plates) enabled the transportation and merging of droplet(s).</div><div>A novel method was developed to incorporate EWOD into a wedge-shaped PDMS micro-model. Imbibition and drainage scans of the capillary pressure – saturation relationship (Pc-S) were performed in the channel with and without voltage. The drainage curves differed significantly between the two conditions, while the imbibition curves were similar with and without voltage. The total energy for Pc-S decreased by 70 nJ with the application of EWOD with most of difference arising from a 20 Pa decrease in pressure for the same saturation condition during drainage.</div><div>Studies were also performed to examine the amount of energy associated with depiing of fluid interfaces. A 5-step wedge-shaped micro-model with EWOD was fabricated to increase the probability of pinning during an experiment. The amount of energy released as a fluid depinned was observed to be a function of capillary pressure. More energy was released at the 1st step for higher the pressures than lower pressures. The energy released from depinning at the first step in the channel ranged from 30 – 100 nJ for pressures from 70 to 100 Pa. The occurrence and magnitude of additional depinnings along the step-shaped channel also depended on the pressure. Each successive depining released less energy.</div><div>Finally, experiments were performed to examine the range of EWOD in a sealed micro-model with discrete electrodes. When voltage was not applied directly on the fluid-fluid interface but on the solution, the voltage could still actuate the interface causing it to move and advance farther into a channel. The ability of the application of EWOD to drive fluid-fluid interfaces decreases with active electrode distance from the interface.</div>

No description available.

Influenza A virus (IAV) causes annual epidemics and sporadic pandemics of respiratory disease in humans. One of the main complications of primary IAV infection is increased susceptibility to secondary bacterial co-infection, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most common co-infecting species. Previous work identified secreted proteases from S. aureus as a pro-viral factor, leading to specific cleavage of the IAV surface hemagglutinin and increase in infectious viral titre. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of bacterial proteases, and other secreted bacterial proteins, on IAV replication. Supernatants from the S. aureus community-associated epidemic clone USA300 were separated by size exclusion chromatography and each fraction was tested for an impact on IAV replication in primary chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells. A fraction that increased viral titre by at least 10-fold was identified, but this effect was independent of known secreted proteases. Through the use of mass spectrometry fingerprinting and bacterial mutagenesis, a single protein, S. aureus lipase 1, was identified to be responsible for the pro-viral effect. Lipase 1 is expressed by an array of diverse S. aureus strains of distinct clonal origins. Both the native and recombinant form of lipase 1 were pro-viral only during the infection of primary cells, including primary human lung fibroblasts. Further validation of this interaction indicated lipase 1 was pro-viral in a concentration dependant manner and for a range of IAV strains. Investigation into the mechanism of action of lipase 1 revealed the protein acts during a single infectious cycle in a manner dependent on its active site. Time of addition studies and western blot analysis showed lipase 1 affects the later stages of virus replication, but there is no direct interaction with the virus particle; rather, the protein manipulates the cell, resulting in an increased number of infectious particles being produced. This work has identified and validated a single S. aureus protein, which affects IAV replication. Thus, it has elucidated some of the complex interactions that occur between the virus and bacteria during co-infection. It has also demonstrated a novel role for a bacterial enzyme in IAV replication, the study of which can further our understanding of both IAV and cell biology.

De nombreuses études ont impliqué des TLR dans le développement et la progression tumorale. Précédemment, il a été démontré que les cellules tumorales expriment TLR7, un récepteur à ARNsb, et qu’une forte expression de TLR7 par les cellules tumorales de patients atteints de cancer du poumon est associée à un mauvais pronostic. Dans un modèle murin de cancer du poumon, cet effet pro-tumoral a été reproduit lors de l’injection d’agoniste de TLR7. Mes travaux de thèse ont eu pour objectif de déterminer les mécanismes impliqués dans les effets pro-tumoraux de TLR7. La stimulation de ce récepteur au niveau des cellules tumorales induit une production plus importante de CCL2 et GM-CSF, ainsi qu’un fort recrutement de MDSC au site de la tumeur. Ces MDSC, de par leurs propriétés immunosuppressives sont responsables de l’effet pro-tumoral à la suite de la stimulation de TLR7. Nous avons également mis évidence que la stimulation de TLR7 était pro-métastatique dans un modèle murin de cancer du poumon et que les MDSC étaient également impliquées dans cet effet. Ces effets pro-métastatiques associés au TLR7 ont été confirmés chez l’homme, grâce à l’étude de transcrits de molécules associées à l’invasion, l’angiogénèse, la transition épithélio-mésenchymateuse et les métastases. Enfin nous avons démontré la présence de ligand de TLR7 chez les patients atteints de cancer du poumon et démontré que l’injection intratumorale de virus respiratoires, IAV et RSV, a un effet pro-tumoral dans notre modèle de cancer du poumon. Ces virus respiratoires pourraient donc être à l’origine de la surexpression de TLR7 et du mauvais pronostic associé à ce récepteur chez les patients atteints de cancer du poumon. Ces recherches ont donc permis de mettre en évidence de nouveaux facteurs aggravants dans le cancer du poumon, dont les virus respiratoires, et de découvrir les mécanismes impliqués. / Numerous studies have implicated some TLR in tumor development. Previously, we have demonstrated that lung tumor cells express TLR7, a receptor for ssRNA, and that high TLR7 expression confers to NSCLC patients bad clinical outcome. In mice models of lung cancer, we further demonstrated that the injection of TLR7 agonists led to a pro-tumoral effect.My thesis work has firstly demonstrated the mechanisms involved in the pro-tumoral effects of TLR7 in lung cancer: TLR7 stimulation on tumor cells induces a high production of CCL2 and GM -CSF, as well as a sharp MDSC recruitment within the tumor. These MDSC, by their immunosuppressive properties, are implicated in the pro-tumoral effect upon TLR7 stimulation. We also demonstrated that TLR7 stimulation was pro-metastatic in a mice model of lung cancer and that MDSC were also involved in this effect. These pro-metastatic effects associated with TLR7 have been confirmed in humans through the studies of transcripts and proteins involved in invasion, angiogenesis, Epithelial–mesenchymal transition and metastasis. Finally, we demonstrated that TLR7 ligands are present in tumor microenvironment of lung cancer patients and that intratumoral injection of respiratory viral infections such as IAV and RSV, have a pro-tumoral effect in lung cancer mice model. These respiratory viruses could therefore be at the origin of the overexpression of TLR7 and the poor clinical outcome associated with this receptor in lung cancer patients. This research has thus made possible to highlight new aggravating factors in lung cancer, including respiratory viruses, and to discover the mechanisms involved.

Einsatz von Optimierungen innerhalb von Pro/Engineer zur Konstruktion von Kanälen

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T16:24:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCV07MA024.pdf: 1167481 bytes, checksum: 8d46ea0fb9ff81da5a38a6f48e0ef3e1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-06-15 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The aims of this work were to perform a breeding soundness evaluation in Devon bulls in the State of Santa Catarina, in Southern Brazil, and to propose alternatives to maximize beef cattle production capacity. The contents of this dissertation were divided in four chapters. Chapter one is a review on the breeding soundness evaluation of bulls, which includes clinical exam, semen collection and evaluation, and serving capacity. In Chapter two, the evaluation of the breeding soundness of 207 Devon bulls was used to determine approval rate, based on clinical and seminal evaluation and serving capacity, and potential causes for failure. The bulls approval mean rate was 71.6%. The mean scrotal circumference (CE), according to distinct age periods, was 35.2 ± 2.93 cm for bulls between 18 to 22 months of age; 37.3 ± 2.75 cm for 23 to 27 months, and 38.2 ± 3.6 cm for 30 months or above. In Chapter 3, the internal artificial vagina (IAV) methodology, designed by Dr. Albert Barth, was tested in Devon bulls, simultaneously evaluating their serving capacity and fertility. Out of 52 bulls tested, 60.0% were satisfactory. A semen sample was obtained with the aid of the IAV in 45 bulls (86.5%), from which, 69.0% were approved in the breeding soundness evaluation, and 31.0% were reproved. When the total umber of bulls (n=52) was considered, 60.0% were approved after semen collection and serving capacity using the IAV. The IAV was an effective alternative for semen collection, allowing the simultaneous evaluation of semen quality and serving capacity. The IAV procedures were proven very effective and important, as 11.1% of failed bulls would have been inadequately approved if only clinical and seminal exams were performed. Chapter 4 reports a study to evaluate OPU recovery and efficiency of vitrification in immature OPU or slaughterhouse oocytes, from Devon viii and Nelore cows. Devon OPU mean collection rate was of 4.6 oocytes/female, hich was significantly lower (p<0.05) than in Nelore cows (16.3 oocytes/female). After warming, in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture of vitrified oocytes, cleavage rates were 17.6% in the OPU/Devon group, 29.1% in OPU/Nelore, 22.8% in the slaughterhouse/Devon, and 14.5% in the slaughterhouse/Nelore group. No statistical difference was observed between groups (p>0.05). Only one embryo developed to the blastocyst stage in the OPU/Devon group. Nelore cows had a higher OPU recovery per session in comparison to Devon. We concluded that immature oocyte vitrification obtained by OPU, under field conditions, did not allow acceptable in vitro embryo developmental rates. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the feasibility oftechnical alternatives to improve bovine reproductive capacity, but such alternatives should be tested beforehand and properly adapted previously to the use under field conditions / O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a capacidade reprodutiva de touros da raça Devon, criados em Santa Catarina, bem como propor alternativas para maximizar a capacidade produtiva de bovinos de corte. Os conteúdos foram agrupados em quatro capítulos. No Capítulo 1, procedeu-se a revisão bibliográfica do exame andrológico do touro, incluindo o exame clínico, a coleta do ejaculado, a avaliação seminal e a avaliação da capacidade de serviço. No Capítulo 2, foram avaliados dados obtidos de exames andrológicos de 207 touros da raça Devon, sendo determinado o percentual de animais aptos à reprodução, com base no exame clinico, exame seminal e comportamento sexual, bem como as potenciais causas de reprovação. A média de touros aprovados foi de 71,6%. A média de circunferência escrotal (CE) nas diferentes faixas etárias foram 35,2 ± 2,93 cm para animais de 18 a 22 meses, 37,3 ± 2,75 cm para animais de 23 a 27 meses e 38,2 ± 3,6 cm para animais com mais de 30 meses. No Capítulo 3, foi avaliada a metodologia da vagina artificial interna (VAI) proposta pelo Dr. Albert Barth, como forma de coleta do ejaculado e simultânea avaliação do comportamento e a fertilidade de touros da raça Devon. Dos 52 animais examinados, 60,0% foram considerados aptos. A VAI possibilitou a coleta do ejaculado de 45 animais (86,5%). Dos touros coletados com a VAI (n=45) 69% foram considerados aptos à reprodução e 31% inaptos. Quando se considerou o total de touros examinados (n=52), 60,0% dos touros foram aprovados após coleta de sêmen e avaliação da capacidade de cópula com a VAI. Concluiu-se que a VAI foi efetiva na coleta dos ejaculados, permitindo a avaliação simultânea da capacidade de serviço. A técnica mostrou-se importante, já que vi 11,1% dos animais reprovados no teste seriam inadequadamente considerados aptos à reprodução, se apenas os exames clínico e de qualidade seminal fossem empregados. O Capítulo 4 reporta um estudo para avaliar a taxa de recuperação e a eficiência da vitrificação de oócitos imaturos obtidos por OPU, ou de ovários de abatedouro, de fêmeas bovinas das raças Devon e Nelore. O número médio de oócitos por sessão de OPU foi de 4,6 na raça Devon, sendo inferior (p<0,05) aos 16,3 obtidos na raça Nelore. Após o reaquecimento, maturação, fecundação e cultivo dos oócitos vitrificados, foram observadas taxas de clivagem de 17,6% no grupo OPU / Devon, 29,1% no grupo OPU / Nelore, 22,8% no grupo ovários abatedouro / Devon e 14,5% no grupo ovários abatedouro / Nelore, não havendodiferença (p>0,05) entre os grupos. Na avaliação do desenvolvimento embrionário, apenas um embrião atingiu o estágio de blastocisto, no grupo OPU / Devon. As fêmeas da raça Nelore possibilitaram um número significativamente maior de oócitos recuperados por sessão quando comparadas com fêmeas da raça Devon. Concluise que a associação da técnica de OPU com vitrificação dos oócitos, em condições de campo, não produz taxas aceitáveis de desenvolvimento embrionário. O estudo demonstra que existem alternativas para melhorar a capacidade reprodutiva de bovinos que, todavia, devem ser previamente avaliadas e adequadas às condições existentes

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T16:24:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCV07MA024.pdf: 1167481 bytes, checksum: 8d46ea0fb9ff81da5a38a6f48e0ef3e1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-06-14 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The aims of this work were to perform a breeding soundness evaluation in Devon bulls in the State of Santa Catarina, in Southern Brazil, and to propose alternatives to maximize beef cattle production capacity. The contents of this dissertation were divided in four chapters. Chapter one is a review on the breeding soundness evaluation of bulls, which includes clinical exam, semen collection and evaluation, and serving capacity. In Chapter two, the evaluation of the breeding soundness of 207 Devon bulls was used to determine approval rate, based on clinical and seminal evaluation and serving capacity, and potential causes for failure. The bulls approval mean rate was 71.6%. The mean scrotal circumference (CE), according to distinct age periods, was 35.2 ± 2.93 cm for bulls between 18 to 22 months of age; 37.3 ± 2.75 cm for 23 to 27 months, and 38.2 ± 3.6 cm for 30 months or above. In Chapter 3, the internal artificial vagina (IAV) methodology, designed by Dr. Albert Barth, was tested in Devon bulls, simultaneously evaluating their serving capacity and fertility. Out of 52 bulls tested, 60.0% were satisfactory. A semen sample was obtained with the aid of the IAV in 45 bulls (86.5%), from which, 69.0% were approved in the breeding soundness evaluation, and 31.0% were reproved. When the total number of bulls (n=52) was considered, 60.0% were approved after semen collection and serving capacity using the IAV. The IAV was an effective alternative for semen collection, allowing the simultaneous evaluation of semen quality and serving capacity. The IAV procedures were proven very effective and important, as 11.1% of failed bulls would have been inadequately approved if only clinical and seminal exams were performed. Chapter 4 reports a study to evaluate OPU recovery and efficiency of vitrification in immature OPU or slaughterhouse oocytes, from Devon viii and Nelore cows. Devon OPU mean collection rate was of 4.6 oocytes/female, which was significantly lower (p<0.05) than in Nelore cows (16.3 oocytes/female). After warming, in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture of vitrified oocytes, cleavage rates were 17.6% in the OPU/Devon group, 29.1% in OPU/Nelore, 22.8% in the slaughterhouse/Devon, and 14.5% in the slaughterhouse/Nelore group. No statistical difference was observed between groups (p>0.05). Only one embryo developed to the blastocyst stage in the OPU/Devon group. Nelore cows had a higher OPU recovery per session in comparison to Devon. We concluded that immature oocyte vitrification obtained by OPU, under field conditions, did not allow acceptable in vitro embryo developmental rates. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the feasibility of technical alternatives to improve bovine reproductive capacity, but such alternatives should be tested beforehand and properly adapted previously to the use under field conditions / O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a capacidade reprodutiva de touros da raça Devon, criados em Santa Catarina, bem como propor alternativas para maximizar a capacidade produtiva de bovinos de corte. Os conteúdos foram agrupados em quatro capítulos. No Capítulo 1, procedeu-se a revisão bibliográfica do exame andrológico do touro, incluindo o exame clínico, a coleta do ejaculado, a avaliação seminal e a avaliação da capacidade de serviço. No Capítulo 2, foram avaliados dados obtidos de exames andrológicos de 207 touros da raça Devon, sendo determinado o percentual de animais aptos à reprodução, com base no exame clinico, exame seminal e comportamento sexual, bem como as potenciais causas de reprovação. A média de touros aprovados foi de 71,6%. A média de circunferência escrotal (CE) nas diferentes faixas etárias foram 35,2 ± 2,93 cm para animais de 18 a 22 meses, 37,3 ± 2,75 cm para animais de 23 a 27 meses e 38,2 ± 3,6 cm para animais com mais de 30 meses. No Capítulo 3, foi avaliada a metodologia da vagina artificial interna (VAI) proposta pelo Dr. Albert Barth, como forma de coleta do ejaculado e simultânea avaliação do comportamento e a fertilidade de touros da raça Devon. Dos 52 animais examinados, 60,0% foram considerados aptos. A VAI possibilitou a coleta do ejaculado de 45 animais (86,5%). Dos touros coletados com a VAI (n=45) 69% foram considerados aptos à reprodução e 31% inaptos. Quando se considerou o total de touros examinados (n=52), 60,0% dos touros foram aprovados após coleta de sêmen e avaliação da capacidade de cópula com a VAI. Concluiu-se que a VAI foi efetiva na coleta dos ejaculados, permitindo a avaliação simultânea da capacidade de serviço. A técnica mostrou-se importante, já que vi 11,1% dos animais reprovados no teste seriam inadequadamente considerados aptos à reprodução, se apenas os exames clínico e de qualidade seminal fossem empregados. O Capítulo 4 reporta um estudo para avaliar a taxa de recuperação e a eficiência da vitrificação de oócitos imaturos obtidos por OPU, ou de ovários de abatedouro, de fêmeas bovinas das raças Devon e Nelore. O número médio de oócitos por sessão de OPU foi de 4,6 na raça Devon, sendo inferior (p<0,05) aos 16,3 obtidos na raça Nelore. Após o reaquecimento, maturação, fecundação e cultivo dos oócitos vitrificados, foram observadas taxas de clivagem de 17,6% no grupo OPU / Devon, 29,1% no grupo OPU / Nelore, 22,8% no grupo ovários abatedouro / Devon e 14,5% no grupo ovários abatedouro / Nelore, não havendo diferença (p>0,05) entre os grupos. Na avaliação do desenvolvimento embrionário, apenas um embrião atingiu o estágio de blastocisto, no grupo OPU / Devon. As fêmeas da raça Nelore possibilitaram um número significativamente maior de oócitos recuperados por sessão quando comparadas com fêmeas da raça Devon. Concluise que a associação da técnica de OPU com vitrificação dos oócitos, em condições de campo, não produz taxas aceitáveis de desenvolvimento embrionário. O estudo demonstra que existem alternativas para melhorar a capacidade reprodutiva de bovinos que, todavia, devem ser previamente avaliadas e adequadas às condições existentes

Neuraminidase (NA) is one of two major antigens on the surface of influenza A viruses. It is comprised of a single N-terminal transmembrane domain (TMD), a stalk domain, and a C-terminal enzymatic head domain that cleaves sialic acid, most notably to release new particles from the host cell surface. NA is only enzymatically active as a homo-tetramer. However, it is not known which properties facilitate the oligomerization of NA during assembly. Our results show that, apart from anchoring the protein to the membrane, the NA TMD also contributes to the assembly process by keeping the stalk in a tetrameric conformation. The ability of the TMD to oligomerize is shown to be dependent on its amphiphilic characteristics that was largely conserved across the nine NA subtypes (N1-N9). Over time the NA TMDs in human H1N1 viruses were found to have become more amphiphilic, which correlated with stronger oligomerization. An old H1N1 virus with a more recent N1 TMD had impaired growth, but readily acquired compensatory mutations in the TMD to restore growth, by reverting the TMD oligomerization strength back to that of the old TMD, demonstrating a biological role of the TMD in folding and assembly. NA and the other viral proteins are spatially and temporally coordinated to achieve optimal viral production. By using a co-transfection analysis, the high AU-content in the NA and HA ER-targeting sequence coding regions (for NA TMD as well as the HA signal sequence) were found to inhibit their expression. The inhibition was alleviated by the early expressed influenza RNA-binding protein NS1, which promoted translation and showed enriched foci at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). NS1, which expresses early during infection, is therefore likely the regulator of NA and HA to prevent premature expression. These results show that the NA TMD is under substantial selection pressure at both the nucleotide and amino acid level to accommodate its roles in ER-targeting, protein folding, and post-transcriptional regulation. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: Accepted.</p>