Os íons terras raras apresentam propriedades espectroscópicas diferenciadas e números de coordenação entre 6 e 12 e seu estado de oxidação mais comum é o íon trivalente. Apesar de esses íons apresentarem uma baixa intensidade de luminescência, em função de sua baixa absortividade molar, esses são capazes de formar complexo onde o ligante absorva luz e transfira para o centro metálico essa energia, fenômeno conhecido como efeito antena. Essas propriedades tornam os seus complexos alvos de estudos como marcadores em ensaios imunoluminescentes, aliado ao uso de nanopartículas poliméricas. Todos esses fatores podem ser utilizados para a montagem de uma metodologia para o diagnóstico da doença de Chagas, doença tropical negligenciada, que apesar de seus mais de 100 anos após descoberta, ainda possui diversas questões em aberto e sem estudo aprofundado. Dessa maneira, propomo-nos a sintetizar e caracterizar nanopartículas de PHB misturadas aos complexos de terras raras, especificamente, complexos -dicetona - Tb3+ , Sm3+ , Gd3+, ou Eu3+. Pretende-se ligar essas nanopartículas a um espaçador como o glutaraldeído ou então diretamente a um anti-IgG humano e assim, num acoplamento antigeno-anticopo verificar sua emissão de luminescência para detecção de soro positivo para a doença. Dessa forma, obtém-se um biomarcador luminescente para diagnóstico da doença de Chagas. / The rare-earth ions exhibit different spectroscopic properties, coordination numbers between 6 and 12 and trivalent is its most common oxidation state. Despite these ions present low luminescence, due to their low molar absorptivity, they are capable of forming complexes where the ligand absorbs light and transfers this energy to the metal center, a phenomenon known as \"antenna effect\". These properties make their complexes object of studies as markers in fluoroimmunoassay allied to the use of polymeric nanoparticles. All these factors can be used for the assembly of a methodology for diagnosis of Chagas\' disease, a tropical overlooked disease, which despite its more than 100 years after discovering, still has several open issues and without thorough study. Thus, We propose to synthesize and characterize PHB nanoparticles labeled with the rare earth complexes, most specifically -diketone complexes - Tb3+ , Sm3+ , Gd3+, or Eu3+ as marker for biological targets. It\'s intended to link these nanoparticles to a glutaraldehyde as a spacer or directly to an anti-human IgG and thus, in a coupling antibody-antigen, verify its luminescence-emission for detecting positive serum sickness. Therefore, we have a luminescent biomarker for diagnosis of Chagas\' disease.

O presente trabalho consiste em uma caracterização ótica de vidros fluoretos dopados com Nd3+ e com Yb3+ dando ênfase ao estudo dos processos de transferência de energia entre estes íons. Também são abordadas possíveis aplicações que os referidos vidros dopados com Nd3+ e codopados com Nd3+ e Yb3+ possam encontrar. Algumas destas aplicações são em meio ativo para laseres no infravermelho e em células solares. Para tal caracterização foram realizadas medidas de absorção, de tempo de vida, de luminescência no infravermelho e no visível e de luminescência resolvida no tempo. Também encontram-se neste trabalho cálculos sobre as probabilidades de transição radiativa dos níveis 4F3/2 do Nd3+ e 2F5/2 do Yb3+ além de um estudo sobre os processos de transferência de energia entre estes íons. Das medidas mencionadas acima foi encontrado que a concentração de neodímio para a qual se observa a emissão mais intensa é de ≅ 1,5% mol Nd F3 e que a eficiência quântica de emissão do nível 4F3/2 deste íon, no vidro fluoroindogalato, é alta (0,96). Nas amostras codopadas com Nd3+ e Yb3+ o máximo da emissão ocorre para a amostra com 1% NdF3 e 2% YbF3. Sobre os processos de transferência de energia, os parâmetros que caracterizam a transferência entre os íons Nd3+ e entre Nd3+ e Yb3+, foram calculados pelo modelo de Dexter e obtidos experimentalmente através das curvas de decaimento da luminescência. Os valores conseguidos das duas maneiras estão em boa concordância entre si / The present work consists in an optical characterization of Nd3+ doped and Nd3+ and Yb3+ codoped fluoride glasses with emphasis on the study of energy transfer processes among these ions. Possible applications that the refered Nd3+ doped and Nd3+ and Yb3+ codoped glasses can find are also considered. Some of these applications are as active media of infrared lasers and in solar cells. The characterization was done by absorption, lifetime, infrared and visible luminescence and time resolved measurements. In this work some calculations of the radioactive transition probabilities of the 4F3/2 do Nd3+ e 2F5/2 of Yb3+ levels and a study of the energy transfer processes among these ions were also carried out. From the above mentioned measurements it was found that the concentration at which the neodymium emission is higher is about 1,5% mol NdF3 and that the quantum efficiency of the emission for the 4F3/2 do Nd3+ of Nd3+ level, in fluoroindogallate, is high (0.96). In the Nd3+ and Yb3+ codoped samples the maximum emission is observed for the sample with 1% Nd3+ and 2% Yb F3. Considering the energy transfer processes, the parameter that characterizes the energy transfer among Nd3+ ions and among Nd3+ and Yb3+ was calculated by Dexter\'s model and experimentally obtained from the decay curve of the luminescence intensity. The values found are in good agreement to each other

A utilização das terras raras (TR) em larga escala teve início com a patente de Welsbach em 1903, que é ainda aplicada na fabricação de pedras de isqueiros. Hoje as TR estão presentes nas mais diferentes áreas, como na produção de superligas, vidros especiais, pigmentos, cerâmicas, imãs permanentes, lasers, eletroeletrônicos, catalisadores, ressonância magnética nuclear, etc., movimentando, na última década, um mercado de US$ 2 bilhões por ano. Devido às suas propriedades muito semelhantes, os elementos das TR são difíceis de serem separados, requerendo, normalmente, processos complexos, o que os torna de elevado preço de comercialização. Elementos como o európio (Eu) e o samário (Sm), cujos teores nos materiais que contém TR são baixos (cerca de 0,05% e 2%, respectivamente, na monazita), são caros e os campos de aplicação destes materiais justificam a busca por outros processos de separação, que sejam no mínimo mais simples e/ou mais eficientes. O estado trivalente é característico para todas as TR, mas alguns elementos podem apresentar outros estados de oxidação, como o Ce, Eu, Sm e Yb. No caso do Eu e do Sm, foco de estudo neste trabalho, o estado divalente é facilmente obtido por redução eletroquímica nos potenciais –0,65V e –1,55V (vs. SCE), respectivamente. Este fato torna possível a separação destes elementos das demais terras raras e entre eles mesmos. Portanto, fazendo uso desta característica, propôs-se um processo de separação individual do Eu e do Sm em meio (NH4)2SO4 por eletro-redução/precipitação, onde o Sm é separado primeiramente como sulfato e o Eu, que permanece em solução, é precipitado após a diminuição da temperatura e do potencial aplicado. O processo desenvolvido a partir de uma solução sintética de Eu e Sm foi aplicado a uma mistura de óxidos de TR semi-pesadas produzida no IPEN-CNEN/SP, obtendo-se a separação do Sm. Este produto foi analisado por espectrofotometria, indicando elevado grau de pureza. / The rare earths (RE) were first used in 1903, when Welsbach developed a lighter that is still used today. Nowadays, the RE are employed in many different fields, as in the production of super-alloys , as catalysts for petroleum industry, in the manufacture of non-ferrous alloys, color television tubes, x-ray screens, special glasses, ceramics, computer industries, nuclear medicine, lasers, pigments, etc., moving, in the last decade , a market of US$ 2 billions per year. Due to their similar properties, the RE elements are very difficult to separate, requiring complex processes, what make the products very expensive. Elements like Eu and Sm, which contents in the minerals are low (0.05% and 2.0%, respectively, in monazite) are extremely expensive, but their field of application justifies the research for looking for other processes, more simple and/or more effective. Trivalent state is a characteristic of all RE, but some of them presents oxidation state +2, like Ce, Eu, Sm and Yb. In the case of Eu and Sm, the focus of the present work, the divalent state is achieved by electro-reduction in the potentials –0.65 and –1.55 (SCE), respectively. This makes possible the separation of these elements from the other rare earths and from each other. Thus, making use of this characteristic, a process for the individual separation of Eu and Sm in (NH4)2SO4 solution by electro-reduction/precipitation is proposed, where Sm is first separated from the solution as sulfate, and Eu, that remains in the solution, is precipitated after the decrease of temperature and potential applied. The process developed from a synthetic Eu and Sm solution was applied to a mixture of semi-heavy RE oxide, produced at IPEN-CNEN/SP, obtaining the separation of Sm. This product was analyzed by spectrophotometry, showing high purity.

Ku, Ka Wai. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Rare events have very low probability of occurrence but can have significant impact. Earthquakes, volcanoes, and stock market crashes can have devastating impact on those affected. In industry, engineers evaluate rare events to design better high-reliability systems. The objective of this work is to increase efficiency in design optimization for rare events using metamodeling and variance reduction techniques. Opportunity exists to increase deterministic optimization efficiency by leveraging Design of Experiments to build an accurate metamodel of the system which is less resource intensive to evaluate than the real system. For computationally expensive models, running many trials will impede fast design iteration. Accurate metamodels can be used in place of these expensive models to probabilistically optimize the system for efficient quantification of rare event risk. Monte Carlo is traditionally used for this risk quantification but variance reduction techniques such as importance sampling allow accurate quantification with fewer model evaluations. Metamodel techniques are the thread that tie together deterministic optimization using Design of Experiments and probabilistic optimization using Monte Carlo and variance reduction. This work will explore metamodeling theory and implementation, and outline a framework for efficient deterministic and probabilistic system optimization. The overall conclusion is that deterministic and probabilistic simulation can be combined through metamodeling and used to drive efficiency in design optimization. Applications are demonstrated on a gas turbine combustion autoignition application where user controllable independent variables are optimized in mean and variance to maximize system performance while observing a constraint on allowable probability of a rare autoignition event.

Orientador: Gilbert Bannach / Banca: Massao Ionashiro / Banca: Luiz Carlos da Silva Filho / Resumo: Foram sintetizados os compostos de fórmula geral LnL3nH2O, no estado sólido, onde Ln representa lantânio, lantanídeos e ítrio, L é o naproxeno e n+0 (Dy), 1 (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd e Tb) e 2 (Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu e Y). Os compostos foram caracterizados por termogravimetria/análise térmica diferencial (TG-DTA), calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), difratometria de raios X pelo método do pó (XRD), espectroscopia de absorção na região do infravermelho (IR) e complexometria com EDTA. As curvas TG-DTA e DSC forneceram informações com relaçao ao comportamento térmico dos compostos e a decomposição dos compostos sintetizados. Os complexos de La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu e Y são termicamente estáveis até 227, 165, 221, 251, 248, 228, 249, 254, 240, 268, 260, 255, 263, 248, 255ºC, respectivamente. Os dados da espectroscopia de absorção na região do infravermelho sugerem uma coordenação bidentada entre o ligante e o íon metálico para os complexos de La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb e Dy, e uma coordenação bidentada e em ponte para os complexos de Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu e Y. A utilização conjunta das técnicas IR, XRD e TG-DTA permitiu dividir os complexos em três grupos, de acordo com a quantidade de moléculas de águas presentes, com os complexos de cada grupo, isomórficos entre si. O DSC cíclico e o XRD com aquecimento mostrou que os complexos apresentam diversas transições cristalinas entre suas formas polimórficas / Abstract: Solid-state compounds with general formula LnL3nH2O, in wich Ln represents lanthanum, lanthanides and yttrium, L is naproxen, and n + 0 (Dy), 1 (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd e Tb) and 2 (Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu e Y) were synthesized Simultaneous thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and EDTA complexometry were employed to characterize these compounds. The TG-DTA and DSC curves provided information concerning the thermal behaviour and thermal decomposition of synthesized compounds. La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu and Y complexes are thermally stable until 227, 221, 251, 248, 249, 254, 240, 268, 260, 255, 263, 248 and 255ºC, respectively. The infrared spectroscopic data suggested a bidented coordination between the ligand and the metal ion to the La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb and Dy complexes, and a bidented and bridge coordination to the Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu and Y complexes. From IR, XRD and TG-DTA techniques allowed to divide the complexes in three groups, according to the number of water molecules, with the complexes of each group, isomorphics. Cyclic DSC and heated XRD show that complexes present various crystalline transitions between polymorphics forms / Mestre

This dissertation documents a study of very rare B-meson decays at the LHCb experiment, using data taken during the first experiment run of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and during the second experiment run until September 2016. The LHCb experiment was designed to test the Standard Model of particle physics and to search for New Physics effects that go beyond the scope of the Standard Model through the decay of b hadrons produced in high energy proton-proton collisions at the LHC. The measurements described in this dissertation are made using data samples of proton-proton collisions with integrated luminosities of 1.0, 2.0 and 1.4fb⁻¹, collected at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV, respectively. All results are consistent with the predictions of the Standard Model.

Diet and lifestyle have changed dramatically in the last few decades, leading to an increase in prevalence of obesity, defined as a body mass index >30Kg/m2, dyslipidaemias (defined as abnormal lipid profiles) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Together, these cardiometabolic traits and diseases, have contributed to the increased burden of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in Western societies. Complex traits and diseases, such as cardiometabolic traits, arise as a result of the interaction between an individual's predisposing genetic makeup and a permissive environment. Since 2007, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been successfully applied to complex traits leading to the discovery of thousands of trait-associated variants. Nonetheless, much is still to be understood regarding the genetic architecture of these traits, as well as their underlying biology. This thesis aims to further explore the genetic architecture of cardiometabolic traits by using complementary approaches with greater genetic and phenotype resolution, ranging from studying clinically ascertained extreme phenotypes, deep molecular profiling, or sequence level data. In chapter 2, I investigated the genetic architecture of healthy human thinness (N=1,471) and contrasted it to that of severe early onset childhood obesity (N=1,456). I demonstrated that healthy human thinness, like severe obesity, is a heritable trait, with a polygenic component. I identified a novel BMI-associated locus at PKHD1, and found evidence of association at several loci that had only been discovered using large cohorts with >40,000 individuals demonstrating the power gains in studying clinical extreme phenotypes. In chapter 3, I coupled high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements in healthy blood donors, with next-generation sequencing to establish the role of rare coding variation in circulating metabolic biomarker biology. In gene-based analysis, I identified ACSL1, MYCN, FBXO36 and B4GALNT3 as novel gene-trait associations (P < 2.5x10-6). I also found a novel link between loss-of-function mutations in the "regulation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex" pathway and intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and circulating cholesterol measurements. In addition, I demonstrated that rare "protective" variation in lipoprotein metabolism genes was present in the lower tails of four measurements which are CVD risk factors in this healthy population, demonstrating a role for rare coding variation and the extremes of healthy phenotypes. In chapter 4, I performed a genome-wide association study of fructosamine, a measurement of total serum protein glycation which is useful to monitor rapid changes in glycaemic levels after treatment, as it reflects average glycaemia over 2-3 weeks. In contrast to HbA1c, which reflects average glucose concentration over the life-span of the erythrocyte (~3 months), fructosamine levels are not predicted to be influenced by factors affecting the erythrocyte. Surprisingly, I found that in this dataset fructosamine had low heritability (2% vs 20% for HbA1c), and was poorly correlated with HbA1c and other glycaemic traits. Despite this, I found two loci previously associated with glycaemic or albumin traits, G6PC2 and FCGRT respectively (P < 5x10-8), associated with fructosamine suggesting shared genetic influence. Altogether my results demonstrate the utility of higher resolution genotype and phenotype data in further elucidating the genetic architecture of a range of cardiometabolic traits, and the power advantages of study designs that focus on individuals at the extremes of phenotype distribution. As large cohorts and national biobanks with sequencing and deep multi-dimensional phenotyping become more prevalent, we will be moving closer to understanding the multiple aetiological mechanisms leading to CVD, and subsequently improve diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.

Three different fine-particles (lanthanum fluoride nanoparticles, cerium oxide nanoparticles and zinc borate submicron particles) were modified and tested on the purpose of study the effects of surface modified fine-particles when they used as lubricant additives in liquid paraffin. The modified fine-particles were examined and characterised by a FT-IR spectroscopy and a zeta-potential measurer. The tribological performances of surface modified fine-particles were invalided by a pin-on-disc test rig under various experimental environments. The worn surfaces on post-tested pin were analysed by AFM, SEM and a nano-indentation tester. The results indicated Hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HS) modified lanthanum fluoride nanoparticles and HS modified cerium oxide nanoparticles all shown better dispersibility than unmodified lanthanum fluoride nanoparticles and unmodified cerium oxide nanoparticles in liquid paraffin (LP). HS modified lanthanum fluoride nanoparticles and HS modified cerium oxide nanoparticles also have been approved that they can improve the tribological properties of LP significantly under various working conditions. The formation of tribo-films on the worn scar is the key mechanism of friction and wear reduction. On the other hand, surface modified zinc borate submicron particles have not demonstrated great potential as an oil lubricant additive under various working conditions. HS, as a particle surface modifier, could improve the performance of fine-particle oil lubricant additives impressively. The positive effects of HS on both dispersibility and tribological performance of surface modified fine-particles were observed.

Este trabalho consiste na caracterização óptica dos íons terras raras Er+3, Yb+3 e Gd+3 quando em vidros fluoroindatos. As técnicas utilizadas foram: absorção óptica, luminescência e tempo de vida. Foram realizadas medidas de upconversion em vidros dopados com os íons Er+3 e Yb+3 nas concentrações de 2% mol de ErF3 e concentrações de 0, 2 e 8% mol de Yb+3 com excitação em 0.8 e 0.98&#956m observando as transições 2H11/2 &#8594 4I15/2 4S3/2 &#8594 4I15/2 (verde) e 4F9/2 &#8594 4I15/2 (vermelho). Como resultado verificou-se que o Yb+3 aumenta a eficiência da emissão por upconversion no vermelho. Através de medidas espectroscópicas nos vidros fluoroindatos com Gd+3 não foi verificado tendência a cristalização destes vidros, mesmo para altas concentrações de Gd+3 Para o íon Gd+3em vidros fluoroindatos foram determinados os parâmetros de Judd-Ofelt, através dos quais determinamos as propriedades ópticas do íon e comparamos com os dados obtidos experimentalmente. Estes resultados se encontram em boa concordância / This work consists of the optical characterization of rare earth Er+3, Yb+3 and Gd+3 fluoroindate glasses by means of luminescence, optical absorption and lifetime techniques. Upconversion process were studied in Er+3, Yb+3 doped glasses (with the same ErF3 concentration and different Yb+3 concentrations) excited at 0.8 and 0.98&#956m. Transitions 2H11/2 &#8594 4I15/2 4S3/2 &#8594 4I15/2 (green) e 4F9/2 &#8594 4I15/2 (red) were detected. As a result, we conclude that the Yb+3 incorporation increases the emission efficiency of the red upconversion process. Spectroscopic measurements performed on Gd+3 fluoroindate glasses didn\'t point out crystallization tendency of the glasses, even for high Gd+3 concentrations. The Judd-Ofelt parameters of Gd+3 fluoroindate glasses were obtained, so that the optical properties of Gd+3 were determined. The results are in good agreement with the experiment