The high-cycle accumulation (HCA) model of Niemunis et al. is applied for the simulation of model tests on monopiles subjected to high-cyclic loading with up to five million loading cycles. A new finite element program for geotechnical applications written by the authors is used for this purpose. The simulations with the HCA model show a good agreement with the deformations measured in the model tests.

The subject of this work is a proposal of foundation, followed by an assessment for a production hall. Options will be discussed and compared against each other. The premises are situated in an area where great layers of gravel are found. A project of foundations founding will be performed according to Eurocode 7. Designing of geotechnical constructions which are based on given characteristic of presented soils. As a part of this work also is an appropriate drawing documentation.

This thesis is focused on description, analysis and minimization of downtime periods related to electricity maintenance activities. In theoretical part various kinds of wasting are described, which can happen during the work of electrician. In the plant Ventily the most faulty machines were found out from analysis of records and appropriate solutions were proposed. In addition to this consecutive company profits were evaluated.

Les macrophages ont un rôle majeur dans la régulation de l’inflammation. Ils sont capables de répondre rapidement aux signaux extérieurs en passant d’un état pro- à anti-inflammatoire (respectivement nommés macrophages M1 et M2). Certaines sous populations de macrophages M2 ont des propriétés angiogéniques. Parmi les voies de signalisation permettant aux macrophages de répondre aux signaux extérieurs on trouve les voies Wnt/Frizzled (Fzd). Elles reposent sur 10 récepteurs Fzd et 19 ligands Wnt. Il a été établi que les couples Wnt3a/Fzd1 et Wnt5a/Fzd5 sont impliqués dans la réponse inflammatoire des macrophages. Récemment le rôle d’une voie Wnt/Flt1 a été mis en évidence dans la régulation de l’angiogenèse, par les macrophages, lors du développement rétinien. Notre objectif de recherche fut d’étudier le rôle de la signalisation induite par Fzd7 sur les propriétés angiogéniques des macrophages. Nous avons étudié l’angiogenèse pathologique par l’utilisation de plusieurs modèles murins d’inflammation (irritation cutané, ischémie du membre inférieur, infarctus du myocarde). Chez des souris déficientes en Fzd7 dans les macrophages, l’angiogenèse est plus importante durant la phase d’inflammation, comparées aux souris contrôles. Par immuno-histologie et cytométrie en flux nous avons démontré que cette augmentation du nombre de vaisseaux s’accompagne d’une population de macrophages M2 plus importante, sans modification du nombre total de macrophages. Ces résultats obtenus dans plusieurs contextes inflammatoires chez la souris suggèrent que Fzd7 serait impliqué dans le contrôle de l’angiogenèse via une régulation de la polarisation M1 versus M2 des macrophages. / Macrophages play a major role in regulating inflammation. They are able to respond quickly to external signals from a pro to anti-inflammatory state (respectively named M1 and M2 macrophages). Some subpopulations of M2 macrophages have angiogenic properties. The Wnt/Frizzled (Fzd) pathway is part of pathways allowing macrophages to respond to their environment. They are composed of 10 Fzd receptors and 19 Wnt ligands. It was established that Wnt3a/Fzd1 and Wnt5a/Fzd5 are involved in the inflammatory response of macrophages. Recently the role of a Wnt/Flt1 pathway has been highlighted in the regulation of angiogenesis, by macrophages, during retinal development. Our aim was to study the role of the Fzd7-induced signaling on macrophages angiogenic properties. We studied pathological angiogenesis by using several mouse models of inflammation (skin irritation, hindlimb ischemia, myocardial infarction). In mice with Fzd7-deleted macrophages, angiogenesis is greater during the inflammatory phase, compared with control mice. By immune-histochemistry and flow cytometry we demonstrated that the increase in the vessels number is associated with a greater M2 macrophages population, without change in the total number of macrophages. These results obtained in several inflammatory contexts in mice suggest that Fzd7 be involved in the control of angiogenesis through regulation of the M1 versus M2 polarization of macrophages.

ClC-6 und ClC-7 sind Chlorid/Proton Austauscher des späten endozytischen Wegs und lokalisieren entsprechend auf späten Endosomen und Lysosomen. Während die Relevanz von ClC-6 in der humanen Physiologie lange unerkannt war, hat ClC-7 seit lange eine etablierte Rolle als Gen, das, wenn mutiert, zu Neurodegeneration und verschiedenen Arten von Osteopetrose in Menschen führt, eine Pathologie, die von dicken und fragilen Knochen gekennzeichnet wird. Hier berichten wir über eine neue ClC-6Y553C de novo Mutation, die vor Kurzem in 3 unabhängigen Patienten entdeckt wurde, die unter einer früh-entstehenden neurodegenerativen Pathologie litten, die mit generellen Entwicklungsverzögerung, MRI Gehirn-Anomalien, Hypotonie und mangelhaftem Atem verbunden war. Mit-ClC-6Y553C-transfizierten Zellen zeigten ungewӧhnlich erhöhten Strömungen und Unempfindlichkeit an pH, was eine dramatische “gain-of-function” in dem nativen säuren Umfeld von späten Endosomen, wo ClC-6 exprimiert wird, darstellt. Zusätzlich erforschten wir die Relevanz von ClC-7 in der lysosomalen Funktion, um die molekulare Mechanismen besser zu verstehen, die hinter des lysosomalen Speicher und Osteopetrose steht, die in Menschen beobachtet werden, die von ClC-7 Mutationen betroffen sind. Zusammenfassend liefern wir Einblicke in den Konsequenzen von ClC-6 und ClC-7 Mutationen für Zelluläre Homöostase und unterstützen eine wichtige Rolle von ClC-6 und ClC-7 in endolysosomaler Funktion und, wenn mutiert, in humaner neurodegenerativen Pathologie. / ClC-6 and ClC-7 are chloride/proton exchangers of the late endocytic pathway and reside on late endosomes and lysosomes, respectively. While relevance in human physiology for ClC-6 has been long unknown, ClC-7 has an established role as a gene, that, if mutated, causes neurodegeneration and different types of osteopetrosis in humans, a sickness characterized by thick and fragile bones. Here we report a new ClC-6Y553C de novo mutation, recently reported in 3 unrelated patients, affected by an early-onset neurodegenerative disease leading to general developmental delay, MRI brain abnormalities, hypotonia and respiratory insufficiency. Transfected cells revealed abnormally enlarged currents and insensitivity to pH in the Y553C ClC-6 mutant, representing a dramatic gain of function in the native acidic environment of late endosomes, where ClC-6 is expressed. Additionally, we investigated the importance of ClC-7 in lysosomal function to better understand the molecular mechanisms behind the lysosomal storage and osteopetrosis observed in human patients affected by ClC-7 mutations. Collectively, we provide insight into the consequences of ClC-6 and ClC-7 mutations for cellular homeostasis and support a crucial role for both ClC-6 and ClC-7 in endolysosomal function and, if mutated, in human neurodegenerative disease.

A diálise peritoneal constitui uma importante opção terapêutica para o paciente com doença renal crônica (DRC) em estágio 5. Entretanto, a médio-longo prazo, alterações morfofuncionais relacionadas a vários fatores, como bioincompatibilidade das soluções de diálise e infecções peritoneais, entre outros, estabelecem um processo inflamatório e fibrótico na membrana peritoneal, levando à perda da eficiência deste método dialítico. O estado urêmico destes pacientes é um agravante, pois intensifica o processo inflamatório da membrana peritoneal. Estratégias terapêuticas que desacelerem o processo de fibrose da membrana peritoneal dos pacientes com DRC em diálise são de extrema importância. Neste contexto, o presente estudo teve como objetivo estabelecer um modelo de peritonite fibrosante associado à DRC com uremia, que mimetiza a situação clínica, e analisar, neste modelo, o efeito de duas moléculas antifibróticas, o tamoxifeno (TAM) e a BMP-7 (bonemorphogenic protein-7). A DRC com uremia foi induzida em ratos Wistar através da administração de dieta rica em adenina, por um período de 30 dias. Nos últimos 15 dias, com o estado de uremia já estabelecido, os animais receberam injeções intraperitoneais de gluconato de clorexidina para a indução da fibrose peritoneal (FP). Os tratamentos com tamoxifeno (10mg/Kg/dia, por gavagem) e BMP-7 (30ug/Kg, injeções intraperitoneais a cada 3 dias) foram iniciados junto com a indução da fibrose peritoneal. Foram formados 6 grupos experimentais: CONTROLE, animais normais; DRC, animais com doença renal crônica; FP, animais com fibrose peritoneal; DRC/FP, animais com DRC e FP mimetizando a situação clínica; DRC/FP+TAM, animais com DRC e FP tratados com tamoxifeno; e DRC/FP+BMP7, animais com DRC e FP tratados com BMP-7. Durante os 30 dias de seguimento do estudo foram verificados o peso, a pressão arterial, ureia e creatinina séricas dos animais. Ao término deste período os animais foram sacrificados e o peritônio foi removido e submetido às análises: a) histológica, para avaliar o grau de espessamento (Tricrômio de Masson); b) imunohistoquímica, para localizar e quantificar a presença de células inflamatórias (macrófagos, linfócitos T), miofibroblastos (?-actina) e a atividade de proliferação celular (PCNA); c) análise de citocinas pró-inflamatórias (TNF-alfa, IL-1beta e IL-6) no tecido peritoneal tanto em nível de RNAm, através de PCR em tempo real, como também em nível proteico, através de multiplex; d) PCR em tempo real para determinar a expressão dos componentes da matriz extracelular (colágeno III e fibronectina) e de fatores fibrogênicos (TGF-beta1 e FSP-1). Além disso, com o objetivo de estudar a possível via de sinalização associada à fibrose peritoneal, foi analisada a expressão de SMAD 3 e SMAD 7 no peritônio através de PCR em tempo real e imunohistoquímica para SMAD 3 fosforilada. Por fim, a função peritoneal foi analisada através do teste de ultrafiltração e massa transferida de glicose (MTG). Os dados da evolução ponderal mostraram que, enquanto os animais dos grupos Controle e FP tiveram um ganho de peso significativo em relação ao primeiro dia do protocolo (28% e 18%, respectivamente), os animais dos demais grupos perderam peso significativamente, em média, 26% em relação ao primeiro dia. Todos os animais que receberam dieta rica em adenina e que, portanto, desenvolveram DRC, apresentaram hipertensão arterial, detectada nos dias 15 e 30 do estudo (média de 173mmHg no dia 15 e 172mmHg no dia 30). Confirmando o estabelecimento de DRC com uremia, os animais que receberam dieta rica em adenina apresentaram níveis séricos significativamente elevados de uréia (em média 170 mg/dL no dia 15 e 286 mg/dL no dia 30) e creatinina (média de 0,97 mg/dL no dia 15 e 1,82 mg/dL no dia 30). Os tratamentos com TAM e BMP-7 não influenciaram significativamente nestes parâmetros. A análise da membrana peritoneal dos animais dos grupos experimentais FP e DRC/FP revelou um espessamento significativo da membrana peritoneal (130 ± 33um e 132 ± 26?m, respectivamente vs 36 ± 2um e 27 ±6 um nos grupos CONTROLE e DRC; p < 0,001) bem como a presença de células inflamatórias. Os tratamentos com TAM e BMP7 foram eficazes em proteger a membrana peritoneal contra o espessamento (42 ± 2?m e 53 ± 7?m, respectivamente; p < 0,001 vs DRC/FP) e contra o infiltrado inflamatório. Além disso, no que se refere aos miofibroblastos, células efetoras da fibrogênese detectadas pela marcação de ?-actina, foi encontrado uma marcação significativa de alfa-actina no peritônio dos grupos FP e DRC/FP (p < 0,01 vs CONTROLE), sendo que os tratamentos com TAM e BMP7 protegeram o peritônio da proliferação maciça de miofibroblastos, confirmada pela expressão de PCNA de forma significativa. Com relação à detecção de citocinas pró-inflamatórias, a análise por PCR em tempo real nos animais do grupo DRC mostrou um aumento significativo da expressão no peritônio de TNF-alfa e IL-1beta comparado ao grupo CONTROLE. A expressão dessas citocinas também se mostrou aumentada no peritônio dos animais dos grupos e DRC/FP. Os tratamentos com TAM e BMP7 reduziram a expressão de TNF-alfa e IL-1beta de forma significativa em relação ao grupo DRC/PF (p < 0,01). O reflexo destes resultados pode ser observado com o ensaio por multiplex em que a presença dessas citocinas em sua forma proteica foi encontrada em quantidades significativas no peritônio dos animais com FP e uremia associada à FP em relação ao grupo CONTROLE. Os tratamentos com TAM e BMP7 reduziram a presença dessas citocinas de forma significativa (p < 0,01 vs DRC/FP). Como esperado, a presença de RNAm de componentes da matriz extracelular foi significativamente maior nos grupos FP e DRC/FP, comparados ao grupo CONTROLE. De fato, a expressão de colágeno III foi maior nos grupos FP e DRC/FP (3,4 ± 1 e 10,3 ± 2,4 UI, respectivamente; p < 0,01 vs CONTROLE), bem como de fibronectina nos grupos (6,5 ± 0,8 e 29,2 ± 1 UI, respectivamente; p < 0,01 vs CONTROLE). Os animais tratados com TAM e BMP7 apresentaram uma diminuição significativa tanto da expressão de colágeno III (1,5±0,9 e 0,2±0,1 UI, respectivamente; p < 0,01 vs DRC/FP), como da expressão de fibronectina (6,6±1,2 e 9,7±0,5 UI, respectivamente; p < 0,01 vs DRC/FP), confirmando um efeito anti-fibrótico dessas drogas. Ainda, enquanto nos grupos FP e DRC/FP a expressão de TGF-? foi significativamente maior em relação ao grupo CONTROLE (13,2±0,9 e 30,3±0,1 UI, respectivamente; p < 0,01), TAM e BMP7 diminuíram a expressão de TGF-beta (17,7±0,2 e 16,2±0,1 UI, respectivamente; p < 0,01 vs DRC/FP). Padrão similar foi encontrado com a expressão do RNAm para FSP-1 em que houve um aumento significativo da expressão desse gene nos grupos FP e DRC/FP, com significativo bloqueio nos animais tratados com TAM e BMP7 (p < 0,01 vs DRC/FP). Com relação à análise das vias de sinalização possivelmente envolvidas no processo, a expressão de SMAD 3 foi significativamente maior nos grupos FP e DRC/FP (3,7±0,3 e 4,6±0,3 UI, respectivamente) em relação aos grupos CONTROLE e DRC (1±0,2 e 1,3±0,6 UI, respectivamente; p < 0,01). Os tratamentos com TAM e BMP7 diminuíram a expressão da SMAD 3 no peritônio (1,1±0,6 e 1,1±0,7 UI, respectivamente; p < 0,01 vs DRC/FP). Contudo TAM e BMP7 aumentaram significativamente a expressão de SMAD 7 (2,8±0,5 e 3,7±0,5 UI, respectivamente; p < 0,01 vs DRC/FP), uma proteína contra reguladora da via do TGF-beta, capaz de bloquear a expressão de fatores pró-fibróticos bem como de fatores inflamatórios. Finalmente, os grupos tratados TAM e BMP7 tiveram a função do peritônio preservada quando comparados aos grupos FP e DRC/FP, verificado pela manutenção da capacidade de ultrafiltração e de reduzir a MTG. Em resumo, tamoxifeno e BMP7 foram capazes de bloquear o espessamento da membrana peritoneal, proteger o peritônio contra a infiltração de células inflamatórias e de miofibroblastos, além de diminuir a proliferação celular no peritônio. Estes tratamentos também foram eficazes em diminuir significativamente a expressão dos fatores pró-fibróticos e das citocinas inflamatórias. Com relação às SMADs, os tratamentos com TAM e BMP7 foram eficazes em bloquear a expressão de SMAD 3, bem como aumentar a expressão de SMAD 7. Os resultados do presente estudo sugerem que tamoxifeno e BMP7 protegem o peritônio no modelo de fibrose peritoneal desenvolvido em ratos com DRC e uremia, possivelmente devido aos seus efeitos anti-inflamatórios e anti-fibróticos / Peritoneal dialysis is an important therapeutic option for patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, at medium and long term, morphological and functional changes related to various factors such as bioincompatibility of dialysis solutions and peritoneal infections, among others, establish an inflammatory and fibrotic process in the peritoneal membrane, leading to a loss of dialysis efficiency. The uremic state of these patients aggravates this situation because it intensifies inflammation of the peritoneal membrane. Therapeutic strategies that slow the process of fibrosis of the peritoneal membrane of patients with CKD on dialysis are extremely important. In this context, the present study aimed to establish a model of peritoneal fibrosis associated with CKD with uremia, that mimics the clinical situation, and analyze the effect of two antifibrotic molecules, tamoxifen (TAM) and the BMP7 (bone morphogenic protein-7), in the proposed model. CKD with uremia was induced in male Wistar rats by adenine in the diet during a period of 30 days. After 15 days, with the state of uremia already established, animals received intraperitoneal injections of chlorhexidine gluconate, for the induction of peritoneal fibrosis (PF). Treatment with TAM (10mg/Kg/day by gavage) and BMP7 (30ug/Kg, intraperitoneal injections every 3 days) were initiated along with the induction of peritoneal fibrosis. Six groups were induced: CONTROL, normal animals; CKD, animals with chronic kidney disease; PF, animals with peritoneal fibrosis; CKD / PF, animals with CKD and PF mimicking the clinical situation; CKD / PF + TAM, animals with CKD and PF treated with tamoxifen; and CKD / PF + BMP7, animals with CKD and PF treated with BMP7. During 30 days of the follow-up study, weight, blood pressure, serum urea and creatinine of the animals were verified. At the end of this period, the animals were sacrificed and the peritoneum was removed and subjected to the following analysis: a) histology, to assess the degree of thickening (Masson\'s Trichrome); b) immunohistochemistry, to locate and quantify the presence of inflammatory cells (macrophages, T lymphocytes), myofibroblasts (alfa-smoth muscle actin) and cell proliferation activity (PCNA); c) analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alfa, IL-1beta and IL-6) both in peritoneal tissue mRNA level through real time PCR as well as on protein level by multiplex; d) real-time PCR to determine the expression of extracellular matrix components (collagen III and fibronectin) and fibrogenic factors (TGF-beta and FSP-1). Furthermore, in order to study the possible signaling pathway associated to peritoneal fibrosis, the expression of SMAD 3 and SMAD 7 in the peritoneum was analyzed via real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry for phosphorylated SMAD 3. Finally, the peritoneal function was assessed by ultrafiltration and mass transferred glucose test (MTG). Data from weight gain showed that while animals from CONTROL and PF groups had significant weight gain (28% and 18% respectively) compared to the first day of protocol, the animals of other groups lost weight significantly, on average, 26% compared to the first day. All animals that received diet rich in adenine developed CKD presented by hypertension, detected on days 15 and 30 of the study (average of 173mmHg and 172mmHg respectively). Confirming the establishment of CKD with uremia, the animals that received diet rich in adenine showed serum urea (average 170 mg/dL on day 15 and 286 mg/dL on day 30) and creatinine (average of 0.97 mg/dL on day 15 and 1.82 mg/dL on day 30) significantly higher in the 15th and 30th days. Treatments with TAM and BMP7 did not influence these parameters. The peritoneal membrane analysis of PF and CKD/PF experimental groups showed a significant thickening of the peritoneal membrane (130 ± 33?m and 132 ± 26?m, respectively; p < 0.001 vs 36 ± 2um and 27 ± 6?m in CONTROL and CKD; p < 0.001) with presence of inflammatory cells. The treatments with TAM and BMP7 were effective in protecting the membrane against the thickening (42 ± 2um and 53±7um, respectively; p < 0.001 vs CKD/PF) and inflammatory infiltrate. Furthermore, with regard to myofibroblasts, effectors cells in the fibrogenesis process detected by alfa-SMA presence, it was found a signicantly expression in the peritoneum of PF and CKD/PF (p < 0.01 vs CONTROLE), and the treatment with TAM and BMP7 significantly protected against the presence of myofibroblasts confirmed by the significantly expression of PCNA. With regard to the detection of pro-inflammatory cytokines, analysis by real-time PCR in the animals of CKD group showed a significant increase in TNF-alfa expression in the peritoneum and IL-1beta compared to the CONTROL group. The expression of these cytokines was also increased in the peritoneum of the CKD/PF group. The treatment with TAM and BMP7 significantly reduced TNF-alfa and IL-1beta expression compared to CKD/PF group (p < 0.01).The repercussion of these results can be observed with the multiplex test in which the presence of these cytokines in its protein form were found in significant quantities in the peritoneum of the animals with uremia associated with PF compared to CONTROL group. The treatment with TAM and BMP7 significantly reduced the presence of these cytokines (p < 0.01 vs CKD/PF). As expected, the mRNA expression of extracellular matrix components was significantly elevated in the PF group and CKD/PF compared to the control group. Indeed, collagen III mRNA expression was higher in PF and CKD/PF group (3.4 ± 1 and 10.3 ± 2.4 UI, respectively; p < 0.01 vs CONTROL) as well as fibronectin (6.5 ± 0.8 and 29.2 ± 1 UI; respectively; p < 0.01 vs CONTROL). The animals treated with TAM and BMP7 significantly blocked the expression of collagen III (1.5 ± 0.9 and 0.2 ± 0.1 UI, respectively; p < 0.01 vs CKD/PF) and fibronectin (6.6±1.2 and 9.7±0.5 UI, respectively; p < 0.01 vs CKD/PF). Further, while in the PF and CKD/PF groups the expression of TGF-beta (13.2 ± 0.9 UI and 30.3 ± 0.1 UI, respectively; p < 0.01) was significantly higher compared to the CONTROL group, TAM and BMP7 decreased the expression of TGF-beta (17.7 ± 0.2 UI and 16.2 ± 0.1UI, respectively; p < 0.01 vs CKD/PF). A similar trend was found with the expression of FSP-1 mRNA with an increase in expression of this gene in PF and CKD/PF groups (p < 0.01 vs CONTROL), with significant blockage in the animals treated with TAM and BMP7 (p < 0.01 vs CKD/PF). Regarding the analysis of signaling pathways possibly involved in the process, SMAD 3 expression was significantly higher in PF and CKD/PF groups (3.7 ± 0.3 UI and 4.6 ± 0.3 UI, respectively) compared to groups CONTROL and CKD (1 ± 0.2 UI and 1.3 ± 0.6 UI, respectively; p < 0,01). Treatments with TAM and BMP7 decreased the expression of SMAD 3 in the peritoneum (1.1 ± 0.6 UI and 1.1 ± 0.7 UI, respectively; p < 0.01 vs CKD/PF). Yet TAM and BMP7 significantly increased the expression of SMAD 7 (2.8 ± 0.5 and 3.7 ± 0.5, respectively; p < 0.01 vs CKD/PF), a regulatory TGF-beta protein capable of blocking the expression of pro-fibrotic and inflammatory factors. Finally, the treated groups had the function of the peritoneum preserved when compared to the PF and CKD / PF groups, checked through the maintenance of the ultrafiltration capacity and reducing MTG. In summary, the animals treated with TAM and BMP7 had the peritoneum protected from thickening, inflammatory infiltrate, presence of myofibroblasts and cellular proliferation. The treatments were also effective in significantly reduce the expression of pro-fibrotic factors and inflammatory cytokines. Regarding SMADs, treatments with TAM and BMP7 were effective in blocking the expression of SMAD 3 and increase SMAD 7 expression. The results of this study suggest that tamoxifen and BMP7 protected the peritoneum in an experimental model of peritoneal fibrosis developed in uremic rats with CKD, possibly due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties

ABSTRACT This study examined the effect of holistic practices on anxiety. The study used a pre-experimental design and measured any differences in outcomes in Generalized Anxiety Disorder clients as measured by General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) between the two following groups: 1) the experimental group who received holistic services in addition to traditional treatment such as psychotherapy and/or medication as compared to 2) the control group who received psychotherapy and/or medication alone. Pretest of GAD-7 at intake and post-tests at about 4 months into treatment were measured along with a holistic practice survey and analyzed post-hoc through SPSS data analysis. This study found that GAD-7 scores were improved, with majority of the participants involved in some sort of holistic supplemental practices. However there was no statistical correlation between the two phenomena in this small sample. More research is recommended with larger samples, as well as improved instrumentation that could vet out other possible effects on the GAD scores.

In order to manage the content of multimedia data, the content must be annotated. Although any user-defined annotation is acceptable, it is preferable if systems agree on the same annotation format. MPEG-7 is a widely accepted standard for multimedia content annotation. However, in MPEG-7, semantically identical metadata can be represented in multiple ways due to lack of precise semantics in its XML-based syntax. Unfortunately this prevents metadata interoperability. To overcome this problem, MPEG-7 standard is translated into an ontology. In this thesis, MPEG-7 ontology is used on top and the given user-defined ontologies are attached to the MPEG-7 ontology via a user friendly interface, thus building MPEG-7 based ontologies automatically. Our proposed system is an ontology-based multimedia information management framework due to its modular architecture, ease of integrating with domain specific ontologies naturally and automatic harmonization of MPEG-7 ontology and domain-specific ontologies. Integration with domain specific ontologies is carried out by enabling import of domain ontologies via a user-friendly interface which makes the system independent of application domains.

Fossil fuel and advanced industrialization techniques contribute to global warming through emissions of greenhouse gases such as CO2. In order to mitigate climate change, there is a desperate need to reduce CO2 emissions from different sources. CO2 capture and sequestration (CCS) play an important role in these reductions. Naturally occurring enzymes, e.g., carbonic anhydrase (CA), can catalyze these reactions in living systems. Much effort has been focused on complexes of zinc with ligands such as teta, cyclen and tripodal ligands including BIMA and Trispyrazolylborates. These complexes have many interesting CO2 capture properties, but maintain toxic perchlorate ions. We desired to replace them with less hazardous counteranions like BF4- or PF6-. Our research focused mainly on the synthesis and characterization of Zn, Co and Cu cyclen and teta complexes that could mimic CA. We also examined some of these species for catalytic CO2 hydration behavior on wetted-wall column (WWC) at Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER). We successfully synthesized and characterized eight new complexes. These catalysts as CO2 capture systems are more stable have low molecular weights (compared to CA) and more cost effective than enzymes. In terms of catalytic activity significant results were obtained only for few of the catalysts

In this thesis I consider the messianic forerunner concept within "Q" (which I take to be a source used by all three of the synoptic authors). I argue that at least five units in Q (3:2-3+7-9+16b-17; 3:21-22; 7:18-20+22-23; 7:24-27; 7:28) envisage John as a messianic forerunner to the Messiah Jesus. The messianic forerunner concept is therefore quite pervasive in Q and cannot be said to have originated with the evangelist Mark, as is sometimes supposed. Q attempts to deal with the historical fact that Jesus had not fulfilled Israel's messianic expectations. It did this by portraying Jesus as a rejected Messiah whose redemptive mission had been thwarted by Israel's unbelief. Jesus will ultimately redeem Israel but this will take place at his second coming and that cannot take place until Israel repents. I consider whether Q's redactor(s) utilised any earlier sources. I find this not to have been the case in Q's Prologue (3:2-3+7-9+16b-17) or in Jesus' Baptism by John (3:21-22). Earlier source material can, however, be detected in 7:18-19+22-23; 7:24-27; and 7:28. I consider whether any of this latter material derives from a rival "Baptist" source and conclude that it does not. The question of whether the messianic forerunner concept had its origins in Judaism prior to Jesus and his new movement can therefore not be established by any of the Q units examined in this thesis. What can be established, however, is that the concept goes back to some of the earliest traditions of Jesus' followers.