The oppositional rule, established upon the philosophical traditions of binarism and dialecticism, situates the two protagonists in this research (the artistic collaboration matthews and allen) as antithetical systems. This discourse proposes a disruption to a metaphysical dichotomy between the noetic authorial text and the poetic paratext. The non-oppositional premise of collaborative dialogue is proposed as a method to resist the oppositional logic of dialecticism and the homogenous ‘third hand’ of collaboration theory. Michel Serres’ assertion that to ‘hold a dialogue is to suppose a third man and seek to exclude him’ positions the ‘third man’ of communication as a disruptive force. The excluded third is a noise in the background of ideological unity, the ‘potential for surprise’, an intervallic exception in a paradigmatic order. This collaborative game breaks the rule of opposition and subsequently generates a third space where the indeterminate relation between the scholastic text and matthews and allen’s paratext performs disruption in the authorial system.

This thesis explores the last decades of legal paganism in the Roman Empire of the second half of the fourth century CE through the eyes of Symmachus, orator, senator and one of the most prominent of the pagans of this period living in Rome. It is a religious biography of Symmachus himself, but it also considers him as a representative of the group of aristocratic pagans who still adhered to the traditional cults of Rome at a time when the influence of Christianity was becoming ever stronger, the court was firmly Christian and the aristocracy was converting in increasingly greater numbers. Symmachus, though long known as a representative of this group, has only very recently been investigated thoroughly. Traditionally he was regarded as a follower of the ancient cults only for show rather than because of genuine religious beliefs. I challenge this view and attempt in the thesis to establish what were his religious feelings. Symmachus has left us a tremendous primary resource of over nine hundred of his personal and official letters, most of which have never been translated into English. These letters are the core material for my work. I have translated into English some of his letters for the first time. The thesis is organised in the main thematically, looking at Symmachus’ religious language, pagan religious ritual, the changing religious topography of Rome itself – and the clash with the Christian establishment specifically with Bishop Ambrose of Milan over the Altar of Victory Affair. The last chapter, although still thematic, looks at Late Antique Paganism through a series of personal events in Symmachus’ life; but is also chronological in the sense that it covers the last seventeen years of it. There are six appendixes, tables and illustrations.

Le lupus érythémateux disséminé (LED) est une maladie auto-immune systémique caractérisée par une inflammation provoquant des lésions dans de nombreux organes tels que les reins, les poumons ou la peau. Dans cette pathologie, une activation excessive du système immunitaire conduit à la production d’auto-anticorps dirigés, le plus souvent, contre du matériel nucléaire. La différenciation des lymphocytes B (LB) en cellules productrices d’anticorps requiert une communication entre les LT et les LB. Ce dialogue est régulé par de nombreux acteurs cellulaires et moléculaires afin de permettre la mise en place d’une réponse humorale efficace en cas d’infections, mais aussi de prévenir le développement de maladies auto-immunes. Mon projet de thèse a consisté à étudier l’implication de deux de ces acteurs, l’un favorisant la différenciation des LB en plasmocytes, à savoir, les cellules T folliculaires auxiliaires (TFH) et le second régulant négativement l’activation lymphocytaire, le récepteur co-inhibiteur BTLA (pour B and T Lymphocyte Attenuator) dans le LED chez l’Homme. Au cours de cette étude, nous avons d’une part amélioré les connaissances concernant les sous-populations de TFH circulantes humaines, en décrivant que parmi les cellules TFH CXCR3-CCR6- sont retrouvées des cellules aux propriétés suppressives. De plus, nous avons suggéré que la contraction des TFH1 (CXCR3+CCR6-) au profit des TFH2 (CXCR3-CCR6-), observées chez les patients lupiques, pourrait être le reflet d’une migration des TFH1 vers les organes inflammés. D’autre part, nous avons mis en évidence un défaut fonctionnel de BTLA dans les LT CD4+ de patients lupiques. Ce défaut, restauré en normalisant le métabolisme lipidique des LT CD4+, semble associé à la sévérité de la pathologie. En parallèle de ces observations, nous avons démontré un défaut d’expression de BTLA sur les LB et les LT CD4+ régulateurs de patients lupiques. L’ensemble de nos données sont prometteuses et ouvrent de nouvelles perspectives thérapeutiques pour le traitement du LED. / Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by lesions in several organs such as kidneys, lungs and skin for instance. In this pathology, an excessive activation of the immune system leads to the production of autoantibodies targeting mainly nuclear antigens. B cell differentiation into antibody-secreting cells requires a close collaboration between T and B cells. This cross-talk is regulated by various cellular and molecular factors in order to mount an efficient humoral response in case of infection, but also to prevent autoimmune disease development. The aim of my thesis was to study two regulating factors of the B cell response, one promoting the B cell differentiation into plasma cells, i.e the follicular helper T cells (TFH) and the other one inhibiting lymphocyte activation, i.e a co-inhibitory receptor called BTLA (« B and T Lymphocyte Attenuator ») in human SLE. In this study, we first improved our knowledge concerning human circulating TFH cells, by describing among the CXCR3-CCR6- TFH cell subset, a population with suppressive capacities. Moreover, we suggested that the decreased frequency of TFH1 in lupus patients’ blood could be explained by the migration of these cells into inflamed tissues. We also highlighted a BTLA functional deficiency in lupus CD4+ T cells. This deficiency, which can be restored by normalizing the lipid metabolism, seems to be associated to disease severity. Furthermore, we described an altered expression of BTLA in lupus B cells and regulatory T cells. Altogether, our data show promising results and suggest new potential therapeutic strategies for lupus treatment.

A forma larval de Echinococcus granulosus (metacestóide) é o agente causador da hidatidose cística, zoonose endêmica no Rio Grande do Sul. Essa parasitose caracteriza-se pelo crescimento de uma massa cística preenchida de líquido hidático que causa compressão em órgãos e tecidos vizinhos. O antígeno B (AgB) é um dos maiores componentes do líquido hidático. Apesar da função do AgB ser mal conhecida, alguns indícios sugerem que ele está envolvido na interação parasito/hospedeiro. Sabe-se que os genes de contingência em microparasitas (protozoários e bactérias) são os responsáveis pela evasão da resposta imune do hospedeiro, e estão localizados, freqüentemente, na região sub-telomérica dos cromossomos. A localização sub-telomérica poderia estar relacionada com a alta variabilidade encontrada na família multigênica do AgB, uma vez que tais regiões costumam estar mais sujeitas à mutação. No presente trabalho procuramos verificar a proximidade dos genes de AgB dos telômeros através de experimentos de Southern blot utilizando a técnica de TRF (Telomere Restriction Fragment) onde o DNA genômico de E. granulosus e E. multilocularis foi clivado com seis diferentes enzimas de restrição e hibridizado com um inserto que possui o motivo telomérico C3TA2 (caracterizado para E. granulosus) e re-hibridizado com produtos de PCR dos genes AgB, ambos marcados com fluoresceína. Os nossos resultados permitiram a identificação de heterogeneidade no tamanho dos telômeros de E. granulosus. Ainda, utilizamos um PCR extra longo (XL-PCR) com primers específicos para os genes de AgB e um primer contendo o motivo telomérico de E. granulosus. Foram obtidos amplicons de aproximadamente 1600 pb para AgB2 , AgB3 e AgB4, e de 1300 e 3500 pb para AgB3. Não foram obtidos amplicons para AgB1. Com base nos dados obtidos neste trabalho, sugerimos que os genes AgB2, AgB3 e AgB4 estão localizados próximos a um motivo telomérico, mas ainda não podemos definir a precisa localização dos genes nos cromossomos. / The larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus (metacestode) causes the cystic hydatic disease, an endemic zoonosis from the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The disease is characterized by the growth of a cyst filled with liquid (hydatic fluid), leading to the compression of the neighbouring organs and tissues. Although the biological role of antigen B (AgB) is still uncertain, several clues show that it is involved in the parasite/host interaction. Contingency genes are known to be responsible for the evasion of host imune response in microparasites, and are frequently localized in chromosome sub-telomeric regions. A sub-telomeric localization could be related to the high variability found in the AgB multigene family, since these regions are usually more prone to mutations. In the present work we tried to verify the proximity of AgB genes to the telomeres with Southern blot experiments using the TRF (Telomeric Restriction Fragment) technique, where the genomic DNA from 35 E. granulosus and 5 E. multilocularis isolates were digested with 6 different restriction enzimes and hybridized with an insert containg the E. granulosus telomeric motif (C3TA2) and re-hybridized with PCR products derived from AgB genes, both labeled with fluorescein. Our results show heterogenity in the E. granulosus telomere size. Furthermore, we used an extra long PCR (XL-PCR) with specific primers for AgB genes and a primer containing the E. granulosus telomeric motif. We obtained amplicons with about 1600 bp for AgB2, AgB3 and AgB4, and with 1300 and 3500 bp for AgB3. No amplicons were obtained using AgB1 specific primers. Based on these data, we suggest that the E. granulosus AgB2, AgB3 and AgB4 genes are localized in the vincinity of telomeric motifs, but we are still unable to define the precise localization of the genes at chromosomes.

The aim of thesis was to study the effect of fluoranthene (FLT) on growth and biochemical processes of plant Petunia (Petunia hybrida cv. Lady blue) in in vitro conditions. In this experiment were used segments of the middle parts of the leaves, shoots from organogenesis in vitro and apical meristem of stem with four to five leaves from long-term in vitro culture. It was observed if fluoranthene influence organogenesis of shoots in vitro, contents of chlorophyll a and b, content of cytokinins and rating of shoots (from organogenesis in vitro) and apical meristem of stem with four to five leaves. It was used culture MS medium containing benzylaminopurin (1.5 mg/l), 1-naphtylacetic acid (0.18 mg/l) and fluoranthene (1 mg/l) or without fluoranthene (control). In the case of organogenesis in vitro, the experiment was performed at 4 different variations of media with subculturing to other media in triplicate. Variations of the media were chosen to allow period of cultivation with fluoranthene, which affects growth and biochemical processes. MS medium containing indol-3-butyric acid (0.5 mg/l) and FLT in different concentrations (0.1, 1, 3 a 5 mg/l) was used for monitoring rooting. The results showed that fluoranthen is able to affect organogenesis of shoots formed on the segments of leaves. There was lower frequency compared to the control organogenesis. It was found that fluoranthene more affects beginning of cultivation compared to later exposure of fluoranthene during cultivation. It was found the highest uptake of benzyladenine and its riboside from the culture medium. Fluoranthene affected significantly content of dihydrozeatin. Zeatin and its riboside were recorded in a minimal amount. Fluoranthene caused lower content of chlorophylls a and b in explantats. In the case of chlorophyll a were no significant differences between influence by fluoranthene at the beginning of the cultivation or during of cultivation. It was noted that fluoranthene influence the morphology of the roots subcultured shoots from organogenesis in vitro. Plant roots exhibited less branching and roots were shorter in culture medium containing higher content of fluoranthene (3 and 5 mg/l).

O antígeno B (AgB) é uma proteína polimérica de aproximadamente 160 kDa secretada durante a fase larval dos parasitos do gênero Echinococcus. Sua função provavelmente está relacionada com a evasão da resposta imune do hospedeiro, e tem sido relatado que seus genes apresentam alta diversidade de seqüências, mesmo dentro de um único metacestóide de E. granulosus. Em E. multilocularis o AgB é codificado por uma família multigênica composta por pelo menos cinco genes. Neste trabalho nós avaliamos o efeito do sistema imune dependente de célula T sobre a diversificação somática dos genes do antígeno B em metacestóides de E. multilocularis obtidos de camundongos secundariamente infectados com microcistos: uma linhagem proficiente e outra não proficiente quanto à resposta imune celular (BALB/c e nude, respectivamente). Os animais foram sacrificados após um ou dois meses de infecção para coleta da massa parasitária e extração do RNA. Após a síntese do cDNA foram feitas PCRs específicas para quatro genes (EmAgB1, EmAgB2, EmAgB3 e EmAgB4) e o produto desta reação foi clonado. Os clones resultantes foram analisados quanto à presença de polimorfismo através de PCR-SSCP e os alelos descobertos foram seqüenciados. A diversidade alélica foi calculada através do Índice de Diversidade de Shannon e desvios da neutralidade foram testados através do Teste D de Tajima e através do Teste Exato de Fisher, que detecta excesso de mutações não-sinônimas em relação às mutações sinônimas. Um teste adicional, que calcula a probabilidade (através da distribuição binomial) de ocorrência das mutações não-sinônimas, foi realizado. Comparando a diversidade encontrada nos genes do AgB não encontramos evidências de que a pressão imposta pelo sistema imune esteja relacionada com a diversidade de seqüências encontrada em nosso estudo. O gene EmAgB2 apresentou Índices de diversidade mais elevados (principalmente quando coletado do camundongo BALB/c após um mês de infecção) e também apresentou maior quantidade de indels. Apenas um dos alelos encontrados em nossa amostragem foi compartilhado por parasitos coletados de diferentes camundongos, sugerindo que os alelos possam ter surgido após a infecção dos camundongos. O Teste D de Tajima resultou em valores negativos em todas as análises. Entretanto, nem o Teste Exato de Fisher nem a análise da probabilidade binomial encontraram excesso de mutações não sinônimas para qualquer dos genes analisados. Portanto, nossos dados indicam que os genes do AgB durante a fase de metacestóide evoluem segundo o modelo neutro e o valor D de Tajima negativo pode ser explicado devido a rápida proliferação celular do metacestóide após a infecção secundária. / The Antigen B (AgB) is a polymeric protein secreted during the larval stage of the Echinococcus flatworms. The AgB is involved with the evasion of host immune response and its genes show high variability, even inside a single E. granulosus metacestode. To date, five AgB genes have been reported in the E. multilocularis genome. In this work we analyzed the AgB diversification in E. multilocularis recovered from secondarily infected mice. Two different mouse strains were infected with microcysts of E. multilocularis: BALB/c and nude, which are T-Cell immune response proficient and non-proficient, respectively. The mice were necropsed one or two months post infection and the parasite mass was collected for RNA extraction. Following the cDNA synthesis, each AgB gene (EmAgB1, EmAgB2, EmAgB3 and EmAgB4) was amplified in a specific PCR and the products of these reactions were cloned. The polymorphism present in each AgB gene was assessed by PCR-SSCP and the variant alleles were sequenced. The allele diversity for each gene was calculated by the Shannon Diversity Index and neutrality departures were tested by Tajima’s D Test, and Fisher’s Exact Test, which evaluates the excess of non-synonymous over synonymous substitutions. An additional test, which estimates the binomial probability of occurrence of nonsynonymous mutations, was also performed. We did not find association between the AgB diversity and the immune response of the host. The EmAgB2 gene showed the largest diversity index among the four genes (especially when collected from BALB/c at first month post infection) and it also presented a large quantity of alleles containing indels. The parasites collected from different mice do not share AgB alleles (with a single exception), and suggest that the new alleles could have arisen after the mice infection. The Tajima’s D Test resulted in negative values in all analyses. However, both Fisher’s Exact Test and the binomial probability analysis did not detect excess of non-synonymous mutation in our samples. Therefore, our data suggest that AgB genes evolve by the neutral model during the metacestode stage, and the negative Tajima’s D value could be explained by the fast cellular proliferation of the metacestode after secondary infection.

Submitted by Alessandra Portugal (alessandradf@ioc.fiocruz.br) on 2013-09-17T11:35:25Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Danielle Versao Final.pdf: 5521521 bytes, checksum: bcd4e1200342929a6452f7261e7193ee (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-09-17T11:35:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Danielle Versao Final.pdf: 5521521 bytes, checksum: bcd4e1200342929a6452f7261e7193ee (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-31 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil / Estudos anteriores demonstraram que macrófagos de pacientes lepromatosos possuem um fenótipo regulador que contribui para a imunossupressão observada na hanseníase. IDO, CD86 e HLA-DR são moléculas altamente expressas por macrófagos de pacientes lepromatosos, como também o receptor “scavenger” CD163, regulado pela IL-10. Este trabalho foi realizado com o intuito de analisar a expressão de CD163 nas lesões cutâneas de pacientes polares da hanseníase e em monócitos infectados pelo Mycobacterium leprae (ML). Observamos um aumento de macrófagos CD163+IDO+ nas lesões e nas células isoladas do infiltrado inflamatório de pacientes LL. Ademais, durante o período de cultura de 6 dias dos macrófagos isolados das lesões lepromatosas, houve uma gradativa redução da expressão gênica de CD163, IDO e IL-10, assim como dos receptores de superfície CD163, CD209, HLA-DR, CD86 e CD14 observada por citometria de fluxo, fato que ocorreu concomitantemente com a saída de ML destas células. A expressão de células CD163+IDO+CD209+ aumentou em monócitos de indivíduos saudáveis, estimulados com ML irradiado obtido de extratos de lesão. Adição de citocalasina B na cultura de monócitos reduziu a expressão de CD163 nessas células, e, na presença de anti- CD163, a entrada de bactérias nos monócitos também foi reduzida. A adição da anti- IL-10 em cultura de monócitos de indivíduos sadios reduziu a expressão de CD163 até mesmo na presença do ML. Além disso, os níveis séricos de sCD163, IL-10 e heme estavam aumentados nos pacientes lepromatosos, em comparação com pacientes tuberculóides e indivíduos sadios, assim como os depósitos intracelulares de ferro. Estes resultados sugerem que o perfil de expressão de CD163 é importante na endocitose e sobrevivência do ML no polo lepromatoso da hanseníase. / According to prior studies, macrophages from lepromatous patients present a regulatory phenotype that contributes to the immunosuppression observed in the disease. IDO, CD86, and HLA-DR molecules are highly expressed by macrophages from lepromatous patients, as well the scavenger receptor CD163, regulated by IL- 10. The purpose of this study was to analyze CD163 expression on polar leprosy skin lesions and monocytes infected by Mycobacterium leprae. We observed an increased number of CD163+IDO+ in the lesions and cells isolated from the inflammatory infiltrate of LL patients. Moreover, during the 6-day culture of macrophages isolated from lepromatous lesions, the gene expression of CD163, IDO and IL-10 and the surface receptors CD163, CD209, HLA-DR, CD86, CD14 presented a gradual decrease, as shown by flow cytometry, simultaneously with the output of ML from these cells. The expression of IDO+CD163+CD209+ cells was augmented in monocytes from healthy individuals, stimulated with irradiated ML, obtained from extracts of lesion. The addition of cytochalasin B to monocyte culture reduced the expression of CD163 in these cells, and, in presence of anti-CD163, the bacterial input into monocytes was also reduced. The addition of anti-IL-10 in monocyte culture from healthy individuals led to a decrease at the expression of CD163, even in presence of ML. Besides, serum levels of sCD163, IL-10 and heme were increased in lepromatous patients, when compared to tuberculoid patients and healthy controls, while intracellular iron deposits were also augmented. These results suggest the relevance of CD163 expression profile for endocytosis and also for the survival of ML itself in lepromatous patients.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-03-18T17:15:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 isabella_gremiao_ipec_dout_2013pdf: 642531 bytes, checksum: d1ce60cd7ad78376af49580b95b10f9d (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil / Na esporotricose felina, os protocolos terapêuticos atualmente preconizados para o tratamento apresentam uma efetividade baixa e casos de falha terapêutica com itraconazol têm sido descritos. O presente estudo foi realizado no Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em Dermatozoonoses em Animais Domésticos (LAPCLIN-DERMZOO) do Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas (IPEC)/FIOCRUZ com o objetivo de descrever a resposta terapêutica ao uso da anfotericina B intralesional associada ao itraconazol oral. A população do estudo foi constituída por gatos com lesões cutâneas localizadas residuais de esporotricose refratária ao itraconazol oral, acompanhados no LAPCLIN-DERMZOO no período de 2007 a 2009. Os animais foram submetidos a administrações intralesionais de anfotericina B semanalmente até a completa cicatrização da lesão, havendo um período de tolerância de duas semanas entre as aplicações. A terapia antifúngica oral (itraconazol 100 mg/dia) foi mantida durante o estudo e por um mês após a cicatrização da lesão Vinte e três (85,2%) dos 27 gatos incluídos no estudo apresentaram remissão das lesões, sendo que 17 (73,9%) obtiveram cura clínica e em 6 (26,1%) as lesões recidivaram no mesmo local. Em 1 (3,7%) animal houve estagnação do quadro clínico e em 3 casos (11,1%) houve abandono do tratamento. Os efeitos adversos clínicos observados foram a formação de abscesso estéril em 4 (14,8%) e edema local em 3 (11,1%), independente do volume de anfotericina B administrado. Não foram observados efeitos adversos laboratoriais relacionados à anfotericina B. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, a associação de anfotericina B intralesional e itraconazol oral em gatos com esporotricose refratária ao itraconazol isoladamente pode ser benéfica, aumentando os índices de cura / In feline sporotrichosis , the currently recomm ended treatment protocols for treatment have a low effectiveness and cases of treatment failure with itraconazole have been described. The present study was carried out at the Laboratory of Clinical Research on Dermatozoonosis in Domestic Animals (LAPCLIN - DERMZOO), Evandro Chagas Clinical Research Institute (IPEC)/FIOCRUZ in order to describe the therapeutic response to the use of intralesional amphotericin B associated with oral itraconazole. The study included cats with residual cutaneous localised lesion s of sporotrichosis refractory to oral itraconazole that had been followed up at LAPCLIN - DERMZOO, between 2007 and 2009. The animals received weekly administrations of intralesional amphotericin B until complete healing of the lesion. It was accepted the maximum range of up to two weeks between the applications. Oral antifungal therapy (itraconazole 100 mg/day) was maintained throughout the period of administration of intralesional amphotericin B and during one month after the clinical cure. Twenty - three (85.2%) of the 27 treated cats achieved clinical remission, 17 (73.9%) of which were cured and in 6 (26.1%) the lesions recurred in the same site. Lack of clinical response was observed in 1 (3.7%) animal and 3 (11.1%) animals abandoned treatment. The cli nical adverse effects observed in the animals during treatment were the formation of a sterile abscess in 4 (14.8%) and edema in 3 (11.1%), irrespective of the volume of amphotericin B administered.There were no laboratory adverse effects related to amphot ericin B. According to the results obtained in this study, the combination of intralesional amphotericin B and oral itraconazole in cats with sporotrichosis refractory to itraconazole alone can be beneficial, increasing cure rates

A geração de efluentes industriais contendo corantes consiste em um importante problema ambiental a ser resolvido. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho tem o objetivo de estudar a descoloração de soluções aquosas contento o corante Rodamina B em soluções aquosas através dos processos de fotólise direta (UV), degradação por peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2), fotólise química (UV/H2O2), Fenton (Fe2+/H2O2) e foto-Fenton (Fe2+/H2O2/UV). Experimentalmente, soluções de concentração de 20 mg.L-1 de Rodamina B foram submetidas a diferentes condições oxidantes, sendo analisadas as descolorações após cada experimento através de espectroscopia UV-Vis no decorrer do tempo. Os processos de fotólise e degradação por peróxido de hidrogênio apresentaram descolorações muito baixas quando utilizados isoladamente. Quando combinados, o melhor resultado encontrado foi para 14,4 mmol.L-1 de peróxido de hidrogênio, que forneceu uma descoloração de 69,85% em 2 horas de reação. Foi alcançada descoloração completa nos processos Fenton e foto-Fenton. A melhor condição de reação encontrada para ambos os processos foi para concentração inicial de 0,53 mmol.L-1 de peróxido de hidrogênio. Para tal concentração inicial de peróxido, a melhor concentração inicial de Fe2+ encontrada foi de 0,11 mmol.L-1 (relação H2O2: Fe2+ de 5:1) para o processo Fenton e de 0,05 mmol.L-1 (relação H2O2: Fe2+ de 10:1) para o processo foto-Fenton. As análises de Carbono Orgânico Total (COT) apresentaram redução de 23,9% para o processo Fenton e 28,7% para o foto-Fenton. / This work aims to study the decolorization of the dye Rhodamine B in water solutions by Advanced Oxidation Processes like direct photolysis (UV), hydrogen peroxide degradation (H2O2), chemical photolysis (UV/H2O2), Fenton (Fe2+/H2O2) and photo-Fenton (Fe2+/H2O2/UV). Solutions with concentration of 20 mg.L-1 of Rhodamine B were treated in different conditions, and the decolorizations of each experiment were analyzed by spectroscopy UV-Vis during the time. Photolysis processes and hydrogen peroxide degradation showed insignificant when used singly. When combined, the best result found was for hidrogen peroxide initial concentration of 14.4 mmol.L-1, which decolorization was 69.85% in 2 hours reaction. Total decolorization was observed for Fenton e photo-Fenton processes. The best reaction condition found for boths processes was in initial hydrogen peroxide of 0.53 mmol.L-1. With this hydrogen peroxide initial concentration, the best Fe2+ initial concentration was 0.106 mmol.L-1 (H2O2:Fe2+ ratio of 5:1) for Fenton and 0.053 mmol.L-1 (H2O2:Fe2+ ratio of 10:1) for photo-Fenton process. The TOC analysis present reduction of 23.9 % for Fenton reaction and 28.7% for photo-Fenton reaction.

Cyberpunk fiction has been called “the supreme literary expression, if not of postmodernism then of late capitalism itself.” (Jameson) This thesis aims to analyse and question this claim by rethinking cyberpunk Action, postmodernism and late capitalism in terms of three - interlocking - themes: cybernetics, the Gothic and fiction. It claims that while what has been called “postmodernism” has been preoccupied with cybernetic themes, cybernetics has been haunted by the Gothic. The Gothic has always enjoyed a peculiarly intimate relation with the fictional. Baudrillard's theories, meanwhile, suggest that, in a period dominated by (cybernetic) simulation, fiction has a new cultural role. By putting “theory” into dialogue with “fiction”, the thesis examines Baudrillard's suggestion that the era of cybernetics (what he calls “third order simulacra”) “puts an end to science fiction, but also to theory, as specific genres”. The version of the Gothic the thesis presents is one stripped of many of its conventional cultural associations; it is a material (and materialist) Gothic. The machinery for re-thinking the Gothic comes from Deleuze-Guattari’s A Thousand Plateaus. Deriving not from the familiar literary sources (the so-called Gothic novels of the late eighteenth- and early nineteenth century) but from Wilhelm Worringer’s work on “barbarian art”, Deleuze-Guattari’s version of the Gothic departs from any reference to the supernatural. The crucial theme in Worringer, Deleuze-Guattari establish, is that of nonorganic continuum. Following Deleuze-Guattari’s lead, the thesis analyses key cyberpunk texts such as Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, David Cronenberg’s Videodrome and William Gibson’s Neuromancer in terms of what it calls this “hypematuralist” theme. While these texts have often been analysed in terms of “postmodernism” and “cyberpunk,” they have rarely been discussed in terms of the Gothic. Here, though, it will be shown that these texts, and important precursors, such as Ballard’s The Atrocity Exhibition, are centrally concerned with the breakdown of the boundary between the animate and the inanimate. (A theme that cybernetics has also confronted). The thesis aims to demonstrate that, in its fixation upon catatonic trance, bodies that do not end at the skin, and agency-without-subjectivity, cyberpunk or “imploded science fiction” converges the Gothic with cybernetics on what, following Gibson, it calls the flatline. The flatline has two important senses, referring to (1) a stale of “unlife” (or “undeath”) and (2) a condition of radical immanence. The thesis is divided into four chapters, each of which considers the flatline under a different aspect. Chapter 1 concerns the flatlining of cybernetics and postmodernism; Chapter 2 deals with the flatlining of the body, paying particular attention to the Deleuze-Guattari/Artaud concept of the Body without Organs; Chapter 3 focuses upon the flatlining of reproduction, opposing both sexual and mechanical reproduction to Deleuze-Guattari’s idea of (Gothic) propagation; Chapter 4 considers the flatlining of fiction itself in the context of (Baudrillard’s) hyperreality.