Several members of the lysyl oxidase family of copper-dependent amine oxidases have been implicated in tumor development. The Iysyl oxidase (LOX) and LOX-like 2 (LOXL2) genes have been mapped to chromosomal regions affected by loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in several cancers, including those of the colon and esophagus. Indeed, there have been numerous reports of reduced LOX and a few reports of reduced LOXL2 expression in various cancers. Identification of microsatellite markers within the LOX locus and the LOXL2 gene allowed for evaluation ofthe status of these gene alleles in colon and esophageal tumors. There was significant LOH of the LOX locus in colon tumors that was accompanied by reduced mRNA expression and a spectrum of alterations and mutations affecting the LOX gene. This study demonstrated, for the first time, that genetic events, namely LOH, deletions and mutations ofthe LOX gene, were responsible, at least partly, for the reduction of LOX gene expression. There was also significant LOH of the LOXL2 gene in both colon and esophageal tumors. However, instead of a reduction of LOXL2 expression, there was increased expression that correlated with less differentiated tumors and absent elastosis, both indicators of poor prognosis. Further studies indicated that both LOX and LOXL2 are absent in non-invasive tumor cell lines but re-expressed in invasive cell lines, likely as part of the thelial-mesenchymal transition that occurs in the last steps of tumorigenesis to facilitate metastasis. The results presented and research strategy outlined in this dissertation will define the importance of LOXL2 amine oxidase activity and protein interactions in the critical but poorly understood process oftumor cell migration and invasion.

Three New Zealand marine species, hoki (Macruronus novaezealandiae), kahawai (Arripis trutta) and trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex) were used to develop model fermented fish sausage. The formulation comprised fish mince, carbohydrate, minced garlic and salt in a mass ratio of 1 (fish): 0.15: 0.05: 0.03, respectively. The carbohydrate source was cooked rice or glucose. (Endogenous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) failed to ferment rice). Folate was also added to the mixture as a factor. The mixtures were extruded into 50 mL plastic syringes, where the needle end of the barrel had been excised by lathe. The lubricated barrel was overfilled to 60 mL, capped with a layer of ParafilmTM and aluminium foil, sealed tightly by rubber band and incubated at 30°C. Over time the piston was progressively advanced to yield samples for microbiological, physical, and chemical analysis. Over 96 hours an increase in the LAB count was observed with a concomitant decrease in pH. After fermentation was complete, the samples contained around 8.77 log cfu LAB g-1 with the pH range from 4.38 to 5.08. The microbiological and pH behaviour of each species varied between preparations. Hardness, adhesiveness, springiness and cohesiveness of the treatments increased with fermentation, except for hoki. The treatments showed different colour characteristics with fermentation. The light reflectance (L* values) of the trevally and kahawai treatments increased, while the a* (redness) and b* (yellowness) values decreased. Hoki exhibited smaller colour changes except for yellowness, which increased markedly. Proteolysis, measured colorimetrically by soluble peptide bonds, was greatest for trevally. Lipid oxidation, measured by the thiobarbituric acid method, was least for hoki, notably the species with the lowest fat content. Biogenic amines, which are a general quality indicator of fermented products, increased during fermentation. The trevally treatment generated the highest concentration of amines, but these values were lower than those reported for fermented fish sausage in Southeast Asia. Notably there were no important difference between folate treatments and those without folate. The results point to commercial opportunities and further research with New Zealand marine species, especially trevally. To improve the product quality and to show geographical exclusivity, further research could be done by using starter culture, and a New Zealand staple carbohydrate source such as kumara and potato, and spices and herbs which are commonly used in New Zealand, such as rosemary, thyme and sage or specific to New Zealand, such as horopito. In addition, sensory studies should also be performed before the products could be tested in the market.

Three New Zealand marine species, hoki (Macruronus novaezealandiae), kahawai (Arripis trutta) and trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex) were used to develop model fermented fish sausage. The formulation comprised fish mince, carbohydrate, minced garlic and salt in a mass ratio of 1 (fish): 0.15: 0.05: 0.03, respectively. The carbohydrate source was cooked rice or glucose. (Endogenous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) failed to ferment rice). Folate was also added to the mixture as a factor. The mixtures were extruded into 50 mL plastic syringes, where the needle end of the barrel had been excised by lathe. The lubricated barrel was overfilled to 60 mL, capped with a layer of ParafilmTM and aluminium foil, sealed tightly by rubber band and incubated at 30°C. Over time the piston was progressively advanced to yield samples for microbiological, physical, and chemical analysis. Over 96 hours an increase in the LAB count was observed with a concomitant decrease in pH. After fermentation was complete, the samples contained around 8.77 log cfu LAB g-1 with the pH range from 4.38 to 5.08. The microbiological and pH behaviour of each species varied between preparations. Hardness, adhesiveness, springiness and cohesiveness of the treatments increased with fermentation, except for hoki. The treatments showed different colour characteristics with fermentation. The light reflectance (L* values) of the trevally and kahawai treatments increased, while the a* (redness) and b* (yellowness) values decreased. Hoki exhibited smaller colour changes except for yellowness, which increased markedly. Proteolysis, measured colorimetrically by soluble peptide bonds, was greatest for trevally. Lipid oxidation, measured by the thiobarbituric acid method, was least for hoki, notably the species with the lowest fat content. Biogenic amines, which are a general quality indicator of fermented products, increased during fermentation. The trevally treatment generated the highest concentration of amines, but these values were lower than those reported for fermented fish sausage in Southeast Asia. Notably there were no important difference between folate treatments and those without folate. The results point to commercial opportunities and further research with New Zealand marine species, especially trevally. To improve the product quality and to show geographical exclusivity, further research could be done by using starter culture, and a New Zealand staple carbohydrate source such as kumara and potato, and spices and herbs which are commonly used in New Zealand, such as rosemary, thyme and sage or specific to New Zealand, such as horopito. In addition, sensory studies should also be performed before the products could be tested in the market.

Universiẗat, Diss.--Paderborn, 1999.

Zugl.: München, Techn. Univ., Diss., 2008

Zugl.: Aachen, Techn. Hochsch., Diss., 2009.

Universiẗat, Diss., 1999--Bochum.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2003--Freiburg (Breisgau).

Orientador: Gustavo Rocha de Castro / Banca: Cláudio Luiz Carvalho / Banca: Ademir dos Santos / Resumo: Nas ultimas décadas, muitos dos trabalhos científicos estão relacionados à qualidade das águas naturais, como por exemplo, na identificação e quantificação de contaminantes orgânicos e inorgânicos. Dentre as espécies inorgânicas os metais potencialmente tóxicos são os mais estudados e, devido à baixa concentração em que algumas espécies são encontradas no ambiente, torna-se necessário a utilização de equipamentos sofisticados para sua quantificação segura. O uso de materiais como sílicas organofuncionalizadas para aplicação em extração em fase sólida (SPE) possibilita a pré-concentração desses íons e garante uma quantificação com maior segurança mesmo em equipamentos mais simples como espectrômetros de absorção atômica com atomização por chama. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho consistiu na síntese da sílica pelo método sol-gel, sua organofuncionalização com o ligante 4-amino-2-mercaptopirimidina (AMP), caracterização e aplicação do material na extração de íons Cu(II), Cd(II) e Pb(II) em meio aquoso. Os espectros de FTIR evidenciaram o ancoramento do ligante na sílica com a identificação de bandas em 1582 e 1541 cm-1 referente aos grupos NH e 3347 cm-1 referente aos grupos NH2 presentes na molécula do ligante. O ancoramento do ligante resultou no decréscimo das medidas de área superficial de 737 m2 g-1 para 399 m2.g-1, o qual esta relacionado a obstrução dos poros pelo ancoramento das moléculas orgânicas. Os espectros de RMN de 13C e 29Si confirmaram a presença ligações covalentemente entre a superfície da sílica e o grupo orgânico. Com os dados da análise elementar estimou-se uma quantidade de 3,619 10-4 mols do ligante por grama de SG-AMP. O sistema de pré-concentração foi otimizado utilizando o método univariado e os valores para a vazão da amostra e do eluente... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In the last decades, many scientific works are related to the quality of natural waters, such as the identification and quantification of organic and inorganic contaminants. Among the inorganic species potentially toxic metals are the most studied and, because of the low concentration of some species are found in the environment, it becomes necessary to use sophisticated equipment to secure its quantification. The use of materials such as silica organofuncionalized for application in solid phase extraction (SPE) allows preconcentration of these ions and provides quantification more safely even in the simplest equipment as atomic absorption spectrometers in flame module. In this context, this work was the synthesis of silica by sol-gel method, its organofuncionalization with the ligand 4-amine-2- mercaptopyrimidine (AMP), characterization and application of the material in the extraction of Cu (II), Cd (II ) and Pb (II) in aqueous means. The material was analyzed by FTIR showed the anchoring of the ligand on the silica by the identification of bands in 1582 and 1541 cm-1 on the NH groups and 3347 cm-1 on the NH2 groups present in the ligand molecule. The anchoring of the ligand resulted in the decrease of the measures of surface area of 737 m2 g-1 for 399 m2.g-1, which is related to clogged pores by anchoring of organic molecules. The NMR spectra of 13C and 29Si confirmed the presence of covalent bonds between the surface of silica and organic group. The data from elemental analysis to estimate an amount of 3.619 x 10-4 moles of ligand per gram of SG-AMP. The system of pre-concentration was optimized using the univariate method and the values for the flow of sample and eluent were set at 1.0 mL min-1, pH 5 to sample and nitric acid 2 mol L-1 as the eluent. The silica produced had a maximum adsorption of 0.0027, 0.0028 and 0.0018 mmol g-1 Cu (II), Cd (II) and Pb (II), respectively. / Mestre

The social brain hypothesis predicts that larger group size and greater social complexity select for increased brain size. In ants, social complexity is associated with large colony size, emergent collective action, and division of labor among workers. The great diversity of social organization in ants offers numerous systems to test social brain theory and examine the neurobiology of social behavior. My studies focused on the Australasian weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina, a polymorphic species, as a model of advanced social organization. I critically analyzed how biogenic amines modulate social behavior in ants and examined their role in worker subcaste-related territorial aggression. Major workers that naturally engage in territorial defense showed higher levels of brain octopamine in comparison to more docile, smaller minor workers, whose social role is nursing. Through pharmacological manipulations of octopaminergic action in both subcastes, octopamine was found to be both necessary and sufficient for aggression, suggesting subcaste-related task specialization results from neuromodulation. Additionally, I tested social brain theory by contrasting the neurobiological correlates of social organization in a phylogenetically closely related ant species, Formica subsericea, which is more basic in social structure. Specifically, I compared brain neuroanatomy and neurometabolism in respect to the neuroecology and degree of social complexity of O. smaragdina major and minor workers and F. subsericea monomorphic workers. Increased brain production costs were found in both O. smaragdina subcastes, and the collective action of O. smaragdina majors appeared to compensate for these elevated costs through decreased ATP usage, measured from cytochrome oxidase activity, an endogenous marker of neurometabolism. Macroscopic and cellular neuroanatomical analyses of brain development showed that higher-order sensory processing regions in workers of O. smaragdina, but not F. subsericea, had age-related synaptic reorganization and increased volume. Supporting the social brain hypothesis, ecological and social challenges associated with large colony size were found to contribute to increased brain size. I conclude that division of labor and collective action, among other components of social complexity, may drive the evolution of brain structure and function in compensatory ways by generating anatomically and metabolically plastic mosaic brains that adaptively reflect cognitive demands of worker task specialization and colony-level social organization.