Soil moisture plays a major role in the hydrologic water balance and is the basis for most hydrological models. It influences the partitioning of energy and moisture inputs at the land surface. Because of its importance, it has been used as a key variable for many hydrological studies such as flood forecasting, drought studies and the determination of groundwater recharge. Therefore, spatially distributed soil moisture with reasonable temporal resolution is considered a valuable source of information for hydrological model parameterization and validation. Unfortunately, soil moisture is difficult to measure and remains essentially unmeasured over spatial and temporal scales needed for a number of hydrological model applications. In 2002, the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite platform was launched to measure, among other things, the gravitational field of the earth. Over its life span, these orbiting satellites have produced time series of mass changes of the earth-atmosphere system. The subsequent outcome of this, after integration over a number of years, is a time series of highly refined images of the earth's mass distribution. In addition to quantifying the static distribution of mass, the month-to-month variation in the earth's gravitational field are indicative of the integrated value of the subsurface total water storage for specific catchments. Utilization of these natural changes in the earth's gravitational field entails the transformation of the derived GRACE geopotential spherical harmonic coefficients into spatially varying time series estimates of total water storage. These remotely sensed basin total water storage estimates can be routinely validated against independent estimates of total water storage from an atmospheric-based water balance approach or from well calibrated macroscale hydrologic models. The hydrological relevance and implications of remotely estimated GRACE total water storage over poorly gauged, wetland-dominated watershed as well as over a deltaic region underlain by a thick sand aquifer in Western Canada are the focus of this thesis. The domain of the first case study was the Mackenzie River Basin wherein the GRACE total water storage estimates were successfully inter-compared and validated with the atmospheric based water balance. These were then used to assess the WATCLASS hydrological model estimates of total water storage. The outcome of this inter-comparison revealed the potential application of the GRACE-based approach for the closure of the hydrological water balance of the Mackenzie River Basin as well as a dependable source of data for the calibration of traditional hydrological models. The Mackenzie River Basin result led to a second case study where the GRACE-based total water storage was validated using storage estimated from the atmospheric-based water balance P-E computations in conjunction with the measured streamflow records for the Saskatchewan River Basin at its Grand Rapids outlet in Manitoba. The fallout from this comparison was then applied to the characterization of the Prairie-wide 2002/2003 drought enabling the development of a new drought index now known as the Total Storage Deficit Index (TSDI). This study demonstrated the potential application of the GRACE-based technique as a tool for drought characterization in the Canadian Prairies. Finally, the hydroinformatic approach based on the artificial neural network (ANN) enabled the downscaling of the groundwater component from the total water storage estimate from the remote sensing satellite, GRACE. This was subsequently explored as an alternate source of calibration and validation for a hydrological modeling application over the Assiniboine Delta Aquifer in Manitoba. Interestingly, a high correlation exists between the simulated groundwater storage from the coupled hydrological model, CLM-PF and the downscaled groundwater time series storage from the remote sensing satellite GRACE over this 4,000 km2 deltaic basin in Canada.

As a choreographer working with new media technologies, I recognised a need to develop choreography informed by the digital age. This study was framed by the development of the dance project Ada, over three stages through a qualitative, interdisciplinary process. Artistic practice as research grounded in task based choreographic processes led to the following areas of significance in the study, those being; enacting a narrative, physicalising interactivity, performing virtual dance, and choreographing through a digital perspective. Findings that enunciated the evolution of newmedia choreographic forms and structures arose from reflective practice, dialogue with participants and feedback from a live audience.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Cadmium (Cd) is considered one of the most toxic heavy metals for its ability to affect different tissues, including the brain and the immune system. The molecular mechanisms of toxicity of Cd are not well established, however, it is known that one of the consequences of Cd exposure is the generation of oxidative stress. Conversely, the quercetin, one flavonoid present in various foods performs various therapeutic functions in the body, such as antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective action. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of quercetin on the behavioral tests, the activity of the enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE), Na+, K+-ATPase and the δ-dehydratase aminolevulinic acid (δ-ALA-D), as well as parameters of oxidative stress in the central nervous system of adult male wistar rats exposed to CdCl2. The activities of enzymes AChE, NTPDase and adenosine deaminase (ADA) of peripheral lymphocytes, butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) in the serum and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in plasma were also measured in the peripheral system of these animals. The rats were exposed to CdCl2 (2.5 mg / kg) and quercetin (5, 25 or 50 mg / kg) by gavage (1 ml/kg) for 45 days. Hence, the animals were divided into eight groups (n = 10-14): saline/control, saline/Querc 5 mg/kg, saline/Querc 25 mg/kg, saline/Querc 50 mg/kg, Cd/ethanol, Cd/Querc 5 mg/kg, Cd/Querc 25 mg/kg and Cd/Querc 50 mg/kg. The groups treated with Cd and quercetin, received the antioxidant quercetin solution after 30 minutes of the administration of Cd solution. At the end of 45 days of the treatment the animals were submitted to training and behavioral tests. After, they were anesthetized by halothane inhalation, and blood collection was performed to set serum, plasma and peripheral lymphocytes apart. Then the animals were euthanized, with part of the brain being removed for analysis of the enzyme δ-ALA-D activity, while the other part of brain was dissected into, cerebral cortex, striatum, cerebellum, hippocampus and hypothalamus, for future enzymatic assays. The results showed that Cd is able to cross the blood brain barrier, therefore, although the amount of Cd accumulated in the different brain structures studied was low, it was significantly higher than in control. Simultaneous treatment of quercetin in Cd exposed animals was ineffective to decrease these levels of Cd. The Cd exposure caused impairment on learning and memory, besides causing an increase in the anxiogenic behavior type. Nevertheless, the treatment with quercetin prevented the undesirable effects caused by exposure to the metal in the anxiety and memory. In relation to enzymatic activities in the brain, it was observed that Cd exposure reduced AChE activity in cerebral cortex and hippocampus, while as activation of the enzyme was observed in hypothalamus. Furthermore, a decrease in the Na+, K+-ATPase enzyme activity in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus was observed, as well as a decrease in the δ-ALA-D activity in total brain of Cd exposed animals. Interestingly, the quercetin co-administration in the Cd exposed animals prevented the changes in the activity of the enzymes AChE and Na+, K+-ATPase in different brain structures, though has not restored the δ-ALA-D enzyme activity. It was also observed an increase in ROS production, in lipid peroxidation, in protein oxidation, the levels of double stranded DNA and changes in the antioxidant system, such as, reduction in the glutathione reductase (GR) activity, levels of total thiols (T-SH) and reduced glutathione (GSH), and an increase in the glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme activity in cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and hippocampus of Cd exposed animals. Co-administration of quercetin in Cd exposed rats was able to prevent totally or partially the changes caused by metal exposure in oxidative stress parameters. It is suggested that quercetin is able to reduce the oxidative damage caused by exposure to these metal and subsequently restore the AChE and Na+, K+-ATPase activities, modulating cholinergic neurotransmission and improving cognitive processes. In relation to the peripheral system, there was an increase in the NTPDase, ADA, AChE, BuChE and MPO activities in Cd exposed rats. Based on these results it is possible to infer that the increase in NTPDase activity is a compensatory effect due to the increase in ATP levels in circulation. It is suggested that decreased levels of ACh are available in the circulation due to increase in the peripheral cholinesterase activity. When rats were treated with the quercetin, flavonoid was able to modulate the activities of these enzymes probably due to the anti-inflammatory property of the compound. Accordingly, it is suggested that quercetin prevents or eases the toxicity caused by exposure to metal due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, it is believed that the flavonoid may be a promising drug in alternative therapies against toxicity induced by the metal in the central nervous system and peripheral system. / O cádmio (Cd) é considerado um dos metais pesados de maior toxicidade devido a sua capacidade de afetar diferentes tecidos, incluindo o encéfalo, bem como o sistema imunológico. Os mecanismos moleculares de toxicidade do Cd ainda não estão bem estabelecidos, contudo, sabe-se que uma das consequências da exposição ao Cd é a geração de estresse oxidativo. Por outro lado, a quercetina, um flavonoide presente em vários alimentos, exerce diversas funções terapêuticas no organismo, como atividade antioxidante, anti-inflamatória e ação neuroprotetora. Sendo assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar os efeitos da quercetina sobre os testes comportamentais, a atividade das enzimas acetilcolinesterase (AChE), a Na+,K+-ATPase e a δ-desidratase aminolevulinato (δ-ALA-D), bem como os parâmetros de estresse oxidativo no sistema nervoso central de ratos machos wistar adultos expostos ao CdCl2. Também foi avaliada, no sistema periférico destes animais, a atividade das enzimas AChE, NTPDases e adenosina desaminase (ADA) de linfócitos periféricos, butirilcolinesterase (BuChE) do soro e a mieloperoxidase (MPO) do plasma. Os ratos foram expostos ao CdCl2 (2,5 mg/kg) e quercetina (5, 25 ou 50 mg/kg) por gavagem (1ml/kg) durante 45 dias. Para isso, os animais foram distribuídos em oito grupos (n=10-14): salina/controle, salina/Querc 5mg/kg, salina/Querc 25 mg/kg, salina/Querc 50 mg/kg, Cd/etanol, Cd/ Querc 5mg/kg, Cd/Querc 25mg/kg e Cd/Querc 50 mg/kg. Os grupos tratados com Cd e quercetina receberam a solução antioxidante após 30 minutos da administração da solução de Cd. No final do período de 45 dias de tratamento os animais foram submetidos aos treinos e aos testes comportamentais. Posteriormente, foram anestesiados, através da inalação de halotano, e foi realizada a coleta de sangue e separação de soro, plasma e linfócitos periféricos. Em seguida os animais foram submetidos à eutanásia, com parte do encéfalo sendo retirada para a análise da atividade da enzima δ-ALA-D, enquanto que outra parte foi dissecada em córtex cerebral, estriado, cerebelo, hipocampo e hipotálamo, para posteriores ensaios enzimáticos. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que o Cd é capaz de atravessar a barreira hematoencefálica, pois, embora a quantidade de Cd acumulada nas diferentes estruturas encefálicas estudadas tenha sido baixa, ainda assim, foi significativamente maior que o controle. O tratamento concomitante da quercetina nos animais expostos ao Cd foi ineficiente em diminuir estes níveis de Cd. A exposição ao Cd causou prejuízos na aprendizagem e memória, além de causar um aumento no comportamento do tipo ansiogênico. Por outro lado, o tratamento com a quercetina preveniu os efeitos indesejáveis causados pela exposição ao metal na ansiedade e memória. Em relação às atividades enzimáticas no encéfalo, verificou-se que a exposição ao Cd reduziu a atividade da enzima AChE no córtex cerebral e no hipocampo, enquanto que uma ativação da enzima foi observada no hipotálamo. Além disso, observou-se uma diminuição na atividade da enzima Na+, K+-ATPase no córtex cerebral, hipocampo e hipotálamo, bem como uma diminuição na atividade da δ-ALA-D no encéfalo total de animais expostos ao Cd. Interessantemente, a co-administração com a quercetina em animais expostos ao Cd impediu as alterações na atividade das enzimas AChE e Na+, K+-ATPase em diferentes estruturas encefálicas, embora não tenha restaurado a a atividade da enzima δ-ALA-D. Verificou-se, também, um aumento na produção de ROS, na lipoperoxidação, na oxidação de proteínas, nos níveis de DNA dupla fita e alterações no sistema antioxidante, como a diminuição na atividade da enzima glutationa redutase (GR), nos níveis de tióis totais (T-SH) e glutationa reduzida (GSH), e um aumento na atividade da enzima glutationa S-transferase (GST) no córtex cerebral, hipocampo e hipotálamo dos animais expostos ao Cd. A co-administração da quercetina nos ratos expostos ao Cd foi capaz de impedir totalmente ou parcialmente as alterações causadas pela exposição ao metal nos parâmetros do estresse oxidativo. Sugere-se que a quercetina é capaz de diminuir o dano oxidativo causado pela exposição ao metal e, subsequentemente, restaurar a atividade da AChE e Na+, K+-ATPase, modulando, assim, a neurotransmissão colinérgica e melhorando os processos cognitivos. Em relação ao sistema periférico, verificou-se um aumento na atividade das enzimas NTPDase, ADA, AChE, BuChE e MPO nos ratos expostos ao Cd. A partir desse resultado pode-se inferir que o aumento na atividade da NTPDase seja um efeito compensatório devido ao aumento dos níveis de ATP na circulação. Sugere-se que níveis diminuídos de ACh estão disponíveis na circulação devido ao aumento na atividade das colinesterases periféricas. Quando os ratos foram tratados com quercetina o flavonoide foi capaz de modular a atividade dessas enzimas provavelmente devido à propriedade anti-inflamatória do composto. Deste modo, propõe-se que a quercetina previne ou ameniza a toxicidade causada pela exposição ao metal devido a sua atividade antioxidante e anti-inflamatória. Logo, acredita-se que este flavonoide possa ser um fármaco promissor em terapias alternativas contra a toxicidade induzida pelo metal no sistema nervoso central e periférico.

Magister Legum - LLM (Mercantile and Labour Law) / The establishment of an anti-dumping regime has become commonplace for many a government that seeks to protect and promote its local industries. One reason which appears to be dominant by its proponents is the need to curb predatory pricing. Another reason given by the proponents of anti-dumping is the need to maintain a level playing field for players in any particular industry. With these reasons and probably many others, anti-dumping legislation began to find its way into present-day trade. Canada, with its anti-dumping statute of 1904 [An Act to Amend the Customs Tariff 1897, 4 Edw VIII, 1 Canada Statutes 111 (1904)] is credited with the first modern anti-dumping legislation. New Zealand followed in 1905 with the Agricultural Implement Manufacture, Importation and Sale Act 1905, which was primarily meant to protect New Zealand's manufacturers of agricultural implements. The Industries Preservation Act 1906 which Australia enacted was to deal with market monopoly by manufacturers but it also contained provisions on anti-dumping. The first decade of the 20th century will thus qualify to be called the introductory decade of anti-dumping legislation.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease autoimmune of unknown etiology. Patients with RA have a lower survival than the general population, the most common cause of mortality in these patients is cardiovascular disease. The systemic inflammation that occurs in RA produces a spectrum of proatherogenic changes including endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, prothrombotic effects and pro-oxidative stress. Endothelial dysfunction is the key event in early atherogenesis. The platelets are known to have an important role in the maintenance of endothelial integrity and homeostasis, and also are key players in atherothrombosis. Extracellular adenine nucleotides ATP, ADP and AMP and the nucleoside adenosine, modulate a variety of tissue effects, exerting several effects on the platelets. This work determined the activity of enzymes involved in the degradation of nucleotides and nucleosides (NTPDase, 5 -nucleotidase E-NPP and ADA) in platelets from patients with RA and controls patients. It was selected thirty-five RA patients from the Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Maria and the diagnostic was based on the criteria of American College of Rheumatology. The results showed an increase in the activity of NTPDase (approximately 100%), 5 -nucleotidase (170%), E-NPP (approximately 100%) and ADA (approximately 45%) in the platelets of patients with RA when compared to control group. The increased activity of these enzymes could be related to a compensatory response of the organism due to the disease. The platelet aggregation was also determined in these patients and no changes were found when compared to the control group. The increase in ADA activity was lower when compared to the increase observed in the other enzymes activities (NTPDase, 5 -nucleotidase and ENPP). Possibly not all generated adenosine is converted by the ADA, which could explain the normality of platelet aggregation in patients with RA. No interference of the drugs (methotrexate, leflunomide,hydroxychloroquine and prednisone) utilized in RA treatment was observed on the enzymatic activities tested in vitro. In this way, it is possible to conclude that the NTPDase, 5 -nucleotidase, E-NPP and ADA activities are altered in platelets of patients with RA, which could be considered a compensatory response against the disease. / A artrite reumatóide (AR) é uma doença inflamatória crônica autoimune, de etiologia desconhecida. Os pacientes portadores de AR têm uma sobrevida menor do que a da população em geral, sendo que a causa mais comum de mortalidade é a doença cardiovascular. A inflamação sistêmica que ocorre na AR produz um espectro de mudanças proaterogênicas que incluem a disfunção endotelial, a resistência à insulina, a dislipidemia, os efeitos protrombóticos e o estresse oxidativo. A disfunção endotelial é um evento chave no início da aterogênese. As plaquetas são conhecidas por ter um importante papel na manutenção da integridade endotelial e da hemostasia, possuindo um papel chave na aterotrombose. Os nucleotídeos extracelulares de adenina ATP, ADP e AMP e o nucleosídeo adenosina, modulam uma variedade de efeitos teciduais, além de exercererm diversos efeitos nas plaquetas. Neste trabalho foi determinada a atividade das enzimas envolvidas na degradação de nucleotídeos e nucleosídeos (NTPDase, 5 -nucleotidase, E-NPP e ADA) em plaquetas de pacientes com AR. Foram selecionados 35 pacientes do Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria com diagnóstico de AR, o qual foi baseado nos critérios de classificação do Colégio Americano de Reumatologia. Os resultados demonstraram um aumento na atividade das enzimas NTPDase (aproximadamente 100%), 5 -nucleotidase (170%), E-NPP (aproximadamente 100%) e ADA (aproximadamente 45%) em plaquetas de pacientes com AR quando comparado ao controle. O aumento da atividade dessas enzimas pode estar relacionado com uma resposta compensatória do organismo frente à doença. Também foi determinado o perfil da agregação plaquetária nesses pacientes, o qual encontrou-se inalterado quando comparado ao controle. O aumento da atividade da enzima ADA foi menor quando comparado ao aumento das atividades das outras enzimas (NTPDase, 5 -nucleotidase e E-NPP). Possivelmente, nem toda a adenosina gerada é convertida pela ADA, o que poderia explicar a normalidade da agregação plaquetária nos pacientes estudados. Não foi observada nenhuma interferência dos fármacos (hidroxicloroquina, leflunomida, metotrexato e prednisona) utilizados no tratamento de AR sobre a atividade das enzimas testadas in vitro. Concluiu-se que a atividade das enzimas NTPDase, 5 -nucleotidase, E-NPP e ADA encontram-se alteradas em plaquetas de pacientes com AR, o que poderia ser considerado uma resposta compensatória do organismo frente à doença.

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No. of bitstreams: 1 LailaDaSilvaAsthFernandes_TESE.pdf: 3019441 bytes, checksum: b9d834e9c1a7ede2d053a98c33bde78e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-01-26 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico - CNPq / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES) / Introdu??o: Este trabalho investigou os efeitos de dois agonistas parciais pept?dicos, UFP-113 e [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2, e um agonista parcial n?o pept?dico, AT-090, do receptor NOP no comportamento emocional de camundongos, bem como as vias de transdu??o do sinal decorrentes da liga??o destas mol?culas com o receptor NOP. M?todos: Foram utilizados camundongos machos, das linhagens Swiss e CD-1, al?m dos nocautes para o receptor NOP (NOP(-/-)) e seus controles selvagens NOP(+/+). O labirinto em cruz elevado (LCE) foi utilizado para avaliar o efeito dos compostos sobre a ansiedade. O diazepam e os agonistas do receptor NOP, N/OFQ e Ro 65-6570, foram utilizados como controles positivos no LCE. Os camundongos NOP(+/+) e NOP(-/-) foram utilizados na avalia??o da seletividade de a??o dos compostos com efeito do tipo ansiol?tico. O teste da nata??o for?ada (TNF) foi utilizado a fim de se avaliar os efeitos dos compostos sobre o comportamento do tipo depressivo. A nortriptilina e os antagonistas do receptor NOP, UFP-101 e SB-612111, foram utilizados como controles positivos no TNF. As a??es da N/OFQ, UFP-101, SB-612111, UFP-113, [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 e AT-090 foram ainda avaliadas no teste de hiperlocomo??o induzida pelo metilfenidato (HIM), onde o valproato foi utilizado como controle positivo. A influ?ncia do UFP-113 e [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 na atividade locomotora foi testada no campo aberto. As vias de transdu??o do sinal (prote?na G e ?-arrestina 2) dos agonistas (N/OFQ e Ro 65-6570), do antagonista (UFP-101) e dos agonistas parciais (UFP-113, [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 e AT-090) do receptor NOP foram investigadas por meio da avalia??o da transfer?ncia de energia por resson?ncia de bioluminesc?ncia (BRET). Para isso, foram usadas c?lulas co-expressando o receptor NOP acoplado ? luciferase (doador de energia), e a prote?na verde fluorescente (aceptor de energia) acoplada a uma das prote?nas efetoras: prote?na G ou a ?-arrestina 2. Resultados: Diazepam (1 mg/kg), N/OFQ (1 nmol), Ro 65-6570 (0,1 mg/kg) e AT-090 (0,01 mg/kg) apresentaram efeito do tipo ansiol?tico no LCE. Os efeitos do Ro 65-6570 e do AT-090 foram devidos a ativa??o seletiva do receptor NOP, uma vez que ambos foram inativos em camundongos NOP(-/-) expostos ao LCE. Em contraste, UFP-113 e [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 foram inativos no LCE. No TNF, nortriptilina (30 mg/kg), UFP-101 (10 nmol), SB-612111 (10 mg/kg), UFP-113 (0,01 e 0,1 nmol) e [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 (0,3 e 1 nmol) apresentaram efeito do tipo antidepressivo, diferentemente do AT-090, que foi inativo neste teste. Os efeitos do UFP-113 e do [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 foram devidos a ativa??o seletiva do receptor NOP, uma vez que o pr?-tratamento com N/OFQ preveniu o efeito do tipo antidepressivo de ambos. O metilfenidato (MF, 10 mg/kg) induziu hiperlocomo??o nos camundongos expostos ao campo aberto, que foi prevenida pelo valproato (400 mg/kg). A N/OFQ (1 nmol), assim como UFP-113 (0,01-0,1 nmol) e [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 (1 nmol), foram capazes em reduzir a hiperlocomo??o induzida pelo MF, sem alterar a locomo??o per se. O efeito do UFP-113 decorreu da ativa??o seletiva do receptor NOP, uma vez que foi inativo em camundongos NOP(-/-) expostos ao teste da HIM. Em contraste, o UFP-101 (10 nmol), assim como SB-612111 (10 mg/kg) e AT-090 (0,001-0,03 mg/kg) n?o alteraram o aumento na locomo??o induzido pelo MF. Tanto o UFP-113 quanto o [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 induziram hipolocomo??o nas maiores doses testadas (1 e 3 nmol, respectivamente). In vitro, tanto a N/OFQ quanto o Ro 65-6570, promoveram a intera??o do receptor NOP com a prote?na G e com a ?-arrestina 2 de forma concentra??o-dependente, comportando-se como agonistas plenos do receptor NOP em ambas as vias de transdu??o. O AT-090, UFP-113 e [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 promoveram a intera??o do receptor NOP com a prote?na G com efeitos m?ximos significativamente reduzidos em rela??o a N/OFQ. O AT-090 foi capaz de induzir o recrutamento da ?-arrestina 2 novamente com efeitos m?ximos reduzidos em rela??o a N/OFQ, enquanto o UFP-113 e o [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 falharam em induzir o recrutamento da ?-arrestina 2. Portanto, AT-090 se comportou como agonista parcial em ambas as vias de transdu??o, enquanto UFP-113 e [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 se comportaram como agonistas parciais e antagonistas, respectivamente, nas vias de transdu??o da prote?na G e da ?-arrestina 2. O UFP-101 n?o promoveu o recrutamento da prote?na G, nem da ?-arrestina 2, se comportando como antagonista do receptor NOP em ambas as vias de transdu??o. Conclus?o: Ligantes do receptor NOP que produzem o mesmo efeito na intera??o do receptor NOP com a prote?na G (agonismo parcial), s?o capazes de induzir efeitos opostos no recrutamento da ?-arrestina 2 (agonismo parcial vs antagonismo). Essas diferen?as no recrutamento da ?-arrestina 2 podem promover efeitos distintos sobre a ansiedade e o humor, como foi verificado nos testes comportamentais. Este trabalho corrobora o potencial do receptor NOP como uma ferramenta farmacol?gica inovadora no tratamento de transtornos emocionais. / Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effects of the two peptide NOP partial agonists (UFP-113 and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2) and the non peptide NOP partial agonist (AT-090) in the mouse emotional behavior as well as in the intracellular transduction pathways following the receptor binding. Methods: Male Swiss or CD-1 mice were used in this study together with NOP(+/+) and NOP(-/-) mice. The elevated plus maze (EPM) was used to evaluate the effects of compounds on anxiety-like behaviors. Diazepam and the NOP agonists, N/OFQ and Ro 65-6570, were used as positive controls in the EPM. NOP(+/+) and NOP(-/-) mice were used to evaluate the selectivity of those compounds that induced anxiolytic-like behaviors. The forced swim test (FST) was used to evaluate the effects of compounds on depressive-like behaviors. Nortriptyline and the NOP antagonists, UFP-101 and SB-612111, were used as positive controls in the FST. The effects of N/OFQ, UFP-101, SB-612111, UFP-113, [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2, and AT-090 were assessed in the methylphenidate-induced hyperlocomotion (MIH) test; in this assay valproate was used as positive control. The G protein and ?-arrestin 2 transduction pathways of NOP receptor agonists (N/OFQ and Ro 65-6570), antagonist (UFP-101), and partial agonists (UFP-113, [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2, and AT-090) were also evaluated using an innovative assay that measures a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer process. For this, cell lines permanently co-expressing the NOP receptor coupled to luciferase (energy donor), and green fluorescent protein (energy acceptor) coupled to one of the effector proteins (G protein or ?-arrestin 2) were used. Results: Diazepam (1 mg/kg), N/OFQ (1 nmol), Ro 65-6570 (0.1 mg/kg), and AT-090 (0.01 mg/kg) induced anxiolytic-like effect in mice in the EPM. The effects of Ro 65-6570 and AT-090 were selective to NOP receptor. UFP-113 (0.01-1 nmol) and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 (0.1-3 nmol) were inactive in the EPM. In the FST, nortriptyline (30 mg/kg), UFP-101 (10 nmol), SB-612111 (10 mg/kg), UFP-113 (0.01 and 0.1 nmol), and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 (0.3 and 1 nmol) induced antidepressant-like effects, while AT-090 (0.001-0.1 mg/kg) was inactive in this assay. The effects of UFP-113 and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 were selective to NOP receptor. Valproate (400 mg/kg) counteracted methylphenidate (MPH, 10 mg/kg)-induced hyperlocomotion in mice in the open field. N/OFQ (1 nmol), UFP-113 (0.01-0.1 nmol), and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 (1 nmol) were also able to reduce the MPH-induced hyperlocomotion, without changing the locomotor activity per se. The effect of UFP-113 was selective to NOP receptor. The UFP-101 (10 nmol), SB-612111 (10 mg/kg), and AT-090 (0.001-0.03 mg/kg) did not change the hyperlocomotor effect of methylphenidate. In vitro, N/OFQ and Ro 65-6570 behaved as NOP full agonists for G-protein and ?-arrestin 2 pathways. AT-090 behaved as NOP receptor partial agonist for both transduction pathways, while UFP-113 and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 behaved as partial agonists and antagonists of NOP receptor for NOP/G protein and NOP/?-arrestin 2, respectively. UFP-101 behaved as NOP receptor antagonist for both transduction pathways. Conclusion: NOP ligands producing same effects on NOP/G protein interaction (partial agonism), but with opposite effects on ?-arrestin 2 recruitment (partial agonism vs antagonism), can promote different in vivo effects on anxiety and mood as it was observed in the behavioral tests. This work corroborates the potential of NOP receptor as an innovative pharmacological target for the treatment of emotional disorders.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:01:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LuisaCP.pdf: 1955160 bytes, checksum: 7051a33823820be485db53c8225425a3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-02-09 / Petroleum exists in the nature in certain underground formations where it is adsorbed into the rocks pores. For the conventional recovery methods usually only 30% of the oil is extracted and this can be credited, basically, to three aspects: high viscosity of the oil, geology of the formation and high interfacial tensions between the reservoir s fluids. The enhanced recovery methods use the injection of a fluid or fluids mixture in a reservoir to act in points where the conventional process didn't reach the recovery rates. Microemulsion flooding, considered an enhanced method, has the purpose to desorb the oil from the rock formation and to attain an efficient displacement of the oil emulsion. With this in mind, this work was accomplished with two main objectives: the study of the parameters effect that influence a microemulsified system (surfactant and cosurfactant types, C/S rate and salinity) and the evaluation of displacement efficiency with the microemulsions that showed stability in the rich aqueous area. For the analyzed parameters it was chose the microemulsions composition used in the recovery stage: 25% water, 5% kerosene, 46.7% of butanol as cosurfactant and 23.3% of BC or SCO cosurfactant. The core plugs of Assu and Botucatu sandstones were appraised in porosity and permeability tests and then submitted to the steps of saturation with seawater and oil, conventional recovery with water and enhanced recovery with the selected microemulsions. The Botucatu sandstone presented better recovery parameters, and the microemulsion composed with BS surfactant had larger recovery efficiency (26.88%) / O petr?leo ocorre na natureza em determinadas forma??es subterr?neas onde ? adsorvido nos poros destas rochas. Pelos m?todos convencionais de recupera??o geralmente apenas 30% deste petr?leo ? extra?do e isto pode ser atribu?do, basicamente, a tr?s aspectos: alta viscosidade do petr?leo, geologia da forma??o e elevadas tens?es interfaciais entre os fluidos do reservat?rio. Os m?todos avan?ados de recupera??o envolvem a inje??o de um fluido ou de uma mistura de fluidos em um reservat?rio para atuar nos pontos onde o processo convencional n?o conseguiu atingir as taxas de extra??o desejadas. A inje??o de microemuls?o, considerado um m?todo avan?ado, tem por finalidade dessorver o ?leo da forma??o rochosa e obter um deslocamento eficiente da emuls?o de petr?leo. Dentro deste contexto, este trabalho foi realizado com dois objetivos principais: estudo dos par?metros que influenciam o sistema microemulsionado (tipo de tensoativo, cotensoativo, raz?o C/T e salinidade) e a avalia??o da efici?ncia de deslocamento do petr?leo com as microemuls?es que apresentaram estabilidade na regi?o rica em ?gua. Pelos par?metros analisados estipulou-se microemuls?es para serem submetidas ? etapa de recupera??o com composi??o: 25% ?gua, 5% querosene, 46,7% de n-butanol como cotensoativo e 23,3% de tensoativo BS ou SCO. Os testemunhos de arenitos Assu e Botucatu foram avaliados em ensaios de porosidade e permeabilidade posteriormente submetidos ?s etapas de satura??o com ?gua do mar e petr?leo, recupera??o convencional com ?gua do mar e avan?ada com as microemuls?es selecionadas. O arenito Botucatu apresentou os melhores par?metros f?sicos para a recupera??o, e a microemuls?o composta pelo tensoativo BS foi a que obteve maior efici?ncia de deslocamento (26,88%)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:01:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FranciscoKGS.pdf: 2171353 bytes, checksum: e45c25ca9137eeb633f0f529e7d80d83 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-08-21 / In heavy oil fields there is a great difficulty of the oil to flow from the reservoir to the well, making its production more difficult and with high cost. Most of the original volumes of oil found in the world are considered unrecoverable by the use of the current methods. The injection of micellar solutions has a direct action in the oil interfacial properties, resulting in an enhanced oil recovery. The objective of this research was the study and selection of micellar solutions with ability to decrease the interfacial interactions between fluids and reservoir formation, increasing oil production. The selected micellar solutions were obtained using commercial surfactants and surfactants synthesized in laboratory, based on the intrinsic properties of these molecules, to use in the enhanced oil recovery. Petroleum Reservoirs were simulated using sandstone plugs from Botucatu formation. Experiments with conventional and enhanced oil recovery techniques were accomplished. The obtained results showed that all micellar solutions were able to enhance oil recovery, and the micellar solution prepared with a SB anionic surfactant, at 2% KCl solution, showed the best recovery factor. It was also accomplished an economic analysis with the SB surfactant solution. With the injection of 20% porous volume of micellar solution, followed by brine injection, the increment in petroleum recovery can reach 81% recovery factor in the 3rd porous volume injected. The increment in the total cost by the addition of surfactant to the injection water represents R$ 7.50/ton of injected fluid / Em campos de ?leos pesados h? uma grande dificuldade de escoamento do ?leo do reservat?rio at? o po?o, tornando sua produ??o mais dif?cil e de alto custo. A maior parte dos volumes originais de ?leo encontrados no mundo ? considerada irrecuper?vel pelos m?todos convencionais. A inje??o de solu??es micelares propicia uma atua??o direta nas propriedades interfaciais do ?leo, provocando um aumento da recupera??o. O objetivo desse trabalho foi estudar e selecionar solu??es micelares capazes de diminuir as intera??es interfaciais entre os fluidos e a forma??o, visando o aumento da produ??o. A sele??o das solu??es micelares foi feita a partir de tensoativos comerciais e sintetizados em laborat?rio, baseado em propriedades intr?nsecas dessas mol?culas, para se realizar uma recupera??o avan?ada de petr?leo. Reservat?rios de petr?leo foram simulados a partir de plugs de arenito da forma??o Botucatu Bacia do Paran?. Foram realizados, dentre outros, ensaios de recupera??o convencional e avan?ada de petr?leo com as solu??es micelares. Os principais resultados mostram que todas as solu??es micelares foram capazes de recuperar o ?leo, e que a solu??o micelar preparada com tensoativo ani?nico SB, em solu??o 2% KCl, apresentou maior fator de recupera??o dentre as demais. Foi realizada, tamb?m, uma an?lise econ?mica, com a solu??o de tensoativo SB. Injetando-se 20% do volume poroso de solu??o micelar, seguida de inje??o de salmoura, o acr?scimo de recupera??o de petr?leo pode chegar a uma fra??o de recupera??o de 81% ao longo do 3? volume poroso injetado. O acr?scimo do custo do tensoativo ? ?gua de inje??o representa um valor de R$ 7,50/tonelada de fluido injetado

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2018-01-23T14:27:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TamyrisThaiseCostaDeSouza_TESE.pdf: 2326336 bytes, checksum: d59b4b1968aa5a394e4f90ffa36135cc (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2018-01-25T11:49:52Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TamyrisThaiseCostaDeSouza_TESE.pdf: 2326336 bytes, checksum: d59b4b1968aa5a394e4f90ffa36135cc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-25T11:49:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TamyrisThaiseCostaDeSouza_TESE.pdf: 2326336 bytes, checksum: d59b4b1968aa5a394e4f90ffa36135cc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-10-11 / M?todos de recupera??o avan?ada de petr?leo s?o utilizados com o objetivo de aumentar a produtividade de reservat?rios nos quais, os m?todos convencionais s?o pouco eficientes, ou mesmo como alternativa inicial para produ??o. Dentre esses m?todos, existem os m?todos t?rmicos, misc?veis e qu?micos. A utiliza??o dos m?todos qu?micos de recupera??o avan?ada atua na altera??o de propriedades f?sico-qu?mica rocha/fluido, diminuindo a satura??o residual de ?leo e aumentando o deslocamento de ?leo no meio poroso. A inje??o de fluidos qu?micos, como solu??o de pol?mero, solu??o de tensoativo e microemuls?o, busca aumentar a viscosidade de fluido injetado, diminuir a tens?o interfacial e aumentar a miscibilidade entre o fluido injetado e o ?leo retido. Estudos nessa ?rea mostram que fluidos qu?micos s?o considerados uma alternativa eficaz na produ??o de petr?leo ap?s a utiliza??o de ?gua ou g?s como fluido de inje??o. Neste trabalho foi avaliado a utiliza??o de fluidos qu?micos (solu??o de tensoativo e microemuls?o) na recupera??o avan?ada de petr?leo (EOR) com a Ultramina NP200 como tensoativo. Os sistemas microemulsionados foram compostos por: Ultramina NP200; n-Butanol; querosene e ?gua de abastecimento local. Os sistemas microemulsionados (SM) foram caracterizados por medidas de di?metro de part?cula, tens?o superficial, tens?o interfacial e viscosidade. Nos testes de EOR, avaliou-se a influ?ncia da concentra??o de tensoativo injetado e a forma como a tens?o superficial, interfacial e a viscosidade influenciam na recupera??o de ?leo cru (29? API). A utiliza??o de solu??o de Ultramina NP200 conseguiu aumentar a capacidade de deslocamento de petr?leo em rela??o a inje??o de salmoura. Por?m, a solu??o de tensoativo, apesar da alta concentra??o (25% m/m), obteve fator de recupera??o inferior quando comparado a microemuls?o, mesmo quando a concentra??o de mat?ria ativa ? baixa (1,0% - m/m). O fator de recupera??o aumentou com o aumento da concentra??o de tensoativo na microemuls?o, por?m esse crescimento foi significativo para a inje??o de SM com at? 6% (m/m) de tensoativo. Observou-se tamb?m que ? poss?vel alcan?ar resultados satisfat?rios de recupera??o injetando menores quantidades microemuls?o, seguida de inje??o de salmoura. A utiliza??o do sistema microemulsionado com 6% tensoativo (SM4) com vaz?o de 0,5 mL/min, chegou a recupera??o do ?leo in place de 24,1% (%OOIPA) e recupera??o total de 77,2% (%OOIPT). Na avalia??o econ?mica, foi observado que a utiliza??o de pequenos volumes de microemuls?o, com maior concentra??o de tensoativo, pode resultar em um projeto mais vi?vel, mediante an?lise do pre?o do barril de petr?leo. No cen?rio atual (50 USD/bbl) ? poss?vel alcan?ar uma taxa interna de retorno (TIR) de 27% por inje??o e 0,5Vp de SM3 e 2,5Vp de salmoura. / Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods are used to increase the productivity of reservoirs when water or gas injections are inefficient, or can be used as a initial alternative to production. EOR methods is classified in thermal, miscible and chemical. The use of chemical methods acts on the alteration of physicochemical rock / fluid properties, reducing the residual oil saturation and increasing the displacement of oil in the porous medium. Injection of chemical fluids, such as polymer solution, surfactant solution and microemulsion, seeks to increase the viscosity of injected fluid, decrease interfacial tension and increase miscibility between the injected fluid and the retained oil. Studies in this area show that chemical fluids are efficient alternative in the production of oil after the use of water or gas as an injection fluid. In this work the use of chemical fluids (surfactant and microemulsion solution) in the EOR with Ultramina NP200 as a surfactant was evaluated. Microemulsion systems are composed of: Ultramina NP200; n-Butanol; kerosene and local water supply. Microemulsion systems (SM) were characterized by measurements of droplet size, surface tension, interfacial tension and viscosity. In the EOR tests, the influence of the injected surfactant concentration and the way in which surface tension, interfacial and viscosity influence the recovery of crude oil (29? API) was evaluated. The use of Ultramina NP200 solution has been able to increase the capacity of displacement of petroleum in relation to the injection of brine. However, the surfactant solution, despite the high concentration (25% m / m), obtained a lower oil recovery when compared to the microemulsion, even when the active matter concentration is low (1.0% - m / m). The oil recovery increased with increasing surfactant concentration in the microemulsion, but this growth was significant for SM injection with up to 6% (m / m) of surfactant. It has also been observed that satisfactory results of %OOIPA can be achieved by injecting smaller amounts of microemulsion followed by injection of brine. The use of the microemulsified system with 6% surfactant (SM4) with a flow rate of 0.5 mL / min, reached the oil recovery in place of 24.1% (% OOIPA) and total recovery of 77.2% (% OOIPT). In the economic evaluation it was observed that the use of small volumes of microemulsion, with higher concentration of surfactant, can result in a more viable project, by analyzing the price of a barrel of oil.

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2017-01-10T12:38:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 AnaPaulaJustinoSoares_TESE.pdf: 2174721 bytes, checksum: fe3b7e218d94b342d0872ff92d4d7bc9 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-01-11T13:02:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 AnaPaulaJustinoSoares_TESE.pdf: 2174721 bytes, checksum: fe3b7e218d94b342d0872ff92d4d7bc9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-11T13:02:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AnaPaulaJustinoSoares_TESE.pdf: 2174721 bytes, checksum: fe3b7e218d94b342d0872ff92d4d7bc9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-05-24 / Ag?ncia Nacional do Petr?leo - ANP / Buscando otimizar as t?cnicas de produ??o de petr?leo, tanto em efici?ncia, quanto em custo operacional, a molhabilidade do reservat?rio, propriedade que afeta diretamente a produ??o de ?leo, desempenha um papel importante nos v?rios processos de recupera??o de petr?leo utilizados. Baseado neste contexto, este trabalho estudou a influ?ncia da invers?o na molhabilidade da rocha na produ??o e recupera??o de petr?leo de reservat?rios carbon?ticos, utilizando solu??o de tensoativo, sistemas microemulsionados e sistemas microemulsionados com adi??o de pol?mero. Foram utilizados diferentes sistemas rocha-fluidos, escolhidos de forma a permitir diferenciar entre os efeitos relativos ? redu??o na tens?o interfacial e altera??o na molhabilidade ?leo-?gua. Foi escolhido um tensoativo cati?nico, o brometo de cetiltrimetilam?nio (C16TAB) e avaliadas duas das principais propriedades do tensoativo, concentra??o micelar cr?tica e ponto de Krafft, e todos os sistemas obtidos foram caracterizados atrav?s de medidas de tamanho de got?cula, tens?o superficial e interfacial e viscosidade. A modifica??o da molhabilidade da rocha foi avaliada principalmente por medidas de ?ngulo de contato, por?m para alguns sistemas foram realizados tamb?m os testes de embebi??o espont?nea. Os sistemas com o maior potencial, de acordo com os resultados das caracteriza??es e mudan?a na molhabilidade da rocha de molh?vel ao ?leo para molh?vel a ?gua, foram aplicados no simulador de reservat?rios para que fosse poss?vel quantificar os efeitos da utiliza??o desses sistemas nas propriedades da rocha e dos fluidos nela contidos. Os melhores resultados de recupera??o foram alcan?ados quando se utilizou a microemuls?o polim?rica, conseguindo recuperar at? 95% do petr?leo. / In order to optimize the oil production techniques, both in efficiency and in operating costs, the wettability of the reservoir, a property that directly affects the oil production, plays an important role in various advanced oil recovery processes. In this context, this thesis studied the influence of the inversion of the wettability of the rock in the production and recovery of carbonate reservoirs using surfactant solution, microemulsion systems and microemulsion systems with added polymers. Different systems were used (rock-fluid), which were chosen to elucidate the relative effects of the reduction in interfacial tension and changes in oil-water wettability. A cationic surfactant has been chosen, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (C16TAB), and two important surfactant properties were evaluated, critical micelle concentration and the Krafft point, and all systems were characterized by droplet size measurements, surface and interfacial tension, and viscosity. The modification of rock wettability was primarily evaluated by contact angle measurements, however for some systems tests of spontaneous imbibition were also carried out. Systems with the highest potential, in accordance with the results of the characterizations and change in wettability of wet-oil to wet-water, were applied to the reservoir simulator to make it possible to quantify the effects of the use of such systems in the rock properties and the fluid contained therein. The best recovery results were achieved when using the polymeric microemulsion, obtaining recovery up to 95% of the oil.