Triosephosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.1., TPI) undergoes specific posttranslational modifications (deamidation and oxidation) which are believed to initiate protein turnover by destabilization of the dimer. The crystal structures, amino acid sequences, and aging related changes of TPI from various species have been independently characterized by several laboratories. TPI has thus become the prototype enzyme for examining the initial steps in protein turnover. The binding of substrate enhances the specific deamidation of the mammalian enzyme, and a general mechanism of 'molecular wear and tear' [Gracy, R. W., Yiiksel, K. 0., Chapman, M. L., and Dimitrijevich, S. D. (1990) in Isozymes-Structure, Function and Use in Biology and Medicine (Ogita, Z-I., and Markert, C. L., Eds) pp. 787-817, Wiley-Liss, New York] has been proposed to explain how enzymes may wear out.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T18:47:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTACAO_MIRIAN.pdf: 1208954 bytes, checksum: 2ff3c7667b3e4e6cfbd1a3a52948467e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-12-05 / This study intends to analyse and reflect the aging process among masculine homossexuals. Regarding the concern about the demographic increase of aged people, and realizing already the search from the government and society for quality of life of this group of the population, there is a social movement of studies and directioned programs for this individuals, constituted by reports, discussions and literature involving this theme. Many of them refer to heterossexual men and women and try to understand the meanings and feelings of an aging body, the affective emotional ties in this phase of life and the expectations about the aging process. In the other hand, it is important to stress that the aging process also supposes to cope with taboos and prejudices in the western world. Nowadays one can observe that the homossexuals are slowly coming out , based in their courage, by confronting, by accepting themselves and by the ousady in assuming such position in the society through manifests, parades , laws, where they demand the right for freedom and dignity, once they have been for a long time discriminated and excluded. Understanding the aging process within the differences that the sexual identity brings to their lives, undestanding the affectivity, the choices of profession, is to search a better aging. This study is a research made with twelve males among eighteen and fourty-six years old, that agreeded to take part of after a divulgation of the questions and answers to well-known people, via e-mail. Data were collected within two weeks. Through the results of this research, one tried to realize the meanings and feelings in relation to aging process of homossexual men, a material that will propitiate to know about the subject for possible interpretations, studies and preventive works in the future / O presente estudo pretende analisar e refletir sobre o processo de envelhecimento nos homossexuais masculinos. Em vista da preocupação no que diz respeito ao aumento demográfico de idosos, e já percebendo uma busca do governo e da sociedade em relação à qualidade de vida dessa parcela da população, há um movimento social de estudos e programas direcionados para essa faixa etária, constituídos de relatos, discussões e leituras que envolvem a temática. Muitos estudos referem-se a homens e mulheres heterossexuais e procuram entender os significados e sentimentos do corpo que envelhece, os vínculos afetivos nesta fase da vida e as expectativas em relação ao envelhecimento. Por outro lado, convém ressaltar que o envelhecimento pressupõe também, no mundo ocidental, uma vivência de tabus e preconceitos. Atualmente, os homossexuais, aos poucos, estão saindo do armário , com base em sua coragem ao enfrentar, ao aceitar-se, e pela ousadia em se assumir perante a sociedade, por meio de manifestos, paradas , leis. Exigem o direito à liberdade e à dignidade, por terem sido por muito tempo discriminados e excluídos. Compreender seu envelhecimento dentro das diferenças que a identidade sexual traz para a sua vida, entendendo sua afetividade, a escolha da profissão, é buscar um envelhecimento melhor. Este estudo é uma pesquisa realizada com 12 sujeitos entre 18 e 46 anos, que se dispuseram a participar após divulgação e encaminhamento das perguntas e respostas para pessoas conhecidas, via e-mail. Todos os dados foram colhidos em duas semanas. Por intermédio dos resultados da pesquisa, procuramos perceber os significados e sentimentos em relação ao envelhecimento do homossexual masculino, material que propiciará conhecer o assunto para possíveis interpretações, estudos e trabalhos preventivos futuros

Através do presente trabalho investigou-se a expressão do comportamento doentio e a atividade de neutrófilos sanguíneos de camundongos adultos, de meia idade e idosos, após o tratamento com lipopolissacarídeo de bactéria gram negativa (Escherichia coli). O comportamento doentio foi avaliado através da ingestão de alimentos e do peso corpóreo. Nos aparatos comportamentais Campo Aberto e Labirinto em cruz elevado, o comportamento doentio foi avaliado através da atividade geral, da exploração e dos níveis de ansiedade. A atividade de neutrófilos sanguíneos foi estudada através de citometria de fluxo, analisando-se a intensidade e porcentagem de neutrófilos que realizaram fagocitose e da intensidade e porcentagem de neutrófilos que realizaram burst oxidativo, ambos induzidos pelo estímulo in vitro da bactéria Staphylococcus aureus. Os animais foram tratados com solução salina ou LPS (na dose de 200 µg/kg) avaliações foram realizadas 2 horas após o tratamento. No caso da ingestão de alimentos e do peso corpóreo, as avaliações foram realizadas durante 3 dias anteriores ao experimento, e durante 7 dias posteriores ao experimento. Os resultados demonstraram que animais idosos apresentaram diferenças na expressão do comportamento doentio, sendo que houve uma maior motivação em explorar os aparatos comportamentais. Apesar da manutenção da exploração no Campo Aberto e Labirinto em Cruz elevado, a redução da ingestão de alimentos e do peso corpóreo apresentou-se mais acentuada nos camundongos de meia idade e idosos, após tratamento com LPS. A atividade de neutrófilos sanguíneos, avaliadas pela fagocitose e burst oxidativo, apresentou-se aumentada em camundongos idosos após tratamento com LPS. A menor migração de neutrófilos sanguíneos à cavidade peritoneal parece ser responsável por esse aumento de atividade dos neutrófilos de camundongos idosos. Esses resultados sugerem que a expressão do comportamento doentio de camundongos idosos é diferente, com manutenção do comportamento de exploração, e que esses camundongos seriam mais susceptíveis aos efeitos do choque endotóxico, devido à presença de maior quantidade de neutrófilos ativados no sangue. / Through the present work, it has been investigated the expression of sickness behavior and blood neutrophils activity in adult, middle-aged and aged mice, after gram negative (Escherichia coli) lipopolysaccharide treatment. Sickness behavior was evaluated through food ingestion and body weight. On the behavioral apparatus Open Field and Elevated Plus Maze, sickness behavior was evaluated through general activity, exploration and anxiety levels. Blood neutrophils activity was studied through flow cytometric analysis, assessing neutrophil\'s intensity and percentage of phagocytosis and neutrophil\'s intensity and percentage of oxidative burst, both induced by in vitroM stimulus of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Animals were treated either with saline solution or LPS (in the 200 µg/kg dose) and analysis were done 2 hours after treatment. In the case of food ingestioin and body weight, analysis were done through 3 days before experiment, and during 7 days after experiment. Results demonstrated that aged animals showed differences in sickness behavior expression, with a greater motivation to explore behavioral apparatus. Despite maintenance of Open Field and Elevated Plus Maze exploration, reduction in food ingestion and body weight were more pronounced in middle-aged and aged mice, after LPS treatment. Blood neutrophils activity, analysed through phagocytosis and oxidative burst, were higher in aged mice after LPS treatment. Lesser blood neutrophils migration to peritoneal cavity seems to be responsible for this enhancement in neutrophil activity. These results suggest that the expression of sickness behavior in aged mice is different, with maintenance of exploratory behavior, and that these mice would be more susceptible to endotoxic effects, due to the presence of higher quantity of activated neutrophils in blood.

Submitted by Maria Aparecida (cidazen@gmail.com) on 2017-05-02T12:35:41Z No. of bitstreams: 1 APARECIDA FERNANDA ALBUQUERQUE PINTO VELOSO.pdf: 859536 bytes, checksum: d01d3c19faffce1d1c09155480402172 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-02T12:35:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 APARECIDA FERNANDA ALBUQUERQUE PINTO VELOSO.pdf: 859536 bytes, checksum: d01d3c19faffce1d1c09155480402172 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-01 / This work aims contributing to a comprehension of the paths walked by elderly women victim of domestic or familiar violence in São Luís, Maranhão, while in the struggle for judicial protection. First of all, it is highlighted how the process of life expectation happens through different patterns between the sexes, including the awakening of a phenomenon known as oldness feminization, bringing the need of analysis about the treatment offered to this woman in specific legislation. Thus, the main idea is built from the analysis of legal structures concerning tothe protection of the elderly inside the Federal Constitution, the National Policy of Elderly and in the Statute of Elderly, referring that, in general, they do not bring specific protection to the old women victim of domestic or familiar violence, what makes necessary the use of Lei Maria da Penha to protect their rights. One also carefully considers the conditions of women and old women in the search of overcoming the patriarchal culture, which prevents the accomplishment of rights, so that it becomes possible to achieve a reality with dignity and no violence against old women. Besides, it is sought to comprehend the jurisprudence from the Local State Court (Tribunal de Justiça do Maranhão) about the appreciation of cases about domestic and familiar violence against this woman, concerning to the qualification of these violences under the look of these categories. It is broached the jurisdiction and competency on the processes related to violence against old women, concerning to the application of Elderly Statute and/or Lei Maria da Penha. Thus, the field stablished for this research was the Local State Court (Tribunal de Justiça do Maranhão), the 8th Criminal Court - which answers for the Court of the Elderly -, the Special Court of Women, the First Special Criminal Court and the Public Prosecution’s Offices that deal with elderly, women and health. The analysis of processes related to elderly women in the period from 2011 to 2015, downloaded and in course on the 8th Criminal Court, the Special Court of Women and in the First Special Criminal Court was used as instrument for collecting data. Another aspect emphasized was the presentation of the actual standpoint of the Criminal Chambers from TJ-MA about the competency to process and judge situations involving domestic and familiar violence against these women. In terms of methodology, the evaluative research was chosen, and it was conducted through a quantitative and qualitative focus, through the critical-dialectical approach, enabling a reconstruction of the reality faced by this old woman victim of violence; and also, by the articulated use of different research procedures and collecting information, counting on semi-structured interviews with magistrates from specific local courts, from the Special Court and with members of Public Prosecution in charge of the respective offices. / Este trabalho pretende contribuir para a compreensão dos caminhos trilhados pela mulher idosa vítima de violência doméstica e ou intrafamiliar em São Luís, capital do Maranhão, quando em busca de proteção judicial. Inicialmente, destaca-se como o processo de expectativa de vida ocorre de forma diferenciada entre ambos os sexos, inclusive com o surgimento do fenômeno conhecido como a feminização da velhice, fazendo emergir a necessidade de analisar o tratamento dispensado a esta mulher nas legislações específicas. Para tanto, o pensamento é construído a partir da análise das estruturas normativas de proteção à pessoa idosa, contidos na Constituição Federal, na Política Nacional do Idoso e no Estatuto do Idoso, referenciando que, de forma geral, estas não trazem proteções específicas à mulher idosa vítima de violência doméstica ou intrafamiliar, fazendo-se necessário remeter à tutela de seus direitos à Lei Maria da Penha. Reflete-se ainda, acerca das condições de mulher e de idosa em procura da superação da cultura patriarcal e machista que impedem a concretização de direitos para que se possa efetivamente vislumbrar uma vida com dignidade e sem violência para a mulher idosa. Paralelamente a isso, busca-se a compreensão da jurisprudência do Tribunal de Justiça do Estado do Maranhão quanto à apreciação dos casos de violência doméstica ou intrafamiliar contra esta mulher, no que diz respeito ao enquadramento destas violências sob a ótica dessas categorias. Aborda-se a jurisdição e a competência, nos processos envolvendo violência contra a mulher idosa, com relação à aplicação do Estatuto do Idoso e/ ou a Lei Maria da Penha. Para isso, o campo estabelecido para a pesquisa foi o Tribunal de Justiça do Maranhão, a 8ª Vara Criminal, que responde pela Vara do Idoso, a Vara Especializada de Combate a Violência Doméstica e Familiar contra a Mulher, o Primeiro Juizado Especial Criminal da Capital, bem como, as Promotorias especializadas do Idoso e da Mulher. Como instrumentos de coleta de dados foi utilizado à análise dos processos baixados e em trâmite, envolvendo mulheres idosas, no período de 2011 a 2015, junto à 8ª Vara Criminal, à Vara Especializada da Mulher e da Violência Doméstica e junto ao primeiro Juizado Especial Criminal. Destacou-se também a apresentação do atual posicionamento das Câmaras Criminais do TJMA sobre a competência para processar e julgar feitos envolvendo violência doméstica e familiar contra estas mulheres. No plano metodológico, optou-se pela realização da pesquisa avaliativa, com enfoque quantitativo e qualitativo, através do método crítico-dialético, possibilitando a reconstrução da realidade vivenciada por esta mulher idosa vítima de violência, e também, pelo uso articulado de diferentes procedimentos de pesquisa e de coleta de informações, com a realização de entrevistas semiestruturadas com os magistrados das varas especializadas, do Juizado Especial e com os membros do Ministério Público responsáveis pelas promotorias do idoso e da mulher.

Através do presente trabalho investigou-se a expressão do comportamento doentio e a atividade de neutrófilos sanguíneos de camundongos adultos, de meia idade e idosos, após o tratamento com lipopolissacarídeo de bactéria gram negativa (Escherichia coli). O comportamento doentio foi avaliado através da ingestão de alimentos e do peso corpóreo. Nos aparatos comportamentais Campo Aberto e Labirinto em cruz elevado, o comportamento doentio foi avaliado através da atividade geral, da exploração e dos níveis de ansiedade. A atividade de neutrófilos sanguíneos foi estudada através de citometria de fluxo, analisando-se a intensidade e porcentagem de neutrófilos que realizaram fagocitose e da intensidade e porcentagem de neutrófilos que realizaram burst oxidativo, ambos induzidos pelo estímulo in vitro da bactéria Staphylococcus aureus. Os animais foram tratados com solução salina ou LPS (na dose de 200 µg/kg) avaliações foram realizadas 2 horas após o tratamento. No caso da ingestão de alimentos e do peso corpóreo, as avaliações foram realizadas durante 3 dias anteriores ao experimento, e durante 7 dias posteriores ao experimento. Os resultados demonstraram que animais idosos apresentaram diferenças na expressão do comportamento doentio, sendo que houve uma maior motivação em explorar os aparatos comportamentais. Apesar da manutenção da exploração no Campo Aberto e Labirinto em Cruz elevado, a redução da ingestão de alimentos e do peso corpóreo apresentou-se mais acentuada nos camundongos de meia idade e idosos, após tratamento com LPS. A atividade de neutrófilos sanguíneos, avaliadas pela fagocitose e burst oxidativo, apresentou-se aumentada em camundongos idosos após tratamento com LPS. A menor migração de neutrófilos sanguíneos à cavidade peritoneal parece ser responsável por esse aumento de atividade dos neutrófilos de camundongos idosos. Esses resultados sugerem que a expressão do comportamento doentio de camundongos idosos é diferente, com manutenção do comportamento de exploração, e que esses camundongos seriam mais susceptíveis aos efeitos do choque endotóxico, devido à presença de maior quantidade de neutrófilos ativados no sangue. / Through the present work, it has been investigated the expression of sickness behavior and blood neutrophils activity in adult, middle-aged and aged mice, after gram negative (Escherichia coli) lipopolysaccharide treatment. Sickness behavior was evaluated through food ingestion and body weight. On the behavioral apparatus Open Field and Elevated Plus Maze, sickness behavior was evaluated through general activity, exploration and anxiety levels. Blood neutrophils activity was studied through flow cytometric analysis, assessing neutrophil\'s intensity and percentage of phagocytosis and neutrophil\'s intensity and percentage of oxidative burst, both induced by in vitroM stimulus of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Animals were treated either with saline solution or LPS (in the 200 µg/kg dose) and analysis were done 2 hours after treatment. In the case of food ingestioin and body weight, analysis were done through 3 days before experiment, and during 7 days after experiment. Results demonstrated that aged animals showed differences in sickness behavior expression, with a greater motivation to explore behavioral apparatus. Despite maintenance of Open Field and Elevated Plus Maze exploration, reduction in food ingestion and body weight were more pronounced in middle-aged and aged mice, after LPS treatment. Blood neutrophils activity, analysed through phagocytosis and oxidative burst, were higher in aged mice after LPS treatment. Lesser blood neutrophils migration to peritoneal cavity seems to be responsible for this enhancement in neutrophil activity. These results suggest that the expression of sickness behavior in aged mice is different, with maintenance of exploratory behavior, and that these mice would be more susceptible to endotoxic effects, due to the presence of higher quantity of activated neutrophils in blood.

The ability to reprogram adult somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells could provide a valuable implement for in vitro disease modeling and drug discovery. More importantly, they may potentially serve as an unlimited source of cells for regenerative medicine. However, most of the iPS cells have been generated by retroviral vectors, and therefore they carry the risk of viral integration into the host genome. This problem prevents their use for clinical applications and regenerative medicine. mRNA-mediated delivery of reprogramming factors is an alternative approach for cellular reprogramming. mRNA-based reprogramming offers the advantage of being completely free of genomic integration and is therefore highly suitable for clinical translation. However, there are some limitations which must be overcome so that mRNA can be widely used for successful cellular reprogramming. In the current thesis, the attempt was to generate stable mRNA-iPS cells through overcoming those limitations. Several human donor cells were transfected with mRNA encoding reprogramming factors and the generation of two stable mRNA-iPS cell lines was shown. The resultant mRNA-iPS colonies were assessed for pluripotency markers. Their pluripotency features were evaluated by the viral-iPS cells produced by conventional retroviral vectors. It was noticed that the generation of mRNA-iPS cells was largely affected by the parental cells from which they were derived. However, characterization and evaluation of the generated mRNA-iPS cells proved their pluripotency states comparable to the viral-iPS cells. On the other hand, the aging hallmarks of the iPS cells were assessed in the second part of this thesis. The potential aging signatures of the iPS cells should be conducted before their use in clinical applications. Currently, there are controversial data regarding the ability of reprogramming to fully rejuvenate an aged somatic cell and reverse agerelated changes such as shortened telomeres, dysfunctional mitochondria and DNA damage. Moreover, mixed findings have been published regarding whether the iPS cells are fully rejuvenated or they might retain some of the aging hallmarks from the cells which they were derived. This thesis studied these controversies through the investigation of three hallmarks of aging including telomere length, mitochondrial alteration and DNA damage. Telomere elongation was indicated in the iPS cells. Furthermore, mitochondrial morphology and function were improved into more immature features in iPS cell lines than their corresponding fibroblasts. Moreover, the iPS cell lines were shown to have less amount of DNA damage compared to their parental fibroblasts. In summary, it can be concluded that generation of mRNA-iPS cells is largely affected by the primary donor cells from which they are derived. Furthermore, it seems that reprogramming enables reversion of aging signatures to a more youthful state.

O acelerado envelhecimento populacional mundial, especialmente o brasileiro, remete a necessidade de atenção e estudos que contribuam para melhor compreensão e estímulo de iniciativas que possam promover a integração social e o bem-estar dos idosos. O turismo, enquanto alternativa de lazer, tem demonstrado interesse, ainda que pouco, em direcionar seus estudos ao atendimento de idosos apresentando, normalmente, como foco a segmentação de mercado. Ao se direcionar o olhar nos sujeitos do turismo , verifica-se uma lacuna de estudos que atente as possibilidades turísticas para idosos asilados e, geralmente esquecidos pela sociedade. Diante disso, esta investigação, de corte qualitativo, utilizou a história oral de vida de 14 idosos do Asilo Padre Cacique, em Porto Alegre, para verificar se a inserção de atividades de lazer e turismo neste asilo podem contribuir para a melhoria da qualidade de vida e o bem-estar de seus moradores, além de buscar identificar os sentidos e significados do turismo a estes idosos. O estudo é apresentado por uma narrativa que menciona a história de dona Odete, uma personagem inspirada nas histórias de vida dos idosos do asilo e criada como pano de fundo para apresentar as discussões sobre o processo de envelhecimento; a conjuntura asilar; questões vinculadas ao lazer e ao turismo apresentando resultados que explicitam a necessidade de implantação de ações que focalizem o elemento humano como princípio de práticas turísticas e de lazer. / Submitted by Marcelo Teixeira (mvteixeira@ucs.br) on 2014-05-15T17:06:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Luciana Babinski.pdf: 19505501 bytes, checksum: 375645073bd7098379c0542e71dcb51c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-15T17:06:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Luciana Babinski.pdf: 19505501 bytes, checksum: 375645073bd7098379c0542e71dcb51c (MD5) / The fast world population aging process, specially the brazilian, leads to a necessity of attention and studies that contribute to a better comprehension and encourage initiatives that promote a social integration and wellness of the elderly. The tourism, as an alternative of leisure, has shown interest, even still small, in direct their studies to the elderly assistance presenting, usually, as a focus of market segmentation. When focusing the look in the subjects of the tourism , we notice a lack of studies that attempt to these touristic possibilities for old age pensioners, and, usually forgotten by the society. Facing that, this investigation, of qualitative cut, used the told life story of 14 elderly from the old age home Asilo Padre Cacique, in Porto Alegre, to verify if the insertion of leisure and tourism activities in this home can contribute for a better life quality and wellness of their residents, besides of identifying the meaning of tourism for this elderly. The study is presented by a narrative that mentions the story of Miss Odete, a character inspired in the residents life style stories and created as a background to show the discussions about the aging process, the home structure, questions connected to leisure and tourism showing results that evidence the necessity of actions that focus in the human element as the beginning of leisure and tourism practices.

O acelerado envelhecimento populacional mundial, especialmente o brasileiro, remete a necessidade de atenção e estudos que contribuam para melhor compreensão e estímulo de iniciativas que possam promover a integração social e o bem-estar dos idosos. O turismo, enquanto alternativa de lazer, tem demonstrado interesse, ainda que pouco, em direcionar seus estudos ao atendimento de idosos apresentando, normalmente, como foco a segmentação de mercado. Ao se direcionar o olhar nos sujeitos do turismo , verifica-se uma lacuna de estudos que atente as possibilidades turísticas para idosos asilados e, geralmente esquecidos pela sociedade. Diante disso, esta investigação, de corte qualitativo, utilizou a história oral de vida de 14 idosos do Asilo Padre Cacique, em Porto Alegre, para verificar se a inserção de atividades de lazer e turismo neste asilo podem contribuir para a melhoria da qualidade de vida e o bem-estar de seus moradores, além de buscar identificar os sentidos e significados do turismo a estes idosos. O estudo é apresentado por uma narrativa que menciona a história de dona Odete, uma personagem inspirada nas histórias de vida dos idosos do asilo e criada como pano de fundo para apresentar as discussões sobre o processo de envelhecimento; a conjuntura asilar; questões vinculadas ao lazer e ao turismo apresentando resultados que explicitam a necessidade de implantação de ações que focalizem o elemento humano como princípio de práticas turísticas e de lazer. / The fast world population aging process, specially the brazilian, leads to a necessity of attention and studies that contribute to a better comprehension and encourage initiatives that promote a social integration and wellness of the elderly. The tourism, as an alternative of leisure, has shown interest, even still small, in direct their studies to the elderly assistance presenting, usually, as a focus of market segmentation. When focusing the look in the subjects of the tourism , we notice a lack of studies that attempt to these touristic possibilities for old age pensioners, and, usually forgotten by the society. Facing that, this investigation, of qualitative cut, used the told life story of 14 elderly from the old age home Asilo Padre Cacique, in Porto Alegre, to verify if the insertion of leisure and tourism activities in this home can contribute for a better life quality and wellness of their residents, besides of identifying the meaning of tourism for this elderly. The study is presented by a narrative that mentions the story of Miss Odete, a character inspired in the residents life style stories and created as a background to show the discussions about the aging process, the home structure, questions connected to leisure and tourism showing results that evidence the necessity of actions that focus in the human element as the beginning of leisure and tourism practices.

<div>In this study, three ducts have been built in Herrick Labs, Purdue University, West Lafayette, representing the real HVAC systems. Different types of filters have been tested in each duct, including MERV8, MERV14 mechanical filters, and MERV13 electret filter. One of this study's main objectives is to compare in-situ filter performance with the MERV rating, which comes from laboratory testing. Eventually, we can explain the variations and have a better understanding of the in-situ filter performance. Another primary objective is to evaluate the aging process of tested filters. Typically, HVAC filters will not be replaced or maintained frequently, so they tend to stay in HVAC systems for an extended period. In this study, the evolution of filter aging performance is tested continuously for the experiment's entire duration, including temporal evolution of pressure drops, filtration efficiencies, and loaded particulate mass on the filter media.</div><div><br></div><div>This study will continue for 52 full weeks. This thesis is a part of the on-going study, including the data up to the first 18 weeks so far. As a result, the pressure drops are steadily increasing over time for most filters due to the natural filter loading process, except for the MERV13 electret filter, which shows no significant change at all. In terms of the filtration efficiencies, two efficiency categories are included: mass-based efficiencies (ePM x ) for sizeintegrated particulate mass (PM) and size-resolved efficiencies. It can be seen that there is no significant change in ePM x for MERV8 and MERV14 filters, MERV13 electret filter whereas shows a degradation in ePM x efficiencies. Size-resolve efficiencies provide additional filtration efficiencies as a function of particle sizes, therefore more comprehensive. It can be found that for MERV8 and MERV14 filters, the efficiencies are slowly increasing for particles above 300 nm, with some variations. MERV13 electret filter has an explicitly decreasing trend for efficiencies across all particle size ranges.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides the filter loading process, another component affecting the filter performance is the environmental factor, such as temperature, relative humidity (RH), and precipitation events, including rainfall and snowfall. As a result, it can be observed that when precipitation events, the pressure drops trend to decrease for that period. It is also evident that decreasing temperature tends to promote pressure drops.</div>

The ability to reprogram adult somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells could provide a valuable implement for in vitro disease modeling and drug discovery. More importantly, they may potentially serve as an unlimited source of cells for regenerative medicine. However, most of the iPS cells have been generated by retroviral vectors, and therefore they carry the risk of viral integration into the host genome. This problem prevents their use for clinical applications and regenerative medicine. mRNA-mediated delivery of reprogramming factors is an alternative approach for cellular reprogramming. mRNA-based reprogramming offers the advantage of being completely free of genomic integration and is therefore highly suitable for clinical translation. However, there are some limitations which must be overcome so that mRNA can be widely used for successful cellular reprogramming. In the current thesis, the attempt was to generate stable mRNA-iPS cells through overcoming those limitations. Several human donor cells were transfected with mRNA encoding reprogramming factors and the generation of two stable mRNA-iPS cell lines was shown. The resultant mRNA-iPS colonies were assessed for pluripotency markers. Their pluripotency features were evaluated by the viral-iPS cells produced by conventional retroviral vectors. It was noticed that the generation of mRNA-iPS cells was largely affected by the parental cells from which they were derived. However, characterization and evaluation of the generated mRNA-iPS cells proved their pluripotency states comparable to the viral-iPS cells. On the other hand, the aging hallmarks of the iPS cells were assessed in the second part of this thesis. The potential aging signatures of the iPS cells should be conducted before their use in clinical applications. Currently, there are controversial data regarding the ability of reprogramming to fully rejuvenate an aged somatic cell and reverse agerelated changes such as shortened telomeres, dysfunctional mitochondria and DNA damage. Moreover, mixed findings have been published regarding whether the iPS cells are fully rejuvenated or they might retain some of the aging hallmarks from the cells which they were derived. This thesis studied these controversies through the investigation of three hallmarks of aging including telomere length, mitochondrial alteration and DNA damage. Telomere elongation was indicated in the iPS cells. Furthermore, mitochondrial morphology and function were improved into more immature features in iPS cell lines than their corresponding fibroblasts. Moreover, the iPS cell lines were shown to have less amount of DNA damage compared to their parental fibroblasts. In summary, it can be concluded that generation of mRNA-iPS cells is largely affected by the primary donor cells from which they are derived. Furthermore, it seems that reprogramming enables reversion of aging signatures to a more youthful state.