The Gravity Control for Maya will be extraordinary beneficial to an animator trying to create realistic animation, by calculating the center of gravity and area of balance. This control will provide the animator with the ability to rotate around the center of gravity and keep the character in a balanced pose. With that ability, the animator can easily create accurate poses and animation, such as mid-air flips. The system also supports a vast number of characters with different shapes, sizes and number of limbs.

Petroleum or crude oil is a complex mixture formed by aliphatic, aromatic and naphthenic hydrocarbon, and other compounds containing sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen, and organometallic constituent complexed with nickel and vanadium. To crude oil characterization the separation by classes SARA (saturated, aromatics, resins and asphaltenes) is one of the most applied method. This method presents certain disadvantages such as excessive expense of solvents, adsorvents and lenghty analysis time. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the SARA fractionation efficiency by the conventional method and by reducing scale. In this study, it was used 7 different samples of crude oil from Carmópolis field from the Mercês and Jericó stations, provided by advanced recovery process with steam injection. The miniaturization of the SARA method has shown promise in relation to the conventional technique, meeting the criteria of the methodology and presenting recovery between 87-98%. Analysis by GC/MS contributed to confirm the efficiency of the separation of fractions by the macro and micro column through selective ion monitoring (m/z 142, 156 and 170). The relative areas for both the GC-FID and by GC-MS chromatograms showed to the fractions of macro and micro column that the fraction of saturated compounds compared with Malteno showed similar relative profiles and areas, demonstrating that the gas chromatographic system is inappropriate to the analysis of aromatic and resin fraction. However, the aromatic (15-19%) and resin fraction (14-16%), when analyzed separately, showed no relative areas equivalent to the isolated gravimetric percentage, confirming the discrimination of the chromatographic system to more polar fractions of oils. / O petróleo ou óleo bruto é uma mistura complexa formada por hidrocarbonetos alifáticos, aromáticos e naftênicos, além de outros compostos contendo enxofre, oxigênio, nitrogênio e constituintes organometálicos complexados com níquel e vanádio. Para a caracterização de óleos brutos, um dos métodos mais empregados é o método de separação por classes SARA (Saturados, Aromáticos, Resinas e Asfaltenos). Este método apresenta algumas desvantagens, como o gasto excessivo de solventes e adsorventes, e longo tempo de análise. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a eficiência do fracionamento SARA pelo método convencional e realizar a miniaturização do procedimento. Neste estudo foram utilizadas 7 amostras de óleo bruto do Campo de Carmopólis (SE) provenientes das estações Mercês e Jericó, que foram obtidas pelo processo de recuperação avançada com injeção de vapor. A miniaturização do método SARA mostrou-se promissora em relação à técnica convencional, atendendo aos critérios da metodologia e apresentando recuperação entre 87-98%. A análise por Cromatografia Gasosa/Espectrometria de Massas (GC/MS) contribuiu para confirmar a eficiência na separação das frações pela macro e microcoluna através do monitoramento seletivos de íons (m/z 142, 156 e 170). O estudo das áreas relativas tanto por Cromatografia Gasosa com detector de Ionização por Chama (GC-FID) quanto por Cromatografia Gasosa/Espectrometria de Massa (GC-MS) mostrou para as frações da macro e microcoluna, que a fração de compostos saturados quando comparada com o malteno apresentaram perfis e áreas relativas equivalentes, demonstrando que o sistema cromatográfico a gás é inapropriado para a análise das frações aromática e resinóica. As frações aromática (15-19%) e resinóica (14-16%), quando analisadas isoladamente, não apresentaram áreas relativas dos picos equivalentes aos percentuais gravimétricos isolados, confirmando a discriminação do sistema cromatográfico para frações mais polares dos óleos.

Submitted by Celso Magalhaes (celsomagalhaes@ufrrj.br) on 2017-06-20T12:18:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Juarez Vicente.pdf: 4177115 bytes, checksum: 7c081fec8011e87e4bca3d5c9ea310ed (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-20T12:18:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Juarez Vicente.pdf: 4177115 bytes, checksum: 7c081fec8011e87e4bca3d5c9ea310ed (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-01-28 / The omega-3 (?-3) is a class of essential fatty acids, of major importance for the metabolism of various functions of the body, highlight for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, immunological and anti - inflammatory, colon cancer, promotes developing brain and retina. The fatty acids of the series ?-3 and ?-6 are precursors of polyunsaturated long chain fatty acids as arachidonic (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the latter considered the most important for developing neonatal and together with the AA are the main components of brain fatty acids (Silva et al., 2007). Microencapsulation employing the formation of simple emulsions is a strategy that aims to maintain the stability of omega-3 and permanence of their functional activities upon exposure to the same harsh conditions as oxidative processes. Biopolymers such as proteins and carbohydrates (natural) are components that assist in maintaining the physical and morphological stability of these emulsions employed for microencapsulation. Likewise, to give the product improvements in the rheological, nutritional and functional properties. Thus, this thesis aims to study the formation of micro-emulsions physically and morphologically stable and their behavior rheological properties of heat and oxidative stability of omega-3 in polymeric systems formed with ovalbumin (natural surfactant) and their interactions with natural polysaccharides (pectin and xanthan gum), compared to a standard system with synthetic surfactant (Tween 80) in the microencapsulation of omega-3 of Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) oil. With this work we aim to also study the behavior of oxidative Sacha Inchi oil and its inclusion as a component in other foods in microencapsulated form. / O ?mega-3 (?-3) ? uma classe de ?cidos graxos essenciais, de reconhecida import?ncia para o metabolismo de diversas funcionalidades do organismo, destacam-se a preven??o de doen?as cardiovasculares, imunol?gicas e anti-inflamat?rias, c?ncer de c?lon, favorece o desenvolvimento cerebral e da retina. Os ?cidos graxos das s?ries ?-3 e ?-6 s?o precursores dos ?cidos graxos poli-insaturados de cadeia longa, como araquid?nico (AA), eicosapentaenoico (EPA) e docosahexaen?ico (DHA), este ?ltimo considerado o mais importante para o desenvolvimento neonatal e junto com o AA s?o os principais componentes dos ?cidos graxos cerebrais. A microencapsula??o empregando a forma??o de emuls?es simples ? uma estrat?gia que objetiva manter a estabilidade do ?mega-3 e a perman?ncia de suas atividades funcionais frente ? exposi??o do mesmo a condi??es adversas como processos oxidativos. Os biopol?meros como prote?nas e carboidratos (naturais) s?o componentes que auxiliam na manuten??o da estabilidade f?sica e morfol?gica destas emuls?es empregadas para microencapsula??o. Da mesma forma, conferem ao produto melhorias nas propriedades reol?gicas, nutricionais e funcionais. Com isso, objetiva-se nesta tese estudar a forma??o de micro-emuls?es f?sica e morfologicamente est?veis e seus comportamentos reol?gicos, propriedades calorim?tricas e estabilidade oxidativa do ?mega-3 nos sistemas polim?ricos formados com Ovalbumina (surfactante natural) e suas intera??es com polissacar?deos naturais (Pectina e Goma Xantana), comparado a um sistema padr?o com surfactante sint?tico (Tween 80) na microencapsula??o do ?mega-3 do ?leo de Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.). Com esse trabalho objetiva-se tamb?m o estudo do comportamento oxidativo do ?leo de Sacha Inchi e sua inser??o como componente em outros alimentos na forma microencapsulada.

Neste trabalho prepararam-se ésteres de ácidos graxos por esterificação do ácido oléico e transesterificação do óleo de soja e do triéster oléico via catálise enzimática. Determinou-se a composição dos produtos obtidos por RMN 1H e CG-FID. Os padrões dos ésteres do ácido oléico via esterificação ácida foram preparados empregando ácido sulfúrico, os padrões dos ésteres do óleo de soja por transesterificação básica com hidróxido de sódio e o padrão do triéster oléico foi sintetizado utilizando ácido p-tolueno sulfônico como catalisador. A melhor enzima para essas reações foi determinada através de reações de esterificação do ácido oléico e transesterificação do óleo de soja com etanol na ausência de co-solventes, sendo que foi selecionada a lipase de Candida antarctica. A mesma enzima foi empregada nas esterificações enzimáticas do ácido oléico com diversos alcoóis (metanol, etanol, n-propanol e n-butanol), na transesterificação enzimática do óleo de soja e do triéster oléico com etanol. Em ambos os estudos, foram avaliados os fatores que influenciam as reações: quantidade de enzima; tempo de reação; água adicionada ao álcool e reuso do biocatalisador. Na esterificação enzimática do ácido oléico, o uso do etanol forneceu o melhor rendimento (96,5%) com 5,0% (m/m) de enzima em 24 horas de reação. Quando uma quantidade de 4,0% de água foi adicionada ao álcool, a reação utilizando metanol mostrou maior eficiência (98,5%) e os rendimentos com os outros alcoóis não foram alterados significativamente (acima de 90%). Também foi possível utilizar a enzima por até 10 ciclos sem perda de rendimento, com exceção do metanol, onde ocorreu um decréscimo acentuado de rendimentos nos ciclos seguintes. Na transesterificação enzimática do óleo de soja, os mesmos fatores foram avaliados e com 5,0% de enzima, após 24 horas, foi obtido um rendimento de 84,1% e com a adição de água o rendimento não foi significativamente alterado (83%). Na transesterificação, os métodos de quantificação por RMN 1H e CG-FID foram comparados sendo que uma maior diferença foi observada para as reações com baixos rendimentos por RMN 1H, porém em altos rendimentos a diferença entre os dois métodos não foi significativa. Monoglicerídeos e diglicerídeos foram quantificados por CG-FID e por RMN 1H onde foi possível calcular a razão dos produtos formados através de uma equação desenvolvida, sendo que a diferença entre esses tipos de análises foi pequena, de apenas 1,4%. A transesterificação enzimática do triéster oléico foi obtida em bom rendimento (90,4%) e uma pequena quantidade de mono- e diglicerídeos foi produzida. Em todas as reações de transesterificação, o glicerol não foi detectado após a lavagem dos produtos. A metodologia empregando a lipase de Candida antarctica mostrou-se eficiente para a produção de biodiesel a partir do óleo de soja e do ácido oléico com diferentes tipos de alcoóis. / In this work, it was prepared esters of the fatty acid by esterification of the oleic acid and transesterification of the soy oil through enzymatic catalysis. It was determined the composition of the products obtained by 1H NMR and GC-FID. The standards of esters of the oleic acid by acid esterification was prepared employing sulfuric acid, the standards of esters of the soy oil by alkaline transesterification with sodium hydroxide and the standard of the oleic triester was synthesized employing p-toluene sulfonic acid as catalyst. The best enzyme for those reactions was determined through reactions of esterification of the oleic acid and transesterification of the soy oil with ethanol and free co-solvents, and lipase from Candida antarctica was selected. The same enzyme was employed in the enzymatic esterifications of the oleic acid with various alcohols (methanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol), in the enzymatic transesterification of soy oil and the oleic triester with ethanol. In both studies, was assessed the factors that influence the reactions: amount of catalyst, reaction time, water added in the alcohol and the turnover of biocatalyst. In the enzymatic esterification of the oleic acid, the ethanol showed the better yield (96,5%) with 5,0% (m/m) of enzyme at 24 hours of reaction. When 4,0% of water was added to the alcohol, the methanol showed the high efficiency (98,5%) and the yield with another alcohols were not affected. It was also possible to use the enzyme for 10 cycles without lose yield, except for the methanol. In the enzymatic transesterification of the soy oil, the same factors were assessed using 5,0% of enzyme, after 24 hours, a yield of 84,1% was obtained and with the water addition the yield was not modified (83%). On the transesterification, 1H NMR and GC-FID were compared and a great difference was observed for low yields, but on high yields, the difference between methods was small. Monoglycerides and diglycerides were quantified by GC-FID and detected by 1H NMR, it was possible to calculate the ratio between them on the products formed through an equation developed and the difference for this type of analysis was small, only 1.4% . The enzymatic transesterification of the oleic triester was obtained with good yield (90,4%) and a small amount of the monoglycerides and diglycerides was produced. In all the transesterifications reactions, glycerol was not detected after washing mixture of products. The methodology employing Candida antarctica lipase was efficient for biodiesel production by soybean oil and oleic acid with different alcohols.

When working with oceans in the visual effects industry, it is not always very practical or even possible to use real live footage, especially if extreme weather conditions are required. A common scenario is computer generated objects crashing into an ocean generating splashes and foam that should stick to and integrate well with the real ocean surface. Making a shot like that look realistic is very difficult, this is where a fully computer generated ocean surface comes in handy. Creating high resolution computer generated sequences of an ocean surface with interacting objects is difficult using today’s available commercial 3D packages. I have therefore implemented a VFX ocean toolkit, which is a system built for generating the ocean surface, Kelvin wakes and interaction with objects. The ocean toolkit was built with the artist in mind and the need for real time preview to produce results quick and easy in order for the system to remain cost effective. The ocean toolkit is tightly integrated directly into the procedural 3D animation package Houdini1 as several plug-ins and shaders that can be combined to create numerous ocean surface effects.

Corpus luteum (CL), a transient endocrine structure formed from the ruptured ovarian follicle after ovulation, secretes progesterone (P4) that is essential for establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in mammals. The biosynthesis and secretion of P4 from CL depends, in general, on trophic hormones of the anterior pituitary gland and on hormones or factors originating from ovary, uterus, embryo and placenta. The structure and function of CL tissue is regulated by intricate interplay between two types of factors, namely, the luteotrophic factors, which stimulate CL growth and function, i.e., P4 secretion, and the luteolytic factors, which inhibit CL function and lead to luteal regression. In monoovulatory species such as higher primates and bovines, a striking diversity in the regulation of CL function exists not only between species, but also within the species during different stages of the luteal phase. In higher primates, unlike other species, one of the important characteristics of CL regulation is that, during non-fertile cycle, circulating LH appears to be the sole trophic factor responsible for maintenance of its function, and during fertile cycle, chorionic gonadotropin (CG), an LH analogue, originating from placenta maintains CL function. In higher primates, the role/involvement of luteolytic factors during luteolysis remains elusive. On the other hand, in the bovine species, the role/involvement of luteolytic factor, prostaglandin (PG) F2α during luteolysis is well established. It should be pointed out that in both the species, the mechanism of luteolysis is still poorly understood and the work presented in this thesis attempts to address these lacunae. Further, in bovines, studies have been carried out to examine potential trophic factor(s) responsible for the maintenance of CL function. Chapter I provides an extensive review of literature on CL structure and function with emphasis on factors that influence its growth, development, function and demise in primates and bovines. In Chapter II, employing bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata) as the representative animal model for higher primates, various studies have been conducted to examine the role of molecular modulators involved in regulation of CL function, particularly during spontaneous luteolysis. Although, it is well established that LH is essential for the maintenance of CL function in higher primates, the mechanism(s) responsible for the decline in serum P4 levels at the end of non-fertile cycles, without a concomitant change in circulating LH milieu, remains to be addressed. Several experiments have been conducted to examine the component(s) of luteotrophic (LH/CG) signaling that is/are modulated during luteolysis in the bonnet monkey CL. To understand the relative lack of responsiveness of CL to the circulating LH during the late luteal phase, LH/CG receptor (R) dynamics (expression of LH/CGR and its various transcript variants) was examined throughout the luteal phase and during different functional states of the monkey CL. The results indicated presence of LH/CGR mRNA, its transcript variants and functional LH/CGR protein in the monkey CL on day 1 of menses. Moreover, the functionality of receptors was tested by confirming the biological response of the CL to bolus administration of exogenous LH preparations, which eventually suggested factor(s) downstream of LH/CGR activation to account for the decline in CL function observed during non-fertile cycle. Studies have been conducted to identify molecular modulators that would selectively exploit intraluteal processes to regulate trophic signaling pathways that are critical to the control of luteal function. Immunoblot and qPCR analyses were carried out to examine presence and activation of Src family of kinases (SFKs) and cAMP-phosphodiesterases (PDEs) during various functional states of CL. The results revealed an increased activation of Src (phosphorylated at Tyr 416) during spontaneous and PGF2α/CET-induced luteolysis that may participate in the regulation of cAMP levels in part by increasing the cAMP-PDE activity observed during spontaneous luteolysis. This observation raised the question on the possible mechanism by which CG, an analog of pituitary LH, rescues CL function during early pregnancy. Thus, subsequent experiments involving LH/hCG administration in CET-treated animals as well as simulated early pregnancy animal model were conducted and the results revealed that, a bolus of LH/hCG decreased Src activation and cAMP-PDE activity accompanying a momentous increase in cAMP levels in both these models that further led to a concomitant increase in P4 secretion. Although the mechanisms of action of LH/CG involve modulation of a number of signaling pathways in the CL, by far, the results from various experiments suggested that it leads to activation of Src kinase and cAMP-PDE, thus causing inhibition of various elements of the primary signaling cascade- AC/cAMP/PKA/CREB during spontaneous luteolysis. One of the consequences of activation of Src kinase and cAMP-PDE was the regulation of expression of genes associated with steroidogenesis and it was observed that expression of SR-B1, a membrane receptor associated with trafficking of HDL-CE into the luteal cells, was lower in the regressed CL. The results taken together suggest that the decrease in responsiveness of CL to LH milieu during non-fertile cycles is not associated with changes in LH/CGR dynamics, but, is instead coupled to the activation of Src kinase and cAMP-PDE, inhibition of molecules downstream of LH signaling, and a decrease in the SR-B1 expression that regulates cholesterol economy of the luteal cell, and in turn, P4 secretion. The control of primate CL function appears to be dominated by the luteotrophic factors (LH/CG) over the luteolytic factors, since the process of luteal regression was overcome by administration of LH/CG. Further, in the primate CL, the molecular modulators of LH/CG signaling (Src kinase and PDE) are maintained in the repressed state by the luteotrophic factor LH/CG for maximum steroidogenic function. In contrast, in non-primate species, without invoking a role for the luteotrophic factor, essentially the synthesis and secretion of luteolytic factor, PGF2α, from the uterus is kept in check during pregnancy by the trophoblast derived IFN- and thus allowing CL to continue to function that is essential for maintenance of pregnancy. In the bovine species, the mechanism of PGF2α-induced luteolysis that involves a change in expression of genes associated with various processes of cellular function is poorly understood. Experiments were conducted utilizing buffalo cows (Bubalus bubalis) as a model system, to determine temporal changes in the global gene expression profile of the CL in response to PGF2α treatment. For this purpose, CL tissues were collected on day 11 of estrous cycle without treatment (designated as 0 h) and at 3, 6 and 18 h post PGF2α treatment for various analyses. Global changes in gene expression pattern in the CL were investigated employing Affymetrix GeneChip bovine genome array and the results are presented in Chapter III. The hybridization intensity values obtained by microarray analysis were subjected to R/Bioconductor tool. Following the application of highly stringent statistical filters to eliminate false positives, a set of differentially expressed genes were identified. The differentially expressed genes were further classified based on a fold change cut-off filter of ≥2, and the analysis revealed 127 genes to be differentially expressed within 3 h of PGF2α administration, of these 64 and 63 genes were up-regulated and down-regulated, respectively. Analysis of microarray data at 6 h post PGF2α administration revealed 774 genes to be differentially expressed, of which 544 genes were up-regulated, while 230 genes were down-regulated. The microarray analysis performed on CL tissues collected at 18 h post PGF2α administration showed that out of the total 939 differentially expressed genes, 571 genes were up-regulated, while 368 genes were down-regulated. Analysis of the ontology report for the biological processes category showed that initially in response to PGF2α administration, genes regulating steroidogenesis, cell survival and transcription were differentially regulated in the CL, but at later time points, differential expression of genes involved in apoptosis, PGF2α metabolism, tissue remodeling and angiogenesis was observed. Further, involvement of molecules downstream of LH/IGF-1 activation was investigated and the results obtained indicated that PGF2α interfered with the LH/IGF-1 signaling since the expression of LH/CGR, GHR and pAkt were down-regulated following PGF2αadministration. Furthermore, the functional luteolysis observed post PGF2αadministration appeared to be due to an interruption in cholesterol trafficking to inner mitochondrial membrane, since StAR expression was inhibited. The results obtained also demonstrated that the expression of AGTR1, VEGFR2 and R3 were down-regulated following PGF 2α administration. Further, the data obtained also suggested modulation of expression of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors upon PGF2α-treatment indicative of an involvement of other autocrine or paracrine factor(s) in the regression of bovine CL. This was an interesting finding as it suggests a novel and potential functional relationship between angiogenesis and the luteolytic response of CL to PGF2α administration. In bovines, despite extensive research being carried out to examine factors involved in the regulation of development and function of the CL, the trophic factor(s) required for maintenance of CL function, especially, P4 biosynthesis and secretion are not well characterized. It was hypothesized that the function of the CL during its finite lifespan must be responsive to LH as well as to various growth factors. Thus, experiments were conducted to examine the effects of increased LH and GH/IGF-I on the maintenance of CL function during mid luteal phase and post PGF2α administration and the results of these studies are presented in Chapter IV. To elucidate the role of LH as a trophic factor in the regulation of CL function, effects of increased endogenous LH through GnRH administration and exogenous hCG injections were examined. The results indicated an absence of noticeable effect of various hCG/GnRH treatments on circulating P4 levels. On the other hand, administration of GH resulted in increased serum IGF-1 and P4 levels. It was further observed that the administration of a combination of hCG and GH increased serum P4 levels better than treatment with GH alone. Further experiments were carried out to examine the complex reciprocal relationship between LH/GH and PGF2α on expression of genes involved in the regulation of luteal structure and function. In buffalo cows, administration of exogenous hCG and/or GH following inhibition of CL function by PGF2α administration did not prevent the PGF2α-induced decline in serum P4 levels, but PGF2-mediated decrease in expression of LH/CGR and GHR genes was prevented upon GH administration. However, the decrease in StAR expression was not restored by hCG and GH treatments, thereby indicating that PGF2 action was not prevented by hCG and/or GH treatments. Taken together, the results of studies carried out in buffalo cows employing various experimental model systems suggest essential role for LH and GH/IGF-1, however, these factors were unable to reverse PGF2α-induced luteolysis. Further, our crucial findings of the effects of increased endogenous LH and IGF-1, in addition to their relationship with luteolytic agents such as PGF2α will open new avenues for studying the mechanisms involved in the regulation of structural and functional properties of the buffalo CL. It is well known that a large number of buffalo cows experience loss of pregnancy and infertility due to inadequate luteal function and/or failure of timely insemination. Results from our studies suggest that the incorporation of PGF2α and hCG or GH/IGF-1 protocols in buffalo cows to be beneficial for improving their breeding efficiency as these protocols are likely to increase luteal function with defined luteolysis. To summarize, the results of studies described in the present thesis provide new insights into the physiological and molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of CL function during luteolysis in the monoovulatory species. The results suggest that the maintenance of CL function appears to be dependent on both luteotrophic and luteolytic factors, but with a varied degree of dominance between the two species examined. Further, the results indicate that while the luteotrophic factors (LH/CG) dominate the CL regulation in primates, the regulation of CL function in bovines is dominated by the actions of luteolytic factor (PGF2α). In monoovulatory species, the luteotrophic and luteolytic factors following binding to their specific plasma membrane receptors on the luteal cells, would counteract each other and modulate activation of various downstream signaling molecules subsequently leading to regulation of gene expression and P4 secretion (Fig.5.1). LH: luteinizing hormone; CG: chorionic gonadotropin; LH/CGR: LH/CG receptor; Gαs: stimulatory α-subunit of trimeric G-protein; AC: adenylate cyclase; cAMP: cyclic adenosine monophosphate; PKA: protein kinase A; p: phosphorylation: CREB: cAMP response element binding protein; SR-B1: scavenger receptor class B, type I; SF-1: steroidogenic factor 1; LRH-1: liver receptor homologue 1; P4; progesterone; Src; sarcoma; PDE4D: cAMP phosphodiesterase 4D; StAR, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein; PGF2α: prostaglandin F2α; PTGFR: PGF2α receptor; PLC: phospholipase C; CYP19A1: cytochrome P450 aromatase; PTGR1: Prostaglandin reductase 1; AREG: Amphiregulin; RTK: receptor tyrosine kinase; Akt: protein kinase B; FKHR: forkhead transcription factor; DAPL1: death associated protein like 1; ARG2: Arginase, type II Growth factor LH/CGR RR AC Gαs ? Gα TT P? Gα K PKP src cAMP ? P Akt PDE4D P PFKHR FKHR CREB P LRH-1CREB P SF-1 Genes associated with Genes associated with apoptosis ? CYP19A1, apoptosis SR-B1 PTGR1 DAPL1 SF-1, LRH-1 AREG ARG 2 P4 biosynthesis Apoptosis? P4 biosynthesis Apoptosis MONKEY BUFFALO COW Shown here is the diagram depicting intracellular signaling pathways regulated by luteotrophic factor (LH) and luteolytic factor (PGF2α) and their cross talk to counteract changes in the expressions of genes associated with the biosynthesis and secretion of P4 and apoptosis in the CL. In primates, LH/CG activates a multitude of intracellular signaling cascades, primarily Gαs/AC/cAMP/PKA/CREB leading to changes in gene expression. LH during early and mid luteal phase and CG during pregnancy maintain the activation of Src and PDE in an inhibitory state. However, during the late luteal phase of non-fertile cycle, results in present study suggests that activated Src levels and PDE activity increase, with accompanying decrease in cAMP and pCREB levels leading to concomitant decrease in SR-B1 expression, and in turn, P4 secretion. Surprisingly, regulation of apoptotic gene expression and CL regression are still unclear. In bovines, PGF2α of uterine origin mediates changes in luteal gene expression and results in decreased P4 secretion, principally by reduction in StAR level. The present study suggests that during luteolysis PGF2α affects the genes regulated by LH, by interfering with LH (and perhaps IGF-1) signaling leading to alteration in the expression of genes crucial for CL structure and function. (Pl refer the abstract file for figures)

Ultra wide band (UWB) is an extremely promising wireless technology for researchers and industrials. One of the most interesting is its high data rate and fading robustness due to selective frequency fading. However, beside such advantages, UWB system performance is highly affected by existing narrowband interference (NBI), undesired UWB signals and tone/multi-tone noises. For this reason, research about NBI cancellation is still a challenge to improve the system performance vs. receiver complexity, power consumption, linearity, etc. In this work, the two major receiver sections, i.e., analog (radiofrequency or RF) and digital (digital signal processing or DSP), were considered and new techniques proposed to reduce circuit complexity and power consumption, while improving signal parameters. In the RF section, different multiband UWB low-noise amplifier key design parameters were investigated like circuit configuration, input matching and desired/undesired frequency band filtering, highlighting the most suitable filtering package for efficient UWB NBI cancellation. In the DSP section, due to pulse transmitter signals, different issues like modulation type and level, pulse variety, shape and color noise/tone noise assumptions, were addressed for efficient NBI cancelation. A comparison was performed in terms of bit-error rate, signal-to-interference ratio, signal-to-noise ratio, and channel capacity to highlight the most suitable parameters for efficient DSP design. The optimum number of filters that allows the filter bandwidth to be reduced by following the required low sampling rate and thus improving the system bit error rate was also investigated.

The goal of this thesis is to investigate the possibilities of the OGRE visualization library and to implement an application which utilizes both simple and advanced OGRE features. Furhtermore there are explained basics of creating effects using Cg language and connecting them with OGRE library. The Bullet library which is often used in visualization applications for physics calculations is analyzed as well. The second part describes implementation of the demo application. In the end, the results are discussed, including possibilities of future development.

Der Gegenstand dieser Arbeit ist die Untersuchung spezieller Lösungsmethoden zum Problem des Kontaktes eines elastischen Körpers mit einem festen Hindernis sowie des Kontaktes zweier elastischer Körper miteinander. Grundlage der Betrachtungen ist dabei ein Lösungsverfahren, das auf Unterraum-CG-Techniken beruht. Die zu Grunde liegende partielle Differentialgleichung zur Modellierung der Verformung eines elastischen Körpers ist die Lame-Gleichung. Aufbauend auf dieser Gleichung wird das Problem des Kontaktes in einer neuen Formulierung, die auch große Verformungen zuläßt, betrachtet. Um diese Probleme mit Hilfe der Finiten-Elemente-Methode numerisch lösen zu können, erfolgt die Betrachtung der üblichen Variationsformulierung mit Hilfe von Variationsungleichungen sowie die Angabe einer alternativen Formulierung, die auf einer Variationsgleichung beruht. Zur Konstruktion eines effektiven Lösungsalgorithmus werden die Problematiken der a-posteriori Fehlerschätzung, Voraussetzungen an Vernetzungen sowie moderner Lösungsmethoden zum Auflösen des Finiten-Elemente-Gleichungssystems betrachtet. Um die aus dem Kontaktproblem resultierenden Restriktionen zu erfüllen, wird die Klasse der Unterraum-CG-Verfahren einführend betrachtet und es wird die Anpassung dieser Verfahren auf die betrachteten Probleme vorgestellt. Die für derartige Lösungsmethoden verwendeten Projektoren werden formuliert und es werden verschiedene Formulierungen dieser Projektoren in Bezug auf Effektivität der Implementierung sowie Speicheraufwand miteinander verglichen. Es wird auf einige verschiedene Möglichkeiten der Beschreibung von Hindernissen sowie des Kontaktproblems zweier elastischer Körper miteinander eingegangen und es werden Referenzimplementierungen zu diesen Problemen angegeben. Zu den implementierten Projektoren werden Beispielrechnungen am Ende der jeweiligen Abschnitte vorgestellt sowie die Rechenzeiten und Konvergenzverhalten restringierter und unrestringierter Elastizitätsprobleme verglichen. Es zeigt sich dabei der Vorteil der entwickelten Verfahren in einem vergleichbaren numerischen Aufwand zwischen restringierten und unrestringierten Problemen bei einer übersichtlichen Implementierbarkeit und guter Stabilität. Die Problemklasse von Restriktionen im Inneren des betrachteten Gebietes wird anhand des Clinch-Problems formuliert, und die zur Lösung derartiger Probleme verwendeten Projektoren betrachtet. Die Referenzimplementierung aller vorgestellen Algorithmen und Projektoren erfolgt dabei in einem adaptiven 2D-FEM-Programm, welches innerhalb des DFG-Sonderforschungsbereichs 393 "Parallele Numerische Simulation für Physik und Kontinuumsmechanik" entstanden ist.

Gegenstand der vorliegenden Arbeit ist die numerische Simulation piezoelektrischen Materialverhaltens, sowie spezieller Probleme aus der Mechanik (inkompressibles Materialverhalten) unter Anwendung der Methode der finiten Elemente. Hierbei wird die Strategie der adaptiven Netzsteuerung angewendet, welche mit Hilfe einer lokalisierten a-posteriori Fehlerschätzung erlaubt, den lokalen Feinheitsgrad der Diskretisierung den Besonderheiten der Aufgabenstellung anzupassen. Beide betrachteten Problemklassen führen nach der Diskretisierung und FEM auf Gleichungssysteme in spezieller Blockstruktur, die insgesamt symmetrisch, aber nicht positiv definit ist. Als Löser kann nicht der gewöhnliche CG verwendet werden, stattdessen wird eine Variante des Bramble-Pasciak-CGs benutzt, welcher als Speziallöser die Matrizenstruktur ausnutzt. Für diesen Löser wird eine Strategie zur Parameterwahl vorgeschlagen sowie die Wirksamkeit einer Vorkonditionierung im piezoelektrischen Fall theoretisch nachgewiesen. Weiterhin wird die FEM einschließlich Adaptivität für Piezomaterialien auf rotationssymmetrische Probleme erweitert, so daß diese spezielle Problemklasse zweidimensional gerechnet werden kann. Numerische Vergleiche mit echter 3D-Rechnung illustrieren enorme Vorteile in Genauigkeit und Rechenaufwand. Im letzten Kapitel werden in piezoelektrische Materialien hineinwachsende Risse betrachtet und entsprechende Anpassungen vorgenommen. Mit Wahl geeigneter Datenstrukturen und einer passenden Vorkonditionierung ist es möglich, eine Simulationssoftware bereitzustellen welche als Grundlage zum Test von Bruchkriterien verwendet werden kann. Die beschriebenen numerischen Methoden wurden in ein bestehendes adaptives 2D-FEM-Programm implementiert, und an ausgewählten Beispielen ein Vergleich mit einer analytischen Lösung durchgeführt sowie die Effektivität der Rechnung getestet.