Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2015-12-04T11:30:17Z No. of bitstreams: 1 marianamacedodealmeida.pdf: 4650594 bytes, checksum: 73217ac8cb6474bd22ccc88955919c7c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2015-12-07T03:19:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 marianamacedodealmeida.pdf: 4650594 bytes, checksum: 73217ac8cb6474bd22ccc88955919c7c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-07T03:19:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 marianamacedodealmeida.pdf: 4650594 bytes, checksum: 73217ac8cb6474bd22ccc88955919c7c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-04 / A prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade está crescendo em taxa alarmante no mundo. Essas condições fornecem maior risco para doenças crônicas, incluindo diabetes tipo 2. Nesse contexto, o ácido linoléico conjugado (CLA) tem atraído considerável atenção, principalmente devido às suas propriedades antiobesidade e antidiabética. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar de forma independente os efeitos do CLA proveniente de fontes natural e sintética sobre o risco de obesidade, sensibilidade à insulina e perfil de lipídeos séricos. Cinquenta ratos Wistar machos foram atribuídos aos seguintes tratamentos dietéticos (n=10/ grupo), por 60 dias: Controle Normolipídico (CN): dieta contendo 4,0% de óleo de soja (OS); Manteiga Controle (MC): dieta contendo 21,7% de manteiga padrão e 2,3% de OS; Manteiga enriquecida com CLA (M-CLA): dieta contendo 21,7% de manteiga enriquecida com CLA cis-9, trans-11 e 2,3% de OS; Controle Hiperlipídico (CH): dieta contendo 24,0% de OS e CLA Sintético (S-CLA): dieta contendo 1,5% de mistura de isômeros de CLA (Luta-CLA 60) e 22,5% de OS. Os animais alimentados com M-CLA tiveram menores níveis de insulina em jejum do que aqueles alimentados com dieta MC, enquando os níveis de PPARγ no tecido adiposo foram aumentados no grupo M-CLA comparado com o grupo MC. Além disso, R-QUICK foi menor nos animais alimentados com MC do que naqueles alimentados com CN, enquanto nenhuma diferença no R-QUICK foi observada entre os grupos CN e M-CLA. Os níveis de colesterol HDL e triglicérides foram maiores nos ratos alimentados com CLA-M. Portanto, a manteiga alto CLA preveniu a hiperinsulinemia, aumentou o colesterol HDL e causou hipertrigliceridemia. A dieta S-CLA não teve efeito sobre a ingestão alimentar e composição alimentar. Os ratos alimentados com S-CLA apresentaram menores níveis da proteína PPARγ no tecido adiposo, hiperinsulinemia, hiperglicemia, índice de HOMA aumentado e maiores níveis de colesterol HDL. Portanto, cautela deve ser tomada antes que suplemetos sintéticos contendo CLA cis-9, trans-11 e CLA trans- 10, cis-12 sejam recomendados. / The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing at an alarming rate. These conditions are a major risk for chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes. In this context, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has attracted considerable attention, mainly due to its anti-obesity and anti-diabetic properties. The present study aimed to independently evaluate the effects of CLA from natural and synthetic sources on obesity risk, insulin sensibility and profile of serum lipids. Fifty male Wistar rats were assigned to the following dietary treatments (n=10/group), for 60 days: Normolipidic Control (CN): diet containing 4.0% soybean oil (SO); Control Butter (MC): diet containing 21.7% standard butter and 2.3% SO; and CLA enriched Butter (M-CLA): diet containing 21.7% cis-9, trans-11 CLA-enriched butter and 2.3% SO; Hyperlipidic Control (CH), diet containing 24.0% SO; Synthetic CLA (S-CLA), diet containing 1.5% of an isomeric CLA mixture (Luta-CLA 60) and 22.5% SO. M-CLA-fed rats had lower serum insulin levels at fasting than those fed with the MC diet, while the PPARγ protein levels in adipose tissue was increased in M-CLA-fed rats compared to MCfed rats. Furthermore, R-QUICK was lower in MC than in CN group, while no differences in R-QUICK were observed among CN and M-CLA. Serum HDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels were higher in M-CLA-fed rat. Thus, feeding rats on a high-fat diet containing butter naturally enriched in cis-9, trans-11 CLA prevented hyperinsulinemia, increased HDL cholesterol levels and caused hypertriglyceridemia. The S-CLA diet had no effect on dietary intake and body composition. S-CLA-fed rats had lower levels of PPARγ protein in adipose tissue, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, increased HOMA index and higher levels of serum HDL cholesterol. Therefore, caution should be taken before synthetic supplements containing cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 CLA are recommended.

All organisms require rapid and flexible signaling mechanisms in order to effectively respond to biotic and abiotic stress. Calcium ions (Ca2+) have proven to be important components of signaling networks. Observations of stimulus-specific oscillations of cytosolic Ca2+ during signal transduction suggest that Ca2+ signals directly encode information. These stimulus-specific oscillations, known as Ca2+ signatures, can be interpreted by an array of Ca2+-binding sensors and effectors, which subsequently regulate appropriate cellular responses. While progress has been made regarding the classic Ca2+-sensor calmodulin (CaM), less research has been directed towards the CaM-like family of Ca2+-sensors (CMLs). This family – unique to plants – is suspected to regulate a multitude of stress and developmental pathways; however, to date very few members of this family have had their functions elucidated by the identification of downstream targets and upstream regulators. In the present study, I investigate the regulation of CML39, which has previously been shown to strongly respond to the stress hormone jasmonic acid (JA) in Arabidopsis. Bioinformatic tools predict a large number of putative JA-responsive cis-elements within the CML39 promoter. Deletion analysis of CML39 promoter fragments in planta reveals that some cis-elements respond in a tissue-specific manner. Analysis of transgenic MYC2 loss-of-function (myc2) mutants demonstrates that MYC2 – the preeminent JA-responsive transcription factor – is not necessary for CML39 promoter activity. Collectively, these data reveal a complex tissue-specific pattern of CML39 regulation and provide a foundation for the future identification of relevant transcription factors. / Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2013-09-24 21:06:30.592

NMR spectroscopy with in situ laser irradiation has been used to investigate the photo- and thermal isomerisation of eight azobenzene derivatives; diphenyldiazene (azobenzene), p-phenylazoaniline (p-aminoazobenzene), 4-(dimethylamino)azobenzene (Methyl Yellow), 4-dimethylamino-2-methylazobenzene (o-Methyl-Methyl Yellow), p-nitroazobenzene, 4-nitro-4’-dimethylaminoazobeneze (Dimethyl-nitroazobenzene), 4-(4-nitrophenylazo)aniline (Disperse Orange 3) and N-ethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-(4-nitrophenylazo) (Disperse Red 1). The rate constants and activation parameters of the thermal cis-to-trans isomerisation have been measured experimentally and correlated to the mechanism of isomerisation in two solvents. The experimental data show that the values of the activation energy (related to the enthalpy of activation) and the entropy of activation (related to the Arrhenius pre-exponential factor) vary significantly from molecule to molecule and thus both of these parameters influence the inter-molecule variation of the rate constant. Similarly, both of these parameters influence the solvent-dependence of the rate constant. Complementary computational studies have been carried out in the gas phase and in solution using density functional theory (DFT) to predict the structures of the cis and trans isomers and the transition state, and to explore the reaction coordinate. The theoretically predicted activation parameters are compared with those determined experimentally, and the utility of DFT calculations in predicting the effects of molecular structure and solvation on the kinetics of cis-to-trans isomerisation assessed. The DFT-predicted values of the activation energy and Gibbs free energy of activation in DMSO are in good agreement with the experimental values, while the values in benzene tend to be in less good agreement. The DFT calculations are unsuccessful at predicting the entropy of activation, where in all cases there is a large discrepancy between the theoretical and experimental values. The DFT- calculated energy differences between the activation energies of the two inversion pathways for the asymmetric azobenzenes suggests the favourable phenyl ring for inversion. The formation of a linear transition state from a dihedral rotation potential energy curve is explained in terms of the lower activation barrier of the more favourable inversion route (α-inversion) than that of the dihedral rotation pathway, and suggests the inversion through the α-phenyl ring to be the favoured pathway for substituted azobenzene. DFT calculations are able to obtain a transition state corresponding to pure rotation pathway for two azobenzene derivatives. The higher activation barrier for the formation of the transition state corresponding to this pathway compared to that of the formation of the α-transition state confirmed the previous conclusion. DFT predictions of the effect of protonation on the thermal rates of isomerisation of azobenzenes substituted with electron-donating group were in good agreement with the experimental results; both conclude faster isomerisation and lower activation barriers on protonation. However, DFT calculations could not confirm the postulation of rotational transition state for the isomerisation of the protonated molecule, as a result of weakening of the N=N bond by protonation.

This thesis studies the effect of innovation activities and productivity by using the CDM-model and extend the existing knowledge by using the CIS-dataset in combination with official statistics performing a such detailed regional analysis that have not been done before. By using the different labour market codes interacted with the industry codes I can capture informative deviations between different industries in different regions. The results show a significant variation between the different regions and industries, and that the urban and metropolitan areas are more innovative and more productive than the rural areas. However, the financial sector and health sectors showed a steady innovation input activity across most regions while the metropolitan areas showed to invest less in innovation inputs in the real estate sector compered to rural and urban areas.

The present study shows and analyses how bodies codified as women’s bodies can resist in an extreme violence context situated in Ciudad Juárez on the México-U.S. border. To be resistant or to make resistance in these circumstances can be represented in different ways, through social and civic movements, art, literature and weapons. How these women’s bodies seem and how their resistance is and what they represent is the line of investigation of this study. This resistance is a direct confrontation to the feminicide and the diverse forms of violence against bodies codified as women exercised by men. As well as the peripheral feminisms it is a confrontation to a cis hetero-patriarchal capitalist context. Women’s bodies are the territory or the stage where violence, terror, power and exploitation converge. The reaction and rejection to this situation by a diverse collective of women highlights the struggle and the activism that these groups have as a way of life, a way of dissent and finally a way of resistance.

Abstract BIOCHEMICAL ACTIONS OF A NOVEL CIS-TERPENONE By Lin Zhang, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012 Director: Qibing Zhou, Ph.D Assistant Professor Department of Chemistry Quinone methides are reactive species due to their electrophilicity, and natural quinone methide analogs have broad biological activities. Based on known actions of cytochrome P450 enzymes, we hypothesized that trans-terpenones can be metabolized in cells to form a cascade of metabolite products, which may be biologically active due to the generation of quinine and quinone methide reactive intermediates. Therefore, 3-hydroxy-cis-terpenone (HCT) and analogs were designed and synthesized in our lab to investigate this hypothesis. As a first step in testing this hypothesis, we examined effects of cis-terpenones on the viability of HepG2 cells exposed to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Cis-terpenones combined with AFB1 in HepG2 cells increased cell viability suggesting chemopreventive effects against AFB1. Further study revealed a mechanism for this effect: HCT and oxidized HCT (OHCT) inhibited activity of P450 1A/B, which metabolizes AFB1 to toxic metabolites, and thereby protected cells against AFB1 induced cytotoxicity. Additional studies demonstrated that HCT inhibits accumulation of tritium-labeled AFB1 in HepG2 cells. To investigate the mechanism of this effect we first determined whether specific transporters affect the accumulation of AFB1 in HepG2 cells. Effects on AFB1 accumulation by pH, selected ions, inhibitors or competitive substrates of organic cation transporters (OCT), organic anion transporters (OAT/OATP), and multi-drug-resistant efflux transporters eliminated effects of major groups of these transporters on AFB1 accumulation. The data indicated one or more unidentified proton dependent transport mechanism(s) modulate cellular accumulation of AFB1 and further demonstrated HCT inhibits accumulation of AFB1 in cells by decreasing AFB1 binding to intracellular proteins. Based on its potential chemoprotective actions, other biological actions of HCT were screened. Based on evidence that terpenes modulate immune cell production of cytokines, we examined effects of HCT on production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) by cultured macrophages. HCT reduced lipopolysaccharide-stimulated release of IL-6 and TNFα. MES-SA/DX5 cells that over-express the efflux transporter MDR1 were used to examine effects of OHCT on accumulation of the MDR1 substrate estrone-sulfate and to verify that MDR1 does not transport unconjugated AFB1. OHCT at a high concentration (120 µM) reduced cellular accumulation of estrone sulfate suggesting enhanced MDR1-mediated efflux

Thesis advisor: Michelle M. Meyer / Bacteria commonly utilize cis-acting mRNA structures that bind specific molecules to control gene expression in response to changing cellular conditions. Examples of these ligand-sensing RNA cis-regulators are found throughout the bacterial world and include riboswitches, which interact with small metabolites to modulate the expression of fundamental metabolic genes, and the RNA structures that bind select ribosomal proteins to regulate entire ribosomal protein operons. Despite advances in both non-coding RNA discovery and validation, many predicted regulatory RNA motifs remain uncharacterized and little work has examined how RNA cis-regulators behave within their physiological context in the cell. Furthermore, it is not well understood how structured RNA regulators emerge and are maintained within bacterial genomes. In this thesis, I validate the biological function of a conserved RNA cis-regulator of ribosomal protein synthesis previously discovered by my group using bioinformatic approaches. I then investigate how bacteria respond to the loss of two different cis-regulatory RNA structures. Using Bacillus subtilis as a model organism, I introduce point mutations into the native loci of the ribosomal protein L20-interacting RNA cis-regulator and the tandem glycine riboswitch and assay the strains for fitness defects. I find that disrupting these regulatory RNA structures results in severe mutant phenotypes, especially under harsh conditions such as low temperatures or high glycine concentrations. Together, this body of work highlights the advantages of examining RNA behavior within its biological context and emphasizes the important role RNA cis-regulators play in overall organismal viability. My studies shed light on the selective pressures that impact structured RNA evolution in vivo and reinforce the potential of cis-regulatory RNAs as novel antimicrobial targets. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2017. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Biology.

Thesis advisor: Michelle M. Meyer / As the factory responsible for producing proteins, ribosomes are of great importance. In bacteria, ribosomes are composed of three ribosomal RNAs (rRNA) of different sizes, and around 50 ribosomal proteins (r-protein). During ribosome biogenesis in bacteria, synthesis of rRNAs and r-proteins are both tightly regulated and coordinated to ensure robust growth. In particular, a group of cis-regulatory RNA elements located in the 5' untranslated regions or the intergenic regions in r-protein operons are responsible for the regulation of r-protein biosynthesis. Based on the fact that RNA-regulated r-protein biosynthesis is essential and universal in bacteria, such unique and varied regulatory RNAs could provide new targets for antibacterial purpose. In this thesis, we report and experimentally verify a novel r-protein L1 regulation model that contains dual L1-binding RNA motif, and for the first time, a S6:S18 dimer-binding RNA structure in the S6 operon. We also describe Escherichia coli-based and Schizosaccharomyces pombe-based reporter systems for in vivo characterization of RNA-protein interactions. So far, both in vivo systems failed to report RNA-protein interactions, and thus need further tuning. In addition, we performed phage-display to select for regulatory RNA-binding small peptides and examined their effects on bacteria viability. One selected peptide, N-TVNFKLY-C, caused defective growth when overexpressed in E. coli. Yet, further studies must be conducted to verify the possibility that bacteria were killed by direct RNA-peptide interaction that disrupted the native r-protein regulation. / Thesis (MS) — Boston College, 2014. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Biology.

The saturation of Western markets, strong and predatory competition, and the end of supranational state units, all these factors have contributed to eminent interest of multinational companies in the newly created markets of the Commonwealth of Independent States. For that reason, the thesis discusses marketing theories as well as a wide range of marketing strategies and tools tailored to local specific cosmetics markets based on executed situation analysis.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / The cowpea black aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch, 1854) is the most important insect pest of cowpea beans (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) and is cited as a key pest of this crop. One of the easiest way for its control is by the use of plant resistance to this pest being those natural or induced resistance. The objective of this research was evaluate natural resistance of Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. genotypes against black aphid and observe the effect of an resistance inductor, the cis-jasmone on cowpea to control aphid and a true bug and the effects of this material on production parameters. In green house were realized choice and no choice essays to search among 20 genotypes whose would have natural resistance and preference after cis jamone spray at a rate of 50g/ha on the Vita 7 cultivar. It also was realized one bioassay to determine the length of one generation on EPACE 10 and Vita 7 genotypes. The field work was done at Quixada, Cearà State (Brazil) by applying cis-jasmone at the dosage of 39.06 g/ha and 78.13 g/ha using EPACE 10 variety and observe the infestation of Aphis craccivora and bugs and a possible effect on production. The genotypes TVu 408P2, TVu 410, TVu 36 and TVu 1037 presented natural resistance being less susceptible to the aphid. Cis-jasmine had no effect, as resistance is concerned, on aphid population when compared to untreated control plants. O mean generation time of aphid on Vita 7 cultivar was five days and nineteen hours. No insect completed its life cycle on EPACE 10. In field the low insect level, is believed to be due to the natural resistance of genotype used, so no treatment differences were observed. There was also no difference for bug in the evaluation done. Cis-jamone had no effect on production parameters. / O pulgÃo-preto-do-feijoeiro (Aphis craccivora Koch, 1854) à uma das mais importantes pragas do feijÃo-de-corda (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) e à citada como praga chave desta cultura. Uma das formas mais simples de controle à a resistÃncia da planta a esta praga podendo ser esta resistÃncia natural ou induzida. Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar genÃtipos de Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. quanto a resistÃncia genÃtica natural ao pulgÃo-preto e observar o efeito de um indutor de resistÃncia, a cis-jasmona, sobre o feijÃo-de-corda para o controle do pulgÃo e do percevejo e os efeitos deste indutor sobre a produÃÃo. Em casa de vegetaÃÃo foram realizados experimentos de preferÃncia com e sem chance de escolha para definir quais dos vinte genÃtipos testados possuÃam resistÃncia natural e de preferÃncia apÃs a aplicaÃÃo de cis-jasmona na concentraÃÃo de 50 g/ha no genÃtipo Vita 7. TambÃm foi realizado experimento para mensurar o tempo de uma geraÃÃo de Aphis craccivora nos genÃtipos EPACE 10 e Vita 7. O experimento de campo foi realizado em QuixadÃ, CearÃ, onde foi aplicado a cis-jasmona na concentraÃÃo de 39,06 g/ha e 78,13 g/ha no genÃtipo EPACE 10 para observar a infestaÃÃo de Aphis craccivora, percevejos e um possÃvel efeito do indutor sobre a produÃÃo. Os genÃtipos TVu 408P2, TVu 410, TVu 36 e TVu 1037 apresentaram resistÃncia natural sendo os menos preferidos pelo pulgÃo. A cis-jasmona nÃo influenciou na resistÃncia ao pulgÃo uma vez que o tratamento com o produto nÃo diferiu da testemunha sem aplicaÃÃo. O tempo mÃdio para uma geraÃÃo de pulgÃo no genÃtipo Vita 7 foi, em mÃdia, cinco dias e dezenove horas. No genÃtipo EPACE 10 nenhum pulgÃo completou o ciclo. Em campo a infestaÃÃo por pulgÃo foi baixa devido à resistÃncia natural do genÃtipo utilizado nÃo apresentando diferenÃa entre os tratamentos. TambÃm nÃo houve diferenÃa estatÃstica entre os tratamentos para o ataque dos percevejos que surgiram na Ãrea do experimento. A cis-jasmona nÃo influenciou a produÃÃo do feijÃo-de-corda.