Preface - Biotechnology is generally considered to be the wave of the future. To facilitate accurate and rapid development of medication and treatments, it is critical that we are able to simulate the human body. One section of this complex model would be the human energy system. Pharmaceutical companies are currently pouring vast amounts of capital into research regarding general simulation of cellular structures, protein structures and bodily processes. Their aim is to develop treatments and medication for major diseases. Some of these diseases are epidemics like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, stress, obesity, etc. One of the most important causes of these diseases is poor blood glucose control. Current management methods for insulin dependent diabetes are limited to trial and error systems: clearly ineffective and prone to errors. It is critical that better management systems be developed, to ease the diabetic epidemic. The blood glucose control system is one of the major systems in the body, as we are in constant need of energy to facilitate the optimum functioning of the human body. This study makes use of a developed simulation model for the human energy system to ease the management of Diabetes mellitus, which is a malfunction of the human energy system. This dissertation is presented in two parts: The first part discusses the human energy simulation model, and the verification thereof, while the second presents possible applications of this model to ease the management of Diabetes. The human energy system simulation model - This section discusses the development and verification of the model. It also touches on the causes, and current methods, of managing diabetes, as well as the functioning of the human energy system. The human energy model is approached with the conservation of energy in mind. A top down model is developed, using data from independent studies to verify the model. Application of human energy simulation model - The human energy simulation model is of little use if the intended audience cannot use it: people suffering from malfunctioning energy systems. These include people having trouble with obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc. To facilitate this, we need to provide a variety of products useable by this group of people. We propose a variety of ways in which the model can be used: Cellular phone applications, Personal digital assistants (PDAs) applications, as well as computer software. By making use of current technology, we generate a basic proof-of-concept application to demonstrate the intended functionality. / MIng (Mechanical Engineering) North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004

Preface - Biotechnology is generally considered to be the wave of the future. To facilitate accurate and rapid development of medication and treatments, it is critical that we are able to simulate the human body. One section of this complex model would be the human energy system. Pharmaceutical companies are currently pouring vast amounts of capital into research regarding general simulation of cellular structures, protein structures and bodily processes. Their aim is to develop treatments and medication for major diseases. Some of these diseases are epidemics like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, stress, obesity, etc. One of the most important causes of these diseases is poor blood glucose control. Current management methods for insulin dependent diabetes are limited to trial and error systems: clearly ineffective and prone to errors. It is critical that better management systems be developed, to ease the diabetic epidemic. The blood glucose control system is one of the major systems in the body, as we are in constant need of energy to facilitate the optimum functioning of the human body. This study makes use of a developed simulation model for the human energy system to ease the management of Diabetes mellitus, which is a malfunction of the human energy system. This dissertation is presented in two parts: The first part discusses the human energy simulation model, and the verification thereof, while the second presents possible applications of this model to ease the management of Diabetes. The human energy system simulation model - This section discusses the development and verification of the model. It also touches on the causes, and current methods, of managing diabetes, as well as the functioning of the human energy system. The human energy model is approached with the conservation of energy in mind. A top down model is developed, using data from independent studies to verify the model. Application of human energy simulation model - The human energy simulation model is of little use if the intended audience cannot use it: people suffering from malfunctioning energy systems. These include people having trouble with obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc. To facilitate this, we need to provide a variety of products useable by this group of people. We propose a variety of ways in which the model can be used: Cellular phone applications, Personal digital assistants (PDAs) applications, as well as computer software. By making use of current technology, we generate a basic proof-of-concept application to demonstrate the intended functionality. / MIng (Mechanical Engineering) North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004

Ziele: Mittels absolutquantifizierender Protonen-Magnet-Resonanz-Spektroskopie (1H-MRS) wollten wir das Ergebnis einer Vorstudie bestätigen, die im Frontallappen einen reduzierten Quotienten von myo-Inositol/Gesamtcreatin (mI/tCr) bei Depressiven fand. Darüber hinaus testeten wir den antidepressiven Effekt von Inositol als Add-on-Therapie. Methodik: Wir untersuchten Einzelvoxel (2 x 2 x 2 cm3) in der weißen Substanz der rechten und linken Präfrontalregion mit Hilfe eines 3-Tesla Bruker Medspec Systems (STEAM Sequenz, TR/TE/TM = 6000/20/30 ms). Die einzelnen Metabolite wurden anhand des cerebralen Wassers als internem Standard quantifiziert (nach dem LCModell). Es wurden 24 unmedizierte Patienten mit unipolaren depressiven Episoden mit 24 alters- und geschlechtsgematchten gesunden Kontrollen verglichen. In doppelblindem, Plazebo-kontrollierten Parallelgruppen-Design erhielten die Patienten täglich 18 Gramm Inositol oder Plazebo zusätzlich zu Citalopram über vier Wochen. Ergebnisse: An der Baseline unterschieden sich die mI-, Cholin- und N-Acetyl-Aspartat-Konzentrationen der Patienten nicht von jenen der Kontrollen. Es fanden sich keine sich keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen Inositol- und Plazebo-Gruppe. Überraschenderweise zeigten die depressiven Patienten an der Baseline gegenüber den Kontrollen signifikant höhere tCr-Konzentrationen (mmol/kg) links (5,57 ± 0,96 vs. 4,87 ± 0,63; + 15 %, p < 0,01) und rechts präfrontal (5,29 ± 0,92 vs. 4,46 ± 0,41; + 17 %, p < 0,01). Nach der Behandlung ergab sich eine Reduktion der tCr-Konzentration links- (Tag 28: 5,05 ± 1,16; – 12 %, p = 0,08) und rechtsfrontal (Tag 28: 4,61 ± 1,07; – 9 %, p = 0,09). Die tCr-Konzentrationen der Patienten am Tag 28 unterschieden sich nicht mehr von jenen der Kontrollen. Zusammenfassung: Wir zeigten eine reversible Steigerung der tCr-Konzentration der Patienten im Vergleich zu Kontrollen, die auf Veränderungen des Creatin-Transports oder der ATP-Synthese bei unmedizierter unipolarer Depression hinweisen könnte. / Objectives: By means of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) with absolute quantification we wanted to confirm our previous finding of decreased ratios of the metabolites myo-Inositol/total creatine (mI/tCr) in the right frontal brain of depressives. Moreover, we tested the antidepressive effect of oral Inositol ingestion as add-on-therapy. We measured concentrations (mmol/kg ww) of mI, tCr (= Creatine + Phosphocreatine), Choline (Cho) and N-Acetyl-Aspartate (NAA) in the frontal brain. Methods: Single voxels (2x2x2 cm3) in the white matter of the left and right prefrontal region were examined in a three Tesla Bruker Medspec System (STEAM sequence, TR/TE/TM = 6000/20/30 ms). Metabolites were quantified using the LCModel. At baseline, 24 drug-free patients with unipolar depressive episodes were compared to 24 age and sex matched healthy controls. In a double blind, placebo controlled parallel-group design patients received daily 18 grams Inositol or placebo as an add on therapy to Citalopram over four weeks. Results: At baseline, mI, Cho and NAA concentrations showed no significant differences between patients and controls. The treatment with Inositol did not result in any significant differences to the treatment with placebo. Surprisingly the patients showed significant higher tCr concentrations in the left (5.57 ± 0.96 vs. 4.87 ± 0.63; + 15 %, p < 0.01) as well as in the right prefrontal region (5.29 ± 0.92 vs. 4.46 ± 0.41; + 17 %, p < 0.01) compared to controls. The treatment caused a trend towards a decrease of tCr in the left (day 28: 5.05 ± 1.16; – 12 %, p = 0.08) and in the right frontal hemisphere (day 28: 4.61 ± 1.07; – 9 %, p = 0.09) compared to baseline. The differences between the patients’ tCr at day 28 and the tCr of controls were no more significant. Conclusion: We have found a state dependent increase of tCr concentration indicating bifrontal deviations in Creatine transport or ATP synthesis in drug free unipolar depressives.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-14T13:47:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 383028.pdf: 539849 bytes, checksum: fef6f0eec2a27ecfa354aad14c30d996 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-08-02 / Esta pesquisa objetiva analisar em que consiste e como ? articulada a identidade nacional do Rio Grande do Sul por Moys?s Vellinho. Para isso, se analisar? como o intelectual constr?i por meio de sua cr?tica liter?ria assinada sob o pseud?nimo Paulo Arinos, e em sua interpreta??o historiogr?fica, uma narrativa da identidade nacional para o Rio Grande do Sul e o ga?cho. A an?lise dos dois discursos permite compreender como a preocupa??o nacionalista, sendo comum aos dois, os irmanar? em objetivos que extravasam a cr?tica liter?ria puramente formal e a interpreta??o hist?rica neutra ou estritamente baseada em pressupostos cient?ficos.

Submitted by Setor de Tratamento da Informa??o - BC/PUCRS (tede2@pucrs.br) on 2015-11-13T17:58:49Z No. of bitstreams: 1 476081 - Texto Completo.pdf: 14696700 bytes, checksum: 8f414b6f73e683503c2e00526ebebd69 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-11-13T17:58:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 476081 - Texto Completo.pdf: 14696700 bytes, checksum: 8f414b6f73e683503c2e00526ebebd69 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-10-09 / Analyzing a case of convergence of printed to the online in a popular newspaper, the present work aims to discuss the new functions and tasks that are assigned to the report. The theories of news, the basic work of the reporter, and mobile technologies digital and its impact on productive routines of writing, serve as the basis for the study. The research, performed in the newspaper Di?rio Ga?cho, in Porto Alegre, proposes a discussion about the influences of webjournalism at work the reporter and in its daily function to capture the events of a reality. / Analisando um caso de converg?ncia do impresso para o online em um jornal popular, o presente trabalho tem por objetivo discutir as novas fun??es e tarefas atribu?das ? reportagem. As teorias da not?cia, mat?ria b?sica do trabalho do rep?rter, e as tecnologias m?veis digitais e seu impacto nas rotinas produtivas da reda??o, servem como base para o estudo. A pesquisa, feita no jornal Di?rio Ga?cho, de Porto Alegre, prop?e uma discuss?o sobre as influ?ncias do webjornalismo no trabalho do rep?rter e na sua fun??o di?ria de captar os acontecimentos de uma realidade.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-14T13:37:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 399596.pdf: 17142617 bytes, checksum: 9dc962cc80729f65b05a9a6739b8dd41 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-01-22 / A disserta??o analisa as conex?es existentes entre as figuras hist?rica e ficcional do ga?cho, a partir de um corpus liter?rio composto pelas obras O ga?cho, de Jos? de Alencar, e Persegui??o e cerco a Juv?ncio Gutierrez, de Tabajara Ruas, visando identificar e discutir os desvios existentes entre hist?ria e fic??o e as mudan?as na significa??o do ga?cho. Para esse empreendimento, ? realizada uma reconstitui??o do conceito de ga?cho, com o devido levantamento hist?rico. O ga?cho apresenta uma constru??o muito diferente nas obras selecionadas, especialmente em Persegui??o e cerco a Juv?ncio Gutierrez, o que demonstra o distanciamento entre a figura do ga?cho idealizado e o mundo real, hist?rico. Em O ga?cho, encontramos uma figura que idealiza a integra??o do ga?cho com o pampa e a natureza, fundando o par?metro do regionalismo ga?cho. O cotejo entre o ga?cho hist?rico e o ga?cho ficcional evidenciar?, sobretudo, uma tend?ncia para a urbaniza??o dos habitantes do Rio Grande do Sul e a sua gradual inser??o no sistema pol?tico e social.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-14T13:38:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 431175.pdf: 551684 bytes, checksum: 07e7f6cde7907d9ab1bb5635dc04aa15 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-01-06 / A disserta??o prop?e uma leitura contempor?nea da Trilogia do Ga?cho a P?, que ? composta pelos romances Sem rumo (1937), Porteira fechada (1944) e Estrada nova (1954). Para examinar a obra de Cyro Martins, que, no in?cio do s?culo XX, antecipou a problematiza??o de aspectos inerentes ao contexto atual, permitindo uma leitura com base em teorias que explicam a contemporaneidade, evidenciam-se quest?es relacionadas ? constru??o da identidade cultural, a fronteiras e territ?rios e a processos de globaliza??es. Assim, o estudo pretende estabelecer a possibilidade de novas leituras e interpreta??es da trilogia, observando a presen?a do passado na compreens?o do presente, a fim de contribuir para a expans?o e continuidade dos estudos e pesquisas acerca da produ??o liter?ria de Cyro Martins

Les petits ARN interférents (siRNA) sont encore rarement utilisés chez les vertébrés transgéniques pour inhiber l'expression de gènes. En effet, les vecteurs contenant un promoteur de type ARN polymérase III comme ceux des gènes U6 et H1 qui permettent une expression élevée des gènes codant pour des ARNi dans des cellules sont souvent silencieux in vivo. Dans cette thèse, divers vecteurs exprimant des petits ARN double brins (shRNA) ont été testés dans des cellules en culture et chez des souris transgéniques pour inhiber l'ARN m du gène précoce IE du virus de la pseudo rage porcine responsable de la maladie d'Aujeszky. La quantité et la séquence des si RNA produits ont été étudiées par qPCR. Dans des cellules CHO transfectées pour une expression transitoire, les vecteurs contenant les gènes U6-shRNA ont été de loin les plus efficaces pour inhiber le gène IE en raison du niveau élevé de siRNA produit. Par ailleurs, deux constructions contenant le promoteur de type ARN polymérase II, le promoteur du gène eF1-α etune séquence de shRNA bordée par 5T ou introduite dans un gène de microARN (miRNA) le miR30 ont permis d'obtenir une inhibition significative mais limitée de l'ARNm du gène IE. Ceci parait être du au niveau relativement faible de siRNA produit. Le siRNA produit par le gène du miRNA s'est avéré aussi efficace que ceux obtenus à partir des constructions U6-shRNA bien que ces derniers soient un peu plus longs. Ces diverses constructions ont été utilisées pour obtenir des souris transgéniques. Des souris contenant la séquence du shRNA n'ont pu être obtenues qu'à partir de la construction miRNA. Ceci peut être du au fait que les siRNA produits par les autres constructions ont exercé un effet inhibiteur sur des cibles aspécifiques (off-targeting) qui ne s'est pas produit avec le siRNA provenant de la construction miRNA car il contient quelques nucléotides en moins. Les souris transgéniques contenant la construction miRNA ont été soumises à une infection par le virus de la pseudo rage porcine. Bien que les souris exprimaient le gène shRNA qu'à un faible niveau. Quelques souris transgéniques ont résisté à l'infection. La seconde partie de la thèse a consisté à sélectionner d'autres séquences de shRNA capables d'inhiber l'expression du gène IE sans exercer des effets aspécifiques. Deux séquences de shRNA ont permis une telle inhibition. L'une est dirigée contre la région 5'UTR du gène IE et l'autre contre la région 3'UTR. Ces données suggèrent que (1) l'efficacité d'un shRNA n'est pas déterminée par sa séquence d'une manière totalement prévisible (2) l'efficacité d'un siRNA est d'autant plus élevé que sa séquence cible dans l'ARNm est en structure double brin (3) un effet inhibiteur intense et optimum peut être obtenu avec des concentrations faibles d'un siRNA (4) les effets secondaires et en particulier le off-targeting peuvent avoir lieu à faible concentration du siRNA mais ils ont d'autant plus de chance de se produire que la concentration du si RNA est plus élevée (5) un siRNA destiné à être utilisé chez des animaux transgéniques devrait être choisi pour sa capacité à inhiber efficacement un gène à faible concentration pour réduire ses effets secondaires.

Between 1921 to 1941, Canada and Japan were close trading partners. The end of World War II provided the two countries with the opportunity to resume their former economic relationship. However, Japan was a defeated country, lacking in resources and credit, and subject to the Occupation led by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers. In contrast, Canada was left with a strong economy and political independence. In 1945, Canada was invited to participate in the Far Eastern Advisory Commission that later became the Far Eastern Commission in 1946. In August 1946, Canada established a Liaison Mission at its former Legation in Tokyo. Using archival material, this study explores how trade was conducted between 1945-1951 and explains how Canada and Japan redeveloped their economic relationship during the challenging years of Occupied Japan.

Between 1921 to 1941, Canada and Japan were close trading partners. The end of World War II provided the two countries with the opportunity to resume their former economic relationship. However, Japan was a defeated country, lacking in resources and credit, and subject to the Occupation led by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers. In contrast, Canada was left with a strong economy and political independence. In 1945, Canada was invited to participate in the Far Eastern Advisory Commission that later became the Far Eastern Commission in 1946. In August 1946, Canada established a Liaison Mission at its former Legation in Tokyo. Using archival material, this study explores how trade was conducted between 1945-1951 and explains how Canada and Japan redeveloped their economic relationship during the challenging years of Occupied Japan.