Major depressive disorder (MDD) is primarily characterized by prevalent sadness and anhedonia. Laboratory studies find that depression is characterized by reduced reactivity across emotional contexts, while a few studies using naturalistic designs find that depressed people show normative reactivity to negative life events and mood brightening in response to positive events. The current study was an investigation of emotional reactivity in depression through the use of experimental and naturalistic designs. This allowed for an investigation of sources of lab-life discrepancies in emotional functioning in depression, including negative affect (NA) regulation. We examined experiential reactivity across contexts and types of stimuli in 41 currently depressed (MDD) and 33 healthy controls. Results showed that overall, our groups were largely indistinguishable in NA and PA reactivity magnitude across contexts and types of stimuli, with some exceptions. When looking at sadness reactivity specifically, despite higher sadness at baseline, MDDs reported in the lab similar decreases in sadness to a humorous film as controls. In daily life, MDDs reported larger decreases in sadness in response to positive daily events, yet indistinguishable reactivity to a structured humorous film relative to controls. Analyses using HLM showed that NA response to the happy film in the acceptance condition was marginally predictive of overall NA in daily life but not of NA reactivity to positive events. Findings suggest group differences in emotional reactivity vary across contexts and stimuli, however these variations are dependent on specificity of emotion. Current results possibly highlight increased flexibility during experience of positive events in daily life in depression. Acceptance of NA may have implications for the experience of overall negative mood in depression.

The thesis is concerned with the design and optimization of a trading strategy on currency markets in order to maximize profit on the EURUSD currency pair. The strategy is based on standard technical indicators and is tested in demo account environment. The thesis describes the whole development from initial design to an optimized version of the draft.

No description available.

To date, few studies have sought to investigate whether the sequence in which individuals engage in coping strategies could impact the effectiveness of those strategies. The present study utilizes an EMA data collection approach to obtain a sample of N = 93 student participants to investigate this potential impact. I analyzed the data with a type of multilevel structural equation model (MSEM) called a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM), where the individual served as the higher level and surveys collected at various time points (three per day for five consecutive days) served as the lower level nested within those individuals. Autoregressive, cross-lagged, and moderation paths were tested to see which constructs at time point T-1 were significantly related to positive affect and negative affect at time point T. Findings indicated more significant relationships for positive affect at time point T than negative affect at time point T. Among these were moderation effects of coping strategy on the relationship between the presence of an interpersonal stressor and positive affect, such that emotion-focused coping buffers that effect and problem-focused coping amplifies it. / Doctor of Philosophy / The history of stress and coping research lends itself well to the consideration of coping with stress as a dynamic process that has effects at later times. Different coping strategies (problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidant) may be differentially effective for coping with different types of stressors. This study consists of measuring stressor type, coping strategy, positive affect, and negative affect at 15 different time points, specifically to track the impact of the presence of a stressor, the use of certain coping strategies, and positive and negative affect at any given time point on positive and negative affect at a subsequent time point. Specifically, I hypothesize that stressors decrease positive affect and increase negative affect, and that coping strategies can either buffer or intensify these effects. Support is found for the idea that emotion-focused coping buffers an interpersonal stressor's tendency to decrease positive affect. Support is also found for the idea that problem-focused coping intensifies this same tendency.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:32:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_ana_munhoz_vianna.pdf: 719262 bytes, checksum: c1b68d796b66c4c6c3d0037b6024cb3d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-07-25 / The equine piroplasmosis caused by Theileria equi is considered one of the most important equine diseases in both tropical and subtropical countries. Theileriosis is endemic in Brazil and causes significant economic losses for equine breeders. Disease-free countries restrict horse transit coming from endemic areas due to the high prevalence of asymptomatic carrier animals. In order to prevent and control this disease, it is therefore necessary to develop efficient diagnostic methods. Previous Theileria equi immunological diagnostic studies have been based in outer membrane antigens. Equi merozoite antigen (EMA) is a major outer membrane antigen of this protozoan, recognized by antibodies of Theileria equi positive horses. In this study, we reported the expression, purification and characterization of EMA-2 protein of Theileria equi in the yeast Pichia pastoris. The EMA-2 gene was cloned into the expression vector pPICZαB and the expressed protein was secreted to the medium as a soluble form. The expression and antigenicity of rEMA-2 protein was demonstrated by Dot and Western Blotting, using anti-histidine and equine Theileriosis clinically positive antibodies. An indirect ELISA with the rEMA-2 was performed and it was possible to differentiate with more than a threefold difference between negative and positive serum from horses confirmed with Theileriosis. The data obtained in this work suggest that the rEMA-2 protein expressed in P. pastoris is a potential candidate for use as antigen in immunodiagnostic of T. equi. / A Piroplasmose equina causada por Theileria equi é considerada uma das mais importantes doenças dos equinos em regiões tropicais e subtropicais. Acomete os equinos de forma endêmica no Brasil levando a significativas perdas econômicas. Países livres da doença não permitem a entrada de animais provindos de regiões endêmicas devido à alta prevalência de animais assintomáticos. Para controle e prevenção desta enfermidade se faz necessário desenvolvimento de métodos de diagnóstico eficazes. Os estudos sobre o diagnóstico imunológico para Theileriose concentram-se em antígenos da membrana externa. O principal antígeno da membrana externa deste protozoário, Equi Antígeno Merozoite (EMA) é reconhecido por anticorpos de cavalos positivos para Theileria equi. Neste estudo reportamos a expressão, purificação e a caracterização da proteína EMA-2 de Theileria equi na levedura Pichia pastoris. O gene EMA-2 foi clonado no vetor de expressão pPICZαB sendo a proteína expressa, secretada de forma solúvel ao meio. A expressão e antigenicidade da proteína rEMA-2 foi demonstrado por Dot e Western Blotting utilizando-se anti-histidina e anticorpos de equinos clinicamente positivos para Theileriose. Um ELISA indireto com rEMA-2 foi realizado e foi possível determinar uma diferença de mais de três vezes entre os soros de equinos confirmados como positivos e negativos para Theileriose. Com os dados obtidos neste trabalho podemos sugerir que a proteína rEMA-2 é um potencial candidato para ser utilizado como antígeno em imunodiagnóstico de T. equi.

Le bégaiement est un trouble de la fluence de la parole qui se caractérise, entre autres, par une présence accrue d’accidents de parole venant entraver l’intelligibilité de l’énoncé. Ce travail de doctorat a pour objectif d’étudier les disfluences catégorisées comme pathologiques produites par des locuteurs qui bégaient et ce, en tâche de lecture et en situation de parole spontanée. Plus précisément, il s’agit, d’une part, de vérifier si des éléments morphologiques et phonétiques peuvent expliquer l’apparition d’un bégayage et, d’autre part, d’observer les événements articulatoires présents avant et pendant les disfluences. Pour mener à bien les études ayant trait aux éléments linguistiques posant le plus de difficultés aux personnes qui bégaient, 10 locuteurs francophones et 10 locuteurs slovacophones, tous atteints de ce trouble, ont été enregistrés en train de lire un texte et de parler spontanément dans leur langue maternelle. Quant aux travaux portant sur les événements moteurs se déroulant avant et durant les disfluences, ils ont été réalisés grâce à des données EMA acquises auprès de 4 locuteurs francophones (2 locuteurs qui bégaient et 2 sujets normo-fluents) en tâche de lecture. Nos résultats ont montré que les consonnes non-voisées et les occlusives faisaient partie des éléments les plus problématiques à prononcer pour les personnes bègues. L’étude morphologique a révélé que plus un mot contient de morphèmes et plus le risque de voir apparaître une disfluence est accru. Ce résultat doit notamment être mis en corrélation avec le nombre de syllabes présentes dans le mot. En ce qui concerne le second couple d’études, portant sur le niveau moteur de la parole bègue, nos données montrent, en particulier, des similitudes dans les événements articulatoires se déroulant au niveau supra-glottique entre les disfluences perçues acoustiquement comme des blocages et des prolongations. Enfin, une perturbation des gestes coarticulatoires a pu être relevée lors de la production de certaines disfluences. / Stuttering is a speech fluency disorder. It can be mainly characterized by an increased presence of disfluencies that affect the speech intelligibility. The aim of this thesis is to study stuttering-like disfluencies (SLDs) produced by persons who stutter (PWS) during reading tasks and during spontaneous speech. More specifically, we propose, as our first objective, to verify if any morphological or phonetic elements can explain the presence of these disfluencies. Our second objective is to observe articulatory events before and during SLDs. For the studies dealing with the linguistic and phonetic elements that can be problematic to PWS, 10 French-speaking and 10 Slovak-speaking PWS were recorded while reading a text and while having a conversation in their mother tongue. The studies on speech motor events taking place before and during SLDs were realized by means of an EMA. 4 French-speaking subjects participated in this part of the study (2 PWS and 2 control subjects). Our results show that non-voiced consonants and stops were part of the most problematic elements to produce for PWS. The morphological study reveals that the risk of a SLD appearance was higher when the word contained more morphemes. This result should be correlated to the number of syllables that constitute the word. As for the second couple of studies, they focus on the speech motor events in stuttered speech. Our data show that similar articulatory events can take place in the supraglottic cavity during disfluencies perceived as blocks or prolongations. Furthermore, a disruption of coarticulatory gestures was observed in certain disfluencies.

Pleurostima purpurea (Velloziaceae) é uma espécie rupícola encontrada em afloramentos rochosos do estado do Rio de Janeiro, sudeste do Brasil. Por apresentar notável capacidade de tolerar a dessecação vegetativa, este estudo teve o intuito de esclarecer detalhes sobre a estratégia ecofisiológica utilizada por tais plantas frente à desidratação do ambiente e as vantagens associadas ao processo. Para tanto foi analisada a dinâmica de trocas gasosas, o conteúdo de pigmentos fotossintéticos e o conteúdo relativo de água de tecidos foliares durante os processos de dessecação e reidratação de indivíduos adultos cultivados. Comportaram-se como homeohídricas típicas economizadoras de água sob condição de seca moderada que, quando agravada, assumiram o comportamento de pecilohídricas e peciloclorófilas. A suspensão da irrigação provocou o fechamento estomático sob conteúdo relativo de água foliar acima de 90%, levando a restrições sobre a transpiração e assimilação líquida de carbono até o estabelecimento da anabiose. Durante este processo, houve um atraso na diminuição do CRAfoliar em relação ao CRAplanta-solo. A degradação das clorofilas acompanhou a diminuição do CRAfoliar, o qual alcançou o valor médio mínimo de 17% sem incorrer na abscisão das folhas, enquanto sua resíntese somente se iniciou após a total reidratação dos mesmos tecidos. Durante todo este processo o conteúdo de carotenóides manteve-se estável. 12 horas de reidratação do solo de cultivo foram suficientes para a retomada respiratória. Um balanço positivo de CO2 foi observado a partir da 36ª hora de reidratação quando o grau de abertura estomática passou a ser maior do que o observado para o grupo controle. Comparando-se com as condições iniciais, 84 horas de reidratação foram suficientes para a recuperação fotossintética mesmo com uma recuperação apenas parcial do conteúdo de clorofilas. Assim como os tecidos foliares, suas raízes também devem ser tolerantes à dessecação. / Pleurostima purpurea (Velloziaceae), a rupicolous flowering species found in rock outcrops in Rio de Janeiro state, southeastern Brazil, show notable capacity to endure vegetative desiccation. This study had the intent to show more details about the ecophysiological strategy used by these plants facing a drying ambient and the advantages associated with the process. For this, it was analised the gas exchanges, photosynthetic pigments content, and relative water content of leaf tissues during desiccation and rehydration of cultivated individuals. They behaved typicaly as homeohydrics water savers under moderated drought condition that, when aggravated, prosecute with poikilohydric and poikilochlorophyllous behavior. After watering suspension, stomatic closing was observed under a relative leaf water content up to 90% that resulted in gas exchanges restrictions until the anabiosis. During this process, it was observed a delay in the leaf relative water content (RWCleaf) decrease comparing to the plant-soil relative water content (RWCplant-soil). The chlorophylls degradation acompanished the RWCleaf decrease, which achived the minimum average value of 17% without incur in leaves abscission, while its resynthesis just begun after the full leaves rehydration. During all of this process, the carotenoids content remained stable. Twelve hours of soil rehydration were sufficient for the respiration retake. A positive carbon balance was observed since the 36th hour of rehydration, when the degree of stomatic opening became bigger than that observed for the control group. Comparing with inicial conditions, 84 hours of rehydration were sufficient to photosynthetic recovery, even just with a parcial recovery of chlorophyll content. As well as the leaf tissues, its roots might be desiccation tolerants.

Pleurostima purpurea (Velloziaceae) é uma espécie rupícola encontrada em afloramentos rochosos do estado do Rio de Janeiro, sudeste do Brasil. Por apresentar notável capacidade de tolerar a dessecação vegetativa, este estudo teve o intuito de esclarecer detalhes sobre a estratégia ecofisiológica utilizada por tais plantas frente à desidratação do ambiente e as vantagens associadas ao processo. Para tanto foi analisada a dinâmica de trocas gasosas, o conteúdo de pigmentos fotossintéticos e o conteúdo relativo de água de tecidos foliares durante os processos de dessecação e reidratação de indivíduos adultos cultivados. Comportaram-se como homeohídricas típicas economizadoras de água sob condição de seca moderada que, quando agravada, assumiram o comportamento de pecilohídricas e peciloclorófilas. A suspensão da irrigação provocou o fechamento estomático sob conteúdo relativo de água foliar acima de 90%, levando a restrições sobre a transpiração e assimilação líquida de carbono até o estabelecimento da anabiose. Durante este processo, houve um atraso na diminuição do CRAfoliar em relação ao CRAplanta-solo. A degradação das clorofilas acompanhou a diminuição do CRAfoliar, o qual alcançou o valor médio mínimo de 17% sem incorrer na abscisão das folhas, enquanto sua resíntese somente se iniciou após a total reidratação dos mesmos tecidos. Durante todo este processo o conteúdo de carotenóides manteve-se estável. 12 horas de reidratação do solo de cultivo foram suficientes para a retomada respiratória. Um balanço positivo de CO2 foi observado a partir da 36ª hora de reidratação quando o grau de abertura estomática passou a ser maior do que o observado para o grupo controle. Comparando-se com as condições iniciais, 84 horas de reidratação foram suficientes para a recuperação fotossintética mesmo com uma recuperação apenas parcial do conteúdo de clorofilas. Assim como os tecidos foliares, suas raízes também devem ser tolerantes à dessecação. / Pleurostima purpurea (Velloziaceae), a rupicolous flowering species found in rock outcrops in Rio de Janeiro state, southeastern Brazil, show notable capacity to endure vegetative desiccation. This study had the intent to show more details about the ecophysiological strategy used by these plants facing a drying ambient and the advantages associated with the process. For this, it was analised the gas exchanges, photosynthetic pigments content, and relative water content of leaf tissues during desiccation and rehydration of cultivated individuals. They behaved typicaly as homeohydrics water savers under moderated drought condition that, when aggravated, prosecute with poikilohydric and poikilochlorophyllous behavior. After watering suspension, stomatic closing was observed under a relative leaf water content up to 90% that resulted in gas exchanges restrictions until the anabiosis. During this process, it was observed a delay in the leaf relative water content (RWCleaf) decrease comparing to the plant-soil relative water content (RWCplant-soil). The chlorophylls degradation acompanished the RWCleaf decrease, which achived the minimum average value of 17% without incur in leaves abscission, while its resynthesis just begun after the full leaves rehydration. During all of this process, the carotenoids content remained stable. Twelve hours of soil rehydration were sufficient for the respiration retake. A positive carbon balance was observed since the 36th hour of rehydration, when the degree of stomatic opening became bigger than that observed for the control group. Comparing with inicial conditions, 84 hours of rehydration were sufficient to photosynthetic recovery, even just with a parcial recovery of chlorophyll content. As well as the leaf tissues, its roots might be desiccation tolerants.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:30:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_giane_silva_linhares.pdf: 488926 bytes, checksum: 2a1b87dca9f0a74faf913e8c6e40713e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-05 / The incorporation of light-curable resins has been proposed for Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) to improve its properties and reduce its setting time. The aim of the present study was to assess the pH, calcium-ion release and antibacterial activity of an experimental dual-cure Bis-EMA/MTA-based root-end filling material (E-MTA) in comparison with white-MTA (W-MTA); and to evaluate the influence of the addition of CaCl2 on these properties. Polyethylene tubes filled with the materials were immersed in deionized water for the measurement of pH (digital pH meter) and calcium release (atomic absorption spectrophotometry). The evaluations were performed at 3 and 24 hours and 7, 15 and 30 days. The direct contact test was used for evaluation of antibacterial activity of the materials against E. faecalis 30 min and 24 h after manipulation. All materials presented a variation from an alkaline to nearly neutral pH, and were capable of releasing calcium ions along the 30 days of the study. E-MTA showed a significant lower calcium ion release capacity when compared to W-MTA (P<0.05). The calcium release of E-MTA + 5% CaCl2 was similar to W-MTA (P> 0.05). All materials were 100% effective against E. faecalis at 30 min after manipulation. Reduction in the antibacterial activity was observed for E-MTA with or without the addition of CaCl2 after 24h. The monomer Bis-EMA added to MTA formed a material with lower capacity of calcium release and lower antibacterial activity than W-MTA, in spite of maintaining a similar pH. However, the addition of CaCl2 improved the calcium release of this material / A incorporação de resinas fotopolimerizadas ao agregado de trióxido mineral (MTA) tem sido proposta com o intuito de melhorar as suas propriedades e reduzir o tempo de presa. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o pH, a liberação de íons cálcio e a atividade antibacteriana de um material retrobturador experimental de polimerização dual a base de Bis-EMA/MTA (MTA-E) em comparação com o MTA-branco (MTA-B); e avaliar a influência da adição de CaCl2 sobre estas propriedades. Tubos de polietileno com os materiais foram imersos em água deionizada. Para medir o pH da água foi utilizado um peagâmetro digital. O cálcio liberado foi determinado pela técnica de espectrometria de absorção atômica. O Teste do Contato Direto foi utilizado para avaliar a atividade antibacteriana dos materiais contra E. faecalis 30 min e 24 h após a manipulação. Todos os materiais apresentaram uma variação de pH de alcalino para quase neutro e foram capazes de liberar íons cálcio durante os 30 dias do estudo. MTA-E mostrou uma capacidade de liberação de íons cálcio significativamente menor que o MTA-B (P<0,05). A liberação de cálcio do MTA-E + CaCl2 5% foi semelhante ao MTA-B (P>0,05). Todos os materiais foram 100% efetivos contra E. faecalis nos 30 minutos após a manipulação. Após 24h uma redução na atividade antibacteriana foi observada para o MTA-E, com ou sem a adição de CaCl2. O monómero Bis-EMA adicionado ao MTA formou um material com baixa capacidade de liberação de cálcio e menor atividade antibacteriana do que MTA-B, apesar de manter um pH semelhante. No entanto, a adição de CaCl2 melhorou a liberação de cálcio deste material

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:32:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_leandro_nizoli.pdf: 538110 bytes, checksum: 770c97bed302c0714288a9278ce94694 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-03-18 / Equine theileriosis is considered to be one of the most important parasitic diseases that affect horses, and has great economic impact on the equine industry. The disease is caused by the etiologic agent Theileria equi, which is classified as a hematozoan. The losses associated with equine theileriosis are related to clinical manifestation as well as restriction to international travel to positive horses. Chronic infected equines suffer the risk of the disease relapse which leads to losses in reproduction performance and are potentially disseminators of the disease. In the last years, studies on the immunologic diagnosis and vaccination against T. equi have focused to obtain distinct antigenic proteins. On the outer membrane of this protozoan, major surface proteins has been characterized and named as EMAs (equi merozoite antigen). Of these, EMA-1 has been used as antigen for diagnosis due to its conservation in diverse isolates. Its role as a potential immunogen has been well documented due its ability to stimulate a humoral response with production of specific antibodies in infected animals. Through this antibodies one can used as tool for immune diagnostic of this disease. EMA-1 is also a strong candidate to be use as a vaccine in the control of equine theileriosis. In this study we used the Pichia pastoris yeast as expression system for the production of the EMA-1 protein of T. equi and evaluated its antigenicity and immunogenicity. When tested for antigenicity, the recombinant protein was recognized by antibodies form chronic T. equi infected horses, suggesting that epitopes of the native were conserved in the recombinant protein. Also we were able to observe that this protein was immunogenic in mice. The data obtained in this study demonstrated that the yeast P. pastoris is an expression system of heterologous protein suitable for the production of EMA-1 from T. equi. / A Theileriose eqüina é considerada uma das principais doenças parasitárias que acometem os eqüinos, acarretando grande impacto econômico na equinocultura. A doença é causada pelo hematozoário Theileria equi. As perdas econômicas associadas à theileriose eqüina estão relacionadas tanto aos fatores clínicos, quanto à restrição ao trânsito internacional de animais soropositivos, já que animais portadores crônicos são passíveis de reagudizações, gerando perda de performance física e reprodutiva, e são potencialmente disseminadores da enfermidade. Nos últimos anos, os estudos sobre o diagnóstico imunológico e vacinação contra T. equi concentram-se na obtenção de frações antigênicas. Na membrana externa deste protozoário foram caracterizadas proteínas principais de superfície denominadas de EMAs (equi merozoite antigen). Dentre estas, a EMA-1 destaca-se como antígeno para diagnóstico em função de sua conservação entre diversos isolados. Seu papel também tem sido caracterizado como imunógeno por estimular forte resposta humoral com produção de anticorpos em animais infectados, podendo ser usado como ferramenta para imunodiagnóstico dessa doença. EMA-1 é também um potencial candidato como antígeno vacinal no controle da theileriose equina. Neste estudo utilizou-se o sistema eucariótico de expressão baseado na levedura metilotrófica Pichia pastoris, para a produção da proteína EMA-1 de T. equi e a avaliação quanto a sua antigenicidade e imunogenicidade. Quanto a sua antigenicidade, a proteína recombinante foi reconhecida por anticorpos de animais portadores crônicos de T. equi, sugerindo que epítopos nativos foram conservados na proteína recombinante. Também foi observado que a proteína recombinante foi capaz de gerar resposta imune em camundongos vacinados com esta proteína. Os dados obtidos neste estudo demonstram que a levedura P. pastoris é um sistema de expressão heterólogo adequado para a produção da proteína EMA-1 de T. equi, podendo ser utilizada como imunobiológico no desenvolvimento de testes diagnósticos e vacina recombinante.