Transient deformation has been observed in a number of different types of tectonic environments. These transient deformation signals are often observed using continuous GPS (CGPS) position time-series observations. Examining transient deformation using CGPS time-series is problematic due to the, often, low signal-to-noise ratios and variability in duration of transient motions observed. A technique to estimate a continuous velocity function from noisy CGPS coordinate time-series of is examined. The resolution of this technique is dependent on the signal-to-noise ratio and the duration or frequency content of the transient signal being modeled. Short period signals require greater signal-to-noise ratios for effective resolution of the actual transient signal. The technique presented here is similar to a low-pass filter but with a number of advantages when working with CGPS data. Data gaps do not adversely impact the technique but limit resolution near the gap epochs, if there is some a priori knowledge of the noise contained within the time-series this information can be included in the model, and model parameter uncertainties provide information on the uncertainty of instantaneous velocity through time. A large transient has been observed in the North-American stable continental interior as a significant increase in the number and moment release of earthquakes through time. This increase in the number of earthquakes has been suggested to be largely related changes in oil and gas production activities within the region as triggered or induced seismicity, primarily from fluid injection. One of the first observed cases of triggered earthquakes from hydraulic fracturing where the earthquakes were large enough to be felt by local residents is documented. The multiple strong temporal and spatial correlations between these earthquakes indicate that hydraulic fracturing in a nearby well likely triggered the earthquake sequence. The largest magnitude earthquake in this sequence was a magnitude 2.9 with 16 earthquakes greater than magnitude 2. The earthquakes in this sequence occurred within 2.5 km of the hydraulic fracturing operation and focal depths are similar to the depths of hydraulic fracturing treatment depths. In addition to the documentation of a transient earthquake signal associated with hydraulic fracturing, the observed focal mechanisms throughout Oklahoma are documented. These focal mechanisms were used to examine the maximum horizontal stress orientations and active fault orientations associated with the increased rates of seismicity observed in the region. Generally, active-fault orientations and the stresses are consistent through broad portions of Oklahoma with one exception, the ongoing Jones earthquake sequence in central Oklahoma that started in 2009. In the Jones earthquake sequence a bi-modal distribution of focal mechanisms are observed. One orientation of active faults observed in the Jones earthquake sequence would not be expected to be active in the observed regional stress field. This unfavorably oriented set of faults appear to be pre-existing structures and activity on these structures may suggest that pore-pressure increases in the sub-surface due to fluid injection in the area make it possible for faults that are not optimally oriented within the regional stress-field to reactivate.

The precise mechanism regulating focal adhesion disassembly has yet to be elucidated. Recently, we have implicated the Ste20-like kinase SLK in mediating efficient focal adhesion turnover and cell migration in a Rac-1 and FAK-dependent manner. Although an indirect association of this kinase with the microtubule network has been determined, the exact involvement of SLK in the disassembly of the adhesion complex remains unclear. With the identification of the focal adhesion protein paxillin as a substrate of SLK, we show that SLK regulates adhesion turnover through its phosphorylation at S250. Mutation of S250 to a threonine residue ablates SLK phosphorylation of paxillin in vitro and results in reduced adhesion turnover and migration in vivo. Additionally, our studies demonstrate that overexpression of the paxillin S250T mutation prevents the redistribution of paxillin to the membrane ruffle in migrating cells. The complete loss of polyubiquitylation in the S250T mutant, combined with no observed reduction in S250T protein expression, suggests that S250 phosphorylation is required for a ubiquitin-mediated modification that regulates paxillin redistribution within the cell. Moreover, we show that phosphorylation of S250 is required for paxillin to interact with FAK. An observed accumulation of phospho-FAKY397 in cells overexpressing the paxillin S250T mutant suggests that phosphorylation of S250 is involved in regulating FAK-dependent focal adhesion dynamics. Consequently, our data suggests that SLK regulates adhesion turnover through the phosphorylation of paxillin at S250.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-64). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S. in Combat Systems Technology)--Naval Postgraduate School, Dec. 2004. / Thesis Advisor(s): Gamani Karunasiri, Richard C. Olsen. Includes bibliographical references (p. 57-60). Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1996. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-64). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1996. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Virginia, 2001. / Spine title: Yersinia uptake by mammalian cells. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 214-240). Also available online through Digital Dissertations.

Trabajo de Investigación Requisito para optar al Título de Cirujano Dentista / Autor no autoriza el acceso a texto complete de su tesis en el programa de tesis Electrónicas / Introducción Una de la principales complicaciones clínicas de rehabilitaciones mediante implantes dentales de titanio, es la generación de infecciones peri-implantarias. Este tipo de infecciones son de difícil control, conllevando en algunos casos a la pérdida del implante. Las conocidas desventajas de las terapias basadas en antibióticos, ha conducido a la búsqueda de nuevas estrategias para prevenir la peri-implantitis. La nanotecnología ha permitido el desarrollo de una nueva generación de antibacterianos basados en nanopartículas metálicas, así como la posibilidad de modificar las propiedades superficiales de los implantes. El desarrollo de recubrimientos antibacterianos para titanio dopados con nanopartículas de plata (AgNP) proveería una auspiciosa alternativa para la prevención de la peri-implantitis. Objetivo Preparar recubrimientos basados en AgNPs sobre superficies de titanio y evaluar sus propiedades antibacterianas contra un patógeno periodontal. Materiales y Métodos Las AgNPs se sintetizaron utilizando almidón como agente reductor biocompatible. La solución de recubrimiento se preparó incorporando las AgNPs en un sistema “Sol-Gel” de sílice. Los recubrimientos de sílice dopados con AgNP fueron aplicados sobre láminas de titanio mediante un método de “slip coating”, y caracterizados mediante espectrometría UV-Vis, microscopía TEM, microscopía SEM-EDX y difracción de rayos-X. La liberación de AgNP desde los recubrimientos se estudió midiendo la concentración de Ag liberada en función del tiempo usando un electrodo específico de plata. La actividad antibacteriana de las superficies de titanio modificadas con los recubrimientos, se evaluó con cepas clínicas de Aggregatibacter Actinomycetemcomitans (A.a) tanto en estado planctónico como en biopelícula. Resultados Los recubrimientos de sílice cargados con AgNPs sobre las superficies de titanio no presentaron microdefectos. Estos recubrimientos mostraron una liberación sostenida (42 días) de Ag de 0.02 µg/cm2. Los ensayos bacteriológicos demostraron que los recubrimientos tienen un marcado efecto bactericida estadísticamente significativo (p < 0,05) sobre la biopelícula formada en la superficie del titanio, así como sobre las bacterias planctónicas del medio en contacto con el material. La reducción del recuento en biopelícula fue estadísticamente significativa y de valores entre 75-55% en relación a la superficie de titanio sin modificar. Recubrimientos con contenidos de AgNPs de 2.5 y 5%, inhiben la formación de biopelícula en un 58 y 66%, respectivamente. Conclusión Recubrimientos de sílice cargados con AgNP resultaron tener un claro efecto bactericida, sobre la biopelícula formada en la superficie del titanio así como sobre las bacterias planctónicas que rodean el material. Estos recubrimientos también reducen la formación de biopelícula sobre titanio; estas propiedades hacen de los recubrimientos una promisoria alternativa para el control de la periimplantitis.

Submitted by LIVIA FREITAS (livia.freitas@ufba.br) on 2015-02-11T11:49:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO_ANA.pdf: 5095031 bytes, checksum: 1720632afe020fdc9846f230e020f4c0 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LIVIA FREITAS (livia.freitas@ufba.br) on 2015-02-11T11:49:25Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO_ANA.pdf: 5095031 bytes, checksum: 1720632afe020fdc9846f230e020f4c0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-02-11T11:49:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO_ANA.pdf: 5095031 bytes, checksum: 1720632afe020fdc9846f230e020f4c0 (MD5) / A integração da bicicleta com o transporte público de passageiros tem se mostrado eficiente para aumentar a mobilidade urbana sustentável, pois reduz o tempo do deslocamento e melhora a qualidade de vida da população. Nos últimos anos têm surgido alguns estudos que utilizam a percepção do usuário da bicicleta sobre os atributos de escolha de seus trajetos, embora poucos tragam como foco as rotas que fazem a integração ao sistema de transporte público do ponto de vista do usuário. Dessa forma, o objetivo principal desse estudo consiste na elaboração de um método que auxilie na avaliação da “melhor” rota ciclável integrada ao transporte público e que considere dentre outros critérios, os fatores de escolha individual dos ciclistas. O procedimento de avaliação das rotas proposto nesse trabalho tomou como base uma combinação de técnicas: Técnica de Grupo Focal, Análise de Conteúdo, Simulação por Vídeo e Avaliação Multicritério. Na etapa inicial definiu-se a área de abrangência do estudo e foram elaborados mapas da rede de rotas cicláveis para definir as possíveis alternativas. Para validar os critérios e as alternativas foi utilizada a técnica de grupo focal seguida da análise de conteúdo com o objetivo de incorporar a percepção dos usuários de bicicletas. Também, foi realizada a validação dos critérios com especialistas da área de mobilidade urbana. Para a avaliação das rotas se fez uso da técnica de Avaliação Multicritérios com base no método AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process). Finalmente, para a validação do método proposto tomou-se como estudo de caso a região de Mussurunga, Salvador, Bahia que apresenta um grande fluxo de ciclistas e demanda potencial para integração, e por nela se localizar uma importante estação de integração de transporte público, a Estação Mussurunga. Os resultados desse trabalho mostraram que, segundo a percepção do ciclista os principais critérios que influenciam a escolha dos seus trajetos estão relacionados aos aspectos de segurança (de trânsito e pública). A “melhor” alternativa de rota resultante da aplicação do método AHP, com uso do software Expert Choice, apresentou os critérios infraestrutura e segurança pública no primeiro e segundo lugar, respectivamente. Conclui-se que o objetivo desta pesquisa foi atingido e a percepção dos ciclistas sobre os principais critérios para a escolha das rotas cicláveis foi levada em consideração, possibilitando uma troca de conhecimento com os especialistas da área de mobilidade. Espera-se que essa metodologia seja utilizada como um instrumento de auxílio à decisão no planejamento da cidade e da mobilidade sustentável / The integration of the bicycle with the public passenger transport has been shown effective to increase the sustainable urban mobility. It reduces the time of shifting and overlapping routes, expanding the offer of destinations and improving the quality of life. In the last few years there have been some studies that use the bicycle user´s perception on the attributes of choosing their routes, although only few bring focus on routes that make the integration of public transport from the user´s point of view. Thus, the main purpose of this study is the development of a method to assist in evaluating “The best” cycling route integrated with the public transport and to consider among other criteria, the factors of individual choice of the cyclists. The evaluation procedure of the routes proposed in this work was based on a combination technique: Focus Group Technique, Content Analysis, Simulation Video and Multiple Criteria Evaluation. In the initial stage, the scope area of study was defined and maps of the cycling routes network were designed to define possible alternatives. Validate the criteria and alternatives it was used the Focus Group technique followed by the in order to incorporate the bicycle users' perception. Validation criteria with urban mobility experts were also held. To evaluate the routes it was used the technique of Multiple Criteria Evaluation based on AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) method. Finally, to validate the proposed method, the area of Mussurunga was taken as a case study in Salvador, Bahia, which has a large flow of cyclists and a potential demand for integration and also for being an important integration station of public transport, the Mussurunga Station. The research results showed that by the perception of the cyclists, the main criteria that influence the choices of their routes are related to traffic and public safety. The “best” alternative route found by applying the AHP method using the Expert Choice software, revealed the public infrastructure as the first criterion and the public safety as the second one. It was concluded that the goal of this research was reached and that the perception of the cyclists about the main criteria of choosing a route was taken in consideration enabling an exchange of knowledge with the experts in the area of mobility. It is expected that this methodology can be used as an aid instrument for decision making on city planning and the sustainable mobility.