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To evaluate the compression wood response in eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) following a severe ice storm in 1994, 47 trees were felled in 2007 and cross-sectional samples were collected at 0.5 (±0.2) m stem height. The disks were sanded and digitally scanned, and the cross-sectional area (mm2) of compression wood within each tree-ring was quantified using image analysis software. Topographic data (slope, aspect, and elevation) were also recorded for each P. strobus tree, along with a modified competition index. Wood anatomical features were also quantified in the three years before and after the storm along a tree diameter gradient. Although tree age was relatively constant in this stand, tree size was influenced by topographic position; larger trees grew in the valley while smaller trees were found growing in thin soils at the mid-slope position. When the cohort was about 25 years old, ice deposition caused a heterogeneous compression wood response which was highly related to tree size. In the thirteen years following the ice storm, the 6 – 9 cm (2007) diameter class formed significantly more compression wood area than any other, followed by the 10 – 13 cm (2007) diameter class. The tree diameter range that formed the most post-storm compression wood was 4 – 8 cm at the time of the storm, suggesting that this diameter range was most affected by 8.5 cm of ice loading in P. strobus. Trees > 18 cm in 1994 did not form any compression wood after the storm, but many experienced a growth release to fill canopy gaps. Topographic variables did not influence compression wood formation directly, but only one plot was sampled so these results are tenuous. However, topography did influence tree size which was the most important predictor in compression wood. There was no relationship between compression wood area and competition index. Due to compression wood formation after the ice storm, cell wall thickness and cell circularity were significantly higher in the 1994 tree-ring than in other rings examined (1991 – 1993, 1995, and 1996). Tracheid and lumen diameters were significantly smaller in compression wood cells (30.5 and 19.5 μm, respectively) than in normal wood (36.8 and 28.4 μm, respectively); opposite wood cells were intermediate in size (32.4 and 24.4 μm, respectively). Due to small tracheid size, compression wood contained significantly more cells mm⁻¹ (33) than normal wood (27), but no significant differences in cell wall area. Therefore, cumulative cell wall area occupied 47% of the cross-section in compression wood tissue on average, compared to 31% in normal wood. Dispersing tree weight across a greater surface area may help compression wood to prop up a bent tree, but reduced lumen area may also impact hydraulic conductivity in the stem. / Master of Science

Master of Science / Department of Anatomy and Physiology / Mark L. Weiss / Wharton's jelly is a non-controversial source of mesenchymal stromal cells. Isolation of the cells is non-invasive and painless. The cells have been shown to have a wide array of therapeutic applications. They have improved symptoms when transplanted in a variety of animal disease models, can be used in tissue engineering applications to grow living tissue ex vivo for transplantation, and can be used as drug delivery vehicles in cancer therapy. The cells have also been shown to be non-immunogenic and immune suppressive. This thesis focuses on optimizing isolation protocols, culture protocols, cryopreservation, and characterization of cells in different growth conditions. Results from the experiments indicate that isolation of cells by enzyme digestion yields cells consistently, a freezing mixture containing 90% FBS and 10% DMSO confers maximum viability, and the expression of mesenchymal stromal cell consensus markers does not change with passage and cryopreservation. The results of the experiments also show that cells grow at a higher rate in 5% oxygen culture conditions compared to 21% oxygen culture conditions, serum does not have an effect on growth of the cells, serum and oxygen do not have effects on the expression of mesenchymal stromal cell consensus markers and the cells are stable without nuclear abnormalities when grown in 5% oxygen and serum free conditions for six passages after first establishing in serum conditions.

A comprehensive study was conducted on the effects of de-icer and anti-icer chemicals on cement-based materials. Portland cement mortars and concretes were exposed to over 16 chloride-based and non-chloride-based generic and commercial products and changes in cement-based material properties were measured. Deleterious chemical actions of several types of these products on cement-based materials were observed, departing from the well-known position that attributes the concrete damage from such salts mainly to physical actions under freezing and thawing exposure. Independent of freezing and thawing exposure, mortars and concretes exposed to concentrated calcium chloride and magnesium chloride solutions were found to undergo severe deterioration whereas those exposed to sodium chloride did not. The mechanisms of deterioration are complex with factors such as concentration, temperature, and availability of calcium hydroxide playing important roles. It was found that the formation of calcium oxychloride of the form 3Ca(OH)2.CaCl2.12H2O, and the 3- and 5-form magnesium oxychloride, 3Mg(OH)2.MgCl2.8H2O and 5Mg(OH)2.MgCl2.8H2O, were the main causes for the severe deterioration, and to a lesser extent brucite, gypsum, and magnesium silicate hydrate (M-S-H). The instability of these oxychloride compounds when subjected to conditions normally encountered in sample preparation is suggested as the reason why field investigations have failed to relate distressed concrete to chemical attack by such de-icer and anti-icer chemicals. Concentrated solutions of calcium magnesium acetate were also found to be harmful to cement-based materials by dissolution of calcium hydroxide and formation of calcium acetate hydrate, whereas low concentrated solutions tended to cause slow deterioration by magnesium attack forming brucite, gypsum, and M-S-H. Potassium acetate chemicals did not cause significant deterioration in mortars when these products were diluted (25% by mass), but undiluted products (50% by mass) caused considerable distress in concrete specimens. The combined effect of chemical attack impairing concrete mechanical properties and subsequent salt scaling damage was proposed as the most likely mechanisms of field deterioration.

Une étude expérimentale sur la faisabilité du procédé de dessalement par congélation sur les parois d'un tube cylindrique est présentée. Le procédé se décompose en deux étapes essentielles : la cristallisation suivie par le ressuage. Les cristallisations sont conduites à partir d'une solution stagnante ou agitée par un bullage d'air. Les paramètres opératoires clés sont la rampe de refroidissement et la salinité de l’eau traitée. Leur effet sur la salinité de la glace produite a été quantifié, dans les deux modes de fonctionnement, statique et agité. Le dispositif expérimental permet également de contrôler le gradient thermique à travers la couche de solution pour les cristallisations effectuées en statique. L'absence de gradient thermique et donc de courant de convection mène à des couches de glace très contaminées en sels. Les résultats combinant la cristallisation et le ressuage montrent que dans tous les cas, on peut obtenir de l'eau potable mais avec un rendement plus élevé et une durée réduite si la cristallisation a lieu en mode dynamique. Les conditions opératoires optimales sont proposées. La modélisation des transferts de matière et de chaleur à travers les couches de glace et de solution en régime diffusionnel et convectif a permis d’interpréter l’influence des paramètres opératoires des cristallisations opérées sans agitation. Enfin, l’évaluation économique du procédé complet de dessalement, basées sur des points de fonctionnement expérimentaux, indique que la consommation énergétique d’une petite installation pourrait être très faible en utilisant une machine frigorifique idéale fonctionnant entre l’unité de ressuage et l’unité de congélation. / An experimental study on the feasibility of sea water desalination by indirect freezing is presented. The whole process of desalination involves a freezing step, followed by a purification of the ice layer by sweating. Crystallization is led from quiescent solution or from agitated solution by air bubbling. The key operating parameters are the cooling rate, and solution salinity. Their effect on ice purity has been quantified in the static and agitated modes. The experimental setup enables as well the control of temperature gradient through the solution when the freezing step is conducted in the static mode. In the absence of temperature gradient and consequently the absence of convection currents, the ice layers formed are very contaminated in salts. The results combining crystallization and sweating show that in all cases, we can obtain drinking water, but with high yield and reduced process time when the crystallization is led in agitated mode. The optimal operating conditions are presented. The modelling of mass and heat transfers in the two phases in the diffusional and convective regimes has enabled the interpretation of the influence of operating parameters of crystallizations operated without agitation. At last, the economic evaluation of the whole desalination process, based on experimental operating points, indicates that energetic consumption of a small scale unit maybe low when using an ideal refrigerating machine which works between the sweating and the crystallization unities.

In my diploma thesis I observed microbial activity in Miocene sediments collected at two different depths - 30 and 150 meters - in the "Družba" open-mine pit, which is located in Sokolov Brown Coal Basin. There were three different types of sediment: lamellar, amorphous and transitional. Samples were obtained under sterile conditions and following treatments were applied to the transitional sediment: addition of glucose, wetting and freezing. The aim of my study was to observe the activity of the original microflora at various depths and the impact of environmental factors that can affect the quarried claystones after being put on heaps. Microbial activity was evaluated by measuring released CO2 (titration). Obtained values of microbial activity did not show any differences between the respiration of sediments of different ages (depths), but differences between different types of sediments were significant, the highest values were found in lamellar sediment. Affection of samples then showed biota activity response suggesting that microbial communities at lower depths are limited by nutrients. Because the application of glucose did not show any noteworthy effect, we can assume that these communities are specialize on present fossil organic matter they are able to decompose, which is important especially in...

Os peitos de galinhas matrizes pesadas de corte, poedeiras comerciais brancas e frangos foram desossados manualmente, com o objetivo de avaliar e comparar as propriedades tecnológicas - capacidade de retenção de água e de emulsificação - bem como pH e composição centesimal, além de elaborar e avaliar sensorialmente um produto reestruturado empanado, tipo nugget. Os resultados das análises indicaram que não houve diferença significativa entre as carnes analisadas, nem entre produtos processados, implicando utilização regular desse tipo de matéria-prima na indústria de alimentos. O restante das carcaças das galinhas foi utilizado para extração de carne mecanicamente separada (CMS) para avaliação da estabilidade microbiológica. As CMSs foram submetidas a dois tratamentos: I) com 150ppm de nitrito, embaladas em saco de polietileno; e II) com 150ppm de nitrito e 500ppm de eritorbato, embaladas em saco de polietileno. Como controle, as amostras de CMS foram apenas acondicionadas em sacos de polietileno. Todas as embalagens foram estocadas e congeladas a -18ºC por 99 dias. Os resultados da análise de caracterização microbiológica indicaram que tanto as amostras de CMS de galinha matriz quanto de galinha poedeira atenderam os padrões de contagem requeridos pela legislação Brasileira. A avaliação da estabilidade microbiológica das CMSs no primeiro e no último dia para mesófilos, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens e Pseudomonas, bem como as análises quinzenais de microrganismos psicrotróficos, indicaram que não houve uma redução significativa nas contagens, independentemente do tratamento aplicado. Não foi detectada Salmonella em nenhuma das amostras analisadas. Tais resultados apontaram o tempo de estocagem como o principal fator na redução da carga bacteriana. / The breasts of heavy fowls, white commercial egg-layers and chickens were manually deboned in order to evaluate and compare technological properties—water hold and emulsifying capacity—and pH and centesimal composition, as well as to prepare and assess a restructured coated product. The results of the analyses indicated that there was not a significant difference between the meats analyzed, nor among the processed products, implying the regular use of such meat in the food industry. The remaining parts of the hens’ carcasses were mechanically deboned for the evaluation of microbiological stability. The mechanically deboned meat (MDM) was submitted to two treatments: I) 150ppm of nitrite, packed in polyethylene bags; II) 150ppm of nitrite and 500ppm of erythorbate, packed in polyethylene bags. The control meats were just packed in polyethylene bags. All samples were frozen-stored at -18ºC for 99 days. The results of microbiological characterization indicated that both samples from heavy fowls and egg-layers were in accordance with the Brazilian legislation. MDM microbiological stability evaluation on the first and last days for fecal coliforms, mesophiles, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and Pseudomonas, as well as the analyses carried out every fifteen days for psychrotrophics bacteria indicated that there was not a significant reduction in the presence of the above, irrespective of the treatment applied. Salmonella was not detected in any of the samples. Such results indicated that freezing storage period was the main factor responsible for the reduction of the bacterial count in MDM.

Introdução: Apesar de recentes inovações e aprimoramentos no tratamento do Câncer de Bexiga (CaB) não músculo invasivo, o índice de progressão e recorrência continuam altos possivelmente devido a tumores residuais ou não evidenciados na ressecção transuretral de bexiga (RTU), o que profundamente afeta o prognóstico desta doença e evidencia a importância da qualidade desse procedimento padrão não só para o diagnóstico, mas também para o estadiamento e tratamento do tumor de bexiga. A presença de muscular própria no espécime é essencial para conduzir o tratamento, embora esta esteja presente apenas em cerca de 36-51% dos casos. Na sua ausência muitas vezes torna-se necessário um novo procedimento, vindo com isso a morbidade e os gastos de uma nova cirurgia. Dessa forma várias técnicas têm sido propostas com o intuito de melhorar a acurácia da RTUb, o que pode reduzir as ressecções incompletas e o subestadiamento. Objetivo: Avaliar a importância da biópsia de congelação do leito da lesão ressecada no que diz respeito ao estadiamento inicial e controle local da doença. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo prospectivo e randomizado dos pacientes com tumor de bexiga sem tratamento prévio que foram submetidos à RTUb no período de 09/2011 a 08/2013 em uma única instituição (Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo - ICESP). Esses pacientes foram submetidos à RTUb convencional, conforme o Guideline Europeu (EAU, 2011). No grupo 1, foi realizada biópsia de congelação do leito da lesão após a RTU, onde o cirurgião julgou esta ser possivelmente invasiva, aguardando análise do patologista quanto a presença de muscular própria, se caso esta não estivesse representada, era feita nova biópsia até sua representatividade. O grupo 2 são os controles não sendo submetidos à biópsia de congelação. Foram incluídos apenas os pacientes que tiveram critério e foram submetidos à re-RTUb. Um total de 150 pacientes foram randomizados, tornando-se elegíveis 131, sendo 64 no grupo 1 e 67 no grupo 2. Resultados: Comparando-se os grupos, não houve diferença em relação ao sexo, idade, quantidade e tamanho do tumor. No estudo anatomo-patológico da RTUb houve representatividade muscular em 100% x 58,5%, entre os grupos 1 e 2, respectivamente, com p < 0,001. Na Re-RTUb o índice de tumor residual foi 10,4% x 35,2%, entre os grupos 1 e 2, respectivamente, com p = 0,005. No grupo 1, 15 pacientes foram diagnosticados como pT2 com 100% do diagnóstico na primeira RTUb; no grupo 2, 6 pacientes tiveram diagnóstico de pT2 com apenas 33,3% na primeira RTUb, p=0,003. O tempo cirúrgico médio foi de 50 min no grupo 1 e 42min no grupo 2 (p= 0,037). Não houve diferença em relação à complicações (transfusão e perfuração vesical). Conclusão: A biópsia de congelação melhorou o correto estadiamento e controle local do câncer de bexiga, além de aumentar a acurácia do diagnóstico de doença pT2, podendo permitir o planejamento precoce do tratamento definitivo sem aumentar as complicações / Background and Purpose: Despite recent improvements of bladder cancer treatment, recurrence and progression rates are still high, possibly related to residual or overlooked tumors at the first transurethral resection (TUR), which strongly emphasizes the importance of the quality of this method. In order to improve the effectiveness of the procedure, we sought to evaluate the impact of frozen section during TUR, aiming on increasing muscular layer sample in the specimen, which may minimize incomplete resections and understaging. Patients and Methods: We prospectively included 150 consecutive patients assigned to TUR which were randomized to undergo either frozen section biopsy of the tumor bed during the TUR procedure until muscle was obtained or standard resection procedure (no frozen section). Nineteen patients were excluded after randomization, leaving 131 for analysis. All patients underwent a second TUR performed 4-6 weeks later. Frozen sections and final pathology reports were centralized and all performed by pathologists, the doubtful cases were reviewed by one uropathologist. Exclusion criteria: incomplete resection at first TUR, no criteria for second TUR according to EUA Guideline Update 2011 and previous bladder cancer treatment. (Group w/ biopsy, n = 64; Group control, n=67). Results: Both groups were comparable regarding age, gender, size and number of lesions. The majority of patients had high grade tumor in both groups. In the group where frozen section was obtained, muscle-invasive disease was higher (23% x 3%, p < 0,001). All patients in this group had muscle layer represented in the final pathology at the first TUR, while only 60% of patients in the control group (p < 0.001), including 40,5% of patients with pTa, 81,5% with pT1 e 100% with pT2 and Cis. Ninety percent of patients in the biopsy group had no residual tumor compared to 65% of the control group at second TUR (p=0,002). While all 15 patients in the frozen section group with T2 disease were diagnosed at first TUR, only 2 of 6 patients (33%) in the control group were diagnosed initially. The surgery duration was longer in the study group with mean of 50 min x 42 min (p=0,037) and there were no significant differences regarding complications (perforation and transfusion rates). Conclusion: Our results support the prove of principal that standard TUR with frozen section biopsy of bladder tumor bed increase the disease control and improve the diagnosis of T2 tumors, which may lead to reduced the number of patients in need a second TUR and avoid pT2 disease diagnosis delay, with no more complications

OLIVEIRA, A.R. Envolvimento de receptores dopaminérgicos da área tegmental ventral e do complexo basolateral da amígdala na aquisição e na expressão do medo condicionado. 2010. 93 f. Tese (Doutorado) Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo. O condicionamento Pavloviano é um dos paradigmas mais utilizados para estudar as bases biológicas das emoções, assim como da aprendizagem e memória. A dopamina (DA) é um dos principais neurotransmissores envolvidos na mediação de estados de medo e ansiedade. Um conjunto crescente de evidências dá suporte à hipótese de que a ativação da via mesocorticolímbica, proveniente de neurônios dopaminérgicos da área tegmental ventral (ATV), é particularmente sensível à estimulação aversiva. Entre as regiões inervadas por esta via, o complexo basolateral da amígdala (BLA) é um componente essencial dos circuitos neurais do medo condicionado. Assim, o presente estudo explorou o envolvimento de mecanismos DA da ATV e do BLA, através do uso de agonistas e antagonistas de receptores DA, na aquisição e expressão do medo condicionado à luz. Não houve efeito das drogas DA no sobressalto potencializado pelo medo (SPM), quando injetadas na ATV antes do condicionamento, indicando que os receptores DA da ATV não participam da aquisição do medo condicionado à luz. Ao contrário, quando injetado na ATV antes do teste, quimpirole (agonista D2) reduziu o SPM, enquanto as demais drogas não tiveram efeito. A administração de SCH 23390 (antagonista D1) no BLA não produziu efeitos no SPM, indicando que os receptores D1 do BLA não parecem envolvidos na expressão do SPM. Já a administração de sulpirida (antagonista D2) no BLA inibiu o SPM produzido pela luz. Além disso, a expressão do medo condicionado foi associada a um aumento do congelamento e dos níveis extracelulares de DA no BLA, ambos inibidos com a administração de quimpirole na ATV. A capacidade do quimpirole em diminuir o SPM e o congelamento condicionado parece ser resultado de sua ação em auto-receptores D2 da ATV. A ativação desses receptores diminui os níveis de dopamina em áreas que recebem terminações da via mesocorticolímbica. Os resultados com a sulpirida realçam a importância dos receptores D2 do BLA na expressão do medo condicionado Pavloviano. / OLIVEIRA, A.R. Involvement of dopaminergic receptors of ventral tegmental area and basolateral amygdala in the acquisition and expression of conditioned fear. 2010. 93 p. Thesis (Doctoral) Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo. The Pavlovian fear conditioning is one of the most used paradigms to study the biological basis of emotion, as well as of learning and memory. Dopamine (DA) is one of the most important neurotransmitters involved in mechanisms underlying states of fear and anxiety. A growing body of evidence supports the hypothesis that excitation of the mesocorticolimbic pathway, originating from DA neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), is particularly sensitive to fear-arousing stimuli. Among the forebrain regions innervated by this pathway, the basolateral amygdala (BLA) is an essential component of the neural circuitry of conditioned fear. The present study explored the involvement of VTA and BLA DA receptors, using DA agonists and antagonists, in the acquisition and expression of conditioned fear to a light conditioned stimulus (CS). None of the drugs used produced significant effects on fear-potentiated startle (FPS) when injected in VTA before conditioning, indicating that VTA DA receptors are not involved in the acquisition of conditioned fear to a light-CS. In contrast, when injected before the test session, intra-VTA quinpirole (D2 agonist) significantly reduced FPS, whereas the other drugs had no effect. Intra-BLA SCH 23390 (D1 antagonist) did not produce significant effects on FPS, indicating that BLA D1 receptors do not appear to be involved in the expression of FPS. On the other hand, intra-BLA sulpiride (D2 antagonist) inhibited FPS produced by light-CS previously paired with footshocks. Also, conditioned fear was associated with increased freezing and DA levels in the BLA, both inhibited by intra-VTA quinpirole. Quinpirole\'s ability to decrease FPS and conditioned freezing may be the result of an action on VTA D2 presynaptic autoreceptors. The activation of those receptors decreases dopamine levels in terminal fields of the mesocorticolimbic pathway. Sulpirides results stress the importance of BLA D2 receptors in the fear-activating effects of the Pavlovian conditioning.

O objetivo desta pesquisa é identificar e compreender a contradição estabelecida entre o processo de degradação das Vilas Preservadas na Baixada do Glicério, localizada na região central da cidade de São Paulo, e a proposta de renovação urbana do mesmo centro por meio da Lei da Operação Urbana Centro (OUC), a qual se utiliza de instrumentos de preservação do patrimônio com a finalidade de possibilitar novas frentes de valorização do capital. O método de investigação, realizado a partir da análise do discurso e das proposições das políticas públicas, possibilitou constatar as diversas formas de operar com a idéia da degradação, diretamente relacionada ao contexto de desinvestimento. Neste contexto, além da política de renovação urbana dirigida ao centro da cidade de São Paulo e consolidada pela lei da Operação Urbana Centro, as noções de degradação e de congelamento também foram consideradas centrais no desenvolvimento desta pesquisa. Assim, como verificado com a análise das determinações da OUC no Glicério, pudemos entender que a degradação, ou ainda, o congelamento de determinadas áreas são produzidos historicamente pelas relações contraditórias contidas no processo de urbanização. São mantidas como frentes de valorização, a serem inseridas no processo de reprodução do espaço, no contexto da renovação urbana. É neste contexto que se caracteriza a preservação contraditória das vilas da Baixada do Glicério analisadas neste estudo, cujo instrumento de proteção acabou por intensificar seu processo de degradação, permanecendo sob o denominado estado de congelamento. / The purpose of this research is to identify and understand the contradictions between the established process of deterioration in the Baixada do Glicério, located in the region of central city of São Paulo, and the proposal for urban renewal of the same Centre by means of the Operação Urbana Centro (OUC), which is a Law that used instruments of preservation with the aim of enabling new fronts of capital valorization. The method of research, carried out from the analysis of speech and the headings of public policy, has enabled note the various forms of operating with the meanings of degradation, directly related to the context of disinvestment. In this context, in addition to the policy of urban renewal to the centre of the city of São Paulo and consolidated by the OUC, the concepts of degradation and freezing also were considered central to the development of this research. Thus, as occurred with the analysis of determinations by the OUC in Baixada do Glicério, we believe that the degradation, or even, the freezing of certain areas are produced by relations historically contradictory contained in the process of urbanization. Are maintained as fronts for valorization, to be included in the process of space reproduction, in the context of urban renewal. In this context, it is the hallmark of the contradictory preservation in Baixada do Glicério examined in this study, whose instrument of protection has intensified its process of deterioration, remaining under the state of freezing.