Neste trabalho investigamos efeitos de fotoirradiação e toxinas sob membranas celulares miméticas. Foram utilizadas, como modelo de membranas lipídicas, vesiculas unilamelares gigantes (GUVs) compostas pro lipídeos oxidados e não oxidados observadas por microscopia ótica de contraste de fase. Inicialmente estudamos a foto-resposta de membranas compostas por POPC e POPG dispersas em solução contendo azul de metileno (MB). Na sequência, estudamos o efeito de toxinas formadoras de poros, Esticolisina I (ST I) e Esticolisina II (ST II), em membranas contendo lipídeos oxidados e não oxidados. Os resultados de MB (10 µM) disperso em solução de membranas compostas por POPC e o lipídeo aniônico POPG indicaram que o aumento da densidade de carga negativa nas membranas das GUVs, que favorece a ligação da moléculas positivamente carregadas como MB nas membranas, tem como consequência um aumento de permeabilidade da membrana muito mais rápído em relação a membranas compostas apenas por POPC. Isto se deve ao fato que a localização preferencial do MB na membrana de POPC:POPG favorece a formação de oxigênio singlete próximo a dupla ligação da cadeia alquílica, dando início a reação de peroxidação lipídica de maneira mais efetiva que em membrana de POPC. Os resultados da ação das toxinas STI e STII (21 nM) em GUVs contendo lipídeos não oxidados PC e esfingomielina evidenciam que apenas STII é capaz de permear estas membranas a esta concentração. Mais ainda, nossos resultados sugerem que a existência de separação de fases fluida-gel na bicamada lipidica composta por PC:SM (razão molar 1:1) favorece a ação da toxina StII. Ao analisarmos membranas contendo lipídeos hidroperoxidados (POPC-OOH) dispersas em solução contendo STII (21 nM) observamos um aumento de permeabilidade na membrana num conjunto de GUVs, associado a formação de poros, apenas em bicamadas lipídicas formadas por misturas de lipídeos oxidados (POPC) e não oxidados (POPC-OOH). Quanto maior a concentração de lipídeos oxidados na membrana mais rapidamente ocorre o aumento de permeabilidade. / In this work we investigate the effects of photoirradiation and toxins on mimetic cell membranes. As a model of lipid membranes, giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) composed of oxidized and oxidized pro-lipids were observed by optical phase contrast microscopy. Initially we studied the photo-response of membranes composed of POPC and POPG dispersed in solution containing methylene blue (MB). Following, we studied the effect of pore-forming toxins, Sticolysin I (ST I) and Sticolysin II (ST II), on membranes containing oxidized and non-oxidized lipids. The results of MB (10 M) dispersed in solution of membranes composed of POPC and the anionic lipid POPG indicated that the increase in the negative charge density in the membranes of GUVs, which favors the binding of positively charged molecules as MB in the membranes, consequently increases membrane permeability in regard to membranes composed only of POPC. This is due to the fact that the preferred location of the MB in the POPC: POPG membrane favors the formation of singlet oxygen near the double bond of the alkyl chain, initiating the lipid peroxidation reaction more effectively than in the POPC membrane. The results of the action of the STI and STII toxins (21 nM) on GUVs containing non oxidised lipids PC and sphingomyelin show that only STII is able to permeate these membranes at this concentration. Moreover, our results suggest that the existence of fluid-gel phase separation in the lipid bilayer composed of PC:SM (molar ratio 1:1) favors the action of the StII toxin. When analyzing membranes containing hydroperoxidized lipids (POPC-OOH) dispersed in solution containing STII (21 nM) we observed an increase in membrane permeability in a set of GUVs, associated with pore formation, only in lipid bilayers formed by mixtures of oxidized lipids (POPC-OOH) and non-oxidized ones. The higher the concentration of oxidized lipids in the membrane, the faster the permeability increases.

A realização de um diagnóstico envolve várias etapas, dentre elas o exame radiográfico. Embora a experiência do profissional seja fundamental, é necessário que o mesmo se atualize constantemente, conhecendo as novas tecnologias e de que forma a era digital vem se incorporando nas mais diferentes áreas. Neste trabalho buscou-se avaliar se a tecnologia digital pode colaborar na elaboração de hipóteses diagnósticas de lesões ósseas. Para isso, foram selecionadas 24 radiografias panorâmicas nas quais existiam imagens de lesões do tipo ameloblastoma, tumor odontogênico queratocístico, mixoma e lesão central de células gigantes, atestadas por laudos anátomo-patológicos. As radiografias foram digitalizadas e entregues a 12 examinadores, sendo 3 profissionais para cada uma de 4 diferentes especialidades (radiologia, estomatologia, patologia e cirurgia buco-maxilo-facial). Os examinadores observaram as imagens em dois momentos diferentes. Primeiramente analisaram a radiografia convencional e depois a imagem digitalizada correspondente com intervalo mínimo de 30 dias. Quando do exame das imagens digitais, foi oferecida aos examinadores a opção de uso de ferramentas disponíveis no software, que pudessem auxiliá-lo no procedimento. As suas opiniões eram anotadas em formulários, cujos dados foram posteriormente tabulados e submetidos à análise estatística, por meio de equações de estimação generalizadas (EEG) e índice kappa. Os resultados possibilitaram concluir que houve equivalência na eficácia dos dois métodos avaliados, com boa concordância entre os diagnósticos dos especialistas, e que a probabilidade de acerto não depende da especialidade do observador e nem do tipo de lesão. O método digital foi o preferido para observação entre os avaliadores, sendo que a ferramenta brilho e contraste foi considerada como a melhor auxiliar na elaboração das hipóteses diagnósticas, não havendo uma padronização de valores para tal. Os resultados sugerem ainda que as ferramentas da análise digital favoreceram mais o diagnóstico de um determinado tipo de lesão em comparação aos outros. / The achievement of a diagnosis includes several steps, among them, the radiographic exam. Although the professional experience is fundamental, it is necessary that the professional has been updated constantly, learning new technologies and how the digital era has been incorporated to different areas of knowledge. This work aimed to assess if the digital technology might play a role in the elaboration of diagnostic hypothesis of bone lesions. For that, it was selected 24 panoramic radiographs in which it was possible to observe lesion images of ameloblastoma, keratinizing cystic odontogenic tumor, odontogenic myxoma and central giant cell lesion, with histophatological diagnosis. The radiographs were digitalized and delivered to 12 examiners, being 3 professionals for each one of the 4 specialties (radiology, stomatology, pathology and oral surgery). The examiners have observed the images in two different situations. First they analyzed the conventional radiography and then the corresponding digitalized images, after at least 30 days long. Joined to the digitalized images, it was provided to the examiners software facilities in order to support them in the procedures. Their opinions were filled in booking forms, whose information were tabulated and submitted to statistical analysis through generalized estimation equations (EEG) and kappa index. The outcome has indicated that there was an equivalent fficiency between the two selected methods of assessment. There was a good match of the diagnosis made by the examiners from each speciality, and the probability of a right judgment did not rely on the observer specialty nor on the type of lesion. The examiners have preferred the digital method, and the digital tools bright and contrast were considered the best support for the elaboration of diagnostic hypothesis. Moreover, it was not obtained standard values for bright or contrast. The outcome of this work also suggests that the use of digital analysis tools tends to be more effective for a specific type of lesion than others.

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No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Luíza Lucena de Albuquerque - 2017.pdf: 5105413 bytes, checksum: 31eb52779b210ea8fba7b2359d7ad846 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-06-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is a wild mammal of the superorder of Xenarthras, native to Central and South America, which is currently classified as vulnerable in the list of endangered species. A fact that can have as causes, from the territorial advance of the agricultural activities to the constructions of roads and fires. Scientific research is of great importance for the conservation of species included in this list and there is a dearth of data about the anteater. Among these information to be collected, there is little information about ultrasound examination in this species. The absence of a reference standard for performing and evaluating ultrasonographic examination for specific species may limit the application of this test and disrupt the establishment of an accurate diagnosis. For these reasons, the aim of this study was to establish a reference standard for the ultrasonographic evaluation of the abdomen of male and female giant anteaters. For this, 10 adult animals, five females and five males, clinically healthy, were used from the Fundação Jardim Zoológico de Brasília. The animals were anesthetized using the Foundation's own protocol, the animals were placed in dorsal decubitus position, and then a wide tricotomy of the abdomen was performed to allow abdominal scanning. The visible structures were established in the abdominal ultrasound examination of the anteaters, have also been established: topographic position, anatomical relationships, ecotexture and echogenicity of: urinary vesicle, uterus, testes, kidneys, spleen, liver, stomach and intestines. It has also been described the presence of alterations in some animals, such as: an animal with intrauterine fluid; an animal with hepatomegaly; an animal with splenomegaly; and thre animals with abdominal fluid. It has been verified that the abdominal ultrasound examination of anteater can be performed according to what is already recommended for dogs and cats and its evaluation and interpretation can be compared with the examinations of domestic mammals as well as descriptions already documented in other species of mammals Wild. / O tamanduá-bandeira (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) é uma mamífero silvestre, da superordem Xenarthras, nativo das Américas Central e do Sul e que está, atualmente, classificado como vulnerável na lista de espécies ameaçadas de extinção, fato que pode ter como causas, desde o avanço territorial das atividades agropecuárias às construções de estradas e queimadas Pesquisas científicas são de suma importância para a conservação de espécies inclusas nessa lista e existe uma escassez de dados acerca dos tamanduás-bandeira. Dentre essas informações a serem coletadas, existem poucas informações acerca do exame ultrassonográfico nesta espécie. A ausência de um padrão de referência para a realização e avaliação do exame ultrassonográfico para espécies específicas pode limitar a aplicação deste exame e impedir o estabelecimento de um diagnóstico preciso. Por estes motivos, objetivou-se nesse estudo estabelecer um padrão de referência para a avaliação ultrassonográfica do abdômen de tamanduás-bandeira machos e fêmeas. Para isso, foram utilizados 10 animais adultos, cinco fêmeas e cinco machos, clinicamente saudáveis, provenientes da Fundação Jardim Zoológico de Brasília. Os animais foram anestesiados utilizando protocolo da própria Fundação, os animais foram posicionados em decúbito dorsal e, em seguida, foi realizada a tricotomia ampla do abdômen para possibilitar a varredura abdominal. Foram estabelecidas as estruturas visíveis no exame ultrassonográfico abdominal dos tamanduás, bem como descritas: posição topográfica, relações anatômicas, ecotextura e ecogenicidade de vesícula urinária, útero, testículos, rins, baço, fígado, estômago e alças intestinais. Também foi descrita a presença de alterações em alguns animais, como: líquido intra-uterino; hepatomegalia; esplenomegalia; líquido-livre abdominal. Verificou-se que o exame ultrassonográfico abdominal de tamanduás-bandeira pode ser realizado segundo o que já é preconizado para cães e gatos e sua avaliação e interpretação podem ser comparadas tanto com os exames de mamíferos domésticos quanto com descrições já documentadas em outras espécies de mamíferos silvestres.

A Terapia Fotodinâmica é um tratamento promissor no cura de várias doenças oftalmológicas e dermatológicas, assim como tumores. Este tratamento utiliza a combinação de luz e um composto fotossensível na presença de oxigênio. Neste trabalho objetivamos entender mecanismos de fotossensibilização em membranas. Para isso, estudamos os efeitos de irradiação em Vesículas Unilamelares Gigantes (GUVs) compostas de POPC e Cardiolipina (CL) e POPC e Colesterol (Col), contendo uma molécula fotoativa (diC12-porf) ancorada à superfície dessas membranas. GUVs compostas por POPC e POPC:Col na presença da molécula fotoativa reagem ao estímulo da luz exibindo um aumento de área seguido de flutuações. O mesmo foi observado para membranas de POPC contendo menos que 50mol% de CL. Já para composições contendo 50mol% de CL, a membrana passa a formar domínios lipídicos podendo ou não ser destruída durante a irradiação. Estes domínios podem ser suprimidos com a adição de EDTA (agente quelante de íons divalentes) na solução. Ao adicionarmos CaCl2 ao meio externo das GUVs contendo EDTA, percebemos que o efeito dos domínios e destruição da membrana reaparece. Tal fato evidencia que íons Ca++ presentes em solução devem complexar com as cargas da CL, levando à formação de domínios lipídicos. Ao quantificar o aumento de área sofrido pelas membranas percebemos que a presença de CL na membrana de POPC inibe o aumento de área para concentrações acima de 40mol% de CL. Já a presença de Col na membrana parece não contribuir significativamente para o aumento de área, embora o mesmo sofra oxidação. Além disso, evidenciou-se que na presença de CL/Col o tempo de fotoclareamento de diC12-porf é muito maior do que na ausência destes. Estes resultados evidenciam que a inclusão de CL na membrana oferece um número maior de sítios de reação para o oxigênio singlete reduzindo a foto-degradação da molécula fotoativa. Já a inclusão de Col aumenta o tempo de vida da molécula fotoativa provavelmente devido ao fato da dupla ligação do Col estar mais próxima ao centro produtor de oxigênio singlete do que a dupla ligação do POPC. / Photodynamic Therapy is a promising treatment for the cure of many diseases, like tumors. This treatment uses a combination of light and a photosensitive molecule in the presence of oxygen. In this way, our objective is to understand photosensibilization mechanisms on membranes. For this purpose, we studied the effects of irradiation in Giant Unilamelar Vesicles (GUVs) composed of POPC and Cardiolipin (CL) and POPC and Cholesterol (Chol) in the presence of a photosensitive molecule (diC12-porf). When the GUVs composed of POPC or POPC and Cholesterol (Chol) in the presence of the photosensitive molecule were irradiated, increase in surface area followed by fluctuations was observed. For GUVs composed of low concentrations of CL, the membrane photo-response was similar to that observed for pure POPC. For GUVs composed of 50 mol% CL different responses to light irradiation were observed. Some lipid domains appear for GUVs in water under irradiation and the GUV might be destroyed. When the irradiation was done in the presence of EDTA (chelant agent), the formation of the domains was prevented. Further addition of CaCl2 to this solution induced the formation of domains again leading eventually to membrane disruption. These results suggest that divalent cations have effect on the binding to CL negative polar heads, favoring lipid domain formation. We quantified the area increase obtained for the GUVs. For GUVs composed of CL we observed that until 40mol% of CL, the maximum expansion reached by the membrane area was similar to that obtained for pure POPC. For 50mol% of CL the increase of area is smaller than that found for GUVs composed only by POPC. For GUVs composed of Chol the behavior of the area is similar to that found for POPC. This means that the increase of area is mainly related to POPC peroxidation, although Chol hydroperoxide must be concomitantly formed too. Further, we observed that the diC12-porf photobleaching characteristic time for GUVs composed of CL/Chol is greater than that noted for GUVs composed of POPC. This means that when we introduce CL we are increasing the possibilities of reaction of the singlet oxygen and the photosensitive molecule is protected. The insertion of Chol in the membrane also protects the photosensitive molecule.

No description available.

Title: Memories of whithesses from the east of the Giant mountains Objectives: The aim of the work is to summarize historical events and social changes connected with the era from the beginning of colonization of the east of the Giant mountains to the second half of 1940s through utterance of regional natives compared to thematic literature. Methods: To gain data for this thesis regarding utterance of contemporary witnesses I used largely publications Krkonošští rodáci vzpomínají 1, 2 a 3, further a magazine Krkonoše-Jizerské hory, a website Paměť národa - Sudetské osudy (Antikomplex) and a method of semi- structured interview with one witness. I focused especially on German- speaking natives born in 1920s and 1930s from the east of the Giant mountains, largely from villages Horní Maršov and Velká Úpa and surroundings, occasionally supplemented by compatriots from the middle of the Giant mountains. It was 17 withesses in total - 8 women and 9 men. Afterwards I made a comparation of sources mentioned above with prefessional literature and populary educational literature and websites, which have a relation to the region and to period, historical and social events. Conclusion: The thesis introduced key moments of life stories of predominantly German-speaking withesses from the east of the Giant...

Evolution occurs and can be conceptualized along a spectrum, bounded on one extreme by the relationships between deep lineages – such as phyla, classes, and orders – and on the other by the molecular dynamics of operational taxonomic units within a species, defined as population genetics. The purpose of this dissertation was to better understand the evolutionary and population dynamics of crustaceans within the Gulf of Mexico. In the second chapter of my dissertation, I provide a guide to best phylogenetic practice while reviewing infraordinal relationships within Decapoda, including the promise held by next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches such as Anchored Hybrid Enrichment. Chapter III is a phylogenetic study of species relationships within the economically important shrimp genus, Farfantepenaeus, targeting three mitochondrial genes and uncovering an intriguing pattern of latitudinal speciation. As the first inclusive molecular phylogeny of the genus, we find support for the newly described species F. isabelae, but a lack of support for the species status of F. notialis. Additionally, our results suggest the existence of two distinct subspecies of F. brasiliensis. Chapter IV investigates the relative impacts of habitat heterogeneity and the presence of a possible glacial refugium in determining population dynamics of the Giant Deep-Sea Isopod, Bathynomus giganteus in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Through hybrid population genetics/genomics analyses and Bayesian testing of population models, we find strong evidence for habitat heterogeneity determining population dynamics for this charismatic deep-sea invertebrate. Chapter V further investigates the role of environment in determining and maintaining genetic diversity and population connectivity, specifically focused on establishing biological baselines with which we can diagnose health and resilience of the Gulf of Mexico. This was accomplished through a comparative NGS population genomics study of three species of mesopelagic crustaceans: Acanthephyra purpurea, Systellaspis debilis, and Robustosergia robusta. While diversity and connectivity differs in each species, the comparative results bespeak the importance of access to the Gulf Loop Current in determining and maintaining population dynamics. Overall, my work significantly contributes to our knowledge of Crustacea at the phylogenetic- and population genetic-level.

Orientador: Ernesto Vieira Neto / Resumo: O estudo da formação e evolução do Sistema Solar é uma fonte de informação para entender sob quais condições a vida poderia surgir e evoluir. Nós apresentamos, nesta Tese de doutorado, um estudo numérico da fase final de acresção dos planetas gigantes do Sistema Solar durante e após a fase do disco de gás protoplanetário. Em nossas simulações, utilizamos um modelo recente e confiável para a formação de Urano e Netuno para esculpir as propriedades do disco trans-Netuniano original (Izidoro et al. , 2015a). Nós fizemos este estudo de uma maneira autoconsistente considerando os efeitos do gás e da evolução dos embriões planetários que formam Urano e Netuno por colisões gigantescas. Consideramos diferentes histórias de migração de Júpiter, devido a incerteza de como Júpiter migrou, durante a fase de gás. As nossas simulações permitiram obter pela primeira vez as propriedades orbitais do disco trans-Netuniano original. Então, calculamos o tempo de instabilidade dos planetas gigantes a partir de sistemas planetários que formam similares Urano e Netuno. Nossos resultados indicam fortemente que a instabilidade dos planetas gigantes acontecem cedo em até 500 milhões de anos e mais provável ainda ter acontecido em 136 milhões de anos após a dissipação do gás. Nós também realizamos simulações para discutir alguns efeitos dinâmicos que acontecem na região do cinturão de Kuiper. Estes efeitos acontecem quando Netuno esteve em alta excentricidade durante a instabilidade planetária. Para es... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: A study of the formation and evolution of the Solar System is a source of information for an understanding of what conditions life could arise and evolve. We present a numerical study of the final stage of accretion of the giant planets of the Solar System during and after the protoplanetary gas disc phase. In our simulations, we use a recent and reliable model for the formation of Uranus and Neptune to sculpt the properties of the original trans-Neptunian disk (Izidoro et al. , 2015a). We have done this study in a self-consistent way considering the effects of gas and the evolution of planetary embryos which form Uranus and Neptune by mutual giant collisions. We considered different Jupiter migration stories due to the uncertainty of how Jupiter’s migration was during the gas phase. Our simulations provide for the first time to obtain the orbital properties of the original trans-Neptunian disk. We then calculate the instability time of the giant planets from planetary systems which form similar Uranus and Neptune. Our results strongly indicate that the instability of the giant planets occurs early within 500 million years and even more likely to happen at 136 million years after gas dissipation. We also perform simulations to discuss some dynamical effects that happen in the Kuiper belt region. These effects happen when Neptune was in high eccentricity during planetary instability. For this problem, we use the simulations performed by Gomes et al. (2018) who investigated the... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Zufallsgraphen sind Graphen, die durch einen zufälligen Prozess erzeugt werden. Ein im Zusammenhang mit Zufallsgraphen häufig auftretendes Phänomen ist, dass sich die typischen Eigenschaften eines Graphen durch Hinzufügen einer relativ kleinen Anzahl von zufälligen Kanten radikal verändern. Wir betrachten den Zufallsgraphen G(n,p), der n Knoten enthält und in dem zwei Knoten unabhängig und mit Wahrscheinlichkeit p durch eine Kante verbunden sind. Erdös und Rényi zeigten, dass ein Graph für p = c/n und c < 1 mit hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit aus Komponenten mit O(log n) Knoten besteht. Für p = c/n und c > 1 enthält G(n,p) mit hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit genau eine Komponente mit Theta(n) Knoten, welche viel größer als alle anderen Komponenten ist. Dieser Punkt in der Entwicklung des Graphen, an dem sich die Komponentenstruktur durch eine kleine Erhöhung der Anzahl von Kanten stark verändert, wird Phasenübergang genannt. Wenn p = (1+epsilon)/n, wobei epsilon eine Funktion von n ist, die gegen 0 geht, sind wir in der kritischen Phase, welche eine der interessantesten Phasen der Entwicklung des Zufallsgraphen ist. In dieser Arbeit betrachten wir drei verschiedene Modelle von Zufallsgraphen. In Kapitel 4 studieren wir den Minimalgrad-Graphenprozess. In diesem Prozess werden sukzessive Kanten vw hinzugefügt, wobei v ein zuällig ausgewählter Knoten von minimalem Grad ist. Wir beweisen, dass es in diesem Graphenprozess einen Phasenübergang, und wie im G(n,p) einen Doppelsprung, gibt. Die zwei anderen Modelle sind Zufallsgraphen mit einer vorgeschriebenen Gradfolge und zufällige gerichtete Graphen. Für diese Modelle wurde bereits in den Arbeiten von Molloy und Reed (1995), Karp (1990) und Luczak (1990) gezeigt, dass es einen Phasenübergang bezüglich der Komponentenstruktur gibt. In dieser Arbeit untersuchen wir in Kapitel 5 und 6 die kritische Phase dieser Prozesse genauer, und zeigen, dass sich diese Modelle ähnlich zum G(n,p) verhalten. / Random graphs are graphs which are created by a random process. A common phenomenon in random graphs is that the typical properties of a graph change radically by the addition of a relatively small number of random edges. This phenomenon was first investigated in the seminal papers of Erdös and Rényi. We consider the graph G(n,p) which contains n vertices, and where any two vertices are connected by an edge independently with probability p. Erdös and Rényi showed that if p = c/n$ and c < 1, then with high probability G(n,p) consists of components with O(log n) vertices. If p = c/n$ and c>1, then with high probability G(n,p) contains exactly one component, called the giant component, with Theta(n) vertices, which is much larger than all other components. The point at which the giant component is formed is called the phase transition. If we let $p = (1+epsilon)/n$, where epsilon is a function of n tending to 0, we are in the critical phase of the random graph, which is one of the most interesting phases in the evolution of the random graph. In this case the structure depends on how fast epsilon tends to 0. In this dissertation we consider three different random graph models. In Chapter 4 we consider the so-called minimum degree graph process. In this process edges vw are added successively, where v is a randomly chosen vertex with minimum degree. We prove that a phase transition occurs in this graph process as well, and also that it undergoes a double jump, similar to G(n,p). The two other models we will consider, are random graphs with a given degree sequence and random directed graphs. In these models the point of the phase transition has already been found, by Molloy and Reed (1995), Karp (1990) and Luczak (1990). In Chapter 5 and 6 we investigate the critical phase of these processes, and show that their behaviour resembles G(n,p).

In this thesis we have explored the no equilibrium phase behavior and dynamics of an agitated monolayer of macroscopic rod-like particles. The main objective of this thesis was to highlight the ways in which even the simplest nonequilibrium 2Dliquid-crystallinen system differs qualitatively from its thermal equilibrium counter part. One major finding of ours is the extreme sensitivity to shape in these nonequilibrium systems. In chapter 3 we saw that tapering the ends of the particles induced a change from 2–fold ordering to 4–fold ordering. As far as we know, this is the first experimental observation of ‘tetratic’ correlations in equilibrium or nonequilibrium settings. This shape dependence is also pronounced in the single particle dynamics where, in chapter 5, we saw that similar-shaped objects behave differently even if they have dissimilar aspect ratios. Another important finding of ours is that the density fluctuations in the nonequilibrium nematic are not merely larger than, but qualitatively different from, those seen in their equilibrium counterparts: the fluctuations of the population, in a region containing on average N particles, grow much faster than √N . Then on equilibrium nature of the systems we study is clearly visible even at the single-particle level where we observe violations of equipartition in all the particles we study. The anomalous fluctuations we observe can be under stood in the light of theories of flocking. We have motivated why our system can be thought of as a granular flock and in chapter 4 presented various quantitative observations that justify this claim: we see giant fluctuations that decay only logarithmically in time as predicted by a theory of active nematics. This supports the idea that granular systems can provide a faithful imitation of the collective dynamics of living flocks, thus offering an attractive and easily control able system on which to test the predictions of flocking theories. A part from being a table-top experiment, , our system has the two substantial advantages over living systems that there are no products of metabolism which need removing and that the population remains constant. Our work highlights the fact that the fascinating phenomena of flocking ,coherent motion and large-scale in homogeneity seen in living matter can be obtained in a system in which particles do not communicate except by contact, have no sensing mechanisms and are not influenced by the spatially-varying pressures and incentives of a biological environment. Directions to go from here are aplenty. There is a lot that needs to be done towards understanding the origins of the anomalous fluctuations: do they arise due to the coupling of mass currents to gradients in the nematic director field or is there some other mechanism at play? Though the observed motion of disclinations suggests the former, a thorough hand systematic study of defect behavior is lacking. How defects interact and whether there is any analogy to thermal-equilibrium defect-behavior is completely unexplored, theoretically and experimentally. Indeed, this would be of interest purely as a problem in nonequilibrium statistical mechanics independent of whether or not the system is described by theories of active nematics. A part from settling the important, fundamental issues regarding the giant fluctuations, one can explore the entire spectrum of rod-like particles and study its dynamics and phase behaviour. What happens to collections of javelins that are agitated in 2D geometries? Do they form steadily-moving flocks? What about the short cylinders? We have seen that in the dilute limit they behave in a polar fashion but at high area fractions they form a polar, 4–fold correlated states. At Intermediate densities will they form a polar phase? Why is it that the long cylinders do not show any polar dynamics? What factors govern whether a particle is polar or not? Can one engineer particles to efficiently translate random impulses in to directed motion? Thus, even the single particle dynamics offers many avenues for experimental exploration. However, there is also scope for theoretical work in this direction. A sound theoretical understanding of the individual particle’s behaviour will then pave the way for a microscopic theory for the collective granular-rod state.. This can then be compared to the active and flocking literature which his, largely, of a phenomenological nature as of now. In conclusion, we would like to say that our experiments have revealed many important and fascinating nonequilibrium phenomena. Our experiments demonstrate situations where ‘effective equilibrium’ approaches are in adequate. Such descriptions can accommodate neither the slow, giant, collective fluctuations we observe nor the non-equipartition at the single-particle level. Finally, as is often the case, our studies have thrown open many more questions than they have answered. We hope our experiments stimulate further studies and we believe that we are witnessing the birth of a new subfield at the crossroads of granular physics and the physics of flocks.