A microcomputer based system is described that controls the operation of a dual chamber, diaphragm-type pneumatic blood pump in both open-loop and closed-loop modes. The open-loop mode of operation allows selection of pumping rate and systolic time parameters. The closed-loop mode of operation allows selection of pumping rate and pump output parameters, with the systolic time parameter adjusted automatically to maintain a selected pump output in spite of load changes. Digital display of all pump operating parameters is provided. A description of the device and the control techniques employed, the interface circuitry and software algorithm developed, a calibration and tuning procedure, and closed-loop response curves are included. / Master of Science

Treatability studies were performed on oily wastewaters produced by petroleum and canning industries. Chlorine dioxide was used for the removal of phenolic compounds from these oily wastewaters. Most of phenolic compounds can be destroyed by chlorine dioxide within 15 minutes if CI02-to-phenol ratios of higher than 5.0 are provided. Factors such as pH, temperature, and COD have little effect on phenol removal. The effectiveness of chlorine dioxide treatment depends critically on the performance of the chlorine dioxide generator. High yields of chlorine dioxide generation can be achieved by maintaining the pH between 2.5 and 3.5, and by controlling the concentration of feed chemicals. For small treatment plants, chlorine dioxide treatment may be an economical process because no expensive equipment is required. / Master of Science

Diffusion couples between nickel and S.A. 212 ferritic steel and between nickel and AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel were studied to determine the effect of nickel on the structure of these steels after diffusion anneals at 1300 ℉. Diffusion times varied from 50 to 4000 hours. The migration of nickel resulted in the formation of a martensitic band between nickel and S.A. 212 ferritic steel and an austenitic band between nickel and AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel. The width of the bands increased exponentially with the time of annealing. The band width increased faster in nickel-S.A. 212 couple than in nickel-AISI 304 couple. Hardness values were obtained within the band of both diffusion couples and varied across the band. Generally, the hardness was greatest in the band. In the nickel-AISI 304 diffusion couple, chromium carbides were observed in the nickel plate after diffusion. / M.S.

Submitted by Marlene Santos (marlene.bc.ufg@gmail.com) on 2018-07-17T17:09:33Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Sheila Janaína Sestari - 2017.pdf: 2781342 bytes, checksum: 55b64ac559e09fb7b078b0906ccd9791 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-07-18T11:28:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Sheila Janaína Sestari - 2017.pdf: 2781342 bytes, checksum: 55b64ac559e09fb7b078b0906ccd9791 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-18T11:28:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Sheila Janaína Sestari - 2017.pdf: 2781342 bytes, checksum: 55b64ac559e09fb7b078b0906ccd9791 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-10 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Paracoccidioides lutzii alternates between filamentous and yeast growth when exposed to temperatures of 36ºC. Morphological transition is an essential event for establishment of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), one of the most frequent systemic mycoses in Latin America. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and other dimorphic fungi, cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is essential in the dimorphic process. However, molecular events responsible for mycelial-yeast differentiation in P. lutzii remain unknown. The aim of this work was to characterize in silico the PKA subunits of P. lutzii, and to evaluate the role of this enzyme during the morphological transition of this fungus. During the in silico approach, we used computational tools for identity, domains, cell localization prediction, and similarity between P. lutzii and human sequences analysis. The importance of this enzyme was investigated through the use of specific inhibitor, H89. The behavior of cells in the presence of the drug was observed and the PKA activity measured by specific kit. Our in silico results reveal a single regulatory subunit, PbPKA-R located primarily in the nucleus, and two catalytic subunits, PbPKA-C1 and PbPKA-C2, with localization in the cytoplasm and nucleus respectively, all highly conserved. The PbPKA-R subunits were identified with two copies of the CNMP domain in the C-terminal, while the catalytic with a single copy of two domains: protein kinase and AGC kinase. The alignment of the PKA catalytic subunits of humans and Paracoccidioides shows a large divergence between them, making PKA an interesting target for antifungal. The results show that PKA activity is phase regulated, being about five times higher in yeast than in mycelium. We also show that H89 blocks the mycelium to yeast differentiation when PKA activity decreases. However, when the drug is removal from the culture medium, the fungus resumes the differentiation to the yeast phase. Our results show that PKA activity affects the phase transition in P. lutzii. / Paracoccidioides lutzii alterna entre crescimento filamentoso e leveduriforme quando exposto a temperaturas de 36ºC. A transição morfológica é um evento essencial para estabelecimento da paracoccidioidomicose (PCM), uma das micoses sistêmicas mais frequentes na América Latina. Em Paracoccidioides brasiliensis e outros fungos dimórficos, a proteína quinase dependente de AMPc (PKA) é essencial no processo dimórfico. No entanto, os eventos moleculares responsáveis pela diferenciação micélio-levedura em P. lutzii permanecem desconhecidos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar in silico as subunidades da PKA de P. lutzii, e avaliar o papel dessa enzima durante a transição morfológica desse fungo. Durante a abordagem in silico, utilizamos ferramentas computacionais para análise de identidade, domínios, predição da localização celular e similaridade entre as sequências de P. lutzii e humanos. Para investigar a importância dessa enzima, utilizamos um inibidor específico, H89, observando o comportamento das células quando induzidas à transição morfológica e posteriormente mensuramos sua atividade através de kit específico. Nossos resultados in silico revelam uma única subunidade regulatória, PbPKA-R localizada principalmente no núcleo, e duas subunidades catalíticas, PbPKA-C1 e PbPKA-C2, com localização no citoplasma e núcleo respectivamente, todas altamente conservadas. Na região Cterminal, as subunidades PbPKA-R foram identificadas com duas cópias do domínio CNMP, já as catalíticas com uma única cópia de dois domínios: proteína quinase e AGC quinase. O alinhamento das subunidades catalíticas da PKA de humanos e Paracoccidioides aponta uma grande divergência entre elas, o que torna a PKA um alvo interessante para antifúngicos. Os resultados do ensaio de atividade da PKA mostram que a atividade é regulada ao longo da transição de fases, sendo cerca de cinco vezes maior em levedura do que em micélio. Os dados também evidenciam que H89 bloqueia a diferenciação de micélio para levedura e que este bloqueio acontece concomitantemente à diminuição da atividade da PKA. No entanto, quando a droga é retirada do meio de cultura, o fungo retoma a diferenciação para fase leveduriforme. Os resultados revelam que a atividade da PKA afeta a transição de fases em P. lutzii.