The atomic resolution structure of a low populated and transiently formed on-pathway folding intermediate of the FF domain from human HYPA/FBP11 has recently been reported[1]. The structure was determined on the basis of backbone chemical shift and bond vector orientation restraints measured on the ‘invisible’ intermediate state using relaxation dispersion nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy that were subsequently input into the data-base structure determination program CS-Rosetta. This thesis focuses on the cross-validation of the structure so produced. We present here the solution NMR structure of a mimic of the folding intermediate that is highly populated in solution, obtained from the wild-type domain by protein mutagenesis. The ensemble of structures generated of the mimic are within 2Å of the relaxation dispersion/CS-Rosetta structures of the intermediate, with the non-native interactions in the intermediate also observed in the mimic. The results presented in this thesis strongly confirm the structure of the FF domain folding intermediate, in particular, and validate the use of relaxation dispersion derived restraints in structural studies of invisible excited states, in general.

傳統DEA效率分析假設產業具單一生產過程，直到2000年，Färe and Grosskopf 提出Network DEA，闡明產業生產過程應分屬多階段性質。本研究應用其架構，假設職棒產業生產過程為兩個階段，並特別以Sexton and Lewis (2003) 增加中間產出的Two-Stage DEA 法，即第一階段的產出作為第二階段的投入，進行1992年至2004年「中華職業棒球聯盟」，共71個DMUs的實證分析。 Two-Stage DEA的第一階段是指花錢聘雇球員，而球團有效花錢聘雇球員的程度稱為「前置效率」，效率平均值為0.994；第二階段效率是指球隊正式比賽時，球員是否充分發揮技術潛能贏球，稱為「臨場效率」，效率平均值為0.969；而包含第一、二階段的整體球團運作效率則為「組織效率」，效率平均值為0.798。透過與傳統DEA的BCC模型之比較，發現Two-Stage DEA提供較豐富的組織運作過程資訊，俾管理者找出球團之無效率階段。 復以Tobit截斷迴歸模型，探討影響球團「前置效率」、「臨場效率」與「組織效率」之變數為何。結果指出，球隊對戰觀眾數、聯盟變革與現場直播對「前置效率」有顯著影響，「臨場效率」則受到臨時性獎勵制度與投手平均年齡的影響，而對戰觀眾數、聯盟變革、總教練的更動頻率與常設性獎勵制度，則是造成球隊「組織效率」差異的主因。 關鍵字：Network DEA、中間產出、Two-Stage DEA、職業棒球、效率 / Traditional DEA gauges efficiencies with only one production process, while in this study we apply Network DEA initiated by Färe and Grosskopf (2000), and in particular follow the Two-Stage DEA model incorporating the intermediate products, outputs from the first stage becomes inputs to the second stage, by Sexton and Lewis (2003) to evaluate the production efficiency of 71 DMUs of the Chinese professional Baseball League (CPBL ) from 1992 to 2004. How fair are the ball teams paying the players is called ”front office efficiency”, arithmetic mean is 0.994, in the first stage, how potentially successful are the teams playing the games is called “on-field efficiency”, arithmetic mean is 0.969, in the second stage, and how potentially successful are the teams playing the games if with perfect front office efficiency of the teams is called “organization efficiency”, arithmetic mean is 0.798. Comparing Two-Stage DEA model with BCC model of traditional DEA, we find that the former model provides more information of organizational operations for managers to understand and better the performance of the teams. Tobit regression analysis shows that (1) the front office efficiency is significantly positively influenced by spectators, variation of the league and television live, and (2) the on-field efficiency is significantly positively influenced by extemporaneous bonus and pitcher’s age. (3) The organization efficiency is significantly positively influenced by the spectators, variation of the league and fixed bonus, but the organization efficiency is significantly negatively influenced by change of coaches. Keyword：Network DEA, Intermediate products, Two-Stage DEA , Efficiency, Professional baseball

The absorption of the sun's radiation and its efficient conversion to useful work by a photovoltaic solar cell is of interest to the community at large. Scientists and engineers are particularly interested in approaches that exceed the Shockley-Queisser limit of photovoltaic solar-energy conversion. The abstract notion of increasing the efficiency of photovoltaic solar cells by constructing a three-transition solar cell via an absorber with intermediate levels is well-established. Until now, proposed approaches to realize the three-transition solar cell do not render the efficiency gains that are theorized; therefore, researchers are experimenting to ascertain where the faults lie. In my opinion, it is unclear if the abstract efficiency gains are obtainable. Furthermore, it is difficult to determine whether three-transition absorbers are even incorporated in the existing three-transition solar cell prototypes. I assert that there are material systems derived from the technologically important compound semiconductors and their ternary alloys that more clearly determine the suitability of employing nanostructured absorbers to realize a three-transition solar cell. The author reports on a nanostructured absorber composed of InAs quantum dots completely enveloped in a GaAsSb matrix that is grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The material system, InAs/GaAs$_{0.88}$Sb$_{0.12}$, is identified as an absorber for a three transition solar cell. This material system will more easily determine the suitability of employing nanostructured absorbers because its quantum-dot heterojunctions have negligible valence-band discontinuities, which abate the difficulty of interpreting optical experimental results. A key tool used to identify the GaAs$_{1-x}$Sb$_{x}$ ($xapprox 0.12$) is a maximum-power iso-efficiency contour plot. This contour plot is only obtainable by first having analyzed the impact of both finite intermediate-band width and spectral selectivity on the optimized detailed-balance conversion efficiencies of the three-transition solar cell. Obtaining the contour plot is facilitated by employing a rapid and precise method to calculate particle flux (Appendix~ ef{ch:Rapid-Precise}). The author largely determines the electronic structure of the InAs/GaAs$_{1-x}$Sb$_{x}$ ($xapprox 0.12$) absorber that is grown by molecular beam epitaxy from optical experimental methods and in particular, from photoluminescent spectroscopy. The interpretation of the experimental photoluminescent spectrum is facilitated by having first studied the theoretical photoluminescent spectra of idealized three-transition absorbers.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1932.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1932.

Thesis (Masters) -- The College of Saint Elizabeth, 2010. / Typescript. Available at The College of Saint Elizabeth - Office of Graduate Programs. "March 2010"

Orientador: Raul Borges Guimarães / Banca: Eliseu Savério Sposito / Banca: Marcelino de Andrade Gonçalves / Resumo: A presente dissertação tem como objetivo central a análise das redes de solidariedade e estratégias de sobrevivências das famílias moradoras de áreas de exclusão social da cidade de Presidente Prudente-SP. Para isto, procurou-se captar as características dos perfis de famílias com chefes desempregados e identificar os problemas sociais e as necessidades em saúde, no contexto do atual período técnico-científico e informacional. Torna-se impossível entender esta prática espacial denominada exclusão social se a considerarmos apenas como um recorte analítico da realidade. É por este motivo que fizemos uma geografia dos usos do território e das suas relações com a temática dos processos excludentes. Fez-se necessário, então, um método que entendesse o espaço geográfico enquanto um todo em movimento, na busca por uma compreensão das relações entre território e exclusão. Os estudos das redes sociais se mostraram como uma ferramenta de fundamental importância, tanto por suas potencialidades, quanto por suas limitações enquanto instrumento de representação do espaço geográfico. Nesta reflexão, alguns conceitos e autores aparecem com contribuições fundamentais, dentre eles o de território usado e solidariedades geográficas, desenvolvido por Milton Santos. Conclui-se que a exclusão social urbana é uma questão de caráter muito mais político que propriamente técnico, e que os processos excludentes em Presidente Prudente-SP são frutos dos usos corporativos do território e das escolhas históricas feitas por esta cidade e pela formação sócio-espacial na qual está inserida. / Abstract: The prime objective of this dissertation has the analysis of solidarity nets and strategies of survival of the living families of areas of social exclusion of the city of Presidente Prudente- SP. For this, it was looked for catching the characteristics of the profiles of families with dismissed heads and to identify to the social problems and the necessities in health, in the context of the current technician-scientific and informational period. It's impossible to understand this practical space called social exclusion if only to consider as an analytical clipping of the reality. It is for this reason that we made a kind of geography of the uses of the territory and its relations with the thematic of the exculpatory processes. It has been necessary, then, a method that understood the geographical space as a whole one in movement, in the search for an understanding of the relations between territory and exclusion. The studies of the social nets are a tool of basic importance, as much for its potentialities, how much for its limitations while instrument of representation of the geographical space. In this reflection, some concepts and authors appear with basic contributions, among them, one of used territory and geographic solidarities, developed for Milton Santos. It has been concluded that the that the urban social exclusion is a character question much more politician than properly technician, and that the exculpatory processes in Presidente Prudente-SP are somethings wich have their origins of the corporative uses of the territory and of the historical choices made by this city and the partner-space formation in which is inserted. / Mestre

Medical Laboratories Accreditation is covered by ISO 15189:2012 - Medical Laboratories — Requirements for Quality and Competence. In Portugal, accreditation processes are held under the auspices of the Portuguese Accreditation Institute (IPAC), which applies the Portuguese edition (NP EN ISO 15189:2014). Accordingly, Medical Laboratories accreditation processes now require the estimate of measurement uncertainty (MU) associated to the results. The Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) describes the calculation of MU, not contemplating the specific aspects of medical laboratory testing. Several models have been advocated, yet without a final consensus. Given the lack of studies on MU in Portugal, especially on its application in the medical laboratory, it is the objective of this thesis to reach to a model that fulfils the IPAC’s accreditation regulations, in regards to this specific requirement. The study was based on the implementation of two formulae (MU-A and MU-B), using the Quality Management System (QMS) data of an ISO 15189 Accredited Laboratory. Including the laboratory’s two Cobas® 6000–c501 (Roche®) analysers (C1 and C2) the work focused three analytes: creatinine, glucose and total cholesterol. The MU-B model formula, combining the standard uncertainties of the method’s imprecision, of the calibrator’s assigned value and from the pre-analytical variation, was considered the one best fitting to the laboratory's objectives and to the study's purposes, representing well the dispersion of values reasonably attributable to the measurand final result. Expanded Uncertainties were: Creatinine - C1 = 9,60%; C2 = 5,80%; Glucose - C1 = 8,32%; C2 = 8,34%; Cholesterol - C1 = 4,00%; C2 = 3,54 %. ...[cont.].

Este estudo tem como objetivo central avaliar a influência da secagem por aspersão de nanocápsulas de núcleo lipídico contendo tretinoína nos perfis in vitro de liberação e de penetração cutânea deste fármaco a partir de hidrogéis. Esses experimentos foram conduzidos empregando-se células de difusão de Franz, pele de abdome de porcos (fêmeas), regime de aplicação de doses infinitas e meio receptor composto por tampão fosfato pH 7,4 e etanol (70:30). A secagem por aspersão das suspensões de nanocápsulas, utilizando PVP e lactose (1:1, m/m) a 10% como adjuvantes, forneceu produtos com bons perfis de dispersão em água, bons rendimentos (próximos a 70%), baixos teores de substâncias voláteis, e teores do fármaco acima de 92%. O tipo de produto intermediário, suspensão aquosa ou respectivo pó, utilizado na produção de hidrogéis (G-LNC-TTN e G-LNC-TTN-SD, respectivamente) não influenciou no perfil de liberação in vitro da tretinoína, que se ajustou ao modelo de Higuchi. No estrato córneo houve diferenças nas quantidades de tretinoína penetradas a partir das duas formulações. O G-LNC-TTN levou a uma retenção exponencial do fármaco nessa camada, enquanto para o G-LNC-TTN-SD isso não ocorreu. Essa diferença foi associada à forma de organização das nanocápsulas na matriz do gel. Na epiderme e na derme, ambas as formulações permitiram a chegada de pequenas e constantes quantidades de tretinoína. No compartimento receptor da célula de Franz o fármaco não foi detectado. A pequena permeação da tretinoína para as camadas mais profundas da pele e para o meio receptor são indicativos de baixa absorção sistêmica, e também podem contribuir para a diminuição dos efeitos adversos associados à terapia tópica com essa substância. A secagem das suspensões de nanocápsulas de núcleo lipídico, nas condições utilizadas, forneceu um intermediário em potencial para a produção de formas farmacêuticas semissólidas contendo tretinoína. / This study’s central goal is to assess the influence of spray-drying lipid core nanocapsules on tretinoin in vitro release profiles as well as skin penetration/permeation from hydrogels. These experiments were conducted employing Franz diffusion cells, pig abdominal skin (female), infinite doses regimen and receptor medium composed of phosphate buffer pH 7.4 and ethanol (70:30). Spray-drying of the nanocapsules suspensions, using PVP and lactose (1:1, m/m) at 10% (m/v) as drying adjuvant provided powders with good water dispersion profiles, good yields (around 70%), low volatile substances contents, in addition to drug contents above 92%. Interchanging intermediate products, aqueous suspension or respective powder, used in hydrogel formulation (G-LNC-TTN and G-LNC-TTN-SD, respectively) caused no influence on tretinoin in vitro release profile which was adjusted by Higuchi model. In corneum stratum there were differences in tretinoin quantities which penetrated from those formulations. The G-LNC-TTN provided an exponential retention of the drug on this skin’s layer, although G-LNC-TTN-SD did not. This difference was associated with the nanocapsules organization form in hydrogel matrix. In epidermis and dermis both formulations allowed permeation of constant and low tretinoin quantities. Moreover, at receptor fluid the drug was not detected. The low tretinoin permeation for deeper skin layers and for receptor fluid is low systemic absorption indicative, furthermore, may contribute in reducing adverse effects associated with tretinoin topical therapy. In given conditions, spray-drying of lipid core nanocapsules provided a potential intermediate for production of semi solids pharmaceutical forms containing tretinoin.

Submitted by Emanuel Varela Cardoso (emanuel.varela@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-10-16T19:37:30Z No. of bitstreams: 1 GIVAL PORDEUS DA SILVA NETO – DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGFísica) 2015.pdf: 4886479 bytes, checksum: 8589cc7f91d5dab59210f3bf9b9a3d97 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-10-16T19:37:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GIVAL PORDEUS DA SILVA NETO – DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGFísica) 2015.pdf: 4886479 bytes, checksum: 8589cc7f91d5dab59210f3bf9b9a3d97 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-05-08 / Capes / A constante de Hubble (H0) é considerada fundamental na cosmologia. Ela é crucial para qualquer modelo cosmológico moderno, pois está relacionada com diversas grandezas cosmológicas, portanto, é de extrema importância a determinação mais restritiva e acurada possível do seu valor. A mais recente estimativa de H0 a partir de métodos locais (z 1), H0 = 73:8 2; 4 kms􀀀1Mpc􀀀1, e a partir de redshifts muito altos (z ' 1070), H0 = 67; 3 1; 2 kms􀀀1Mpc􀀀1, são discrepantes em um nível de con fiança de 2; 4 . Dentro deste contexto, Lima e Cunha (LC), a m de lançar alguma luz sobre este problema, derivou uma nova determinação de H0 utilizando quatro testes cosmológicos em redshifts intermediários (z 1), com base no chamado modelo CDM Plano. Eles obtiveram H0 = 74; 1 2; 2 kms􀀀1Mpc􀀀1, em pleno acordo com as medições locais. Neste trabalho, exploramos a robustez do resultado de LC, procurando por erros sistemáticos e a sua dependência com o modelo cosmológico usado. Nós constatamos que o valor H0 a partir desta análise conjunta é muito fracamente dependente de modelos cosmológico, mas a morfologia adotada para inferir o raio central dos aglomerados de galáxias, altera o resultado, sendo a principal fonte de erros sistemáticos. Concluímos que uma melhor compreensão da morfologia dos aglomerados é fundamental para transformar esse método em um poderoso estimador de H0. / The Hubble constant (H0) is considered a fundamental constant of cosmology. It is crucial for any modern cosmological model, it is related to various cosmological quantities, so it is extremely important a restrictive and accurate determination of its value. The most recent estimate of H0 from local observations (z 1), H0 = 73:8 2; 4 kms􀀀�1Mpc􀀀�1, and from high redshifts (z ' 1070), H0 = 67; 3 1; 2 kms􀀀�1Mpc􀀀�1, are discrepant in a con dence level of 2; 4 . Within this context, Cunha and Lima (LC), in order to shed some light on this problem, derived a new determination of H0 using four cosmological tests at intermediate redshifts (z 1), based on the model called Flat CDM. They obtained H0 = 74; 1 2; 2 kms􀀀�1Mpc􀀀�1, in full agreement with local measurements. In this work, we explore the robustness of the result LC looking for systematic errors and its dependence on the cosmological model used. We found that the H0 value from this combined analysis is very weakly dependent on the underlying cosmological model, but the morphology adopted to infer the core radius of galaxy clusters, changes the estimates being the main source of systematic errors. Hence, we conclude that a better understanding of the morphology of the clusters is essential to transform this method in a powerful cross-check to H0.