We investigate into the limitations of the sum-product algorithm for binary low density parity check (LDPC) codes having isolated short cycles. Independence assumption among messages passed, assumed reasonable in all configurations of graphs, fails the most in graphical structures with short cycles. This research work is a step forward towards understanding the effect of short cycles on error floors of the sum-product algorithm. We propose a modified sum-product algorithm by considering the statistical dependency of the messages passed in a cycle of length 4. We also formulate a modified algorithm in the log domain which eliminates the numerical instability and precision issues associated with the probability domain. Simulation results show a signal to noise ratio (SNR) improvement for the modified sum-product algorithm compared to the original algorithm. This suggests that dependency among messages improves the decisions and successfully mitigates the effects of length-4 cycles in the Tanner graph. The improvement is significant at high SNR region, suggesting a possible cause to the error floor effects on such graphs. Using density evolution techniques, we analysed the modified decoding algorithm. The threshold computed for the modified algorithm is higher than the threshold computed for the sum-product algorithm, validating the observed simulation results. We also prove that the conditional entropy of a codeword given the estimate obtained using the modified algorithm is lower compared to using the original sum-product algorithm.

Submitted by Izabel Franco (izabel-franco@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-14T18:36:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissFCP.pdf: 1919469 bytes, checksum: d72c5b38d47b1a3d4dfeb57fce578117 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-16T19:21:33Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissFCP.pdf: 1919469 bytes, checksum: d72c5b38d47b1a3d4dfeb57fce578117 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-16T19:21:39Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissFCP.pdf: 1919469 bytes, checksum: d72c5b38d47b1a3d4dfeb57fce578117 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-16T19:21:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissFCP.pdf: 1919469 bytes, checksum: d72c5b38d47b1a3d4dfeb57fce578117 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-12-17 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / The consumption of fruits and vegetables has been growing due to the efforts for a healthier diet. In this context, strawberry can be highlighted for its nutritional value and for being a tasty and attractive fruit. However, on Brazil conditions, for being harvested near its physiological maturity, losses in post-harvest quality are high. Polymeric films containing metal nanoparticles (NPs) have been used in food packaging, once they present properties that contribute in maintaining the quality of fruits and vegetables. For instance, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) stands out for its antimicrobial action. The goal of this work was to evaluate the post-harvest quality of strawberries packed in polymeric films containing AgNPs and conventional net polymeric films (without NPs). For this purpose, commercial low-density polyethylene films (LDPE) containing AgNPs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Infrared Spectroscopy Fourier Transform (FTIR), thermogravimetry (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), antimicrobial activity tests. For evaluating the films influence on the physical-chemical and microbiological quality of strawberry, the following experiments were performed: (I) strawberry packaged in LDPE and LDPE+AgNP films were stored in cold chamber at 5 and 25 °C for nine days, where physical-chemical and microbiological analyzes were carried out at every three days; (II) Strawberry packaged by LDPE and LDPE+AgNP films were stored in cold chamber at 5 and 25 °C for nine days, and were submitted to the same physicalchemical analysis. To investigate in more details the antimicrobial effects of packaging, two experiments were carried out with strawberry inoculated by E. coli: (III) firstly, strawberry inoculated with E. coli with an initial concentration of 108 CFU mL-1 were stored at 5°C for ten days; subsequently, the physical-chemistry and microbiological analyses were carried out; and (IV) strawberry inoculated with E. coli with an initial concentration at 105 CFU mL-1 were stored at 10°C for ten days; subsequently, the microbiological analyses were carried out at every two days. Adding AgNPs on LDPE matrix did not influence the thermal and physical-chemical properties of films. Films containing AgNPs showed antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gramnegative microrganims. Physical-chemical quality of strawberry was affected mainly by temperature and storage period. AgNPs contained in LDPE packaging was efficient on controlling microbial population growth. Antimicrobial activity and post-harvest quality attained by polyetilene films containing AgNPs may be an indicative for using such Aplicação de filmes com nanopartículas de prata na conservação de morangos type of active packing for other fruits and vegetables, which can help decreasing post harvest losses, and may contribute to improve food safety. / O consumo de alimentos como frutas e hortaliças vem crescendo juntamente com a busca por uma alimentação mais saudável. Neste contexto, o morango se destaca por seu valor nutritivo e também por ser uma fruta saborosa e atraente. Porém, nas condições brasileiras por ser colhido próximo a sua maturação fisiológica, as perdas em qualidade pós-colheita são altas. Filmes poliméricos com nanopartículas (NPs) metálicas têm sido utilizados em embalagens alimentícias, dispondo de propriedades que contribuem para a manutenção da qualidade de frutas e hortaliças e, dentre estas, as nanopartículas de prata (NPsAg) vem se destacando pela sua ação antimicrobiana. Objetiva-se nesse trabalho avaliar a qualidade pós-colheita de morangos embalados em filmes contendo NPsAg e filmes convencionais (sem adição de NPs). Para tanto, filmes comerciais de polietileno de baixa densidade (PEBD) contendo NPsAg foram caracterizados através de microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), Espectroscopia no Infravermelho com Transformada de Fourier (FTIR), Termogravimetria (TGA), Calorimetria Diferencial de Varredura (DSC) e Difração de Raio X (DRX), além da avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana dos filmes. Para avaliar o efeito destes filmes na qualidade físico-química e microbiológica de morangos, os seguintes experimentos foram realizados: (I) morangos embalados com filmes PEBD e PEBD+NPAg armazenados em câmara fria a 5 e a 25°C por nove dias, foram avaliados por meio de análises físico-químicas e microbiológicas a cada três dias; (II) morangos embalados com filmes PEBD e PEBD+NPAg foram armazenados a 5 e a 20°C por nove dias, e submetidos às mesmas análises. Para investigar mais detalhadamente o efeito antimicrobiano das embalagens, dois outros experimentos foram realizados inoculando os morangos com Eschechiria coli: (III) morangos inoculados com E. coli a uma concentração inicial de 108 UFC mL-1, armazenados a 5°C por dez dias, sendo realizadas análises microbiológicas e físico-químicas a cada dois dias; e (IV) morangos inoculados com E. coli a uma concentração inicial de 105 UFC mL-1, armazenados a 10°C por dez dias, sendo realizadas apenas análises microbiológicas a cada dois dias. A adição de NPsAg na matriz de PEBD não interferiu nas propriedades térmicas e nas propriedades físico-químicas dos filmes. Os filmes contendo NPsAg apresentaram atividade antimicrobiana contra micro-organismos Gram-positivos e Gram-negativos, com maior efetividade contra Gram-negativos. A qualidade físico-química dos morangos foi afetada principalmente pela temperatura e pelo tempo de armazenamento. Aplicação de filmes com nanopartículas de prata na conservação de morangos Página | vii A ação antimicrobiana das NPsAg quando aplicadas nas embalagens de morango foi efetiva na diminuição da população microbiana nos morangos. A ação antimicrobiana e a manutenção da qualidade pós-colheita apresentada pelas embalagens de polietileno com NPsAg pode ser um indicativo de uso para outras frutas e hortaliças, podendo auxiliar na diminuição das perdas pós colheita, e contribuindo para questões de segurança do alimento.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:51:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1426624 bytes, checksum: 8ec26861eeae9b5c7bd7e331f352548c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-07-24 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The oil extraction from Jatropha curcas seeds as raw material to biodiesel production releases a large quantity of solid residue, called cake.This Jatropha cake is formed by lignocellulolytic residues, water, minerals salts, but also contains toxic compounds and antinutritional factors. The correct destination of this residue is of great interesting to biofuel industries. The use of these residues as a substrate to grow the white rot fungi, Pleurotus ostreatus, may be a low cost alternative to produce the economic and industrial interesting products such as enzymes, proteins and edible mushrooms. Moreover, this fungus produces enzyme capable of degrade different toxic compounds and antinutritional factors. ln this study Jatropha cake, pure or in mixture with agro-industrial residues, was used as substrate to grow P. ostreatus objecting to produce mushrooms, eliminate phorbol ester, antinutritional factors and also, to evaluate the reduce lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose. After 45 days of P. ostreatus mycelia inoculation in the substrate, it was observed high production of fungus biomass, and degradation of 50 % of lignin and 20 % of cellulose and hemicellulose. The substrates which present higher fungus biomass production and lignocellulolitic degradation were used to assess the ability of P. ostreatus to produce mushroom and to degrade phorbol ester, phytic acid and tannins. After 60 d of incubation, it was observed good production of mushroom, reduction of lignocellulolytic compounds and loss of dry mass, reduction of phytic acid in 95 % and 85 % of tannins (equivalent a tannin acid) and 99 % of phorbol ester. These mushrooms and the substrates after 60 d of colonization by P. ostreatus had concentrations of phorbol esters smaller than that found in provenances of non toxic J. curcas from México. Therefore, P. ostreatus has the ability of degrade toxic compounds, antinutritional factors and lignooellulosio compounds present in Jatropha cake. The alternative of using Jatropha cake as substrate to mushroom and enzymes production, add value to this residues, as well as detoxifying it show high potential to use Jatropha cake as animal food, beyond deoreasing the environmental damage. / A produção de biodiesel utilizando o óleo da semente de pinhão manso (Jatropha curcas) como matéria-prima libera grande quantidade de resíduos sólidos, denominado de torta.Essa torta apresenta composição diversificada, contendo não só compostos ligninocelulósicos, água e sais minerais, mas também compostos tóxicos e fatores antinutricionais. A destoxificação e o reaproveitamento dessa torta de pinhão manso são de grande interesse da indústria do biocombustível. A utilização desses resíduos como substrato para cultivo de fungos de podridão branca, Pleurotus ostreatus, pode ser uma alternativa de baixo custo e que permite a produção de produtos de interesse econômico e industrial como enzimas, proteínas e cogumelos comestíveis. Além disso, esse fungo produz enzimas capazes de degradar diferentes substâncias tóxicas, fatores antinutricionais e compostos ligninocelulósicos. Neste trabalho, a torta de pinhão manso pura, ou em mistura com outros resíduos agroindustriais, foi utilizada como substrato para crescimento micelial de P. ostreatus visando à eliminação de compostos tóxicos, fatores antinutricionais e a redução do teor de lignina, celulose e hemicelulose. Inicialmente, para verificar a viabilidade micelilal e a degradação compostos ligninocelulósicos presente na torta de pinhão manso. P. ostreatus PLO 6 foi inoculado em substratos à base da torta de pinhão manso, adicionado ou não de resíduos agroindustriais. Após 45 dias de incubação, verificou-se elevada produção de biomassa fúngica, 50 % de degradação de lignina e 20 % de consumo de celulose e hemicelulose. Os substratos que apresentaram maior produção de biomassa fúngica e também a maior degradação de compostos ligninocelulósicos foram utilizados para avaliar a capacidade de P. ostreatus formar cogumelos, além de degradar éster de forboI, ácido fítico e taninos. Após 60 dias de incubação, observou-se boa produção de cogumelos e degradação de compostos Iigninocelulósicos, com significativa perda da massa seca, redução de 95 % de ácido fítico, 85 % de taninos (equivalente a ácido tânico), 99 % de éster de forboI e aIta produtividade de cogumelos. Após o período de incubação, tantos os cogumelos de P. ostreatus como os substratos utilizados apresentaram concentrações de éster de forboI menor que o encontrado em variedade de J. curcas não tóxicas do México. Conclui-se que P. ostreatus tem capacidade de degradar composto tóxico, fatores antinutricionais e compostos Iigninocelulósicos presentes na torta de pinhão manso. O uso alternativo de torta de pinhão manso como substrato para cultivo de cogumelos e enzimas, destoxificando-o, agrega vaIor a esse resíduo, e apresenta um aIto potencial do uso dessa torta como alimento, além de diminuir os danos ambientais causados peIo descarte direto.

A enzima Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) possui atividades paraoxonase, arilestearase e lactonase, entre outras. É a mais estuda da família das PONs que é composta pela PON1, PON2 e PON3. Sugere-se, que todas atuam inibindo o processo de peroxidação lipídica de moléculas como a lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL) e alta densidade (HDL), caracterizando assim um possível papel anti-aterogênico. O gene da PON1 apresenta dois sítios polimórficos, com a troca de uma Gln192Arg (Q/R) e Met55Leu, que estão associados com diferenças na atividade e concentrações séricas da enzima. Por sua vez, indivíduos soropositivos para o HIV-1 apresentam alterações do metabolismo lipídico, que poderiam estar associados a alterações na atividade da PON1 e a terapia antirretroviral (TARV) com inibidores de protease (IP). O objetivo do estudo foi determinar as atividades séricas da PON1 e da arilestearase (ARE), e as freqüências alélicas dos polimorfismos genéticos da PON1 192QR e 55LM, e ainda, avaliar a correlação destes parâmetros com as alterações lipídicas em indivíduos soropositivos para o HIV-1 tratados com IP. No período de Setembro de 2009 até Junho de 2012, 174 indivíduos soropositivos e 46 soronegativos para o HIV-1 foram estudados. Foi realizada a genotipagem dos polimorfismos da PON1 192QR e 55LM através de PCR-RFLP. A atividade sérica da PON1/ARE foi avaliada por espectrofotometria empregando-se como substratos o paraoxon e o fenilacetato, respectivamente. O RNA-HIV-1 foi quantificado pelo método NASBA, e os linfócitos T-CD4+ e T-CD8+ por citometria de fluxo. Os níveis séricos de colesterol total, HDL, LDL, triglicérides (TG), ApoA1 e ApoB100 foram determinados e os anticorpos IgG anti-oxLDL por ELISA. A atividade sérica da PON1 foi inferior nos grupos de soropositivos, p<0,05, porém, a atividade ARE não apresentou diferenças entre os grupos estudados, p>0,05. Ambas as atividades não apresentaram relação com os genótipos PON1 192QR e 55LM, e estes genótipos apresentaram uma freqüência alélica semelhante ao grupo de soronegativos. Os níveis séricos de TG foram superiores nos grupos de soropositivos com TARV, p<0,05, enquanto o grupo tratado com IP apresentou níveis séricos de HDL e Apo-A1 inferiores aos demais grupos, p<0,05. Níveis séricos de Apo-B100, IgG anti-oxLDL, e o índice de risco aterogênico foram superiores no grupo tratado com IP, p<0,05. Concluí-se, que indivíduos soropositivos para o HIV-1 apresentaram alterações no metabolismo lipídico, principalmente nos tratados com IP, que adicionalmente apresentaram um maior índice de risco aterogênico e maiores níveis de anticorpos IgG anti-oxLDL. Estas alterações não apresentaram relação com os polimorfismos PON1 192QR e 55LM da PON1, e demonstraram que a atividade da enzima PON-1 esta diminuída em indivíduos soropositivos para o HIV-1 / The enzyme Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) has paraoxonase (PON), arylesterase (ARE) and lactonase activities, among others. It is the most studied member of PON family which is composed of PON1, PON2 and PON3. It is suggested that all members acts by inhibiting the peroxidation of lipid molecules as the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), characterizing a potential anti-atherogenic effect. The PON1 gene has two mainly polymorphic sites, with an exchange of Gln192Arg (Q/R) and Met55Leu (L/M), which are associated with differences in activity and serum concentrations of the enzyme. In turn, seropositive individuals for HIV-1 show changes in lipid metabolism, which could be associated with changes in the activity of PON1 and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with protease inhibitors (PI). The aim of this study was to determinate the serum PON and ARE activities of PON1, the allele frequencies of PON1 192QR and PON1 55LM genetic polymorphisms and evaluate the correlation between these parameters and lipid abnormalities in seropositive patients for HIV-1 treated with IP. In the period from September 2009 until June 2012, 174 seropositive individuals and 46 soronegative individuals for HIV-1 were studied. We performed PON1 192QR and 55LM genotyping by PCR-RFLP. Serum activities PON and ARE of PON1 were evaluated by spectrophotometry using paraoxon and phenylacetate, respectively, as substrates. The HIV-1-RNA was quantified by the NASBA method, and lymphocytes T-CD4+ and T-CD8+, by flow cytometry. Serum levels of total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides (TG), apoA1 and ApoB100 were determined. IgG anti-oxLDL antibodies were quantified by ELISA. The serum PON1 activity was lower in the seropositive group, p<0.05, however, ARE activity did not differ between groups, p>0.05. Both activities had no relation with the PON1 192QR and PON1 55LM genotype, and these individuals showed an allele frequency similar to the seronegative group. Serum levels of TG were higher in groups of HIV-positive with HAART, p<0.05, while the IP-treated group showed serum levels of HDL and ApoA1 lower than other groups, p <0.05. Serum levels of ApoB100, IgG anti-oxLDL antibodies, and atherogenic risk indices were higher in the group treated with PI, p<0.05. It was concluded that individuals HIV-1-infected showed changes in lipid metabolism, especially in those treated with IP, which additionally showed a higher rate of atherogenic risk and higher levels of IgG anti-oxLDL antibodies. These changes did not correlated with PON1 192QR and 55LM polymorphisms and demonstrated that the activity of PON1enzyme is decreased in individuals seropositive for HIV-1

No advento dos antirretrovirais potentes, os indivíduos infectados pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) começaram a apresentar risco maior para o desenvolvimento de doença cardiovascular (DCV). Este aumento do risco cardiovascular pode ser associado tanto à infecção viral quanto ao tratamento antirretroviral (TARV), que provocam mudanças pró-aterogênicas como o aumento do colesterol total e da lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL), além da diminuição da lipoproteína de alta densidade (HDL). A ativação imune e as alterações lipídicas são mecanismos associados com a infecção pelo HIV e com o risco de DCV. Este trabalho utilizou ensaios imunoenzimáticos para a determinação plasmática de biomarcadores emergentes de risco cardiovascular relacionados com modificações da lipoproteína de baixa densidade, a saber: LDL eletronegativa [LDL(-)] e formas oxidadas da LDL, ou seja, LDL-oxi (resíduos lisina da apolipoproteína B100 modificados com malondialdeído), LDL-HNE (resíduos lisina da ApoB100 modificados com 4-hidroxinonenal) e LDL-CML (resíduos lisina da ApoB100 modificados por carboximetila), além de biomarcadores relacionados com a resposta imune-inflamatória, ou seja, autoanticorpos IgG e IgM anti-LDL(-), imunocomplexo de LDL(-) [IC-LDL(-)], proteína amiloide sérica A (SAA) e mieloperoxidase (MPO). Também foram determinadas as concentrações séricas dos biomarcadores de risco relacionados às apolipoproteínas: apolipoproteína A-I (ApoA-I), apolipoproteína B (ApoB) e apolipoproteína E (ApoE). A população estudada incluiu indivíduos com infecção pelo HIV, tratados (HIV-TARV) e não tratados (HIV-NT) com terapia antirretroviral e indivíduos sem infecção pelo HIV (controle). Não foram identificadas diferenças para as concentrações de LDL(-), IC-LDL(-), anti- LDL(-)-IgM, SAA, ApoA-I, ApoB e ApoE entre os grupos estudados (HIV-TARV, HIV-NT e controle). A ApoA-I correlacionou-se positivamente com ApoB e ApoE (rs= 0,418 e rs= 0,347, Spearman, p<0,01) e a ApoB com a ApoE (rs= 0,286, Spearman, p<0,01). Verificou-se correlação inversa entre as concentrações de LDL(-) e IC-LDL(-) (rs= -0,214, Spearman, p<0,05). Os níveis de anti-LDL(-)-IgG correlacionaram-se positivamente com IC-LDL(-) e anti-LDL(-)-IgM (rs= 0,240, Spearman, p<0,05 e rs= 0,348, Spearman, p<0,01). As concentrações de LDL-CML correlacionaram-se positivamente com LDL(-), LDL-oxi, LDL-HNE e IC-LDL(-) (rs= 0,212, Spearman, p<0,05; rs= 0,214, Spearman, p<0,05; rs= 0,573, Spearman, p<0,01 e rs= 0,219, Spearman, p<0,05). O grupo HIV-NT apresentou níveis mais elevados de anticorpos anti-LDL(-)-IgG comparado ao grupo controle (Kruskal-Wallis, p<0,01). Em contraste, observou-se no grupo HIV-NT diminuição das concentrações de MPO, LDL-HNE e LDL-CML em relação ao grupo controle (Kruskal-Wallis, p<0,01). A comparação dos grupos HIV-NT e HIV-TARV demonstrou que o TARV promoveu diminuição das concentrações dos anticorpos anti-LDL(-)-IgG e aumentou os níveis de LDL-oxi (Kruskal-Wallis, p<0,01). O grupo HIV-TARV apresentou aumento das concentrações de LDL-oxi e diminuição dos níveis de MPO, LDL-HNE e LDL-CML em relação ao controle (Kruskal-Wallis, p<0,01). Em conclusão, a infecção pelo HIV modificou o biomarcador de inflamação MPO e o perfil de biomarcadores relacionados às modificações da LDL (menor formação de LDL-HNE e LDL-CML), além aumentar a resposta imune-humoral à LDL eletronegativa [anti-LDL(-)-IgG], enquanto o tratamento com antirretrovirais inibiu esta resposta. Os outros biomarcadores estudados não foram modificados pela infecção viral ou pelo tratamento antirretroviral. / In the advent of potent antiretroviral therapy, individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have showed an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease (DCV). Studies have discussed that the increased risk may be related to both the disease and antiretroviral treatment (TARV), that produced pro-atherogenic changes such as increased of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) and decreased high density lipoprotein. The immune activation and the lipid modifications are well known mechanisms related to HIV infection and the risk of DCV. This study used immunoassays for plasma quantification for emerging biomarkers of cardiovascular risk related to modification of low density lipoprotein: electronegative LDL [LDL(-)] and oxidized forms of LDL, LDL-oxi (lysine residues of apolipoprotein B100 modified by malondialdehyde), LDL-HNE (lysine residues of ApoB100 modified by 4-hydroxynonenal) and LDL-CML (lysine residues of ApoB100 modified by carboxymethyl) and biomarkers associated to immune and inflammatory responses, IgG and IgM autoantibodies anti-LDL(-) and immunecomplexe of LDL(-) [IC-LDL(-)], serum amyloid A protein (SAA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO). Also, were determined serum concentrations of risk biomarkers related to apolipoproteins: apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and apolipoprotein E (ApoE). The studied population included patients with HIV infection, treated (HIV-TARV) and untreated (HIV-NT) with antiretroviral therapy and individuals without HIV infection (controle). No differences were identified for concentrations of LDL(-), ICLDL(-), anti-LDL(-)-IgM, SAA, ApoA-I, ApoB and ApoE between studied groups (HIV-TARV, HIV-NT and controle). The ApoA-I was positively correlated to ApoB and ApoE (rs= 0,418 e rs= 0,347, Spearman, p<0,01) and ApoB to ApoE (rs= 0,286, Spearman, p<0,01). There was an inverted correlation between LDL(-) and IC-LDL(-) (rs= -0.214, Spearman, p<0,05). The levels of anti-LDL(-)-IgG were positively correlated to IC-LDL(-) and antibodies anti-LDL(-)-IgM (rs= 0.240; Spearman; p <0.05 and rs= 0.348; Spearman; p <0.01). The concentrations of LDL-CML were positively correlated to LDL(-), LDL-oxi, LDL-HNE e IC-LDL(-) (rs= 0,212, Spearman, p<0,05; rs= 0,214, Spearman, p<0,05; rs= 0,573, Spearman, p<0,01 e rs= 0,219, Spearman, p<0,05). The HIV-NT group showed higher levels of anti-LDL(-)-IgG compared to Control group (Kruskal-Wallis, p<0,01). In contrast, was observed lower levels for HIV-NT group to MPO, LDL-HNE and LDL-CML when compared to Control group (Kruskal-Wallis, p<0,01). The comparison of HIV-NT and HIV-TARV groups demonstrated that TARV caused a decrease of concentrations of anti-LDL(-)-IgG antibodies and an increased of LDL-oxi levels (Kruskal-Wallis, p <0.01). The HIV-TARV group showed increased LDL-oxi concentrations and decreased at levels of MPO, LDL-HNE e LDL-CML when compared to Control (Kruskal-Wallis, p<0,01). In conclusion, the HIV infection changed the biomarker of inflammation MPO and the profile of biomarkers related to modifications of LDL (lower concentrations of LDL-HNE and LDL-CML), as well as increased the humoral-immune response to electronegative LDL [anti-LDL(-)-IgG], while treatment with antiretroviral therapy inhibited this response. The other studied biomarkers were not modified either by viral infection or antiretroviral treatment.

Cardiovascular diseases are considered the first cause of death in westernized societies. They are directly linked to atherosclerosis, a clinical condition characterized by a thickening of the arterial wall. Atherosclerosis is in his turn linked to various genetic and environmental factors; among those factors are high oxidized LDL levels and endothelial dysfunction. In the present study, we have analyzed in vitro the effect of myeloperoxidase oxidized LDL on endothelial cells at the level of fibrinolysis and cell motility.<p>In the first part of the work, we measured fibrinolysis in real time at the surface of endothelial cells. Our results suggest that myeloperoxidase oxidized LDL interferes with the regulation of fibrinolysis by endothelial cells by decreasing their pro-fibrinolytic activity. This effect was not related to a modification in expression of major regulators of fibrinolysis such as PAI-1 and t-PA. Our data link the current favorite hypothesis that oxidized LDL has a causal role in atheroma plaque formation with an old suggestion that fibrin may also play a causal role. A model that best explains our results would be as follows: oxidized LDL increases fibrin deposition on endothelial cells which will increase their permeability resulting in more oxidized LDL infiltration into the subendothelial space of the arterial wall initiating atherogenesis. <p>In the second part of the work, we investigated the effect of myeloperoxidase oxidized LDL at the level of endothelial cell motility. We have shown that oxidized LDL is able to decrease cell migration, wound healing and tubulogenesis in endothelial cells. Those effects were not associated with any alteration at the level of neither cell viability nor proliferation. Subsequent gene expression analyses enabled us to link the oxidized LDL induced phenotypical changes in the cells to a change in expression of both microRNA-22 and Heme Oxygenase 1 genes. Our observations suggest a novel role of oxidized LDL not only as an important factor in the initiation of atheromatous lesions, but also as a potential player in the progression of the atherosclerosis disease by impeding blood vessel repair and wound healing at the sites of lesions.<p> / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Digital technology has made complex signal processing possible in communication systems and greatly improved the performance and quality of most modern telecommunication systems. The telecommunication industry and specifically mobile wireless telephone and computer networks have shown phenomenal growth in both the number of subscribers and emerging services, resulting in rapid consumption of common resources of which the electromagnetic spectrum is the most important. Technological advances and research in digital communication are necessary to satisfy the growing demand, to fuel the demand and to exploit all the possibilities and business opportunities. Efficient management and distribution of resources facilitated by state-of-the-art algorithms are indispensable in modern communication networks. The challenge in communication system design is to construct a system that can accurately reproduce the transmitted source message at the receiver. The channel connecting the transmitter and receiver introduces detrimental effects and limits the reliability and speed of information transfer between the source and destination. Typical channel effects encountered in mobile wireless communication systems include path loss between the transmitter and receiver, noise caused by the environment and electronics in the system, and fading caused by multiple paths and movement in the communication channel. In multiple access systems, different users cause interference in each other’s signals and adversely affect the system performance. To ensure reliable communication, methods to overcome channel effects must be devised and implemented in the system. Techniques used to improve system performance and capacity include temporal, frequency, polarisation and spatial diversity. This dissertation is concerned mainly with temporal or time diversity. Channel coding is a temporal diversity scheme and aims to improve the system error performance by adding structured redundancy to the transmitted message. The receiver exploits the redundancy to infer with greater accuracy which message was transmitted, compared with uncoded systems. Sparse graph codes are channel codes represented as sparse probabilistic graphical models which originated in artificial intelligence theory. These channel codes are described as factor graph structures with bit nodes, representing the transmitted codeword bits, and bit-constrained or check nodes. Each constraint involves only a small number of code bits, resulting in a sparse factor graph with far fewer connections between bit and check nodes than the maximum number of possible connections. Sparse graph codes are iteratively decoded using message passing or belief propagation algorithms. Three classes of iteratively decodable channel codes are considered in this study, including low-density parity-check (LDPC), Turbo and repeat-accumulate (RA) codes. The modulation platform presented in this dissertation is a spectrally efficient wideband system employing orthogonal complex spreading sequences (CSSs) to spread information sequences over a wider frequency band in multiple modulation dimensions. Special features of these spreading sequences include their constant envelopes and power output, providing communication range or device battery life advantages. This study shows that multiple layer modulation (MLM) can be used to transmit parallel data streams with improved spectral efficiency compared with single-layer modulation, providing data throughput rates proportional to the number of modulation layers at performances equivalent to single-layer modulation. Alternatively, multiple modulation layers can be used to transmit coded information to achieve improved error performance at throughput rates equivalent to a single layer system / Dissertation (MEng (Electronic Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering / unrestricted

Les matières plastiques ont désormais envahi notre quotidien. Elles sont le symbole de la société de consommation, car elles sont considérées comme un matériau non noble : les consommateurs l'assimilent à un produit jetable après usage. N'étant pas dégradables, les plastiques représentent donc un réel danger pour l'environnement, la faune et la flore.L’objectif de ce travail de thèse a été de développer en collaboration avec l’Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-Chimie pour l'Environnement et les Matériaux (Université de Pau) de nouvelles formulations avec des additifs naturels pour obtenir des plastiques résistants et recyclables. Deux types de résines ont été utilisées : le polypropylène isotactique (i-PP) et le polyéthylène à basse densité (LDPE). Des antioxydants naturels tels que l’acide ascorbique, l’alpha-tocophérol et l’huile de lin ont été testés et leur encapsulation a permis d’améliorer leur résistance à la dégradation. Les caractérisations thermique et rhéologique des résines ont montré des qualités supérieures aux résines commerciales actuelles. Nous avons pu démontrer que les plastiques obtenus pouvaient être recyclés 9 fois sans perte de leurs caractéristiques. Des essais avec des barquettes fabriquées avec les produits élaborés sont en cours pour valider les modèles développés. / Plastics have now invaded our daily lives. They are the symbol of the consumer society, because they are considered a non-noble material: consumers equate it with a disposable product after use. Since plastics are not degradable, they represent a real danger to the environment, fauna and flora.The objective of this thesis work was to develop in collaboration with the Institute of Analytical Sciences and Physico-Chemistry for Environment and Materials (Pau University) new formulations with natural additives to produce resistant and recyclable plastics. Two types of resins were used: isotactic polypropylene (i-PP) and low density polyethylene (LDPE). Natural antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol and flaxseed oil were tested and encapsulated to improve their resistance to degradation. Thermal and rheological characterizations of resins have shown superior qualities to current commercial resins. We were able to demonstrate that the plastics obtained could be recycled 9 times without losing their characteristics. Tests with trays made with the developed products are underway to validate the developed models.

Les déchets plastiques s'accumulent depuis plusieurs décennies dans les océans où ils se fragmentent en particules appelés microplastiques lorsque leur taille est inférieure à 5 mm. Ces microplastiques sont retrouvés dans toutes les eaux du globe, dans les sédiments ainsi que dans de nombreux organismes marins. Le devenir physicochimique à long terme de ces particules et leur possible fragmentation en nanoplastiques sont complexes, encore peu documentés et nécessitent des études en laboratoire.Afin de comprendre les processus liés à la photodégradation et à la fragmentation des polymères dans l’environnement, mais également dans le but d’'appréhender l’évolution des fragments générés au cours de l’irradiation, un protocole de vieillissement accéléré en milieu abiotique a été mis en place sur des polymères modèles. Le suivi de l’oxydation et de la fragmentation des deux polymères étudiés,polyéthylène basse densité et polypropylène, a été mené à l’aide de techniques spectroscopiques (infrarouge, Raman), DSC, angles de contact, et microscopiques (lumière polarisée, MEB, AFM…).Ce travail a permis de mettre en évidence l’influence significative de l’environnement et de la morphologie initiale des polymères sur leurs cinétiques de vieillissement et leurs mécanismes de fissuration. Ainsi des distributions en nombres, tailles et formes de fragments très différentes ont été obtenues pour les deux polymères selon la présence d’eau. Enfin, après un long temps d’irradiation, des produits de dégradation ont pu être détectés mais la production significative de nanoplastiques n’a pas été démontrée. L'hypothèse d'une taille limite de fragmentation devrait être envisagée. / Plastic wastes have been accumulating for several decades in the oceans where they break up into particles called microplastics when their size is less than 5 mm. These microplastics are found in all earth’s waters, in sediments and in many marine organisms. Their long-term physico-chemical fate and their possible fragmentation into nanoplastics are complex, still poorly documented and require laboratory studies.In order to understand the processes related to photodegradation and fragmentation of polymers, but also in order to understand the evolution of these fragments during irradiation, an accelerated aging protocol in abiotic conditions has been set up. The oxidation and fragmentation of two model polymers, low density polyethylene and polypropylene, were monitored using spectroscopic techniques (InfraRed, Raman), DSC, contact angles and microscopic technics (light microscopy, polarized light, SEM, AFM ...).This work has demonstrated a significant influence of the environment and the initial morphology of the polymers on their kinetics of aging and cracking mechanisms. This lead to significantly different distributions in numbers, sizes and shapes of the generated fragments. Moreover, after a long time of irradiaiton, other degradation products could be detected but the significant production of nanoplastics has not been demonstrated. The possibility of a size limit below which the fragmentation rate of plastics would strongly decrease should be considered.

Eukaryotic cells depend on cargo uptake into the endocytic membrane system, which comprises a functionally interconnected network of endosomal compartments. The establishment and maintenance of such diverse compartments in face of the high rates of exchange between them, poses a major challenge for obtaining a molecular understanding of the endocytic system. Rab-GTPases have emerged as architectural key element thereof: Individual family members localize selectively to endosomal compartments, where they recruit a multitude of cytoplasmic effector proteins and coordinate them into membrane sub-domains. Such &amp;quot;Rab-domains&amp;quot; constitute modules of molecular membrane identity, which pattern the endocytic membrane system into a mosaic of Rab-domains. The main objective of this thesis research was to link such &amp;quot;static&amp;quot; mosaic-view with the highly dynamic nature of the endosomal system. The following questions were addressed: How are neighbouring Rab-domains coordinated? Are Rab-domains stable or can they undergo assembly and disassembly? Are the dynamics of Rab-domains utilized in cargo transport? The first part of this thesis research focused on the organization of Rab-domains in the recycling pathway. Utilizing Total Internal Reflection (TIRF) microscopy, Rab11-, but neither Rab4- nor Rab5-positive vesicles were observed to fuse with the plasma membrane. Rab4-positive membranes, however, could be induced to fuse in presence of Brefeldin A. Thus, these experiments complete the view of the recycling pathway by the following steps: a) Rab11-carriers likely mediate the return of recycling cargo to the surface; b) such carriers are presumably generated in an Arf-dependent fission reaction from Rab4-positive compartments. Rab11-chromatography was subsequently carried out in the hope of identifying Rab11-effectors functioning at the Rab4-Rab11 domain interface. An as yet uncharacterized ubiquitin ligase was identified, which selectively interacts with both Rab4 and Rab11. Contrary to expectations, however, the protein (termed RUL for *R*ab interacting *U*biquitin *L*igase) does not function in recycling,but appears to mediate trafficking between Golgi/TGN and endosomes instead.In order to address the dynamics of Rab-domains, fluorescently tagged Rab-GTPases were imaged during cargo transport reactions in living cells. Herefore high-speed/long-term imaging procedures and novel computational image analysis tools were developed. The application of such methodology to the analysis of Rab5-positive early endosomes showed that a) The amount of Rab5 associated with individual endosomes fluctuates strongly over time; b) such fluctuations can lead to the &amp;quot;catastrophic&amp;quot; loss of the Rab5-machinery from membranes; c) Rab5 catastrophe is part of a functional cycle of early endosomes, involving net centripetal motility, continuous growth and increase in Rab5 density. Next, the relevance of Rab5 catastrophe with respect to cargo transfer into either the recycling- or degradative pathway was examined. Recycling cargo (transferrin) could be observed to exit Rab5-positive early endosomes via the frequent budding of tubular exit carriers. Exit of degradative cargo (LDL) from Rab5-positive endosomes did not involve budding, but the rapid loss of Rab5 from the limiting membrane.Rab5-loss was further coordinated with the concomitant acquisition of Rab7, suggesting &amp;quot;Rab conversion&amp;quot; as mechanism of transport between early- and late endosomes.Altogether, this thesis research has shown that first, Rab-machineries can be acquired and lost from membranes. Second, such dynamics provide a molecular mechanism for cargo exchange between endosomal compartments. Jointly, these findings lead to the concept of Rab-domain dynamics modulation in /trans/ between neighbouring domains as mechanistic principle behind the dynamic organization of membrane trafficking pathways.