Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) are commonly used to model complex systems that arise for example in biology, engineering, chemistry, and elsewhere. The parameters (or coefficients) and the source of PDE models are often unknown and are estimated from available measurements. Despite its importance, solving the estimation problem is mathematically and numerically challenging and especially when the measurements are corrupted by noise, which is often the case. Various methods have been proposed to solve estimation problems in PDEs which can be classified into optimization methods and recursive methods. The optimization methods are usually heavy computationally, especially when the number of unknowns is large. In addition, they are sensitive to the initial guess and stop condition, and they suffer from the lack of robustness to noise. Recursive methods, such as observer-based approaches, are limited by their dependence on some structural properties such as observability and identifiability which might be lost when approximating the PDE numerically. Moreover, most of these methods provide asymptotic estimates which might not be useful for control applications for example. An alternative non-asymptotic approach with less computational burden has been proposed in engineering fields based on the so-called modulating functions. In this dissertation, we propose to mathematically and numerically analyze the modulating functions based approaches. We also propose to extend these approaches to different situations. The contributions of this thesis are as follows. (i) Provide a mathematical analysis of the modulating function-based method (MFBM) which includes: its well-posedness, statistical properties, and estimation errors. (ii) Provide a numerical analysis of the MFBM through some estimation problems, and study the sensitivity of the method to the modulating functions' parameters. (iii) Propose an effective algorithm for selecting the method's design parameters. (iv) Develop a two-dimensional MFBM to estimate space-time dependent unknowns which is illustrated in estimating the source term in the damped wave equation describing the physiological characterization of brain activity. (v) Introduce a moving horizon strategy in the MFBM for on-line estimation and examine its effectiveness on estimating the source term of a first order hyperbolic equation which describes the heat transfer in distributed solar collector systems.

Orientador: Carlos Alberto de Souza Costa / Banca: Jacques Eduardo Nör / Banca: Flávio Fernando Demarco / Banca: Joni Cirelli / Banca: Elisa Maria Aparecida Giro / Resumo: Luxações dentárias resultam em injúrias ao feixe vásculo-nervoso, o que pode causar redução significante no nível de oxigênio das polpas dentárias, ou mesmo morte deste tecido conjuntivo especializado. O conhecimento dos mecanismos envolvidos na resposta das células pulpares à hipóxia pode melhorar o prognóstico dos tratamentos das luxações dentárias. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento de células-tronco (DPSC) e de fibroblastos (HDPF) de polpas dentárias humanas em condições de hipóxia e a capacidade destas em estimular a proliferação e formação de tubos capilares por células endoteliais microvasculares dérmicas humanas (HDMEC). As análises do western blot e imunocitoquímica foram realizadas para avaliar o efeito da hipóxia na ativação do fator de transcrição induzido pela hipóxia 1 (HIF-1alfa). A expressão dos fatores de crescimento vascular endotelial (VEGF) e fibroblástico básico (bFGF) foi avaliada pelos testes de imunoensaio ELISA. O efeito do HIF-1alfa na expressão do VEGF foi avaliado pelo tratamento das células DPSC e HDPF com 40 μM YC-1, inibidor do HIF-1alfa. Para a avaliação da angiogênese in vitro, os testes de proliferação celular (WST-1) e de formação de tubos capilares em gel de colágeno foram realizados após tratamento das células HDMEC com os meios de acondicionamento das células DPSC ou HDPF, em condições de normóxia ou hipóxia.. A análise dos dados obtidos foi realizada por testes estatísticos não-paramétricos com nível de significância de 5%. Aumento da atividade do HIF-1alfa e da expressão de VEGF foram observados nas células DPSC e HDPF em condições de hipóxia. Entretanto, não foram observadas alterações nos níveis de expressão de bFGF. A expressão do HIF-1alfa foi inibida... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Dental luxations can result in the severing of the dental pulp and the creation of a hypoxic environment that might lead to the death of the pulp tissue. Improved understanding of the mechanisms underlying the response of dental pulp cells to hypoxic conditions might lead to better treatment of dental luxations. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the behavior of Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSC) and Human Dental Pulp Fibroblasts (HDPF) under hypoxia and their ability to stimulate proliferation and sprouting of endothelial cells. Western blots and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the effect of hypoxia on the activation of the transcriptional factor HIF-1α. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Basic Fibroblastic Growth Factor (bFGF) expression was evaluated by ELISA. The effect of HIF-1αon VEGF expression was evaluated by treating DPSC or HDPF with 40 μM YC-1, an inhibitor of HIF-1α. To evaluate the angiogenic potential of dental pulp cells in vitro, human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMEC) were treated with conditioned medium from DPSC or HDPF in normoxia or hypoxia. Sprouting and WST-1 assays were used to evaluate capillaries tubes-like formation and cell proliferation rate,respectively. The statistic analysis was performed by non-parametric tests. HIF-1αactivity and VEGF expression were up-regulated in DPSC and HDPF under hypoxic conditions. However, no changes in the expression levels of bFGF were observed. YC-1 40μM was able to inhibit HIF-1alpha in both cell lines and it also reduced VEGF expression in DPSCs in hypoxia. HDPF under hypoxia increased HDMEC sprouting by 50% when compared to HDPF in normoxia, and by 30% when compared to DPSC in hypoxia. Notably, HDPF under hypoxia stimulated HDMEC proliferation by 30% when compared to DPSC in hypoxia. It was concluded... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Fractional calculus has been introduced as an e cient tool for modeling physical phenomena, thanks to its memory and hereditary properties. For example, fractional models have been successfully used to describe anomalous di↵usion processes such as contaminant transport in soil, oil flow in porous media, and groundwater flow. These models capture important features of particle transport such as particles with velocity variations and long-rest periods. Mathematical modeling of physical phenomena requires the identification of pa- rameters and variables from available measurements. This is referred to as an inverse problem. In this work, we are interested in studying theoretically and numerically inverse problems for space Fractional Advection-Dispersion Equation (FADE), which is used to model solute transport in porous media. Identifying parameters for such an equa- tion is important to understand how chemical or biological contaminants are trans- ported throughout surface aquifer systems. For instance, an estimate of the di↵eren- tiation order in groundwater contaminant transport model can provide information about soil properties, such as the heterogeneity of the medium. Our main contribution is to propose a novel e cient algorithm based on modulat-ing functions to estimate the coe cients and the di↵erentiation order for space FADE, which can be extended to general fractional Partial Di↵erential Equation (PDE). We also show how the method can be applied to the source inverse problem. This work is divided into two parts: In part I, the proposed method is described and studied through an extensive numerical analysis. The local convergence of the proposed two-stage algorithm is proven for 1D space FADE. The properties of this method are studied along with its limitations. Then, the algorithm is generalized to the 2D FADE. In part II, we analyze direct and inverse source problems for a space FADE. The problem consists of recovering the source term using final observations. An analytic solution for the non-homogeneous case is derived and existence and uniqueness of the solution are established. In addition, the uniqueness and stability of the inverse problem is studied. Moreover, the modulating functions-based method is used to solve the problem and it is compared to a standard Tikhono-based optimization technique.

This dissertation builds on the common notion that Beethoven's music sounds inward by grounding this impression analytically. The chapters frame Beethoven's music in terms of inward, outward, and liminal spaces. Inward spaces are slow, lyrical, formally enclosed, and harmonically distant, and they often appear under the aura of what I call a "modulating trill" or a "diffused theme." Drawing on Schmalfeldt's references to inwardness, I describe outward spaces as inward moments that "radiate outward" and note that these restore tonal stability, lost thematic material, and bass notes that had once disappeared. Finally, liminal spaces are passages that quickly juxtapose inward and outward moments, and thus they seem to exist at the cusp between these two spaces. I examine how these passages evolve throughout entire pieces, typically withdrawing deeper within.

Este trabalho aborda o desenvolvimento de um sistema de controle de temperatura para um aquecedor de passagem de água a gás. O sistema de controle Controlgás é apresentado e comparado ao sistema de controle típico, usado em aquecedores de passagem convencionais. São apresentadas as características e objetivos do projeto Controlgás, o qual serviu de base para o desenvolvimento deste trabalho. É apresentada uma fundamentação teórica sobre técnicas de controle para compensação de variações paramétricas e de atrasos de transporte, bem como uma revisão sobre as principais soluções já desenvolvidas para o controle de temperatura da água em aquecedores de passagem. A bancada experimental, contendo o aquecedor e o sistema de controle, utilizada em trabalhos anteriores, foi reestruturada e instrumentada com sensores de temperatura na entrada e na saída de água e com sensores que detectam a presença de chama e de fluxo de água. Foi desenvolvida uma servo-válvula que permite a regulagem automática da vazão de gás. Desenvolveu-se um circuito de potência para o acionamento dos atuadores (solenoides e servo-válvula) da bancada, assim como algoritmos que geram os sinais adequados para seu funcionamento. Foi feita a identificação do processo e o modelo da servo-válvula foi obtido por meio da análise de ensaios experimentais. O modelo do sistema completo foi desenvolvido no programa Simulink, onde foram feitas simulações do comportamento dinâmico do sistema proposto. O sistema foi implantado experimentalmente e foi capaz de convergir para as temperaturas de referência durante os ensaios. / This work addresses the development of a temperature control system for a gas tankless water heater. The Controlgás control system is presented and compared to typical control systems used in regular tankless water heaters. The characteristics and objectives of Controlgás project, which formed the basis for the development of this work, are presented. A theoretical foundation on control techniques for compensation of parametric variations and transport delays is presented, as well as a review of the main solutions already developed for the control of water temperature on tankless water heaters. The experimental set containing the heater and the control system used in previous work was restructured and instrumented with temperature sensors at the water's input and output and with sensors which detect the presence of flame and the water flow. A servo-valve that allows automatic adjustment of the gas flow was developed. A power circuit was created to drive the actuators (solenoids and servo-valve) of the set, as well as algorithms that generate the appropriate signals for its operation. The process identification and the servo-valve‟s model were obtained through experimental analysis. The system‟s complete model was developed in Simulink, where simulations of the dynamic behavior of the proposed system were made. The system was implemented experimentally and was able to converge to the reference temperatures during the tests.

The photoreflectance(PR) and Electroreflectance(ER) of surface-intrinsic-n+ type doped GaAs exhibit many Franz-Keldysh oscillations (FKOs), which enable the electric field (F) to be determined from the technique of the fast Fourier transform (FFT). It is known that F's determined from PR are subjected to photovoltaic effect, but it is difficult to estimate the strength of modulating field (dF) of the pump beam in the PR measurements . Alperovich et. al. have used imaginary part of FFT to determine the strengths of dF's in the ER measurements [V. L. Alperovich, et. al. Appl. Phys . Lett. 71, 2788 (1997)]. Here, we will apply this method to the PR measurements. The dF's thus obtained will be compared with those deduced from photo-voltage measurements. The result shows that the method of Alperovich's can be used to determine the strength of dF in the PR measurements.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2009.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:33:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-09-22Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:03:57Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 aranha_amf_dr_arafo.pdf: 1542988 bytes, checksum: f2f39ee479d45042c9c9592f819d0503 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Luxações dentárias resultam em injúrias ao feixe vásculo-nervoso, o que pode causar redução significante no nível de oxigênio das polpas dentárias, ou mesmo morte deste tecido conjuntivo especializado. O conhecimento dos mecanismos envolvidos na resposta das células pulpares à hipóxia pode melhorar o prognóstico dos tratamentos das luxações dentárias. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento de células-tronco (DPSC) e de fibroblastos (HDPF) de polpas dentárias humanas em condições de hipóxia e a capacidade destas em estimular a proliferação e formação de tubos capilares por células endoteliais microvasculares dérmicas humanas (HDMEC). As análises do western blot e imunocitoquímica foram realizadas para avaliar o efeito da hipóxia na ativação do fator de transcrição induzido pela hipóxia 1 (HIF-1alfa). A expressão dos fatores de crescimento vascular endotelial (VEGF) e fibroblástico básico (bFGF) foi avaliada pelos testes de imunoensaio ELISA. O efeito do HIF-1alfa na expressão do VEGF foi avaliado pelo tratamento das células DPSC e HDPF com 40 μM YC-1, inibidor do HIF-1alfa. Para a avaliação da angiogênese in vitro, os testes de proliferação celular (WST-1) e de formação de tubos capilares em gel de colágeno foram realizados após tratamento das células HDMEC com os meios de acondicionamento das células DPSC ou HDPF, em condições de normóxia ou hipóxia.. A análise dos dados obtidos foi realizada por testes estatísticos não-paramétricos com nível de significância de 5%. Aumento da atividade do HIF-1alfa e da expressão de VEGF foram observados nas células DPSC e HDPF em condições de hipóxia. Entretanto, não foram observadas alterações nos níveis de expressão de bFGF. A expressão do HIF-1alfa foi inibida... / Dental luxations can result in the severing of the dental pulp and the creation of a hypoxic environment that might lead to the death of the pulp tissue. Improved understanding of the mechanisms underlying the response of dental pulp cells to hypoxic conditions might lead to better treatment of dental luxations. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the behavior of Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSC) and Human Dental Pulp Fibroblasts (HDPF) under hypoxia and their ability to stimulate proliferation and sprouting of endothelial cells. Western blots and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the effect of hypoxia on the activation of the transcriptional factor HIF-1α. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Basic Fibroblastic Growth Factor (bFGF) expression was evaluated by ELISA. The effect of HIF-1αon VEGF expression was evaluated by treating DPSC or HDPF with 40 μM YC-1, an inhibitor of HIF-1α. To evaluate the angiogenic potential of dental pulp cells in vitro, human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMEC) were treated with conditioned medium from DPSC or HDPF in normoxia or hypoxia. Sprouting and WST-1 assays were used to evaluate capillaries tubes-like formation and cell proliferation rate,respectively. The statistic analysis was performed by non-parametric tests. HIF-1αactivity and VEGF expression were up-regulated in DPSC and HDPF under hypoxic conditions. However, no changes in the expression levels of bFGF were observed. YC-1 40μM was able to inhibit HIF-1alpha in both cell lines and it also reduced VEGF expression in DPSCs in hypoxia. HDPF under hypoxia increased HDMEC sprouting by 50% when compared to HDPF in normoxia, and by 30% when compared to DPSC in hypoxia. Notably, HDPF under hypoxia stimulated HDMEC proliferation by 30% when compared to DPSC in hypoxia. It was concluded... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Este trabalho aborda o desenvolvimento de um sistema de controle de temperatura para um aquecedor de passagem de água a gás. O sistema de controle Controlgás é apresentado e comparado ao sistema de controle típico, usado em aquecedores de passagem convencionais. São apresentadas as características e objetivos do projeto Controlgás, o qual serviu de base para o desenvolvimento deste trabalho. É apresentada uma fundamentação teórica sobre técnicas de controle para compensação de variações paramétricas e de atrasos de transporte, bem como uma revisão sobre as principais soluções já desenvolvidas para o controle de temperatura da água em aquecedores de passagem. A bancada experimental, contendo o aquecedor e o sistema de controle, utilizada em trabalhos anteriores, foi reestruturada e instrumentada com sensores de temperatura na entrada e na saída de água e com sensores que detectam a presença de chama e de fluxo de água. Foi desenvolvida uma servo-válvula que permite a regulagem automática da vazão de gás. Desenvolveu-se um circuito de potência para o acionamento dos atuadores (solenoides e servo-válvula) da bancada, assim como algoritmos que geram os sinais adequados para seu funcionamento. Foi feita a identificação do processo e o modelo da servo-válvula foi obtido por meio da análise de ensaios experimentais. O modelo do sistema completo foi desenvolvido no programa Simulink, onde foram feitas simulações do comportamento dinâmico do sistema proposto. O sistema foi implantado experimentalmente e foi capaz de convergir para as temperaturas de referência durante os ensaios. / This work addresses the development of a temperature control system for a gas tankless water heater. The Controlgás control system is presented and compared to typical control systems used in regular tankless water heaters. The characteristics and objectives of Controlgás project, which formed the basis for the development of this work, are presented. A theoretical foundation on control techniques for compensation of parametric variations and transport delays is presented, as well as a review of the main solutions already developed for the control of water temperature on tankless water heaters. The experimental set containing the heater and the control system used in previous work was restructured and instrumented with temperature sensors at the water's input and output and with sensors which detect the presence of flame and the water flow. A servo-valve that allows automatic adjustment of the gas flow was developed. A power circuit was created to drive the actuators (solenoids and servo-valve) of the set, as well as algorithms that generate the appropriate signals for its operation. The process identification and the servo-valve‟s model were obtained through experimental analysis. The system‟s complete model was developed in Simulink, where simulations of the dynamic behavior of the proposed system were made. The system was implemented experimentally and was able to converge to the reference temperatures during the tests.

Orientador: Erich Vinicius de Paula / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-22T16:41:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fiusa_MaiaraMarxLuz_M.pdf: 4773403 bytes, checksum: 75096ce572a7e0682b295f48ac895796 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: A neutropenia febril (NF) em pacientes com neoplasias hematológicas é caracterizada pelo alto risco de sepse e choque séptico. Embora a utilização de escores clínicos como o MASCC permita a identificação de pacientes de baixo risco, este escore é menos informativo em pacientes de alto risco, onde se encaixam a maioria dos pacientes com neoplasias hematológicas, além daqueles submetidos a esquemas intensivos de quimioterapia. Ao mesmo tempo, a aplicação de biomarcadores de gravidade como a procalcitonina, validados em pacientes não-neutropênicos, é controversa em pacientes com NF. A quebra da barreira endotelial é um elemento chave no choque séptico, de modo que proteínas envolvidas neste processo são candidatos atrativos como biomarcadores de gravidade na sepse. Neste estudo, avaliamos prospectivamente o valor da dosagem de VEGF-A, sFlt-1, Ang-1 e Ang-2 como biomarcadores da evolução para choque séptico em 120 pacientes com NF. Pacientes internados nas enfermarias de Hematologia e Transplante de Medula Óssea do HC da UNICAMP para tratamento de NF entre março de 2011 e 2012 foram convidados a participar. As amostras foram coletadas na manhã seguinte à entrada no estudo, junto com a coleta de exames de rotina. O estudo foi desenhado com o objetivo de mimetizar as condições de coleta e processamento das amostras, que seriam encontradas na prática clínica real. Foi avaliada a evolução para choque séptico e mortalidade em 28 dias. Os resultados foram comparados com marcadores de prognóstico clássicos como proteína C reativa, e escores MASCC e SOFA. No total, 99 pacientes preencheram os critérios de inclusão, dos quais 19,8% evoluíram com choque séptico. Não foram observadas diferenças clínicas e demográficas entre os pacientes com NF não-complicada e choque séptico, exceto pelo escore SOFA, significativamente mais elevado no segundo grupo. Os níveis de VEGF-A e sFlt-1 foram semelhantes entre os dois grupos. Em contraste, os níveis séricos de Ang-2 estavam aumentados em pacientes com choque séptico, ao passo que os níveis séricos de Ang-1 estavam diminuídos. Considerando o papel antagônico destas angiopoietinas na regulação da permeabilidade endotelial, a relação Ang-2/Ang-1 foi calculada, como indicador de desequilíbrios na concentração destes moduladores, que pudessem indicar um estado mais ou menos propenso à queda da barreira endotelial. De fato, um aumento na relação Ang-2/Ang-1 foi encontrada em pacientes com choque séptico (5,29 - variação de 0,58 a 57,14) em relação aos pacientes com NF não-complicada (1,99 - variação de 0,06 a 64,62; P=0,01). Na análise univariada e multivariada, a relação Ang-2/Ang-1 provou ser um fator de risco independente para o desenvolvimento de choque séptico e mortalidade em 28 dias. Desta forma, concluímos que a elevação dos níveis séricos de Ang-2 e da relação Ang-2/Ang-1 está associada ao risco aumentado de choque séptico e mortalidade em pacientes com NF, mesmo quando coletada sob condições próximas àquelas encontradas a prática clínica / Abstract: Febrile neutropenia (FN) in patients with hematologic malignancies is characterized by a high risk of sepsis complications and septic shock. Although the use of clinical scores such as the MASCC allows the identification of low-risk patients, this score is much less informative in high-risk patients, a category in which most patients with hematologic malignancies, and those undergoing intensive chemotherapy regimens, fit in. At the same time, the use of classical biomarkers such as procalcitonin in non-neutropenic patients is controversial in patients with FN. Endothelial barrier breakdown is a key element in septic shock, so that proteins involved in this process are attractive candidates as biomarkers of sepsis severity. In this study, we prospectively evaluated the value of VEGF-A, sFlt-1, Ang-1 and Ang-2 serum levels as biomarkers of progression to septic shock in 120 patients with FN. Patients hospitalized in the Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation in-patient units of a university hospital (HC-UNICAMP) for the treatment of FN between March 2011 and March 2012 were invited to participate. Samples were collected in the following morning after study entry, along with the collection of routine labs. The study was designed to mimic the conditions of blood sample collection and processing that would be encountered in "real-world" clinical practice. Clinical outcomes were (1) progression to septic shock and (2) death within 28 days from fever onset. Results were compared with classical prognostic markers such as C-reactive protein, and MASCC and SOFA scores. In total, 99 patients met the inclusion criteria, of which 19.8% progressed to septic shock. No differences clinical and demographic differences were observed between patients with uncomplicated-FN or septic shock, except for a higher SOFA scores in the latter group. Levels of VEGF-A and sFlt-1 were similar between the two groups. In contrast, serum levels of Ang-2 were increased in patients with septic shock, whereas serum levels of Ang-1 were decreased in these patients. Considering the antagonistic role of angiopoietins 1 and 2 in regulating endothelial permeability, the Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio was calculated as an indicator of imbalances in the concentration of these modulators. In fact, a high Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio was found in patients with septic shock (5.29 - range 0.58 to 57.14) compared to patients with uncomplicated FN (1.99 - range 0.06 to 64.62, P = 0.01). In univariate and multivariate analysis, the Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio proved to be an independent risk factor for the development of septic shock and for 28-day sepsis-related mortality. Thus, we concluded that a high Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio is associated with increased risk of septic shock and mortality in patients with FN, even when collected under conditions close to those encountered in real-world clinical practice / Mestrado / Clinica Medica / Mestra em Ciências