The biological clock are responsible for entraining of circadian rhytms in many physiological and behavioral functions, including the activity of immune system. In mammals, the biological clock are located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus and also on the periphery. The main oscillator in suprachiamatic nuclei synchronizes the phases of the peripheral oscillators in tissues and the other brain areas and it also drives synthesis of melatonin in the pineal gland. Its endogenous period Tau (τ) is being synchronized with external 24-hour day under normal conditions, mostly by the light-dark cycles during the day and night and also by non-photic stimuli. By the application of endotoxin, disruption of normal endogenous conditions in organism causes activation of the immune response, behavioral changes and phase shifts of the circadian rhythmicity. This work examines effect of acute application endotoxin lipopolysaccharid on the cellular signaling cascades in the cells of suprachiasmatic nuclei and pineal gland. Our data indicate, that levels of phosphorylated forms of kinases GSK3β, ERK1/2 and levels of phosphorylated forms transcription factors STAT3 are substantially modificated after administration of lipopolysaccharid in the suprachiasmatic nuclei and especially in the pineal gland of...

The main mammalian circadian pacemaker stored in suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus (SCN) is adapted to changes in the external environement by synchronization of its endogenous period with periodic changes of light and dark during day and night. The information about light travels via glutamatergic retinohypothalamic tract to the ventrolateral part of the SCN. Activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors in this area provably mediates the transfer of information about light on the transcriptional mechanism of light-sensitive cells. The role of the NMDA type of ionotropic glutamate receptors is well studied in this field and it is known that some NMDA receptor subunits show a circadian rhythm and an increased expression after a light pulse. Signalization via AMPA type receptors is much less elucidated. The aim of this thesis was to determine which AMPA receptor subunits are expressed in the SCN of the rat and if these subunits show a daily rhythm of expression and a reactivity to light pulse, as well as to outline the possible roles of distinct AMPA receptor subunits in the SCN. Keywords: circadian rhythms, suprachiasmatic nuclei, glutamate receptors, AMPA

All massive nearby galaxies, including our own, host supermassive black holes. Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are seen when such black holes accrete, and when they produce powerful jets of synchrotron-emitting plasma, they are termed radio-loud AGN. The close correlation between black hole mass and galaxy bulge mass in elliptical galaxies indicates that AGN feedback may be the key to the regulation of galaxy formation. It is thus necessary to fully understand the structure of AGN, the way that they are fuelled, and their duty cycle, in order to study the feedback processes and get a clear picture of galaxy formation. In this thesis, independent methods are developed to constrain the accretion disk and radio jet angles to the line of sight. H IX emission from a sub-sample of high-redshift quasars is measured from near-infrared spectroscopy and modelled as sums of different components, including the characteristic double-peaked profile which results from a thin, rotating accretion disk. Comparing the models using Bayesian evidence, almost all quasars were found to have infrared spectra consistent with the presence of a disk. The jet inclination angles of the same set of quasars were constrained by fitting a model, including the effect of Doppler boosting and the receding torus model for dust obscuration, to the radio \ spectral energy distribution. The fitted disk and jet angles correlate strongly, and are consistent with a model in which the radio jets are launched orthogonally to the plane of the accretion disk, as expected if the jet is powered by energy drawn from the spin of the black hole. Both disk and jet angles correlate with the observed linear source size, which is a projection effect; when deprojected using the fitted angles, the distribution of source sizes agrees with a scenario in which the sources expand into the surrounding medium at a constant rate up to ~ 1 Mpc and then shut off, probably as the nuclei become quiescent. The accretion disk angle was found to correlate weakly with the low-frequency radio luminosity, which provides direct, albeit tenuous, evidence for the receding torus model.

Supermassive black holes (SMBH) are now thought to exist at the center nearly all massive galaxies. Not only are they thought to be ubiquitous, but it was also discovered nearly two decades ago that the mass of these SMBHs correlate strongly with properties of their host galaxies including bulge stellar velocity dispersion (MBH-sigma) and bulge luminosity (MBH-Lbulge). This correlation was not expected due to the tiny size of the SMBH gravitational sphere of influence compared to the size of the host galaxy, and imply a connection between the two, but this connection is still not well-understood. One step toward understanding this connection is to accurately measure the masses of these black holes. Two of the most common direct SMBH mass measurement techniques are stellar dynamical modeling (SDM), which generally only applies to quiescent galaxies, and reverberation mapping (RM), which can only be applied to active galactic nuclei (AGN) that exhibit broadened emission lines. Due to the unknown geometry of the region that produces these broad lines, the whole RM sample of black hole masses generally needs to be multiplied by a constant called the f-factor to bring it into agreement with the SDM sample on the MBH-sigma relation. It is unknown how well this f-factor, being a population average, applies to individual RM masses. It would therefore be useful to measure an SMBH mass with both methods simultaneously to test whether they produce the same black hole mass. However, because the RM and SDM techniques usually apply to galaxies that are not possible for both, this has only been attempted twice before (NGC 3227 and NGC 4151). The purpose of this dissertation is to apply SDM to the SMBH at the center of NGC 6814 for which there already exists an RM mass. This makes it only the third broad-lined AGN for which an SDM mass has been derived. In order to perform SDM accurately, the distance to the galaxy needs to be well-constrained as the error in the SDM mass scales linearly with distance. Because no adequate distance measurements already exist, the first half of this dissertation is devoted to deriving a Cepheid distance to NGC 6814 from V- and I-band HST WFC3 time series photometry. We measure the distance to NGC 6814 to be 17.54 +1.44/-1.33 Mpc. In the second half, we incorporate that distance measurement into our stellar dynamical modeling on Gemini NIFS+Altair IFU data of NGC 6814's central 1.55''x1.55''. We derive a mass of 1.19 +37.57/-1.17 x108 solar masses, and best fit mass-to-light ratio of 0.948 +0.032/-0.208 in solar units. This mass is nearly an order of magnitude larger than the RM mass but has a 3-sigma range spanning nearly three orders of magnitude. We describe possible reasons for our larger-than-expected mass value, such as the existence of a bar, which would not be well-modeled by an axisymmetric dynamical code. Finally, we describe future steps that may be taken to better constrain the mass, such as creating more models to further explore parameter space.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / It is well known, that there is a severe lack of information available pertaining to neutron rich nuclei, specifically of those nuclei with mass numbers ≥ 60. These neutron rich nuclei are not easy to access in current experimental facilities or be produced with sufficient yield to allow for it to be studied. In order to expand our understanding of nuclear physics by studying the properties and characteristics of these nuclei, the development of new facilities producing Radioactive-ion Beams (RIBs) is required. The applications for RIBs are wide, allowing for deeper investigations into the properties of nuclei, their interactions and the manner in which they were formed in the early universe. Additionally, there are various interdisciplinary fields such as medicine, biology and material science in which RIBs can be utilized as a driving mechanism for new research and technological innovation. The iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences (iThemba LABS), South Africa, has proposed a new facility for the production and acceleration of radioactive-ion beams (RIBs). The RIB Project is to be developed in sequential phases and would produce a range of neutron-rich isotopes for low-energy materials science and nuclear physics research. Of specific interest, is the production of the Helium-6 isotope (6He), for its potential applications in various areas of nuclear physics research. The aim of this research work was to design, model and optimise a RIB production target capable of producing high intensity 6He beams, guided by the characteristics of the primary proton beam available for use at iThemba LABS. This research work/design study is however limited, due to the absence of experimentally measured and verified 6He cross section data for proton induced reactions on the proposed target materials (Graphite and Boron Carbide). However, best-estimate approaches were adopted through the use of validated computer codes. Additionally, all 6He yield results are presented as in-target yields, as this study did not cover the diffusion (isotope release) efficiency of the target systems in question. Three RIB production targets types were investigated using Graphite, Boron Carbide and Beryllium Oxide as potential target materials. Following numerous optimisation processes, a Boron Carbide RIB target was converged upon, proving to be suitable for the production of high intensity 6He beams at iThemba LABS, by meeting the material thermal and mechanical limiting criteria for operation. This target system was found to produce an in-target 6He yield rate of 2 ~ 3 x 1011 6He/s, considered sufficient for experimental application at iThemba LABS.

O presente estudo objetivou analisar o envolvimento diferenciado dos núcleos da rafe nas respostas homeostáticas de ratos machos jovens submetidos a exercício físico. Foram formados os grupos de animais treinados (T) e sedentários (S). Para os animais do grupo T foi adotado o protocolo de natação moderada, por meio do qual os animais foram treinados durante oito semanas consecutivas, apresentando, cada semana, cinco dias de treinamento e dois de descanso. Após o período de treinamento, os animais foram perfundidos transcardiacamente e o encéfalo removido, pós-fixado, crioprotegido e criosecionado em cortes coronais de 40m, para processamento com técnicas de imunoperoxidase pelo método ABC contra a proteína Fos, utilizando-se DAB como cromógeno. A análise da ativação neuronal foi efetuada pela expressão da proteína Fos. Os cortes foram analisados em microscopia de campo claro e uma série adjacente foi montada em lâminas gelatinizadas e coradas com tionina, método de Nissl, para controle citoarquitetônico. Durante o experimento, notou-se a adaptação dos animais ao exercício (grupo T), sendo necessária a adição, em sua cauda, de pesos relativos ao peso corpóreo do animal, proporcionando uma adequada seqüência de treinamento. A análise quantitativa evidenciou diferentes densidades de marcação nos diferentes núcleos entre os grupos experimentais. A análise estatística ANOVA e o teste Tuckey evidenciaram diferenças estatísticas entre os grupos, onde os animais do grupo T apresentaram maior ativação de neurônios em relação aos animais do grupo S. O núcleo RPa apresentou o maior número médio de células ativadas, fato evidenciado pela contagem dos neurônios Fos-imunorreativos (Fos-IR), respectivamente, nos grupos T e S: (57,74 e 44,40); seguido pelos núcleos DR (56,67 e 47,15), RMg (42,68 e 36,09), ROb (23,98 e 19,70), MnR (23,89 e 21,19) e PnR (20,18 e 14,07). No núcleo PMnR foi observada, contrariamente aos demais grupos, um maior número médio de células ativadas no grupo S em relação ao grupo T (5,35 e 4,08, respectivamente). Entretanto, estatisticamente, esse dado não é representativo. Assim, de forma inédita, verificou-se a participação diferenciada dos núcleos da rafe nos mecanismos homeostáticos relacionados ao exercício físico em animais treinados. / The aim of this work was to study the distinguished involvement of the raphe nuclei in homeostatic mechanisms of young male rats submitted to physical exercises. Trained (T) and sedentary (S) animals constituted the experimental groups. For animals of group T, the method applied were the moderate swimming protocol, when the animals were trained consecutively for eight weeks (five days training, two days for rest). After the training, the animals were transcardiacally perfused and their brain were removed, post-fixated, cryoprotected and cryosectioned in coronal sections of 40m, which were processed with ABC-DAB anti-Fos immunoperoxidase techniques. The analysis of the neuronal activation was observed by the expression of Fos protein. The sections were analyzed in light microscopy and an adjacent series was mounted in gelatinous slides and stained with tionin, Nissl method, for cytoarchitectonical control. Animals of group T adaptation to exercise was observed during the experiment when heaviness, equivalent to the animal’s body weight, was added in their tails, giving an adequate training sequence. The quantitative analysis highlighted different densities of mark in different nuclei between the experimental groups. The statistic analysis ANOVA and Tuckey test presented different densities between experimental groups, in which the T group of animals showed bigger activation of neurons in relation to the S group of animals. The RPa nucleus showed the higher median number of labeled cells, fact evidenced through the counting of Fos-immunoreactive neurons (Fos-IR), respectively, between T and S groups: (57,74 and 44,40); followed by DR (56,67 and 47,15), RMg (42,68 and 36,09), ROb (23,98 and 19,70), MnR (23,89 e 21,19) and PnR (20,18 and 14,07) nuclei. In the PMnR nucleus was observed, against the other groups, higher number of median numbers of labeled cells in the S group in relation to T group (5,35 and 4,08, respectively). Thus, the distinguished raphe nuclei’s participation in homeostatic mechanisms related with physical exercises in trained animals was evidenced for the first time.

No presente trabalho medimos e analisamos distribuições angulares para o processo de espalhamento elástico do núcleo radioativo de 12B em alvo de 58Ni. As medidas foram realizadas nas energias de Elab=30.0 e 33.0 MeV no laboratório do acelerador Pelletron. Essas energias são próximas a barreira Coulombiana (VB=28.0 MeV) para esse sistema. Para a produção do feixe radioativo de 12B utilizamos o sistema RIBRAS instalado nesse laboratório. As distribuições angulares foram analisadas com o modelo ótico, utilizando potenciais de Woods-Saxon e Potencial de São Paulo. Para uma interpretação física mais consistente e um estudo da influência de outros canais de reação no espalhamento elástico analisamos também considerando o método de canais acoplados. Considerando o acoplamento dos canais de espalhamento inelásticos, reorientação e spin-órbita pudemos descrever a distribuição angular na energia de 30.0 MeV. No entanto esses canais não foram suficientes para descrever a distribuição angular na energia de 33.0 MeV, indicando que outros canais como de transferência e/ou break-up possam ser importes. A partir da análise das distribuições angulares com modelo ótico obtivemos também a seção de choque total de reação. Essas seções de choque foram comparadas com a de outros sistemas utilizando métodos de redução, indicando que o projétil 12B segue uma sistemática intermediária entre núcleos fortemente ligados e fracamente ligados. Finalmente, discutimos a sistemática dos resultados de canais acoplados para o espalhamento elásticos dos isótopos de Boro 8,10,11,12B no alvo 58Ni em termos da configuração de clusters dos projéteis. / In the present work we measure and analyzed angular distributions for the process of elastic scattering of the radioactive nucleus of 12B in a target of 58Ni. The measurements were performed in the energies of Elab = 30.0 and 33.0 MeV in the Pelletron accelerator laboratory. These energies are close to the Colombian barrier (VB = 28.0 MeV) for this system. For the production of the radioactive beam of 12B we used the RIBRAS system installed in this laboratory. The angular distributions were analyzed with the optical model, using potentials of Woods-Saxon and Potential of São Paulo. For a more consistent physical interpretation and a study of the influence of other reaction channels in the elastic scattering we also analyze the coupled channel method. Considering the coupling of the inelastic scattering channels, reorientation and spin-orbit we could describe the angular distribution in the energy of 30.0 MeV. However, these channels were not enough to describe the angular distribution in the energy of 33.0 MeV, indicating that other channels as transfer and / or break-up can be amounts. From the analysis of the angular distributions with optical model we also obtained the section of total reaction shock. These cross sections were compared with those of other systems using reduction methods, indicating that projectile 12B follows a systematic intermediate between tightly bound and weakly bonded cores. Finally, we discuss the systematics of the results of elastic scattering channels of the Boron isotopes 8,10,11,12B in the 58Ni target in terms of the cluster configuration of the projectiles.

A espectroscopia de núcleos leves como ANTPOT. 6,7 Li e outros no contínuo é ainda um campo relativamente pouco explorado, e a possibilidade de se produzir esses núcleos a partir de canais de entrada envolvendo núcleos exóticos é relativamente recente. Em particular, o estudo do ANTPOT. 7 Li em energias de excitação em torno do limiar ANTPOT. 6 He+p é interessante pois corresponde a uma região próxima ao estado fundamental do exótico análogo isobárico ANTPO. 7 He. Neste trabalho, apresentamos resultados de um estudo do espalhamento ressonante ANTPOT. 6 He+p utilizando feixe de ANTPOT. 6 He. As medidas da função de excitação ANTPOT. 6 He+p foram realizadas no sistema RIBRAS (\"Radioactive Ion Beams in Brasil\") do Instituto de Física da Universidade de São Paulo. O feixe secundário foi produzido mediante a reação primária ANTPOT. 9 Be(ANTPOT. 7 Li, ANTPOT. 6 He). Fez-se pela primeira vez, uso do conjunto de dois solenóides do sistema RIBRAS para purificar o feixe secundário de ANTPOT. 6 He, que incide em um alvo sólido de CH IND. 2, grosso o bastante para parar o feixe incidente de ANTPOT. 6 He. Assim, somente as partículas leves de recuo foram detectados, as quais levam a informação do sistema composto ANTPOT. 7 Li. Dessa forma foram analisados os espectros obtidos das reações p(ANTPOT. 6 He,p) e p(ANTPOT. 6 He,). Além disso realizamos um estudo da reação ANTPOT. 3 He(ANTPOT. 7 Be, )ANTPOT. 6 Be. A experiência foi realizada no CRIB-RIKEN fazendo uso de um feixe puro de ANTPOT. 7 Be e um alvo gasoso de ANTPOT. 3 He. O feixe de ANTPOT. 7 Be tem uma energia de laboratório de E IND. lab= 53.4 MeV e foi produzido pela reação primária de ANTPOT. 7 Li(p, n)ANTPOT. 7 Be usando um alvo criogênico H IND. 2. Existem na literatura estados excitados identificados nos núcleos ANTPOT. 6 Li e ANTPOT. 6 He, mas apenas poucos estados no ANTPOT 6 Be. Além do interesse na estrutura nuclear, a importância destes estados no ANTPOT. 6 Be próximos ao limiar de ANTPOT. 3 He ANTPOT. 3 He a 11.48MeV está principalmente na astrofísica. A possível existência de ressonâncias perto deste limiar poderia trazer fortes implicações na queima próton-próton em estrelas. / The spectroscopy in the continuum of light nuclei such as 6,7 Li and others still remains a relatively unexplored field, and the ability to produce these nuclei from entrance channels involving exotic nuclei is relatively recent. In particular, the study of 7Li at excitation energies around the 6He+p threshold is interesting since it corresponds to a region near to the ground state of the exotic analog isobaric 7He. In this work we present the results of the study of the resonant scattering p+6He. The measurements of the excitation function of the system p+6He have been performed in the RIBRAS system (\"Radioactive Ion Beams in Brasil\") of the Institute of Physics of the University of São Paulo. The secondary beam has been produced by the primary reaction 9Be(7Li,6 He). For the first time, the two solenoids of the RIBRAS system have been used to purify the secondary 6He beam, which collides into a solid CH2, thick enough to stop the incident 6He beam. Only the light recoil particles have been detected, which provide information of the compound system 7Li. We analyzed the spectrum obtained from the p(6He,p) and p(6He,) reactions. In addition, we performed a study of the 3He(7Be, )6Be reaction. The experiment has been performed at the CRIB-RIKEN laboratory (Japan), using a pure 7Be beam and a 3He gas target. The 7Be beam had an energy of Elab = 53.4MeV and has been produced by the 7Li(p, n)7Be primary reaction, using a H2 cryogenic target. There are in the literature, excited states identified in the nuclei 6Li and 6He but only a few states in 6Be. Besides the interest in nuclear structure, the importance of these states at 6Be near the threshold of 3He3He at 11.48MeV lies mainly in astrophysics. The possible existence of resonances near this threshold could bring strong implications for proton-proton burning in stars.

Nesse trabalho, foi feito o tratamento e a análise de cubos de dados de 8 núcleos ativos de galáxias próximos, no óptico e no infravermelho. O tratamento e a análise de todos os cubos de dados foram feitos utilizando-se uma série de metodologias específicas, muitas das quais foram desenvolvidas nos últimos anos pelo grupo de trabalho do autor. A análise de todos os cubos de dados foi feita com quatro objetivos principais: análise da fenomenologia geral nos arredores do AGN com a Tomografia PCA; análise das populações estelares, da emissão térmica de poeira e do featureless continuum nos arredores do AGN com uma síntese espectral feita com o software Starlight; análise da cinemática estelar e do gás ao redor do buraco negro central e, em alguns casos, simulação com o objetivo de se determinar a massa do buraco negro; análise dos mecanismos de excitação e ionização do gás ou da emissão de hidrogênio molecular. / In this work, we have treated and analyzed data cubes of 8 nearby active galactic nuclei, in the optical and in the infrared. All data cube treatment and analysis were performed using a series of specific methodologies, many of which were developed in the last few years by the author\'s working group. The analysis of all data cubes was performed with four main objectives: analysis of the general phenomenology of the AGN environment, using PCA Tomography; analysis of the stellar populations, of the thermal emission from dust and of the featureless continuum in the vicinity of the AGN, with a spectral synthesis performed with the Starlight software; analysis of the stellar and gas kinematics around the central black hole and, in some cases, simulations with the purpose of determining the mass of the black hole; analysis of the excitation and ionization mechanisms of the gas or of the emission from molecular hydrogen.

Usamos o formalismo de A. Toledo Pisa e E. Passos, que usa o método de coordenadas geradores e o Teorema Espectral de Anélise Funcional, para obter uma hamiltoniana coletiva para as vibrações monopolares isoescalares nos núcleos duplamente mágicos ANPOT. 4 He, ANPOT. 16 O e ANPOT 40 C. As funções de onda do oscilador hermônico são tomadas como funções de onda geradoras, e a interação de muitos corpos é aquela de Skyrme. Com esta hamiltoniana coletiva calculamos o espectro de energias do modo monopolar isoescalar, parâmetros de inércia e módulos de incompressibilidade para aqueles núcleos e comparamos com os resultados de Flocard e Vautherin, que resolvem numericamente a equação de Griffin-Wheeler. Foram calculados ainda os raios quadráticos médios nucleares. Os efeitos espúrios dos movimentos do centro de massa são eliminados exatamente para o AMPOT. 4 He e recalculamos aquelas propriedades nucleares. / The isoscalar monopole vibrational mode in 4 He,16 O and 40Ca is studied with the aid of collective Hamiltonians obtained from e general formalism proposed by A. Toledo Piza and E. Passos, which makes use of the generator coordinate method and Functional Analisis Spectral Theorem. Cur generator wave functions are that of the harmonic oscillator and use is made of the Skyrme\'s schematic effective interaction. Using the collective Hamiltonian we can calculate the energy spectrum, inertial parameters end incompressibility modulus and compare with numerical results of Flocard and Vautherin. R. m. s. radii are also calculated. Center of mass spurious effects are exactly eliminated and the forementioned nuclear properties are calculated again for 4 He.