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[Truncated abstract] The extent to which an airway narrows is strongly influenced by mechanical loads on airway smooth muscle (ASM). This thesis considers both dynamic and static mechanical loads. Dynamic load describes the time varying load on airways produced by oscillatory breathing movements. Static load is that present at a fixed lung volume ie. without breathing. In the intact lung static load principally comprises the pressure across the airway wall, that is transmural pressure (Ptm), and elastic after-load arising from distortion of airway and lung tissue by the narrowing airway. The experiments performed in this thesis were designed to answer several outstanding questions relating to how dynamic and static loads regulate airway narrowing. Dynamic load from breathing movements cyclically stretches ASM, which produces a number of physiological and cellular effects. For example in ASM strips a period of cyclical stretch reduces subsequent ASM contraction. However the response of the whole airway to dynamic load may differ from isolated ASM where non-muscle tissue also contributes. The first aim of this thesis was to characterise the response of the whole airway to dynamic load and determine whether the airway wall modifies the effects produced by ASM length cycling. Static after-loads restrict ASM shortening providing a limit to airway narrowing. Two primary sources of airway wall load include cartilage and the mucosal membrane which contribute to airway compliance. The relative importance of cartilage and mucosa to airway wall compliance and airway narrowing is unclear. ... Results demonstrate that airway narrowing is restricted by Ptm but not by parenchymal elastic after-load. The major findings of this thesis are: (1) dynamic loads produced by breathing movements regulate airway responsiveness through cyclical airway expansion and elongation; (2) the reported effects of cyclical stretch on ASM contraction differs in situ 8 possibly due to modification by one or more biomechanical or physiological properties of the airway wall; (3) parenchymal elastic after-loads, previously thought to be important during bronchoconstriction, do not restrict airway narrowing. Given the absence of an effect of parenchymal elastic after-load on airway narrowing, the static mechanical load on ASM therefore comprises Ptm and airway wall stiffness, with important contributions from cartilage and mucosa depending on lung volume.

Submitted by MAICON CARLONE DA SILVA null (maicon.carlone@gmail.com) on 2017-05-23T16:56:49Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Maicon Carlone da Silva .pdf: 5898245 bytes, checksum: dcaea8b738bb0b5c8699c89bc40d8b7a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com) on 2017-05-23T18:30:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_mc_me_bauru.pdf: 5898245 bytes, checksum: dcaea8b738bb0b5c8699c89bc40d8b7a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-23T18:30:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_mc_me_bauru.pdf: 5898245 bytes, checksum: dcaea8b738bb0b5c8699c89bc40d8b7a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-24 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Compostos do tipo Ca1-xRxB6 (onde R representa o elemento de terra rara) tem sido estudados durantes os últimos anos principalmente no que se refere as suas características magnéticas e de transporte, porem elas ainda são controversas. Em particular a técnica de Ressonância Magnética tem sido usada para estudar compostos de Ca1-xEuxB6 (EPR) para diversas concentrações de Eu, o qual sugere a existência de uma transição metal isolante quando mudamos a concentração de Eu. Neste trabalho deveremos analisar teoricamente os espectros experimentais deste composto, em função da concentração deste elemento de terra rara. Os espectros de EPR foram simulados usando o modelo de Plefka para diversos valores de concentração x em Ca1-xEuxB6 monocristalino, isto é, 7%, 10%, 15%, 30%, 60% e 100%, visando elucidar a evolução das fases isolantes e semimetálicas, além do colapso do espectro com o aumento da concentração da impureza magnética. Tendo em vista que formas de linha simétricas são características de matrizes isolantes e assimétricas de matrizes metálicas, focaremos o nosso estudo na assimetria dos espectros de EPR. Para procurar pelo conjunto de parâmetros que melhor ajusta o espectro teórico ao experimental utilizamos o método de Simulated Annealing (SA), onde minimizamos a diferencia média quadrática entre os espectros. Ao longo deste trabalho foram reproduzidos as principais características dos espectros experimentais. Também obtivemos parâmetros importantes como o de Campo Cristalino, valor de g, parâmetros de troca da interação Eu-Eu e o parâmetro de assimetria do espectro de absorção. Conseguimos mostrar que ao aumentar a concentração o espectro evolui de uma forma Lorentziana para Dysoniana, mostrando a existência da transição metal-isolante. / Compounds of the type Ca1-xRxB6 (where R represents the element of rare earth) have been studied during the last years mainly as regards their magnetic and transport characteristics, but they are still controversial. In particular the Magnetic Resonance technique has been used to study compounds of Ca1-xEuxB6 (EPR) for several concentrations of Eu, which suggests the existence of an insulating metal transition when we change the concentration of Eu. In this work we will theoretically analyze the spectra Experimental results of this compound, depending on the concentration of this element of rare earth. In the present case, the EPR fine structure spectra were simulated using the Plefka model for various values of concentration (x) in monocrystalline Ca1-xEuxB6, that is, 7%, 10%, 15%, 30%, 60% and 100%, aiming to elucidate the evolution of the insulating and semi-metallic phases, besides the collapse of the spectrum with the increase of the concentration of magnetic impurities. Considering that symmetrical line shapes are characteristic of insulating and asymmetric matrices of metal matrices, we will focus our study on the asymmetry of RPE spectra. To find for the set of parameters that best adjusts the theoretical spectrum to the experimental, we used the Simulated Annealing (SA) method, where we minimize the mean square difference between the spectra. Throughout this work the main characteristics of the experimental spectra were reproduced. We also obtained important parameters such as the Crystalline Field, g value, Eu-Eu interaction exchange parameters and the asymmetry parameter of the absorption spectrum. We show that by increasing the concentration the spectrum evolves from a Lorentzian to Dysonian form, showing the existence of the metal-insulating transition.

Les verres dopés par des ions de terres rares ou/et des nanoparticules de semi-conducteurs continue à faire l’objet de plusieurs recherches grâce à leur efficacité dans les domaines d’optoélectroniques. En effet, ces matériaux sont parmi les candidats potentiels pour des applications en photonique tels que les amplificateurs à fibre optique, les convertisseurs de lumière, les capteurs et les guides d'ondes 3D.Dans le cadre de cette thèse, des verres à base de silice (SiO2)dopé par des ions d’europium (Eu3+) ont été préparés par le processus sol-gel. Afin de mieux disperser les ions de terres rares et d’améliorer leur émission, les verres ont été codopés par le phosphore et/ou l’aluminium. Des nanoparticules de semi-conducteur (CdS) ont été aussi introduite dans le verre afin d’augmenter l’absorbance de la lumière excitatrice et d’obtenir une émission plus intense des ions Eu3+. Les verres préparés ont été analysés par photoluminescence et par la technique de rétrécissement des raies de luminescence (FLN). Ces mesures ont été suivi par des simulations par la méthode de dynamique moléculaire (DM)afin d’étudier l’effet de phosphore et/ou de l’aluminium sur l’environnement local des ions d’europium et la dispersion de ces ions dans la matrice vitreuse. La présence de deux types de sites des ions d’europium dans le verre de silicophosphates a été mise en évidence et a été confirmé par les deux techniques (FLN et DM). L’effet des nanoparticules de CdS sur l'émission des ions Eu3+dans un verre de silicophosphate a été aussi étudié et il a été montré que l’émission des ions Eu3+ est considérablement dépendante de la concentration des nanoparticules de CdS et de la température de recuit. / Glasses doped with rare earth ions and/or semiconductor nanoparticles continues to be the subject of several studies due to their effectiveness in optoelectronic fields. Indeed, these materials are among the potential candidates for photonic applications such as optical fiber amplifiers, light converters, sensors and 3D waveguides. As part of this thesis, silica-based glasses (SiO2) doped with europium ions (Eu3+) were prepared by the sol-gel process. In order to better disperse the rare earth ions and improve their emission, the glasses were codoped with phosphorus and/or aluminum. Semiconductor nanoparticles (CdS) were also introduced into the glass in order to increase the absorbance of the excitation light and to obtain a more intense emission of Eu3+ ions. The prepared glasses were analyzed by photoluminescence and by the technique of Fluorescence line narrowing (FLN). These experimental measurements were followed by theoretical simulations using the molecular dynamics method (DM) to study the effect of phosphorus and/or aluminum on the local environment of the europium ions and their dispersion in the vitreous matrix. The presence of two types of europium ion sites in the glass silicophosphates has been demonstrated and confirmed by two techniques (FLN and DM). The effect of CdS nanoparticles on the emission of Eu3+ ions in a glass silicophosphate was also studied and it was shown that the emission of Eu3+ ions is considerably dependent on theconcentration of CdS nanoparticles and annealing temperature.

The development of species-typical perceptual preferences has been shown to depend on a variety of socially and ecologically derived sensory stimulation during both the pre- and postnatal periods. The prominent mechanism behind the development of these seemingly innate tendencies in young organisms has been hypothesized to be a domain-general pan-sensory selectivity process referred to as perceptual narrowing, whereby regularly experienced sensory stimuli are honed in upon, while simultaneously losing the ability to effectively discriminate between atypical or unfamiliar sensory stimulation. Previous work with precocial birds has been successful in preventing the development of species-typical perceptual preferences by denying the organism typical levels of social and/or self-produced stimulation. The current series of experiments explored the mechanism of perceptual narrowing to assess the malleability of a species-typical auditory preference in avian embryos. By providing a variety of different unimodal and bimodal presentations of a mixed-species vocalizations at the onset of prenatal auditory function, the following project aimed to 1) keep the perceptual window from narrowing, thereby interfering with the development of a species-typical auditory preference, 2) investigate how long differential prenatal stimulation can keep the perceptual window open postnatally, 3) explore how prenatal auditory enrichment effected preferences for novelty, and 4) assess whether prenatal auditory perceptual narrowing is affected by modality specific or amodal stimulus properties during early development. Results indicated that prenatal auditory enrichment significantly interferes with the emergence of a species-typical auditory preference and increases openness to novelty, at least temporarily. After accruing postnatal experience in an environment rich with species-typical auditory and multisensory cues, the effect of prenatal auditory enrichment rapidly was found to rapidly fade. Prenatal auditory enrichment with extraneous non-synchronous light exposure was shown to both keep the perceptual narrowing window open and impede learning in the postnatal environment, following hatching. Results are discussed in light of the role experience plays in perceptual narrowing during the perinatal period.

Over the last century, the construction and management of large dams and stream-flow diversions, and periodic drought have resulted in significant declines in stream flow of the lower Rio Grande in the Big Bend region. Reductions in mean annual flow and peak discharge have resulted in channel narrowing by the formation of vertically accreting inset floodplains. Narrowing has been temporarily interrupted by infrequent large dam releases greater than 1000 m3/s that have temporarily widened the channel; however, after each of these events, narrowing has resumed. Prior to 1942, floods of this magnitude occurred approximately once every 4 years and maintained a wide sandy channel. Since 1942, they have occurred 4 times. The decline in frequency of these large floods has resulted in a channel approximately 50% narrower than in the 1940s. Since the most recent channel widening floods in 1991, the channel has narrowed between 35 and 50%. In two large floodplain trenches, we observed between 2.75 and 3.5 m of vertical accretion during the same period. Additionally, nearly 90% of bare active channel bars have been converted to vegetated floodplains. Since 1991, the cross section channel area at the Johnson Ranch gage has decreased by approximately 30%. The reduction in cross section area and the invasion of non-native vegetation have resulted in higher flood stages, flooding at lower discharges, and continued vertical accretion. Channel narrowing has negatively impacted the native and endemic aquatic ecosystem through the loss of ecologically important habitats such as backwaters, side channels, and low velocity portions of the channel. Reductions in cross section area and resultant increased flood stages have also endangered historic cultural sites within the Big Bend region. Restoration efforts are currently underway within the region without a clear understanding of these historical channel changes and why they occurred. Our reconstruction of historical channel changes shows that the most significant periods of channel narrowing occurred during drought and increased stream-flow management. Management practices also appear to have enabled the invasion of non-native riparian species, which promoted sedimentation, bank stabilization, and additional channel narrowing. In order to restore historical measures of channel width, management options include non-native vegetation removal, common low magnitude dam releases that provide flood disturbance and prevent vegetation establishment, and large dam releases in excess of 1000 m3/s that create and maintain a wide channel. Vegetation management is expensive; and time consuming, and managed dam releases are politically unpopular and expensive, however, without the management of non-native riparian species and reinstatement of portions of the historical flood regime, ecological restoration will be difficult.

This thesis presents renormalization group (RG) analyses of two strongly correlated condensed matter systems. In the first part, the phase diagram of the spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ Heisenberg antiferromagnetic model on a spatially anisotropic triangular lattice is discussed. This model, together with a Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction, describes the magnetic properties of the layered Mott insulator Cs$_{2}$CuCl$_{4}$. Employing a real-space RG approach, it is found, in agreement with a previous similar study, that a fragile collinear antiferromagnetic (CAF) state can be stabilized at sufficiently strong anisotropies. The presented RG analysis only indicates the presence of the CAF and spiral states in the phase diagram, with no extended quantum-disordered state at strong anisotropies. Specifically, it reveals a fine-tuning of couplings that entails the persistence of ferromagnetic correlations between second-nearest chains over large length scales even in the CAF phase. This has important implications on how numerical studies on finite-size systems should be interpreted, and reconciles the presence of the CAF state with the observation of only ferromagnetic correlations in numerical studies. The effect of a weak DM interaction within this RG approach is examined. It is concluded that Cs$_{2}$CuCl$_{4}$ is well within the stability region of the spiral ordering. In the second part, the fate of a neck-narrowing Lifshitz transition in two-dimensions and in the presence of weak interactions is studied. Such a transition is a topological quantum phase transition, with no change in symmetry. At the critical point of this transition, the density of states at the Fermi energy is logarithmically divergent and a van Hove singularity appears. It is found that, at the critical point, the Wilsonian effective action is intrinsically non-local. This non-locality is attributed to integrating out an emergent soft degree of freedom. Away from the critical point, a local perturbative RG description is presented, and it is shown that weak attractive interactions grow as $\log^2L$ ($L$ is the physical length). However, this local description is restricted to a finite momentum range that shrinks as the critical point is approached. / Thesis / Candidate in Philosophy

In infancy, the ability to tell the difference between two faces within a category (e.g., species, race) that is infrequently experienced declines from 6 to 9 months of age (Kelly et al., 2009, 2007; Pascalis et al., 2005; Pascalis, de Haan, & Nelson, 2002; Scott & Monesson, 2009). This decline in the ability to distinguish faces is known as "perceptual narrowing" and has recently been found to be absent when infants are given experience matching a face with an individual-level proper name between 6 to 9 months of age (Scott & Monesson, 2009). Additionally, individual-level experience between 6 and 9 months of age has led to neural changes at 9 months of age (Scott & Monesson, 2010). It is currently unclear whether brief, early experience between 6 and 9 months leads to sustained behavioral advantages and lasting neural changes. In order to answer these questions, the current study recruited and tested children who previously participated in a face training study when they were infants (Scott & Monesson, 2009, 2010). Findings revealed that individual-level experience with faces during the first year of life: 1) resulted in faster reaction time for faces outside of the trained category, and 2) led to more adult-like neural representations of faces outside of the trained category 3-4 years later. These results suggest that experience with individual-level learning in the first year of life is generalized to visually similar, but environmentally relevant face categories.

No description available.