Este trabalho apresenta a análise neutrônica do combustível a dispersão de UMo-Al em relação ao aumento da densidade de urânio e faz uma comparação com o combustível de U3Si2-Al. Neste estudo, a densidade de urânio do U3Si2-Al é variada de 3,0 à 5,5 gU/cm3 e a do UMo-Al entre 4,0 à 7,5 gU/cm3 e com a porcentagem em massa de molibdênio com 7 e 10 %. Neste trabalho também é proposta a aplicação de veneno queimável metálico no cerne do combustível de UMo-Al, uma vez que este combustível é metálico e é analisada a utilização de gadolínio (Gd) e európio (Eu) como veneno queimável. A utilização do Gd como veneno queimável foi analisada com o fator de multiplicação infinito (k∞) através do programa celular HRC desenvolvido pelo IPEN e composto pelos códigos HAMMERTECHNION para a analise de célula, ROLAIDS para o cálculo de auto blindagem dos actinídeos e CINDER-2 empregado para a fissão e transmutação dos actinídeos. O núcleo do reator simulado foi similar ao do RMB (Reator Multipropósito Brasileiro) composto por um arranjo de 5x5 posições com 23 elementos combustíveis e dois blocos de alumínio. Para o európio, foram utilizados os programas SERPENT e CITATION. Os cálculos de queima foram realizados considerando uma potência de 30 MW durante três ciclos do RMB de 97 dias. Os resultados obtidos mostram que a porcentagem em massa do molibdênio têm uma grande influência no comportamento neutrônico devido a seção de choque de absorção do molibdênio ser considerável. Portanto, foi escolhida a porcentagem de 7 % de Mo para os estudos com veneno queimável. Para o núcleo proposto, o európio mostrou-se melhor, pois apresenta uma queima mais gradual que o gadolínio. Foi realizada uma simulação com o programa SERPENT com adição de 6 % de silício, o que mostrou que a adição de Si não causa mudança significativa no ciclo de operação do reator. Para validação da metodologia de cálculo, foi elaborada uma especificação técnica e fabricadas 12 miniplacas combustíveis de UMo-Al sem veneno queimável. As miniplacas foram irradiadas no núcleo do reator IPEN/MB-01, em quatro configurações de núcleo, para obtenção da reatividade inserida. Os resultados simulados obtidos para a inserção de reatividade pelas miniplacas nos diversos núcleos analisados apresentaram alta concordância com os resultados experimentais. / This work presents the neutronic analysis of the UMo-Al dispersion fuel concerning uranium density increase and shows comparisons relatively to the U3Si2-Al fuel. The U3Si2-Al uranium density varied from 3.0 to 5.5 gU/cm3 while that of UMo-Al fuel varied from 4.0 to 7.5 gU/cm3. The molybdenum mass content in the former case varies from 7 to 10 % in mass. Here, it is also proposed the utilization of burnable poison nuclides in the UMo-Al fuel meat. Since the fuel is metallic, gadolinium and europium were chosen as candidates to cope with this task. A recently developed cell code at IPEN (HRC) composed of the coupling of the codes HAMMER-TECHNION for the cell analysis, ROLAIDS for the actinide self-shielding calculations and CINDER-2 for the actinide and fission transmutation was employed for the neutronic analyses of UMo-Al. The simulated reactor core was similar to the one of RMB (Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor) composed of an array of 5x5 positions with 23 fuel elements and 2 aluminum blocks. A second analysis of the europium case employed the SERPENTE and CITATION codes. The burnup calculations were performed considering a power of 30 MW during three cycles of RMB 97 days. The analyses revealed that the molybdenum content has a great impact in the core reactivity due to its high absorption cross section. A value of 7 % was found adequate for the molybdenum mass content. The analyses also reveal that europium is a better burnable poison than gadolinium for the core cycle length and power level under consideration. It was realized a simulation with the computer code SERPENT with addition of 6 % silicon in UMo-Al fuel. The silicon does not change significantly the reactor operation cycle. To validate the calculation methodology it was developed a technical specification and fabricated 12 UMo-Al fuel miniplates without burnable poison. The miniplates were irradiated in the IPEN-MB/01 reactor core for four core configurations, in order to obtain the inserted reactivity. The simulated results for the reactivity insertion by the fuel miniplates in the analyzed cores showed high agreement with the experimental results.

A proteólise de componentes do plasma e da matriz extracelular é um fator importante no quadro hemorrágico desencadeado pela ação de venenos de serpentes. Neste estudo, avaliamos o papel dos domínios estruturais de metaloproteinases na interação com seus alvos. Ensaios de hidrólise in vitro mostraram que as metaloproteinases HF3 e bothropasina (classe P-III), e BJ-PI (classe P-I) do veneno da Bothrops jararaca, degradaram proteínas plasmáticas (fibrinogênio, fibronectina e vitronectina), além de colágeno VI e Matrigel, mostrando diferentes perfis de hidrólise. Experimentos de N-deglicosilação das proteinases mostraram que suas porções glicosídicas são importantes para a manutenção da integridade de suas estruturas e da atividade proteolítica. E ensaios para avaliar a interação das proteinases e da proteína DC (domínios tipo disintegrina/rico em cisteínas) com alguns substratos protéicos mostraram que além de seus domínios estruturais (catalítico/tipo disintegrina/rico em cisteínas) suas cadeias de carboidratos também são importantes no reconhecimento dos mesmos. / Proteolysis of plasma and extracellular matrix proteins is a key factor in the local hemorrhage induced by snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs). In this work we evaluated the role of the structural domains of SVMPs in the interaction with their targets. In vitro hydrolysis assays showed that the SVMPs HF3 and bothropasin (P-III class) and BJ-PI (P-I class) from Bothrops jararaca venom degraded plasma proteins (fibrinogen, fibronectin and vitronectin), collagen VI and Matrigel resulting in different hydrolysis profiles. N-deglycosylation of these proteinases showed that their carbohydrate moieties are important for keeping their structural integrity and proteolytic activity. The assays to analyze the interaction of the proteinases and of the DC protein (composed of the disintegrin-like and cysteine-rich domains) with some proteins confirmed that not only the structural domains (catalytic, disintegrin-like and cysteine-rich) but also the sugar moieties are important in the recognition of plasma and extracellular matrix proteins.

O processo de sinterização de pastilhas de UO2-Er2O3 tem sido investigado devido à sua importância na indústria nuclear e ao comportamento complexo durante a sinterização. O presente estudo contempla o desenvolvimento de combustíveis nucleares para reatores de potência visando aumentar a sua eficiência no núcleo do reator por meio da elevação da taxa de queima. O érbio é indicado para ciclos mais longos, significando menos paradas para troca de combustível e menos rejeitos. Neste trabalho foi estudado o uso de óxido de érbio variando as concentrações na faixa de 1-9,8%, o qual foi adicionado ao pó de UO2 e ao lubrificante sólido ADS por meio de mistura mecânica, visando verificar a taxa de densificação e um possível bloqueio de sinterização. Os pós foram compactados e as pastilhas foram sinterizadas a 1700°C sob atmosfera de H2. Os resultados demonstram um característico bloqueio da sinterização no sistema UO2-Er2O3, porém de forma mais discreta do que no sistema UO2-Gd2O3, o qual ocorre no intervalo de temperatura de 1500 a 1700°C, retardando a densificação. Os ensaios dilatométricos indicam uma retração de 21,87% quando utilizado o Er2O3 a 1% de concentração em massa. Essa retração é maior do que as encontradas com concentrações superiores ou mesmo sem adição do veneno queimável, nos fornecendo um melhor grau de incorporação do elemento érbio, resultando em pastilhas com densidade adequada para uso como combustível nuclear. / The sintering process of UO2-Er2O3 pellets has been investigated because of its importance in the nuclear industry and the complex behavior during sintering. The present study includes the development of nuclear fuel for power reactor in order to increase the efficiency of the fuel through longer refueling intervals. The erbium is indicated for longer cycles, which means less stops to refueling and less waste. In this work, it was studied the use of erbium oxide by varying the concentrations in the range of 1-9.8%, which was added to UO2 powder through mechanical mixing, aiming to check the rate of densification and a possible sintering blockage. The powders were pressed and sintered at 1700°C under hydrogen atmosphere. The results show a sintering blockade in the UO2-Er2O3 system that occurs in the range of 1500-1700°C temperature. Dilatometric tests indicate a retraction of 21.87% when used Er2O3 at 1% mass concentration. This retraction is greater than is observed with higher concentrations or even without the addition of the burnable poison, providing us with a better degree of incorporation of the element erbium, resulting in pellets with density suitable for use as nuclear fuel.

Submitted by Ana Damasceno (ana.damasceno@unipampa.edu.br) on 2016-11-16T13:07:17Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Efeitos do Riluzole no Sistema Nervoso Central e Periférico de vertebrados..pdf: 3331266 bytes, checksum: 695a072e1aef84e61ff2e6ef010514a2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-16T13:07:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Efeitos do Riluzole no Sistema Nervoso Central e Periférico de vertebrados..pdf: 3331266 bytes, checksum: 695a072e1aef84e61ff2e6ef010514a2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-05-15 / O Riluzole é quimicamente relacionado aos benzotiazóis e é conhecido como um agente neuroprotetor, possuindo propriedades anticonvulsivantes, analgésicas, anestésicas, e sedativas. A ação neuroprotetora mais conhecida desta droga ocorre através da inibição da transmissão glutamatérgica no sistema nervoso central (SNC). Nesse trabalho, o Riluzole foi ensaiado sobre a junção neuromuscular esquelética (JNM) de aves visando estudar sua interação com o sistema nervoso periférico (SNP). Também foi verificada a ação do Riluzole em fatias de hipocampo de camundongos, comparando os resultados com agentes antiinflamatórios como o extrato de Hypericum brasiliense (HBE) e seu principal composto, quercetina, frente ao veneno de serpente Crotalus durissus terrificus (Cdt). No SNP, o Riluzole foi ensaiado em preparação músculo biventer cervicis de pintainhos, em banho de órgão isolado, nas doses de 5, 10 e 20 µM. Foram obtidos registros da amplitude da força de contração muscular em presença ou ausência de Riluzole durante 120min, e as curvasresposta à adição exógena de acetilcolina (ACh – 110 µM) e ao cloreto de potássio (KCl – 20 mM), antes e após a incubação com o tratamento. O Riluzole induziu respostas tempo e dosedependentes. Na concentração de 5 µM houve uma diminuição gradativa e significativa da resposta contrátil (p<0.05). Na concentração de 10 µM, houve uma facilitação significativa (p<0.05) da resposta contrátil e das curvas evocadas pelo KCl e ACh. No entanto, na dose de 20 µM houve uma estabilização da contratilidade em relação ao controle. Em todas as doses de Riluzole ensaiadas na JNM houve um aumento significativo da atividade da enzima acetilcolinesterase (AChE). Na sequência da verificação do mecanismo de ação do Riluzole sobre a placa motora, registros eletromiograficos foram tomados na presença dos inibidores especificos, Neostigmina e d-Tubocurarina, onde foi observada uma reversão dos efeitos quando Riluzole foi adicionado ao meio. Como modelo celular de SNC, a ação do Riluzole foi ensaiada em fatias de hipocampo e a viabilidade destas frente ao veneno de Cdt foi observada por meio da atividade de desidrogenases mitocondriais. Tanto Riluzole, como o extrato da planta HBE e quercetina, aumentaram a viabilidade celular em 1h de incubação a 37˚C na presença do veneno. Quercetina foi mais efetiva do que Riluzole e HBE em neutralizar a lise celular induzida pelo veneno. Assim, estes resultados demonstram a influência do Riluzole no SNC como neuroprotetor de toxinas de veneno de serpente, possivelmente atuando como agente anti-inflamatório, e no SNP, aumentando a atividade da AChE e atuando de maneira dose-dependente sobre a placa motora. / Riluzole is chemically related to benzothiazoles and it is known as a neuroprotective agent with anticonvulsant, analgesic, anesthetic and sedative properties. The neuroprotective drug action is well established being through inhibition of glutamatergic transmission in the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, we have assayed the drug Riluzole at skeletal neuromuscular junction (NMJ) of avian, seeking its interaction with the peripheral nervous system (PNS). We also tested Riluzole in the CNS of mice by comparing its results with anti - inflammatory agents, such as extract of Hypericum brasiliense (HBE) and its main isolated compound, quercetin, against the poison of Crotalus durissus terrificus (Cdt). In the PNS, Riluzole was tested in nerve-muscle preparations in chick biventer cervicis at doses of 5, 10 and 20 μM. It was obtained recordings of the muscle twitch-tension amplitude and the contracture responses to exogenous applied acetylcholine (ACh 110 μM) and potassium chloride (KCl – 20 mM) in the presence or absence of Riluzole during 120 min. Riluzole induced time and dose-dependent responses. At concentration of 5μM there was a gradual and significant decrease in the contractile response (p<0.05). The concentration of 10μM showed a significant facilitation of the contractile response (p<0.05) and an increase in the curve responses evoked by KCl and ACh. However, at a dose of 20 μM there was a stabilization of contractility compared to control. All tested doses of Riluzole showed a significant increase in the activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The action mechanism of Riluzole on the endplate was further analysed through the use of specific inhibitors, Neostigmine and dTubocurarine, a reversal of effects those was seen when Riluzole was added to the medium. As a cellular model of CNS, the action of Riluzole was tested in mice hippocampal slices. The cell viability against Cdt venom was observed through the activity of mitochondrial dehydrogenases. Riluzole as much as the plant extract HBE and its active ingredient, quercetin, increased cell viability in 1h incubation at 37˚C in the presence of the poison. However, quercetin showed to be more effective than Riluzole and HBE in neutralizing cell lysis induced by the venom. Thus, these results demonstrate the influence of Riluzole on the CNS, it showed a neuroprotective effect against snake venom toxins, possibly acting as an anti-inflammatory agent. As for the cholinergic system in the NMJ, Riluzole showed an interesting effect by increasing the activity of AChE and by acting in a dose-dependent manner over the endplate.

Accidental poisonings are one of the leading safety threats for young children, so it is important to teach children to avoid ingesting poisonous substances. Research has shown that behavioral skills training (BST) and in situ training (IST) are effective in teaching children safety skills to prevent gun play, abduction, and poison ingestion. However, little research on safety skills has been conducted with children with autism. Video modeling has been shown to be effective in teaching abduction prevention skills to children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of video modeling to teach four children diagnosed with ASD to avoid poison hazards. Results showed that video modeling was not effective for any of the participants, but that IST was effective for three participants while the fourth participant required an additional incentive. Three of the four participants maintained the safety skills for 1-, 3-, and 5-week follow up assessments. Keywords: children, safety threats, safety skills, poison, and behavioral skills training, in-situ training, video modeling

One of the most rapidly expanding areas of research in psychology has been poison-based aversion learning (PBAL). The PBAL paradigm typically involves: exposing an animal to a novel substance; inducing illness following ingestion of that substance; and then providing access to the substance at a later time. The initial reaction to the novel substance is generally to reduce consumption, a finding labeled neophobia. The reduction of substance intake on test day is called learned aversion. Following demonstrations of cue-to-consequence specificity (i.e., the differential associability of some stimuli with certain consequences) in PBAL research with rats, recent research has focused on PBAL by avians. Such research has been instigated by speculation that avians might be specially adapted to better associate visual rather than flavor stimuli with illness. Studies to determine the relative salience of visual or flavor cues in avian PBAL have reported contradictory findings. A number of methodological differences exist between these studies including differences in stimulus intensity and type, duration between conditioning and assessment, and method of assessment. The current series of experiments made several methodological improvements to clarify the issue of cue to consequence specificity in PBAL with avians. Three experiments with pigeons as subjects are reported. The first experiment equated (scaled) stimulus intensity across different sense modalities by equating neophobic responses to various concentrations of salt, sour, and red water. The second experiment determined the extended effects of the illness-inducing stimulus alone on fluid consumption by pigeons in a restricted access to water environment. The third experiment was based upon results from the first two experiments and assessed aversion, at two different post-injection times, to one of two concentrations of either salt, sour, or red water CSs. In addition, a compound (flavor plus color) conditioning group was employed. Aversion was a function of flavor or color stimulus intensity. No differences were observed in degree of aversion demonstrated by groups receiving stimuli equated for initial suppression. Evidence for overshadowing or potentiation was not found. The results support the position that neither flavor or color stimuli are necessarily the most salient in avian PBAL.

Abstract Problem: The problem of this thesis involves the controversy that the implementation of poison pills generates. The conflict amongst various stakeholders that are affected directly or indirectly by the implementation of the poison pill also contributes significantly to the problem of this thesis. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate and compare the benefits of the poison pill adoption on shareholder and management interests. We also seek to evaluate arguments for and against pill adoption, and determine if these arguments are valid in view of facts established from our study. Conclusions: Our study in this thesis has brought us to five conclusions about the poison pill policy in fulfillment of the purpose. We state in our conclusion that arguments for and against the poison pill can both be validated depending on the case, we also state that a general conclusion cannot be drawn as to the negative or positive effect of the poison pill on stakeholders. We proceed to argue that the pill is a very effective fighting toll in the current business world and state that more should be done to regulate pill implementation. We finish up our conclusion by identifying what appears to be an inverse relationship between management and shareholders benefits from the implementation of the pill. Originality: The uniqueness of our study resides in the theoretical framework that is developed from two prevailing hypotheses in the academic research of the poison pill. The previous studies either take on the management entrenchment hypothesis (MEH) or the shareholder interest hypothesis (SIH). However, we have combined the elements of both hypotheses and jointly revealed the advantages and disadvantages of the pill adoption for both management and shareholders via our original management shareholder benefits comparison matrix.

In the deep burn research of Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR), it is desired to make an accurate estimation of absorption cross sections and absorption rates in burnable poison (BP) pins. However, in traditional methods, multi-group cross sections are generated from single bundle calculations with specular reflection boundary condition, in which the energy spectral effect in the core environment is not taken into account. This approximation introduces errors to the absorption cross sections especially for BPs neighboring reflectors and control rods. In order to correct the BP absorption cross sections in whole core diffusion calculations, energy spectrum reconstruction (ESR) methods have been developed to reconstruct the fine group spectrum (and in-core continuous energy spectrum). Then, using the reconstructed spectrum as boundary condition, a BP pin cell local transport calculation serves an imbedded module within the whole core diffusion code to iteratively correct the BP absorption cross sections for improved results. The ESR methods were tested in a 2D prismatic High Temperature Reactor (HTR) problem. The reconstructed fine-group spectra have shown good agreement with the reference spectra. Comparing with the cross sections calculated by single block calculation with specular reflection boundary conditions, the BP absorption cross sections are effectively improved by ESR methods. A preliminary study was also performed to extend the ESR methods to a 2D Pebble Bed Reactor (PBR) problem. The results demonstrate that the ESR can reproduce the energy spectra on the fuel-outer reflector interface accurately.

<p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p><strong>Problem</strong>: The problem of this thesis involves the controversy that the implementation of poison pills generates. The conflict amongst various stakeholders that are affected directly or indirectly by the implementation of the poison pill also contributes significantly to the problem of this thesis.</p><p><strong>Purpose</strong>: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate and compare the benefits of the poison pill adoption on shareholder and management interests. We also seek to evaluate arguments for and against pill adoption, and determine if these arguments are valid in view of facts established from our study.</p><p><strong>Conclusions</strong>: Our study in this thesis has brought us to five conclusions about the poison pill policy in fulfillment of the purpose. We state in our conclusion that arguments for and against the poison pill can both be validated depending on the case, we also state that a general conclusion cannot be drawn as to the negative or positive effect of the poison pill on stakeholders. We proceed to argue that the pill is a very effective fighting toll in the current business world and state that more should be done to regulate pill implementation. We finish up our conclusion by identifying what appears to be an inverse relationship between management and shareholders benefits from the implementation of the pill.</p><p><strong> Originality</strong>: The uniqueness of our study resides in the theoretical framework that is developed from two prevailing hypotheses in the academic research of the poison pill. The previous studies either take on the management entrenchment hypothesis (MEH) or the shareholder interest hypothesis (SIH). However, we have combined the elements of both hypotheses and jointly revealed the advantages and disadvantages of the pill adoption for both management and shareholders via our original management shareholder benefits comparison matrix.</p>

Thèse (M.Ps.) -- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, programme en extension de l'Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 2005. / La p. de t. porte en outre : Mémoire présenté à l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi comme exigence partielle de la maîtrise en psychologie offerte l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi en vertu d'un protocole d'entente avec l'Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. Comprend des réf. bibliogr. : f. [115]-123. Document électronique également accessible en format PDF.