Submitted by Lúcia Brandão (lucia.elaine@live.com) on 2015-07-14T16:14:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Marcuce Antonio Miranda dos Santos.pdf: 829078 bytes, checksum: 45df47789843c8736da75a2d643b34d0 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2015-07-20T14:31:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Marcuce Antonio Miranda dos Santos.pdf: 829078 bytes, checksum: 45df47789843c8736da75a2d643b34d0 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2015-07-20T14:36:45Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Marcuce Antonio Miranda dos Santos.pdf: 829078 bytes, checksum: 45df47789843c8736da75a2d643b34d0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-20T14:36:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Marcuce Antonio Miranda dos Santos.pdf: 829078 bytes, checksum: 45df47789843c8736da75a2d643b34d0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-11-26 / Não informada / The bullying phenomenon is characterized by repetitive acts of oppression, tyranny, aggression and domination of people or groups of people or groups, subjugated by the force of the first. It is practiced by individuals brave and bullies (bullies) that pejoratively termed colleagues, speak evil, and do terrorize their peers suffer, ignore and reject school rules, threaten, attack, steal, insult, humiliate, discriminate, intimidate or break belongings colleagues, among other destructive actions. This research aimed to identify the prevalence of bullying among middle school students from public schools and private schools in Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional, quantitative, descriptive-analytical study carried out in 19 schools, with 877 high school students. The results showed a prevalence of 17,1% of bullying among students. Of these, 9,2% reported that they suffered intimidation, assault or harassment at least once, and the classroom environment the main rally of 15,4%. About the characteristic of the offender, at 10.6% the violence was perpetrated by students of their own class of victims, taking them the same age as the students assaulted (13,7%) and 4,1% being older. There was an association between the presence of bullying variables and economic status, number of failures and zone location of the school, with 4,0, 1,2 and 1,3 more likely to suffer bullying, respectively. After analyzing the results it was concluded that bullying is present in the high schools of the city of Porto Velho, and its incidence / prevalence consistent with other studies conducted in the country and the world. It is considered crucial intervene before the phenomenon, as soon as identified and with the participation of parents, teachers, health professionals, community and other sectors of society, working for no occurrence. / O fenômeno bullying caracteriza-se por atos repetitivos de opressão, tirania, agressão e dominação de pessoas ou grupos sobre outras pessoas ou grupos, subjugados pela força dos primeiros. É praticado por indivíduos valentes e brigões (bullies) que apelidam pejorativamente os colegas, falam mal, aterrorizam e fazem sofrer seus pares, ignoram e rejeitam as regras da escola, ameaçam, agridem, furtam, ofendem, humilham, discriminam, intimidam ou quebram pertences dos colegas, entre outras ações destrutivas. Esta pesquisa objetivou identificar a prevalência do bullying entre os alunos do ensino médio das escolas da rede pública e privada de Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brasil. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, quantitativo de caráter descritivo-analítico, realizado em 19 escolas, com 877 alunos do ensino médio. Os resultados apontaram uma prevalência de 17,1% de prática de bullying entre os alunos. Destes, 9,2% relataram que sofreram intimidação, agressão ou assédio ao menos uma vez, sendo a sala de aula o principal ambiente de manifestação com 15,4%. Sobre a característica do agressor, em 10,6% a violência foi perpetrada por alunos da própria turma das vítimas, tendo estes a mesma idade dos alunos agredidos (13,7%) e com 4,1% sendo mais velhos. Houve associação entre a presença de bullying e as variáveis classificação econômica, número de reprovações e zona de localização da escola, com 4,0; 1,2 e 1,3 maior chance de sofrerem o bullying, respectivamente. Após a análise dos resultados concluiu-se que a prática do bullying é presente nas escolas de nível médio da cidade de Porto Velho, sendo sua incidência/prevalência compatíveis com outros estudos realizados no país e no mundo. Considera-se determinante intervir perante ao fenômeno, tão logo seja identificado e com a participação de pais, professores, profissionais de saúde, comunidade e demais setores da sociedade, trabalhar para a sua não ocorrência.

Cette thèse aborde trois aspects liés aux introductions en Bourse et aux retraits obligatoires. Le premier est le processus de fixation des prix des deux offres publiques. En effet, au regard des différences entre les deux offres publiques, les experts emploient les mêmes méthodes d'évaluation sans justifier leurs différents choix. À travers un audit sur les prospectus d'IPO et d'OPR-RO, les processus d'évaluation sont d'avantages fondés sur les caractéristiques des entreprises et des conditions du marché. En outre, il existe une relation significative entre les prix d'offre et les différentes valeurs estimées. Par ailleurs, étant donné que IPOs peuvent coïncider 'avec une augmentation exceptionnelle de l'indice du marché et sont accompagnées d'une sous-évaluation initiale. Le choix d'un timing optimal de cette offre dépend de l'évolution des cours des entreprises cotées du même secteur et des valeurs des options d'IPO de de renonciation à l'offre. Enfin, lors d'un retrait obligatoire, le principe d'équité doit être respecté. Or, la procédure de fixation du prix de retrait obligatoire varie selon les cadres réglementaires et le manque de mesures de protection des intérêts des actionnaires minoritaires peut inciter à la dissimulation d'informations privées afin de minimiser le prix d'offre. Le modèle proposé a permis de dresser deux classifications montrant que le seul moyen permettant de les concilier les actionnaires est l'entière divulgation des informations privées. / This thesis reports three aspects related to IPOs and delisting. The first is related to the process of pricing the two bid priees. Indeed, given the differences between the two public offerings, underwriters use the same valuation methods without justifying their choices. Through an audit of the IPO and delisting prospectus, the valuation process is based on the characteristics of firms and market conditions. ln addition, there is a significant relationship between the offer priee and the different estimates. Moreover, given that IPOs may coincide with an exceptional increase in the market index and are accompanied by an initial underpricing. The choice of optimal timing of this offer is modeled as regards the priees of listed companies and values of IPO and withdrawing options. Finally, at a delisting, the principle of fairness must be respected. However, the procedure for setting the bid priee varies with regulation and the lack of measures to protect the interests of minority shareholders may encourage the disclosure of private information in order to minimize the offer priee. The proposed model was used to develop two classifications showing that the only way to reconcile shareholders is the full disclosure of private information.

The thesis is focused on systems of accompanied combined transport in Europe. The Theoretical part describes agreements and legal aspects essential for accompanied combined transport in Europe. The Theoretical part then describes in detail two of the most used systems of accompanied combined transport, which are Rollende Landstraße and Modalohr. The Practical part compares costs of road transport with costs of accompanied combined transport displayed on two actual European routes.

A Osmose Inversa (OI) é amplamente utilizada nos processos de desmineralização, onde são utilizados módulos espirais que após 3 a 5 anos de uso são descartados devido à queda de seu desempenho. Estes módulos ainda podem ser reaproveitados em tratamentos que não exijam um efluente final com qualidade tão elevada, como por exemplo, em correntes de reuso. Um efluente com potencial para ser reutilizado é a purga, a qual é drenada da bacia da torre de resfriamento com a finalidade de reduzir a concentração de sais e outras impurezas da água de recirculação. Estes processos industriais utilizam grandes quantidades de água, sendo de grande importância estudos que visem o seu reaproveitamento. Uma alternativa seria o tratamento desta corrente utilizando as membranas de OI descartadas, porém um fator limitante é a qualidade do efluente que irá alimentar os módulos de OI descartados, devido à pequena espessura dos canais de alimentação. A proposta deste trabalho foi ajustar o pré-tratamento para um sistema de filtração com membranas de OI descartadas com o objetivo de tratar e reutilizar a corrente de purga de uma torre de resfriamento, como água de reposição. Foram avaliados como pré-tratamentos processos de coagulação/floculação, filtração com filtro de areia,sorção com carvão ativado comercial e combinações destes. A avaliação da eficiência dos tratamentos foi realizada através de análises de pH, condutividade elétrica, turbidez, dureza total, DQO, sílica e SDI. Após cada pré-tratamento, o efluente tratado foi alimentado no sistema de OI, avaliando-se o fluxo de permeado, permeabilidade hidráulica, retenção salina e a propensão ao fouling, para, então, determinar a eficiência do tratamento proposto. O permeado foi analisado e os parâmetros foram comparados com a água de reposição utilizada na torre de resfriamento. Verificou-se que o melhor tratamento obtido foi utilizando a coagulação/floculação seguida do filtro de areia, apresentando SDI5 5,5 e turbidez de 0,3 NTU; o processo de sorção com carvão ativado não demonstrou bons resultados para as condições testadas. Através das análises das membranas utilizadas para as medidas de SDI e dos valores dos contaminantes presentes após os pré-tratamentos, pôde-se perceber uma diminuição de incrustações referentes aos teores de sílica e dureza, principais causadores de fouling, indicando uma melhora na qualidade da corrente de purga pré-tratada, que apresentou características adequadas para alimentação do sistema de OI. Ainda, as membranas de OI apresentaram uma retenção salina em torno de 97% e as análises dos permeados obtidos indicaram valores de contaminantes inferiores aos da água de reposição da torre, demonstrando a possibilidade de reutilização. / Reverse Osmosis (RO) is widely used in demineralization processes, where spiral wound modules are used, which after 3-5 years are discarded to lose their performance. However, these modules can be reused for treatments that do not require final effluent with so high quality. The blowdown is drained from the basin of the cooling tower in order to reduce the concentration of salts and other impurities from recirculating water. These industrial processes use large quantities of water, so it’s important to study reuse possibilities. An alternative would be treating this stream using RO discarded membranes, but some limiting factors are the quality of the feed water and the thin feed channels. Thus, the aim of the study is to set a pretreatment to a RO system that uses discarded membranes from the demineralization process to treat the blowdown stream of a cooling tower, with will reuse as make-up water. Steps of coagulation and flocculation, sand filter filtration, sorption with activated carbon and combinations of these were proposed as pre-treatments. Analysis of pH, conductivity, turbidity, total hardness, COD, silica and SDI were used to evaluate the efficiency of the pretreatments. After each proposed pre-treatment, the treated effluent was tested in RO system and the permeate flow, salt retention and hydraulic permeability were evaluated to identify the presence of fouling and the membranes performance. Also the permeate analysis were compared with the makeup water used in the cooling tower. The sand filter as only step treatment is not effective for good treatment of the stream, obtaining the best result when coupled with coagulation/flocculation process. The GAC had not shown good results for the tested conditions. RO discarded membranes presented high salt retention, about 97% and analysis of the permeates indicate the reuse possibility. Through MEV and EDS analysis of SDI membranes, we could notice a decrease of scale related to silica and hardness, which are the main cause of fouling, indicating an improvement of the quality of the treated stream, which presents suitable characteristics for feed RO systems with discarded modules.

Submitted by Reginaldo Soares de Freitas (reginaldo.freitas@ufv.br) on 2016-12-16T15:22:42Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 838435 bytes, checksum: ef6b25176cb6918cfc028c1a8a750ffa (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-16T15:22:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 838435 bytes, checksum: ef6b25176cb6918cfc028c1a8a750ffa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003-11-21 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar a produção, a eficiência do uso da terra, o retorno financeiro e o risco de investimento em sistemas agroflorestais (SAFs) tradicionalmente utilizados no Estado de Rondônia. Os dados dos sistemas agroflo- restais foram originários de um experimento de 15 anos, pertencente à Embrapa, instalado no Campo Experimental de Machadinho d’Oeste, no nordeste do Estado de Rondônia. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados com quatro repetições e a análise seguiu o esquema de parcelas subdivididas, estudando-se nas parcelas oito sistemas de produção e, nas subparcelas, o tempo de produção. As espécies utilizadas foram: banana (Musa sp.) - Ba, pimenta-do-reino (Piper nigrum L.) - Pm, cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum (Willd. ex Spreng.) K. Schum.) - Cp, castanha-do- brasil (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.) - Ca, freijó (Cordia alliodora ((Ruiz & Pav.) Oken) - Fr e pupunha (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) - Pu. Os tratamentos consistiram em sistemas agroflorestais: T1 T6 Pu, T7 Ba e T8 Ca-Ba-Pm-Cp, Pm. T2 Fr-Ba-Pm-Cp, T3 Pu-Ba-Pm-Cp; e monocultivos: T4 Ca, T5 Fr, Os dados dos sistemas agroflorestais (SAFs) foram analisados de forma comparativa com os dos monocultivos; a situação observada nos SAFs foi considerada a desejável. A eficiência do uso da terra com sistemas agroflorestais em relação aos monocultivos foi avaliada por meio da Produtividade Relativa (PR) e do Índice de Equivalência da Terra (IET). A análise financeira dos sistemas agroflorestais foi apoiada nos critérios econômicos de avaliação de projetos florestais. Os dados foram analisados a partir da formação do fluxo de caixa, incluindo os custos e as receitas ao longo do horizonte de planejamento de cada sistema de produção; a situação de maior retorno econômico foi considerada a desejável. O risco de investimento foi realizado mediante simulações feitas no software @RISK para o sistema agroflorestal com os melhores resultados financeiros. As principais conclusões foram que as espécies testadas são apropriadas para o plantio em sistemas agroflorestais multiestratos; a densidade populacional apresentou-se como fator de grande influência sobre o desempenho produtivo das espécies agrícolas; a associação de espécies não afetou o crescimento das espécies arbóreas castanha-do-brasil (Bertholletia excelsa) e freijó (Cordia aliodora), sendo necessário um monitoramento a longo prazo da produção de frutos de castanha-do-brasil para melhores conclusões sobre seu comportamento produtivo; os resultados da PR e do IET mostraram que o SAF T1 Ca-Ba-Pm-Cp é a melhor alternativa de produção em relação aos SAFs T2 Fr-Ba-Pm-Cp e T3 Pu-Ba-Pm-Cp; os SAFs foram, por um período contínuo de 10 anos, a forma de uso da terra mais eficiente que os monocultivos; os custos com tratos culturais e colheita representaram mais de 70% da composição dos custos totais; a participação da mão-de-obra foi superior a 50% nas fases de preparo da área e de manutenção dos sistemas agroflorestais; todos os sistemas de produção foram economicamente viáveis, sendo T1 Ca-Ba-Pm-Cp o sistema agroflorestal com melhor desempenho financeiro; e, apesar do alto custo de implantação e manutenção, o risco de investimento neste sistema agroflorestal foi comprovadamente menor, com resultados favoráveis ao investimento, de acordo com as simulações de risco e os resultados dos indicadores financeiros aplicados. / The objectives of this study were to evaluate the production, the land use efficiency, the financial return and the risk of investment in agroforestry systems (AFS) traditionally used in the State of Rondônia. Data of the agroforestry systems were from a 15-year agroforestry essay, owned by Embrapa, installed in the Experimental Field of Machadinho d’Oeste, in the Northeast of Rondônia State. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with four replications and the analysis followed the split-plot scheme, being the plot made up of eight production systems and five monocrops, and in the subplot the time of production was studied. The species used were: banana (Musa sp.) - Ba, black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) - Pm, cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum (Willd. ex Spreng.) Schum.) - Cp, Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.) - Ca, freijó (Cordia alliodora ((Ruiz & Pav.) Oken) - Fr and pupunha (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) - Pu. The treatments were the following agroforestry systems: T1 Ca-Ba-Pm-Cp, T2 Fr-Ba-Pm-Cp, T3 Pu-Ba-Pm-Cp; and monocrops: T4 Ca, T5 Fr, T6 Pu, T7 Ba and T8 Pm. Agroforestry systems (AFS) data were analyzed in a comparative way with those from monocrops, where the situation observed for the AFS was the desirable one. The land efficiency with agroforestry systems in relation to monocrops was evaluated through the Relative Productivity (RP) and the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER). The financial analysis of the agroforestry systems were supported by the economic criteria for forest projects evaluation. Data were analyzed from the cash flow formation, including the costs and incomes along the horizon of planning of each production system, where the situation of higher economic return was considered the desirable one. The risk of investment was made through simulations with the software @RISK for the agroforestry system with the main financial results. The main conclusions were that the tested species are appropriated for association in multiestrata agroforestry systems; the stand density presented a factor with great influence on the productive behavior of the agronomic species; the association of species did not affect the growth of Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) and freijó (Cordia alliodora); being necessary to keep on monitoring the production of Brazil nut fruits for better conclusions on its productive behavior; the results of RP and LER showed that SAF T1 Ca-Ba-Pm-Cp is the best production alternative, in relation to SAFs T2 Fr-Ba-Pm-Cp e T3 Pu-Ba-Pm-Cp. It was also concluded that agroforestry systems were, along a continuum 10-year period, a land use system more efficient than monocrops; the management and harvesting costs represented more than 70% of the total costs composition; the labor costs participation was higher than 50% in the site preparation and long-term maintenance phases of the agroforestry systems; all the production systems were considered economically viable, being T1 Ca-Ba-Pm-Cp the agroforestry system with the best financial results, and, even though the high costs, the investment risk in this agroforestry system was effectively small, according to the risk simulation and the results of the financial criteria applied.

Submitted by Reginaldo Soares de Freitas (reginaldo.freitas@ufv.br) on 2017-01-02T15:34:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 5416269 bytes, checksum: e4ce03607614ef4711552d686132ec0e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-02T15:34:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 5416269 bytes, checksum: e4ce03607614ef4711552d686132ec0e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-05 / Biodiversidade, plantas desenvolvimento de medicinais, novos populações medicamentos são tradicionais temas e importantes amplamente discutidos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi contribuir com o conhecimento etnofarmacológico de plantas medicinais utilizadas pela população remanescente de quilombolas de Rolim de Moura do Guaporé, município de Alta Floresta do Oeste, estado de Rondônia. Foram entrevistados 39 moradores, utilizando-se formulário semiestruturado e amostragem “bola de neve”. Três grupos de variáveis foram analisados: sociocultural, etnomédica e etnofarmacológica, utilizando-se as seguintes análises quantitativas: frequências absoluta e relativa, índice de concordância de uso (CUP) e força medicinal (FM). As espécies medicinais citadas foram identificadas in loco com bibliografia especializada, por revisões, estudos taxonômicos disponíveis e comparações morfológicas de exsicatas de banco de dados de herbários online. Participaram da pesquisa, predominantemente, entrevistados do sexo feminino (51,28%), com idade entre 33 e 84 anos, naturais do próprio Distrito (53,85%) e moradores há mais de 10 anos (89,74%), casados (74,36%), com ensino fundamental incompleto (56,41%) e aposentados (38,46%). Quanto ao uso das plantas medicinais, 100% faziam ou já fizeram uso no tratamento de alguma enfermidade, utilizando-se do recurso vegetal há mais de 10 anos (94,87%). Aprenderam a usar as plantas com a mãe (30,99%) e repassavam esse conhecimento principalmente aos filhos e parentes (61,82%). Foram citadas pelos entrevistados 148 espécies de plantas medicinais, pertencentes a 134 gêneros e 62 famílias botânicas. As espécies que apresentaram as maiores forças medicinais e tiveram os valores do CUPc entre 25,00 e 75,00 foram: Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Rich) Vahl. (gervão), Plectranthus barbatus Andrews (boldo), Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (erva-de-santa-maria), Bixa orellana L. (urucum), Passiflora alata Curtis (maracujá), Arrabideae chica (Humb. & Bonpl.) B. Verl. (crajiru), Ocimum gratissimum L. (alfavaca), Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert. (camomila), Rosmarinus officinalis L. (alecrim) e Zingiber officinale Roscoe (gengibre). A folha é a parte da planta mais utilizada (52,03%), sendo a infusão (37,21%) a forma de preparo predominante. As espécies tiveram 753 indicações de uso, sendo as doenças do aparelho digestório (15,54%) as mais indicadas ao tratamento com as espécies medicinais. O registro das informações etnofarmacológicas da pesquisa tem importância na conservação do conhecimento local adquirido ao longo do tempo pela população. Os recursos vegetais são importantes, pois em certos momentos se tornam os únicos disponíveis ao tratamento de afecções que afligem a comunidade. São necessários estudos futuros, tendo em vista o acréscimo e aprimoramento de informações disponibilizadas neste estudo. / Biodiversity, medicinal plants, traditional populations and development of new drugs are important, widely discussed topics. The objective of this study was to contribute to the ethnopharmacological knowledge of medicinal plants used by the quilombo population of Rolim de Moura Guaporé, municipality of Alta Floresta do Oeste, Rondônia state. Thirty-nine residents were interviewed, using semi-structured form and "snowball" sampling. Three groups of variables were analyzed: sociocultural, ethnomedical and ethnopharmacological, using the following quantitative analysis: absolute and relative frequencies, use of concordance index (UCI) and medicinal potential (MP). The medicinal species cited were identified in loco by specialized bibliography, reviews, online available taxonomic studies and morphological comparisons of exsiccates of herbarium database. The participants were predominantly female respondents (51.28%), aged between 33 and 84 years old, from the district itself (53.85%) and residents for over 10 years (89.74%), married (74.36%), with incomplete primary education (56.41%) and retirees (38.46%). As for the use of medicinal plants, 100% used or had already used in the treatment of any disease, using the plant resource 10 years ago (94.87%). They learned to use plants with their mothers (30.99%) and repassed this knowledge mainly to children and relatives (61.82%). The respondents cited 148 species of medicinal plants, belonging to 134 genera and 62 botanical families. The species with the highest medical value and with UCI values between 25.00 and 75.00 were Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Rich) Vahl., Plectranthus barbatus Andrews (boldo), Chenopodium ambrosioides L., Bixa orellana L. (annatto), Passiflora alata Curtis (passion flower), Arrabideae chica (Humb. & Bonpl.) B. Verl., Ocimum gratissimum L., Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert. (chamomile), Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary) and Zingiber officinale Roscoe (ginger).The leaf is the part of the plant most used (52.03%) and the infusion (37.21%) is the predominant form of preparation. The species presented 753 use recommendations, and diseases of the digestive tract (15.54%) were those pointed the most to be treated with medicinal species. The recording of ethnopharmacological information of this study is important for the conservation of local knowledge acquired by the population over the years. The plant resources are important because, at times, they become the only available treatment of diseases that afflict the community. Further studies are needed due to the increase and improvement of information available in this study.

In this work the involved mechanisms between Ro/SSA complex, composed also by the tripartite motif 21 (TRIM21alpha) and trove domain 2 (TROVE2) proteins, with respect to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) autoantibodies is studied. The work is divided in three chapters: I- In vitro and in silico analysis of the molecular recognition between lupus autoantibodies and TRIM21alpha Fc Receptor ; II- In vitro evidence of bipolar-bridged immune TROVE2 complexes in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus and III- Label-free piezoelectric biosensor for prognosis and diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Samples of lupic patients and health subjects were kindly provided by La Fe hospital, accordingly the required protocols. After its extraction and purification, the immunoglobulin samples were obtained to study in vitro protein interactions and the involved mechanism by using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation factor attributions, and dual polarization interferometry. Techniques such, polarization modulation infrared interferometry, x-ray photoelectron interferometry and contact angle measurement were used in order to characterize surfaces. Pre-steady-state analysis revealed an antibody bipolar bridging involved in both TRIM21alpha and TROVE2 proteins. Identification of the main immunodominant human linear epitope for TRIM21alpha was finely mapped using a series of overlapping synthetic polypeptides with a size of 21 amino acids. The epitopes recognised by autoantibodies for this protein spanned the linear sequence from the aminoacid 151 to 183, and a conformational epitope for SLE patients and healthy subjects, respectively. Autoantibodies from lupic patients targeted protein epitopes, allowing health subjects to be discriminated. Major Histocompatibility Complex Class-II binding peptide prediction results corroborated the sequence as the immunodominant linear epitope, mostly coded as the HLA DRB1*1304 allele for SLE patients, and HLA DRB1*0806 for controls. The subdominant epitope corresponded to the PRY-SPRY domain, recently known as mammalian Fc receptor. Finally, the TRIM21alpha protein structure was modeled by a new homology modeling, never before presented. From the TROVE2 protein, the major linear epitope recognized by autoantibodies correspond to the sequence from the aminoacid 160 to 210 for healthy subjects. However, the major epitope in SLE serum is undiscovered. We suggest that the difference between epitopes could correspond to a majority necrosis-induced specificity in SLE patients, and an apoptotic via in healthy subjects. TROVE2 showed the ability to bind to Fcs, depending on alkaline earth cations in solution. The results suggest that the TROVE2-TRIM21alpha binding is a calcium-dependent protein interaction linked through the MIDAS-like motif in the vWFA-like domain. Finally, a pratical consequence of all study was the development of label-free biosensing method, based in microbalance technology, for in vitro diagnostics of systemic lupus erythematosus patients, allowing the premature sensing of autoantibodies against TRIM21alpha and TROVE2 protein, in advance of the clinical illness symptoms appear. / En este trabajo se ha estudiado el mecanismo involucrado entre el complejo Ro/SSA, compuesto también por las proteínas tripartite motif 21 alpha(TRIM21alpha;) y trove domain 2 (TROVE2) con respecto a autoanticuerpos de pacientes que tienen lupus eritematoso sistémico, en comparación con autoanticuerpos de personas sanas. El estudio comprende tres capítulos: I- Análisis in vitro e in silico del reconocimiento molecular entre autoanticuerpos de lupus y receptor TRIM21alpha; Fc; II- Evidencias in vitro de complejos inmunes TROVE2 bipolares con puentes en la patogénesis del lupus eritematoso sistémico y III- Biosensor piezoeléctrico libre de marcaje para el pronóstico y el diagnóstico del lupus eritematoso sistémico. Las muestras de pacientes lúpicos y personas sanas fueron proporcionadas por el hospital La Fe de acuerdo con los protocolos establecidos. Tras una etapa de extracción y purificación de las inmunoglobulinas fueron estudiadas la interacción de proteínas in vitro utilizando una microbalanza de cristal de cuarzo con atribución de factor de disipación e interferometria de polarización dual. Técnicas de caracterización como espectroscopía infrarroja de reflexión-absorción por modulación de la polarización, espectroscopía fotoelectrónica de rayos-x y análisis de ángulo de contacto fueron utilizadas con la finalidad de caracterizar superficies. El análisis del estado pre estacionario ha revelado un mecanismo de puente bipolar para las dos proteínas, TRIM21alpha; y TROVE2. Tras su identificación, el epítopo linear inmunodominante fue mapeado para TRIM21alpha;, utilizando una serie de polipéptidos sintéticos superpuestos de 21 aminoácidos. Los epitopos reconocidos por autoanticuerpos para esta proteína abarca la secuencia lineal a partir del aminoácido 151 hasta el 183 para epitopos de pacientes lúpicos y sujetos sanos, respectivamente. Autoanticuerpos de pacientes lúpicos reconocieron epítopos de proteínas, permitiendo la discriminación de pacientes sanos. Los resultados de la unión del Complejo Mayor de Histocompatibilidad clase II con el péptido de unión corroboraron la secuencia cómo el epítopo lineal inmunodominante, codificado como el alelo HLA DRB1 * 1304 para pacientes con LES y HLA DRB1 * 0806 para los controles. El epitopo subdominante corresponde al dominio PRY-SPRY, recientemente conocido receptor Fc de mamífero. Finalmente, la estructura de la proteína TRIM21alpha; fue determinada utilizando un nuevo modelo de homología no presentado antes. De la proteína TROVE2, el epitopo lineal immunodominante reconocido por los autoanticuerpos corresponde a la secuencia que pudiera corresponder del aminoácido 160 hasta 210 para sujetos sanos. Sin embargo, el epitopo mayoritario en sueros lúpicos no fue determinado. Se sugiere que la diferencia entre los epitopos se corresponde mayoritariamente a una necrosis-inducida en pacientes lúpicos, y a una vía apoptótica en pacientes sanos. TROVE2 presentó la habilidad de unirse a Fcs dependiendo de los cationes alcalinos presentes en la disolución. Los resultados sugieren que la unión TROVE2-TRIM21alpha; es dependiente de la interacción con calcio vinculada a través del motivo MIDAS en el dominio vWFA. Finalmente, una consecuencia práctica de todo el estudio fue el desarrollo de un biosensor libre de marcaje para diagnóstico in vitro de lupus eritematoso sistémico, permitiendo la detección prematura de autoanticuerpos anti TRIM21alpha; y anti TROVE2, varios años antes de la aparición de los síntomas clínicos de la enfermedad. / En aquest treball s'ha estudiat el mecanisme involucrat en el complex Ro/SSA, compost per les proteïnes tripartite motif 21 (TRIM21alpha;) i trove domain 2 (TROVE2) respecte a autoanticossos de pacients que tenen lupus eritematós sistèmic, en comparació amb autoanticossos de persones sanes. L'estudi es divideix en tres capítols: : I- Anàlisi in vitro i in silico del reconeixement molecular entre autoanticossos de lupus i receptor TRIM21alpha; Fc; II- Evidències in vitro de complexos immunes TROVE2 bipolars amb ponts en la patogènesi del lupus eritematós sistèmic i III-Biosensor piezoelèctric lliure de marcatge per al pronòstic i el diagnòstic del lupus eritematós sistèmic. Les mostres de pacients lúpics y persones sanes van ser amablement proporcionades per l'hospital La Fe d'acord amb els protocols establerts. Després d'una etapa de purificació adequada, el pool de mostres de immunoglobulines va ser estudiat les interaccions in vitro de les proteïnes utilitzant una microbalança de cristall de quars amb atribució de factor de dissipació i interferometria de polarització dual. Tècniques de caracterització, como ara espectroscòpia de infraroja de reflexió-absorció per modulació de la polarització, espectroscòpia fotoelèctrica de rajos X i anàlisi d'angle de contacte van ser emprades amb per tal de caracteritzar les superfícies. L¿anàlisi de l`estat preestacionari ha revelat un mecanisme de pont bipolar que involucra les dos proteïnes, TRIM21alpha; i TROVE2. Una vegada identificat, va ser mapat l'epítop immunodominant lineal per a TRIM21alpha; emprant una sèrie de polipèptids sintètics superposats de 21 aminoàcids. Els epítops reconeguts per autoanticossos per a aquesta proteïna engloben la seqüència lineal a partir de l'aminoàcid 151 fins al 183 per a epítops de pacients lúpics y subjectes sans, respectivament. Autoanticossos de pacients lúpicos van reconèixer epítops de proteïnes, fet que va permetre la discriminació de pacients sans. Els resultats de la unió del Complexe Major de Histocompatibilitat classe II amb el pèptid de unió van corroborar la seqüència com l'epítop lineal immunodominant, codificat com l'al·lel HLA DRB1 * 1304 per a pacients amb LES i HLA DRB1 * 0806 per als controls. L'epítop subdominant correspon al domini PRY-SPRY, recentment conegut receptor Fc de mamífer. Finalment, l'estructura de la proteïna TRIM21alpha; va ser determinada utilitzant un nou model d'homologia no presentat abans. De la proteïna TROVE2, l'epítop lineal immunodominant reconegut pels autoanticossos correspon a la seqüència que pogués correspondre l'aminoàcid 160 fins al 210 per a subjectes sans. No obstant això, l'epítop majoritari en sèrums lúpics no va ser determinat. Es suggereix que la diferència entre els epítops es correspon majoritàriament a una necrosis induïda en pacients lúpics i a una via apoptòtica en pacients sans. TROVE2 va mostrar l'habilitat de unir-se a Fcs en funció dels cations alcalins presents en la dissolució. Els resultats suggereixen que la unió TROVE2-TRIM21alpha; depèn de la interacció amb calci vinculada a través del motiu MIDAS en el domini vWFA. Finalment, la conseqüència pràctica de tot l'estudi va ser el desenvolupament d'un biosensor sense marcatge per al diagnòstic in vitro de lupus eritematós sistèmic, el qual permet la detecció prematura d'autoanticossos cap a les proteïnes TRIM21alpha; i TROVE2 anys abans de l'aparició dels símptomes clínics de la malaltia. / Do Nascimento, NM. (2017). The Ro/SSA Complex in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/80534 / TESIS

<p>As the number of water stressed regions around the world continues to growth due to a steadily increasing demand and climate change; the use of unconventional water sources, such as, brackish or seawater, through the implementation of desalination technologies has increased significantly. Reverse osmosis has established itself as the most widespread and energy efficient desalination technology, thanks to the development of high permeability membranes, high efficient pumps, and the integration of energy recovery devices; but, it still faces important challenges, such as, high specific energy consumption compared with traditional water treatment technologies, and poses environmental threats due to its significant CO₂emissions and the need of disposal of high salinity brine.</p> <p> </p> <p>The aim of this research is to address and provide solutions for two of the major challenge areas in reverse osmosis: reduction of the energy consumption and strategies to facilitate its integration with renewable energy sources to decrease its environmental impact. </p> <p> </p> <p>In chapter 2, the modeling and design of a double-acting batch reverse osmosis system is presented. A reduced specific energy consumption compared with previously proposed configurations was found. Moreover, the new design presents solutions to practical concerns that have limited the implementation of Batch reverse osmosis processes such as high start time and downtime, and permeate contamination. On the other hand, a novel hydraulic modeling is introduced to calculate the evolution of the pressure and other important parameters during the cycle.</p> <p> </p> <p>Chapter 3 presents a novel method which allows reverse osmosis plants to vary their power usage according to the energy availability, therefore, providing demand response capabilities. The effects on the energy consumption and performance of the reverse osmosis desalination facility due to the implementation of this technique are also studied. The split-salinity demand response reverse osmosis process proposed here poses as the first approach to grant demand response capabilities to reverse osmosis plants that provides energy gains and can be applied to existing plants. </p>

Yes / In this research, the effect of operating parameters on the fresh water production cost of hybrid Multi Effect Distillation (MED) and Reverse Osmosis (RO) system is investigated. To achieve this, an earlier comprehensive model developed by the authors for MED + RO system is combined with two full-scale cost models of MED and RO processes collected from the literature. Using the economic model, the variation of the overall fresh water cost with respect to some operating conditions, namely steam temperature and steam flow rate for the MED process and inlet pressure and flow rate for the RO process, is accurately investigated. Then, the hybrid process model is incorporated into a single-objective non-linear optimisation framework to minimise the fresh water cost by finding the optimal values of the above operating conditions. The optimisation results confirm the economic feasibility of the proposed hybrid seawater desalination plant.

No / Multi Effect Distillation (MED) and Reverse Osmosis (RO) processes have been extensively used to produce freshwater from seawater resources. amongst many performance indicators, energy consumption of different configuration of hybrid system of MED and RO processes have been analysed in the past. Hybrid MED-RO system is energy intensive and use of fossil fuel can significantly increase the carbon footprint, unless stable renewable energy sources are used. In this work specific energy consumption of a simple hybrid MED-RO system with permeate reprocessing is minimised while optimising a number of operating decision variables using model based optimisation technique. A detailed process model developed earlier by the authors is embedded in the optimisation framework resulting in a constrained Non-linear Programming (NLP) problem. The minimum specific energy consumption achieved in this work is about 18% lower than what is reported in the literature resulting in a significant energy saving and thus carbon footprint.