New optical designs strive to achieve extreme performance, and continually increase the complexity of prescribed optical shapes, which often require wide dynamic range and high resolution. SCOTS, or the Software Configurable Optical Test System, can measure a wide range of optical surfaces with high sensitivity using surface slope. This dissertation introduces a high resolution version of SCOTS called SPOTS, or the Slope measuring Portable Optical Test System. SPOTS improves the metrology of surface features on the order of sub-millimeter to decimeter spatial scales and nanometer to micrometer level height scales. Currently there is no optical surface metrology instrument with the same utility. SCOTS uses a computer controlled display (such as an LCD monitor) and camera to measure surface slopes over the entire surface of a mirror. SPOTS differs in that an additional lens is placed near the surface under test. A small prototype system is discussed in general, providing the support for the design of future SPOTS devices. Then the SCOTS instrument transfer function is addressed, which defines the way the system filters surface heights. Lastly, the calibration and performance of larger SPOTS device is analyzed with example measurements of the 8.4-m diameter aspheric Large Synoptic Survey Telescope's (LSST) primary mirror. In general optical systems have a transfer function, which filters data. In the case of optical imaging systems the instrument transfer function (ITF) follows the modulation transfer function (MTF), which causes a reduction of contrast as a function of increasing spatial frequency due to diffraction. In SCOTS, ITF is shown to decrease the measured height of surface features as their spatial frequency increases, and thus the SCOTS and SPOTS ITF is proportional to their camera system's MTF. Theory and simulations are supported by a SCOTS measurement of a test piece with a set of lithographically written sinusoidal surface topographies. In addition, an example of a simple inverse filtering technique is provided. The success of a small SPOTS proof of concept instrument paved the way for a new larger prototype system, which is intended to measure subaperture regions on large optical mirrors. On large optics, the prototype SPOTS is light weight and it rests on the surface being tested. One advantage of this SPOTS is stability over time in maintaining its calibration. Thus the optician can simply place SPOTS on the mirror, perform a simple alignment, collect measurement data, then pick the system up and repeat at a new location. The entire process takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes, of which 3 minutes is spent collecting data. SPOTS' simplicity of design, light weight, robustness, wide dynamic range, and high sensitivity make it a useful tool for optical shop use during the fabrication and testing process of large and small optics.

Reading of messenger RNA (mRNA) by aminoacyl-tRNAs (aa-tRNAs) on the ribosomes in the bacterial cell occurs with high accuracy. It follows from the physical chemistry of enzymatic reactions that there must be a trade-off between rate and accuracy of initial tRNA selection in protein synthesis: when the current accuracy, the A-value, approaches its maximal possible value, the d-value, the kinetic efficiency of the reaction approaches zero. We have used an in vitro system for mRNA translation with purified E. coli components to estimate the d- and A-values by which aa-tRNAs discriminate between their cognate and near cognate codons displayed in the ribosomal A site. In the case of tRNALys, we verified the prediction of a linear trade-off between kinetic efficiency of cognate codon reading and the accuracy of codon selection. These experiments have been extended to a larger set of tRNAs, including tRNAPhe, tRNAGlu, tRNAHis, tRNACys, tRNAAsp and tRNATyr, and linear efficiency-accuracy trade-off was observed in all cases. Similar to tRNALys, tRNAPhe discriminated with higher accuracy against a particular mismatch in the second than in the first codon position. Remarkably high d-values were observed for tRNAGlu discrimination against a C-C mismatch in the first codon position (70 000) and for tRNAPhe discrimination against an A-G mismatch in the second codon position (79 000). At the same time, we have found a remarkably small d-value (200) for tRNAGlu misreading G in the middle position of the codon (U-G mismatch). Aminoglycoside antibiotics induce large codon reading errors by tRNAs. We have studied the mechanism of aminoglycoside action and found that the drug stabilized aminoacyl-tRNA in a codon selective in relation to a codon non-selective state. This greatly enhanced the probability of near cognate aminoacyl-tRNAs to successfully transcend the initial selection step of the translating ribosome. We showed that Mg2+ ions, in contrast, favour codon non-selective states and thus induce errors in a principally different way than aminoglycosides.  We also designed experiments to estimate the overall accuracy of peptide bond formation with, including initial selection accuracy and proofreading of tRNAs after GTP hydrolysis on EF-Tu. Our experiments have now made it possible to calibrate the accuracy of tRNA selection in the test tube to that in the living cells. We will now also be able to investigate the degree to which the accuracy of tRNA selection has been optimized for maximal fitness.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-12-17Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:37:56Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 nascimento_man_me_assis.pdf: 1430932 bytes, checksum: d90deaa4b2e4448846cae01e6a163759 (MD5) / Este trabalho problematiza a questão dos modos de subjetivação e as relações hierárquicas e de exercício de poder que gravitam em torno das homossexualidades masculinas, freqüentadores de dispositivos (lugares) de socialização de sexualidades GLBTTT. Descrições históricas indicam que desde a Grécia Antiga, sanções às práticas homoeróticas são recorrentes, porém, é com o surgimento do personagem homossexual no século XIX que as injúrias e perseguições se direcionaram para o sujeito homossexual. Ainda que, ambientes freqüentados para encontros homoeróticos sempre existiram, é apontado pela história que, a partir do século XIV, idéias eugenistas, higienistas e heteronormativas enfocaram na segregação de lugares e programas familiares em contraposição a lugares onde se aglutinavam as escórias da sociedade, os quais deveriam ser tratados com diferenciação e violência. Partindo do exposto, surgem os dispositivos de socialização freqüentados também por homossexuais, os chamados popularmente, por esses freqüentadores, guetos gays. No entanto, é fato que a violência sofrida pelos homossexuais, sugere um novo caráter expressivo e crescente – a relação de poder e hierarquização entre os próprios homossexuais. O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever as relações estabelecidas entre os homossexuais que freqüentam estes dispositivos e o sentido que estes lugares tiveram e vêm adquirindo ao longo de suas existências, partindo dos pressupostos teóricos dos estudos culturais e de gênero de autores pós-estruturalistas. Para tal pesquisa, realizaram-se observações etnográficas nestes locais em um município do interior paranaense, assim como se realizaram entrevistas prolongadas com freqüentadores selecionados e que ocasionaram em análises das narrativas de histórias de vida... / This study problematizes the ways of subjection and hierarchical relations and also the power actions that surround male homosexulaties, attenders of GLBTTT sexualities socialization spots (places). Historical descriptions show that since Ancient Greece, punishments for homoerotic practices were carried out, nevertheless, it was with the appearance of the homosexual character from the XIX century that those injuries and persecutions headed towards the homosexual character. Even though spots attended by homoerotic meetings have always existed, it is shown through history that, since the XIV century, eugenistic, hygienistic and heteronormative ideas focused on the segregation of places and family programs and also in opposition to places where the society mob gathered, which should be tread with differentiation and violence. Due to the aforementioned, socialization spots also attended by homosexuals are creaated, the popularly so-called, by these attenders, gay ghettos. However, it is a fact that the violence faced by these homosexuals suggests a new expressive and growing character – a power and hierarchy relation among the homosexuals themselves. The objective of this study is to describe the relations established among homosexuals who attend these spots and the meaning that these environments have had and are acquiring through their existence, based on cultural and gender studies from post-structuralist authors. In order to perform such research, ethnographic observations were carried out in those places in an inland town from Parana State, as well as long interviews with selected attenders what resulted in analyses of these characters-participants´ lifetime narratives. The analyses of the ...(Complete abstract, click electronic access below)

Orientador: Antonio de Goes / Banca: Nilton Luiz de Souza / Banca: Marcel Bellato Spósito / Resumo: O presente estudo foi desenvolvido em pomares de citros localizados em propriedade comercial na região de Rio Claro-SP e teve como objetivo a determinação do efeito de práticas culturais na redução das fontes de inóculo e, conseqüente diminuição da severidade da mancha preta dos frutos cítricos, causada por Guignardia citricarpa. Desenvolveram-se dois experimentos em áreas distintas. No primeiro ensaio, testou-se a influência de cultivos intercalares, amendoim forrageiro e capim coastcross e posterior roçagem da massa formada sob a copa de laranjeiras 'Natal', na flutuação populacional de ascósporos e na severidade da doença, enquanto que no segundo, foi avaliado o efeito de diferentes tratamentos [(1) uréia 12,5 g/litro; (2) nitrato de cálcio 12,5 g/litro; (3) calcário dolomítico 2 t/ha; (4) microrganismos eficazes 1% do produto ativado; (5) combinação dos produtos comerciais Stuble Aid® + Compostaid® 0,75 mL/litro + 0,75 g/litro e (6) Testemunha] na aceleração da decomposição de folhas de limoeiros 'Siciliano' caídas sob a copa das plantas e na severidade da doença. Concluiu-se que o capim coastcross foi a espécie mais eficiente na supressão da liberação de ascósporos, com conseqüente redução da severidade da doença. No segundo ensaio, os tratamentos representados pela adição de microrganismos foram os mais eficientes na aceleração da decomposição de folhas de limoeiro, porém quanto à severidade da doença, todos os tratamentos apresentaram o mesmo comportamento, com reduções significativas em relação à testemunha. / Abstract: The present research was developed in citrus orchards located in commercial property in Rio Claro - SP region and it had as an objective the determination of the effect of cultural practice in the reduction of the source of inoculum and, consequently the reduction of strictness black spots in citric fruit, caused by Guignardia citricarpa. Two experiments in distinct areas were developed. In the first one, the influence of intercalary culture (peanut and coastcross grass) and later the skim of the a dough formed on the orange trees top 'Natal', in the floating of ascospores and in the strictness of the disease, while in the second experiment, the effect of different treatments were evaluated [(1) urea 12,5 g/liter; (2) calcium nitrate 12,5 g/liter; (3) dolomitic calcareous 2t/ha; (4) efficient microrganisms 1% from the active product; (5) the combination of the commercial products Stuble Aid® + Compostaid® 0,75 mL/liter + 0,75 g/liter and (6) Control] in the acceleration of the 'Siciliano' lemon trees leaves decomposition fallen down on the top trees and in the severity of the disease. It was concluded that the coastcross grass was the most efficient species in the supression of the discharge of the ascospores and in the decrease of the severity disease. In the second experiment, the treatments represented by the addition of microorganisms were the most efficient in the acceleration of the lemon trees leaves decomposition, however as for the severity of the disease, all the treatments presented the same performance, with statistically significative decreases in relation to control. / Mestre

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The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) Traffic and Safety Division continues to advance the safety of roadway sections throughout the state. To aid UDOT in meeting their goal the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Brigham Young University (BYU) has worked with the Statistics Department in developing analysis tools for safety. The most recent of these tools has been the development of a hierarchical Bayesian Poisson Mixture Model (PMM) statistical model of traffic crashes and safety on UDOT roadways statewide and the integration of the results of this model in a Geographic Information System (GIS) framework. This research focuses on the enhancement of the framework for highway safety mitigation in Utah with its six primary steps: 1) network screening, 2) diagnosis, 3) countermeasure selection, 4) economic appraisal, 5) project prioritization, and 6) effectiveness evaluation. The framework was enhanced by developing a methodology for accomplishing the steps of network screening, diagnosis, and countermeasure selection. This methodology is titled, "Hot Spot Identification and Analysis." The hot spot identification and analysis methodology consists of the following seven steps: 1) identify problematic segments with safety concern, 2) identify problem spots within the segments, 3) micro analysis of problematic segments and spots, 4) defining the segment, 5) defining the problem, 6) evaluation of possible countermeasures, and 7) selection and recommendation of feasible countermeasures. The methodology is to help in the identification of hot spots with safety concerns so that they can be analyzed and countermeasures can be identified to mitigate the safety issues. Examples of how the methodology is to function are given with specific examples from Utah's state roadway network.

Gray leaf spot (GLS) of corn (Zea mays L.), caused by the fungus Cercospora zeaemaydis (CZM) (Tehon and Daniels) has increased in incidence and severity with increasing use of no-tillage and continuous corn practices. This disease can be yield limiting. Corn hybrids were evaluated under natural disease pressure for three years (1989, 90, and 91) at two locations (Montgomery and Wythe Co., VA). Yield losses ranged from 2127.4 kg/ha (Wythe Co., 1991) to 4242.2 kg/ha (Wythe Co., 1990). It was estimated that 77% of the variability in yield was due to GLS. Fungicides were evaluated for the control of GLS over three years on a susceptible hybrid, Pioneer Brand 3320. All fungicides, with the exception of mancozeb, provided significant control over nontreated check in all years. Benomyl, propiconazole and terbutrazole were the most effective fungicides. As much as 93% of the variablilty in yield was attributed to blighting. Reduction in blighting also increased the kernel weight. The toxin, cercosporin, produced by CZM was evaluated for its ability to elicit differential responses in corn germplasm by three methods, ie., vein inoculation, root, and shoot uptake. No consistant differential reponses were found with vein inoculation, but 31-day old plants were significantly more sensitive to the toxin than 21-day old plants, as measured by lesion width. Root and shoot uptake of the toxin by inbred germplasm produced lesions that resembled those produced by CZM in the field. Microscopic, yellow fluorescing crystals were found associated with necrotic tissue from toxin-treated inbreds. Significantly more injury occurred to toxin-treated inbreds exposed to light than to darkness. By chromatographic analysis, 407.1-1076.7 ng of toxin/g of tissue was recovered from leaf lesion extracts of plants exposed to light. Five inbreds (B73, H99, Va59, NC250a, and NC264) showed consistent and differential responses to the toxin. H99 and NC250a showed differential responses to the same concentration of toxin, thus suggesting that some germplasm are more sensitive to the toxin than others. Tests using the toxin as a means to identify resistant germplasm did not provide reliable predictions of germplasm response to CZM in the field. / Master of Science

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