IL-1 receptor/Toll-like receptor (IL-1R/TLR) supefamily represents a group of proteins that share highly conserved TIR domain in their cytoplasmic region. Signal transduction mediated by TIR-containing proteins involves the activation of NF-κB transcription factor and thus the members of this superfamily play a key role in many physiological responses related to innate immune defense and inflammation. SIGIRR (single immunoglobulin IL1R-related molecule) is a recently discovered member of the IL-1R family, however it differs from the other group members by its unique structural features. SIGIRRhas been so far considered to be an 'orphan' receptor as no SIGIRR ligand has been identified yet. Moreover, SIGIRR itself is not capable to induce the NF-κB activation. Instead, SIGIRR is supposed to act as a negative regulator for IL- 1Rs/TLRs mediated inflammation. Its inhibitory function has been implemented in several signalling pathways in various cell types and tissues including the kidney, the digestive tract and the lung. Recent reports also suggest that SIGIRR could play a role in early embryonic development. The main aim of this thesis is to characterize the mechanism how SIGIRR negative regulatory function in IL-1R/TLR signalling pathway is delivered. Here we describe the establishment of...

A textura e o conteúdo do carbono orgânico (CO) influenciam na resposta espectral dos solos. O estudo desses atributos é de grande importância para a preservação e o manejo adequado da terra na busca de uma agricultura sustentável. O uso de sensores de laboratório e satélites tem se mostrado como uma ferramenta no auxílio para o estudo destes, porém a análise dos atributos do solo com esses sensores tem focado principalmente nas regiões do espectro eletromagnético do visível (Vis), infravermelho próximo (NIR) e infravermelho de ondas curtas (SWIR), com poucos estudos no infravermelho médio (MIR). O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar o padrão espectral do solo com diferentes granulometrias (areia e argila) e teores de CO utilizando sensores de laboratório e satélite na região do MIR, especificamente na faixa do infravermelho termal (TIR). O estudo teve uma avaliação qualitativa e quantitativa da argila, CO e das frações de areia (fina e grossa). A área de estudo está localizada na região de Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brasil. Foram coletadas 150 amostras de solo a uma profundidade de 0-20 cm. A textura do solo foi determinada pelo método da pipeta e a porcentagem de CO via combustão seca. Dados espectrais em refletância e emissividade (ε) foram adquiridos com o sensor Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Alpha (Bruker optics Corporation). Uma imagem \"ASTER_05\" foi adquirida em 15 de julho de 2017 em valores de ε. As amostras foram separadas por classes texturais e o comportamento espectral no TIR foi descrito. Os dados obtidos pelo sensor de laboratório foram reamostrados para as bandas do sensor de satélite. O comportamento entre os espectros de ambos sensores foi semelhante e teve correlação significativa com os atributos estudados, principalmente para areia. Para os modelos de regressão por mínimos quadrados parciais (PLSR), foram utilizadas seis estratégias (MIR, MIR_ASTER, ASTER, Termal, Termal IDC e MIR IDC) que consistiram no uso de todas as bandas de sensores, ou pela seleção das mesmas que apresentaram as correlações mais significativas com cada um dos atributos. Os modelos apresentaram um bom desempenho na predição de todos os atributos usando o MIR inteiro. No TIR, o modelo para areia total e para as frações fina e grossa foi bom. No caso dos modelos criados com os dados do sensor ASTER, não foram tão promissores quanto os de laboratório. O uso de bandas específicas ajudou a estimar alguns atributos no MIR e no TIR, aumentando o desempenho preditivo melhorando a validação dos modelos. Portanto, a discriminação dos atributos do solo com sensores de satélite pode ser melhorada com a identificação de bandas específicas, como observado nos resultados com sensores de laboratório. / Soil texture and organic carbon (OC) content influence its spectral response. The study of these attributes is relevant for the preservation and proper management of land in pursuit of a sustainable agriculture. Laboratory and satellite sensors have been applied as a useful tool for studying soil attributes, but their analysis with these sensors has mainly focused on the visible (Vis), near infrared (NIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, with few studies in the Medium Infrared (MIR). The objective of this study was to identify the spectral pattern of soils with different granulometry (sand and clay) and OC content using laboratory and satellite sensors in the MIR region, specifically in the Thermal Infrared (TIR) range. This study had qualitative and quantitative analyses of clay, OC and sand fractions (fine and coarse). The study area is located in the region of Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. 150 soil samples were collected at a depth of 0-20 cm. Soil texture was determined by the pipette method and the percentage of OC via dry combustion. Reflectance and emissivity (ε) spectral data were obtained with the Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Alpha sensor (Bruker Optics Corporation). An image \"ASTER_05\" from July 15, 2017 was acquired with values of ε. Samples were separated by textural classes and the spectral behavior in the TIR region was described. The data obtained by the laboratory sensor were resampled to the satellite sensor bands. The behavior between spectra of both sensors was similar and had significant correlation with the studied attributes, mainly sand. For the partial least squares regression (PLSR) models, six strategies were used (MIR, MIR_ASTER, ASTER, Thermal, Thermal IDC and MIR IDC), which consisted in the use of all sensors bands, or by the selection of bands that presented the most significant correlations with each one of the attributes. Models presented a good performance in the prediction of all attributes using the whole MIR. In the TIR, models for total sand content and for fine and coarse fractions were good. In the case of models created with ASTER sensor data, they were not as promising as those with laboratory data. The use of specific bands was useful in estimating some attributes in the MIR and TIR, improving the predictive performance and validation of models. Therefore, the discrimination of soil attributes with satellite sensors can be improved with the identification of specific bands, as observed in the results with laboratory sensors.

This thesis deals with an evaluation of optical components for LED, which is based on laboratory measurements of available LED samples and optical elements. The evaluation is done according to established standards and is focused on efficiency and adjustment of luminous flux (beam angle, luminous curve). Furthermore was made a study engaged in an optical element influence on LED color properties (color temperature, spectral characteristics). In conclusion there is an optical elements usage overview and recommended procedure for selecting appropriate combination of LED and optical element.

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Water temperature in rivers and streams is an important factor for aquatic ecosystem health. Measurement of stream temperature has traditionally been accomplished by point temperature measurements, continuous point temperature loggers, and more recently, airborne remote sensing techniques such as Forward-Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR) or Thermal Infrared Radiometry. While each of these measurement techniques has certain advantages, none allows for the combined spatial and temporal information provided by Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS). DTS employs fiber optic signals to measure temperature and is a relatively new temperature measurement technology for hydrologic sensing applications. Nine DTS stream temperature datasets were collected in the Middle Fork John Day River (MFJDR) as part of a basin-wide stream monitoring effort. The datasets encompassed five 1-3 kilometer long reaches, some monitored over three summers (2009-2011). In contrast to existing stream temperature measurement technologies, DTS can provide stream temperature data in both the spatial and temporal domains. Techniques and challenges of interpreting DTS stream temperature data were documented, and three applications of the technology to stream temperature monitoring were explored. Cold water patches, potentially used by fish as thermal refugia during stream temperature maximums, were located using DTS. No identified cold patch exceeded 2.31°C cooler than ambient stream temperature. Tributary inflows provided some of the most temperature-differentiated cold patches. These findings provide a reference for the degree of thermal heterogeneity in the MFJDR system and beg the question of whether fish respond to small (<3°C) spatial temperature variations. Theoretical predictions of stream mixing potential (Richardson number and cavity flow mixing predictions) suggested that increasing stream thermal heterogeneity would require channel modification to decrease stream flow velocity in select areas. The combined spatial and temporal coverage of a DTS stream temperature dataset on the Oxbow Conservation Area allowed diagnosis of a 2°C longitudinal stream temperature decrease observed in multiple Thermal Infrared Radiometry (TIR) and Forward-Looking Infrared Radiometry (FLIR) datasets collected on that reach. Advection velocity and channel depth, rather than groundwater or tributary inflows, were the main cause of the decrease, and the magnitude of the decrease peaked in the early afternoon, disappearing completely by evening. This finding suggests caution for interpretation of FLIR and TIR stream temperature datasets, which represent "snapshot" temperature measurements. For these datasets, knowledge of flow conditions (velocity and depth) may help avoid misinterpretation of temporally-transient temperature anomalies. Diurnal slope periodicity was observed in linear-like spatial trends in four DTS datasets, and an analysis was made to examine this subtle spatially and temporally varying phenomenon. The phase of the diurnal slope variation differed between river reaches, suggesting that propagation of larger-scale thermal waves might be one driving mechanism. Temporally-constant offsets between slope magnitudes within reaches suggested some intra-reach differences in heat fluxes. / Graduation date: 2012

Dans cette thèse on s'intéresse aux problèmes de commande optimale pour des systèmes affines dans une partie de la commande. Premièrement, on donne une condition nécessaire du second ordre pour le cas ou le système est affine dans toutes les commandes. On a des bornes sur les contrôles et une solution bang-singulière. Une condition suffisante est donnée pour le cas d'une commande scalaire. On propose après un algorithme de tir et une condition suffisante pour sa convergence quadratique locale. Cette condition garantit la stabilité de la solution optimale et implique que l'algorithme converge quadratiquement localement pour le problème perturbé, dans certains cas. On présente des essais numériques qui valident notre méthode. Ensuite, on étudie un système affine dans une partie des commandes. On obtient des conditions nécessaire et suffisante du second ordre. Ensuite, on propose un algorithme de tir et on montre que la condition suffisante mentionnée garantit que cet algorithme converge quadratiquement localement. Enfin, on étudie un problème de planification d'une centrale hydro-thermique. On analyse au moyen des conditions nécessaires obtenues par Goh, la possible apparition d'arcs singuliers.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:44:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_victor_goltz.pdf: 3143568 bytes, checksum: bf72f21ec23b8d4e251915d335a9bf25 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-27 / The investment in reforestation with Eucalyptus as a way to ensure the cheap and quality supply of plant biomass to be used as an energy source in grain dryers, is constantly put into evidence in cereal companies and agricultural cooperatives. Like any other economic activity, needs to be assessed from the point of view of their financial return on invested capital, so that it can contribute to support the decisions. Thus, this study aims to analyze the economic feasibility for implementation of reforestation with eucalyptus to supply the needs of firewood in Seara Industria e Comercio de Produtos Agropecuarios Ltda in its three receiving, processing and storage plants installed in northern Parana. The calculation methodology took into consideration the needs of firewood annual production costs during the production cycle of 21 years , with cuts every 7 years, and considering that the price of wood is the one practiced by the regional market. To analyze the feasibility, we considered the assessment criteria for Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) in two scenarios: a) considering the purchase area, b) considering the lease area. Both alternatives took into account areas far more than 150 km of consumer units. The opportunity cost considered was 6.0% per year. It was concluded that, investment in forestry as a source of biomass for energy, are economically feasible and provided the lease area required, being economically unfeasible scenario in purchasing the required area. / O investimento em reflorestamento com eucalipto, como forma de garantir o fornecimento de biomassa vegetal barata e de qualidade a ser utilizada como fonte de energia em fornalhas de secadores de grãos, é constantemente colocado em evidência em empresas cerealistas e cooperativas agrícolas. Assim como qualquer outra atividade econômica precisa ser avaliada do ponto de vista de sua retorno financeiro do capital investido, para que se possa embasar as decisões. Desta forma, este estudo visa analisar a viabilidade econômica para implantação de reflorestamento com eucalipto para suprir as necessidades de lenha da Seara Industria e Comercio de Produtos Agropecuários Ltda, em suas três unidade de recepção, beneficiamento e armazenamento instaladas na região norte do Paraná. A metodologia de calculo levou em consideração as necessidades de lenha anual, os custos de produção durante o ciclo de produção considerado de 21 anos, com cortes a cada 7 anos, e, considerando que o preço da lenha e aquele praticado pelo mercado regional. Para analise da viabilidade, foram considerados os critérios de avaliação pelo Valor Presente Liquido (VPL) e Taxa Interna de Retorno (TIR) em dois cenários: a) considerando a compra da área; b) considerando o arrendamento da área. Ambas alternativas levaram em consideração áreas distantes no máximo a 200 km das unidades consumidoras. A taxa mínima de atratividade considerada foi de 6,0% ao ano. Concluiu-se que o investimento em reflorestamento como fonte de biomassa vegetal para energia só e economicamente viável na condição de arrendamento da área necessária, sendo inviável economicamente no cenário de compra da área necessária.

As a direct consequence of the misuse of antibiotics since its first discovery, bacteria have developed extensive resistance mechanisms making them once again potential lethal threats. This eventuality has triggered a vast research effort from scientists worldwide to find solutions to mitigate antimicrobial resistance. One such option is the identification of new potential antimicrobial agents, like for example antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Various methods have been applied to evaluate the properties and determine the complex mechanism of AMPs. However, the details of the mechanism remain unknown and hence the work in this project seeks to examine the suitability of using TIR Raman, a vibrational spectroscopy technique which is sufficiently surface sensitive to study the interaction of AMPs in contact with lipid bilayers, which are just a few nanometres thick. In order to evaluate the information that could be extracted from TIR Raman, measurement of solid supported lipid bilayers in the absence of peptides were first carried out. In particular, the lipid DMPC with a phase transition close to room temperature, was measured at various temperatures to determine spectral changes associated with the transition. For the peptide-membrane interactions, the AMP LL37 was put into contact with solid supported lipid bilayers modelling the cell membranes of bacteria (DOPE, DOPG) or humans (DOPC) respectively. The data clearly indicates that the membrane composition, and specifically the lipid head group charge, play an important role in the peptide-membrane interactions. In the bilayers mimicking bacteria cell membranes, the peptide either absorbed onto or inserted into the bilayer. In contrast, for the bilayer modelling a human cell membrane, no significant variations were detected, indicating no interaction with LL37. The findings presented in this work generally coincide with similar research of LL37 using other techniques. At hand of the herein presented data, TIR Raman has proven suitable and effective in detecting effects of antimicrobial peptides in contact with model lipid bilayers, and hence can be recommended for further studies. / Som en direkt följd av missbruket av antibiotika sedan det först upptäcktes, har bakterier utvecklat omfattande resistensmekanismer vilket föranlett dem att återigen utgöra potentiellt dödlig hot. Denna situation har manat fram en väsentlig forskningsinsats från forskare världen över att hitta lösningar för att minska antimikrobiell resistens. Ett sådant alternativ har varit identifieringen av nya potentiella antimikrobiella substanser, så som till exempel antimikrobiella peptider. Ett flertal metoder har använts för att både evaluera peptiders egenskaper och fastställa deras komplexa mekanism. Detta till trots förblir de exakta detaljerna i mekanismen okända, vilket föranlett arbetet i detta projekt att undersöka lämpligheten i att använda TIR Raman, en vibrational-spektroskopisk metod som är tillräckligt ytkänslig för att studera interaktionen hos antimikrobiella peptider i kontakt med lipidmembran, vilka endast är några få nanometer tjocka. För att evaluera informationen som kan utvinnas med TIR Raman, utfördes först mätningar av lipidmembran, skapade på ett solitt underlag, utan tillägg av peptider. Mer noggrant, har lipiden DMPC med en fasövergång nära vid rumstemperatur, mätts vid olika temperaturer för att fastställa spektrala variationer associerade till övergången. För peptid-membran interaktionerna, sattes den antimikrobiella peptiden LL37 i kontakt med lipidmembran som modellerar cellmembranet hos bakterier (DOPE, DOPG) respektive människor (DOPC). Mätdatan indikerar tydligt att membrankompositionen, och där specifikt laddningen av lipidens huvudgrupp, spelar en viktig roll i membran-peptid interaktionerna. För lipidmembranen som imiterar bakteriella cellmembran, adsorberade peptiden till membranet eller integrerades in i det. Till skillnad från detta, kunde inga signifikanta variationer detekteras för lipidmembranet som modellerade ett mänskligt membran vilket indikerar att det inte interagerar med peptiden LL37. Upptäckterna som presenteras i detta arbete sammanfaller generellt med andra, liknande studier där andra instrument använts för att undersöka LL37. Det kan ur materialet som presenterats här utläsas att TIR Raman visat sig lämpligt och effektivt i detekteringen av antimikrobiella peptider i kontakt med modeller av lipidmembran, och kan därav rekommenderas för fortsatta studier.

Cette thèse s'intéresse au problème de commande optimale (déterministe) d'une équation différentielle ordinaire soumise à une ou plusieurs contraintes sur l'état, d'ordres quelconques, dans le cas où la condition forte de Legendre-Clebsch est satisfaite. Le principe du minimum de Pontryaguine fournit une condition d'optimalité nécessaire bien connue. Dans cette thèse, on obtient premièrement une condition d'optimalité suffisante du second ordre la plus faible possible, c'est-à-dire qu'elle est aussi proche que possible de la condition nécessaire du second ordre et caractérise la croissance quadratique. Cette condition nous permet d'obtenir une caractérisation du caractère bien posé de l'algorithme de tir en présence de contraintes sur l'état. Ensuite on effectue une analyse de stabilité et de sensibilité des solutions lorsque l'on perturbe les données du problème. Pour des contraintes d'ordre supérieur ou égal à deux, on obtient pour la première fois un résultat de stabilité des solutions ne faisant aucune hypothèse sur la structure de la trajectoire. Par ailleurs, des résultats sur la stabilité structurelle des extrémales de Pontryaguine sont donnés. Enfin, ces résultats d'une part sur l'algorithme de tir et d'autre part sur l'analyse de stabilité nous permettent de proposer, pour des contraintes sur l'état d'ordre un et deux, un algorithme d'homotopie dont la nouveauté est de déterminer automatiquement la structure de la trajectoire et d'initialiser les paramètres de tir associés.

La présente thèse de doctorat analyse l’influence du fusil à baïonnette sur la tactique de l’infanterie française au XVIIIe siècle. Les travaux concernant cette arme ont, jusqu’ici, surtout traité des modèles produits, des méthodes de fabrication et de l’approvisionnement des régiments. Notre approche est celle d’un historien au contact des collections d’un grand musée militaire. Elle consiste à étudier le fusil du point de vue du maniement et, plus généralement, de sa mise en œuvre contre l’ennemi. L’objectif est de comprendre comment l’armée royale s’est adaptée à une arme aux faibles capacités techniques et balistiques. Les sources exploitées sont nombreuses et variées : archives techniques et tactiques de l’armée de Terre, ouvrages imprimés relatifs à l’art de la guerre, objets des collections du musée de l’Armée, à Paris.La première partie est consacrée aux origines, au développement et à la description matérielle du fusil. La deuxième partie examine ses usages tactiques. Le grand débat qui en résulte, opposant les partisans de l’ordre profond aux défenseurs de l’ordre mince, fait l’objet d’une relecture documentée. L’entraînement des soldats, les conditions du combat de ligne et l’émergence de l’infanterie légère sont également étudiés. La troisième partie tente de mesurer l’efficacité du fusil : à l’observation de son rôle au cours des batailles de Höchstädt (1704), de Dettingen (1743), de Fontenoy (1745) et des Plaines d’Abraham (1759), succède l’analyse des blessures causées par les balles et les baïonnettes. Après un siècle d’emploi du fusil par l’armée de l’Ancien Régime, les bases tactiques des guerres de la Révolution et de l’Empire sont posées. / This PhD dissertation analyses the influence of the flintlock musket upon the French infantry in the 18th century. Until now, studies of this weapon have particularly focused on the manufactured types, the manufacturing methods and regiment supplies. Our approach is one of a historian’s, working in a major military museum. It consists of studying the handling of the flintlock and more broadly speaking, how it was used against the enemy. The objective is to understand how the royal army managed to adapt to a weapon with little technical and ballistic capacity. We used various source materials: the technical and tactical archives of the French Army, numerous printed works on the art of warfare and objects from various collections of the Army museum in Paris.The first part of this dissertation is devoted to the origins, the development and the technical description of the musket. The second part examines its tactical uses. The main ensuing debate opposing supporters of the deep order against those of the thin line order has been re-examined in the light of new documents. The soldiers’ training, the conditions of line warfare and the emergence of the light infantry are also studied. The third part tries to assess the efficiency of the musket: the part it played during the battles of Blenheim (1704), Dettingen (1743), Fontenoy (1745) and the Plains of Abraham (1759) is carefully studied, then an analysis of the wounds caused by its bullets and bayonets logically follows. After a century of the Old Regime Army's use of the musket, the tactical basis of the French revolutionary and Napoleonic wars are set down.