No description available.

In Drosophila melanogaster, the transcription factor Dorsal initiates dorsal-ventral (DV) patterning in the early embryo by activating or repressing genes, such as the transcription factors Twist and Snail, along the DV axis. Previous studies have shown that the microRNA gene miR-184 in the ventral portion of the embryos (the prospective mesoderm) at the early stages of Drosophila embryogenesis. In order to identify the tissue-specific enhancer that regulates miR-184 expression in the mesoderm, we generated transgenic fly lines and observed the expression of a reporter gene under the control of a potential cis-regulatory module (CRM). Our results show that this CRM is responsible for the regulation of miR-184 and furthermore, it is activated by Twist. / Biology

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) contributes to normal knee function, but it is commonly injured and has poor healing capabilities. Of the current treatments available for ACL reconstruction, none replicate the long-term mechanical properties of the ACL. It was hypothesized that tissue-engineered scaffolds comprised of reconstituted type I collagen fibers would have the potential to yield a more suitable treatment for ACL reconstruction. Ultra-violet (UV) radiation and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) were investigated as possible crosslinking methods for the scaffolds, and EDC crosslinking was deemed more appropriate given the gains in strength and stiffness afforded to individual collagen fibers. Scaffolds were composed of 54 collagen fibers, which were made using an extrusion process, organized in accordance with a braid-twist design; the addition of a hydrogel (gelatin) to this scaffold was also investigated. The scaffolds were tested mechanically to determine ultimate tensile strength (UTS), Young's modulus, and viscoelastic properties. Scaffolds were also evaluated for the cellular activity of primary rat lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) fibroblast cells after 7, 14, and 21 days. The crosslinked scaffolds without gelatin exhibited mechanical and viscoelastic properties that were more similar to the human ACL. Cellular activity on the crosslinked scaffolds without gelatin was observed after 7 and 21 days, but no significant increase was observed with time. Although more studies are needed, these results indicate that a braid- twist scaffold (composed of collagen fibers) has the potential to serve as a scaffold for ACL replacement. / Master of Science

Submitted by LARYSSA KIMI KATO (laryssakimi@hotmail.com) on 2018-04-27T19:27:34Z No. of bitstreams: 1 revisada.pdf: 3145745 bytes, checksum: 4e2c58e36b72087e4c2b3fa95a58d289 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Santulo Custódio de Medeiros null (asantulo@rc.unesp.br) on 2018-04-27T20:10:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 kato_lk_me_rcla.pdf: 3143588 bytes, checksum: 16c151552f1c1e1e340ef2037cac4d8d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-27T20:10:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 kato_lk_me_rcla.pdf: 3143588 bytes, checksum: 16c151552f1c1e1e340ef2037cac4d8d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-01-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / De maneira geral, o comportamento dinâmico de sistemas não lineares é caracterizado pela imprevisibilidade e extrema sensibilidade às condições iniciais e aos parâmetros do sistema. A sensibilidade dessas condições pode ser analisada a partir dos expoentes de Lyapunov, quando são consideradas órbitas infinitesimalmente próximas. O mapa escolhido para análise é o modelo denominado “Mapa padrão não - twist dissipativo labiríntico”, que apresenta as chamadas curvas shearless. O estudo desenvolvido analisa esse sistema com a introdução de dissipação e com parâmetros de perturbação variáveis na presença de três curvas shearless. O objetivo é compreender a evolução da dinâmica destas curvas no espaço de fase e no diagrama de Lyapunov a fim de caracterizar qual shearless é mais robusta frente á variação dos parâmetros de dissipação e perturbação. / In general, the dynamical behavior of non-linear systems is characterized by unpredictability and extreme sensibility to the initial conditions and to the parameters of the system. The sensitivity of these conditions can be analyzed from the Lyapunov exponents, when infinitesimally close orbits are considered. The map we have chosen for analysis is the model denoted as "Labyrinthic non-twist standard map", which presents the so-called "shearless" curves. The present study analyzes this system with the introduction of dissipation and with changeable parameters of perturbation in the presence of three shearless curves. The objective is to understand the evolution of the dynamics of the curves in the phase space and in the diagram of Lyapunov in order to characterize which shearless is more robust under the variation of both parameters, dissipation and perturbation.

L'étude suivante décrit la synthèse des ligands nacnacxylH, nacnacBnH, nacnacR,RH et nacnacCyH en utilisant une méthode générale qui implique des rendements élevés et des coûts raisonnables, la complexation de ces ligands au Zr, la caractérisation de ces complexes et l’investigation de leurs réactivités. Les complexes de zirconium ont été obtenus en utilisant deux méthodes synthétiques principales : la première consiste en traitement du sel de lithium du ligand avec le ZrCl4. La seconde est la réaction du ligand neutre avec les complexes d’alkyl-zirconium(IV) par protonation de l'alkyle coordonné. Le ligand adopte deux modes de coordination avec le Zr. Une coordination 2 est observée dans les complexes octaèdriques contenant un ou deux ligands nacnac. En présence d'un autre ligand ayant une coordonnation 5, par exemple Cp ou Ind, le ligand nacnac se trouve en coordination x avec le centre métallique de zirconium. En solution, les complexes obtenus de (nacnac)2ZrX2 montrent un comportement dynamique via un « Bailar-twist » et les paramètres d'activation de cette isomérisation ont été obtenus. Le complexe octaèdrique (nacnacBn)2ZrCl2, 2c, n'a pas montré de réactivité dans la carbozirconation et son alkylation n'était pas possible par l’échange des chlorures avec les alkyles. L’analogue dimethylé (nacnacBn)2ZrMe2, 2d, peut être préparé par alkylation du ZrCl4 avant la complexation du ligand. Ce dernier a été prouvé aussi de ne pas être réactif dans la carbozirconation. / The present study describes the synthesis of ligands nacnacxylH, nacnacBnH, nacnacR,RH and nacnacCyH, using a general method of synthesis which affords high yields at affordable costs, the complexation of these ligands to Zr, the characterization of these complexes and the investigation of their reactivities. Zirconium complexes were obtained using two major synthetic routes: The first one consists of treatment of the previously prepared lithium salt of the ligand with ZrCl4. The second is the reaction of the neutral ligand with alkyl-Zr(IV) complexes by protonation of the coordinated alkyl(s). The nacnac ligand adopts two coordination modes with the Zr metal. 2-Coordination is observed in octahedral complexes containing one or two nacnac ligands. In the presence of another 5-coordinated ligand, such as Cp or Ind, the nacnac ligand is found to be 4/5-coordinated to the Zr center. The obtained complexes (nacnac)2ZrX2 showed a fluxional behavior in solution via a Bailar Twist and the activation parameters of this isomerisation were obtained. The cis octahedral dichloride complex (nacnacBn)2ZrCl2, 2c, showed no reactivity in carbozirconation and its alkylation was not possible by exchange of chlorides with alkyls. The dimethyl analogue (nacnacBn)2ZrMe2, 2d, could be prepared by alkylation of ZrCl4 prior to ligand complexation, but proved as well to be unreactive in carbozirconation.

Submitted by Ana Rosa Silva (arosa@ufpa.br) on 2015-08-10T13:24:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_AvaliacaoExpressaoProteina.pdf: 2071475 bytes, checksum: 42ca1ff520667de26639359994ccf4fe (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Rosa Silva (arosa@ufpa.br) on 2015-08-10T13:25:08Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_AvaliacaoExpressaoProteina.pdf: 2071475 bytes, checksum: 42ca1ff520667de26639359994ccf4fe (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-08-10T13:25:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_AvaliacaoExpressaoProteina.pdf: 2071475 bytes, checksum: 42ca1ff520667de26639359994ccf4fe (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-07 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Entre as neoplasias malignas que ocorrem na boca, 95% são representadas pelo carcinoma epidermóide de boca (ceb). no brasil, as estimativas para o ano de 2014, segundo o inca, apontam mais de 15.290 novos casos. esses dados mostram que o ceb representa um problema de saúde pública em razão de a morbidade afastar, na maioria dos casos, grande número de cidadãos do mercado de trabalho, além de onerar os custos com a saúde no estado, fruto dos dias de internação e do tratamento aplicado. a patogênese do ceb está relacionada a fatores genéticos além de agentes químicos, como o consumo de tabaco e álcool, físicos e biológicos, considerados carcinogênicos. o fator de transcrição twist foi recentemente apontado como um importante regulador da tem durante a progressão tumoral e metástase e vem se tornando um importante marcador diagnóstico e prognóstico para pacientes devido ao fato de sua sobre-regulação positiva e metilação do gene estarem sendo implicados em vários tipos de câncer. apesar de muitos estudos fornecerem importantes insights sobre a compreensão da biologia dos tumores malignos bem como dos genes envolvidos na tem, os mecanismos de twist na tumorigênese e na transição epitelial-mesenquimal do carcinoma epidermóide bucal ainda precisam ser elucidados. neste estudo nós investigamos o padrão de expressão da proteína twist através da técnica de imuno-histoquímica em 59 amostras carcinoma epidermóide bucal (ceb) provenientes de pacientes usuários do sistema único de saúde do estado do pará e avaliamos a existência de associação dos resultados com características clínico-patológicas dos tumores estudados e com a sobrevida dos pacientes. os resultados mostraram uma associação estatisticamente significante entre o consumo de álcool e os sítios mais afetados pelo ceb, sugerindo que o etanol pode desempenhar um papel potencializador dos agentes do tabaco nos sítios que recebem maior exposição dessas substâncias. a expressão da proteína twist também mostrou uma diminuição na média de sobrevida dos indivíduos. apesar dessa diminuição não ter apresentado significância estatística em nossos estudos, acreditamos que ela deve ser mais amplamente estudada, visando o melhor entendimento do papel desta no carcinoma epidermóide bucal. a positividade de marcação da proteína demonstrou relação com o tabagismo, onde 87,8% dos pacientes fumantes, apresentaram marcação positiva para a proteína, corroborarando o fato de que o fumo pode modular a expressão de marcadores tem incluindo twist. em síntese, os resultados deste estudo evidenciam algumas correlações intrigantes, que no nosso entender merecem especial atenção, no intuito de serem esclarecidas. assim como a localização intracelular da proteína observada neste estudo, que possivelmente está relacionada a algum processo oncogênico ainda não descrito. / Among the malignant neoplasms that occur in the mouth, 95% are represented by oral squamous cell carcinoma (oscc). in brazil, the estimates for the 2014, according to the inca point more than 15,290 new cases. these data show that the oscc represents a public health problem because of the morbidity away a large numbers of patients from de work, and weigh the cost of health care in the state, due the days of hospitalization and the treatment applied. the pathogenesis of the oscc is related to genetic factors as well as chemical agents, such as tobacco and alcohol, physical and biological agents considered carcinogenic. the transcription factor twist was recently appointed as an important regulator of emt during tumor progression and metastasis and has become an important diagnostic and prognostic marker for patients due to the fact its positive upregulation and methylation of the gene are being implicated in several cancers. although many studies provide important insights into understanding the biology of malignant tumors as well as genes involved in emt, twist mechanisms in tumorigenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in oral squamous cell carcinoma remain to be elucidated. in this study we investigated the pattern of expression of twist protein by immunohistochemical technique in 59 oscc samples from patients from the national health system of the state of pará and evaluated the possible association of the results with clinical and pathologic features survival of patients.the results showed a statistically significant association between alcohol consumption and the most sites affected by the oscc, suggesting that ethanol may play a potentiating role of tobacco agents in sites that receive greater exposure of these substances. the expression of twist protein also showed a decrease in average survival of individuals. despite this decline have not shown statistical significance in our studies, we believe that it should be more widely studied, aiming at a better understanding of its role in oral squamous cell carcinoma. the positivity of protein labeling demonstrated relationship to smoking, where 87.8% of smoking patients showed positive staining for protein, corroborating the fact that smoking can modulate the expression of emt markers including twist. in summary, the results of this study show some intriguing correlations, which in our opinion deserve special attention in order to be clarified. as the intracellular localization of the protein observed in this study, is probably related to some oncogenic process is not described

The piston ring in a marine two-stroke diesel engine operates in demanding conditions, involving high temperatures and pressures. Its main purposes are to seal the combustion chamber of the engine, minimize the frictional contact against the cylinder liner and transfer heat from the piston. The development of new piston ring designs for marine diesel engines is mainly based on engineering knowledge and expertise but is somewhat unstructured. A new method which may be used to overcome this lack of structure is to simulate the working conditions for the piston ring. This is the main objective of this thesis work, to invent a simulation method which allows accurate and distinct results to be obtained and thereby knowledge about piston ring performance. The simulation method is based on a three-dimensional geometric model of the piston ring, where the radial geometry should be described by the lathe curve from industry. It should also be implemented and function automatically as a simulation tool. In short terms, the calculated stresses and strains in the material, the contact pressure against the cylinder liner and the piston ring twist should be evaluated. The simulation tool should be able to model two different types of piston ring designs, namely straight cut design and CPR design, and both with optional dimensions. Validation of the results are performed with a simulation model which uses fewer dimensions, but also utilizes engineering knowledge from the marine industry. In addition to this, some more advanced investigations have been performed in order to demonstrate the capacity and power of the simulation tool. The simulation method appears to perform well and according to the simple model, but it also shows good prediction in more advanced investigations. For example, piston rings in overheated engines tend to twist more than usual, which could be seen in real investigations, and the behavior is easily recreated with the simulation tool. Also investigations with reduced cross sections, which is well known within high-speed engines, are performed. The method is executed automatically with the developed simulation tool which is based on ANSYS, a commercial simulation software. This software, that is commonly used in development work, uses a finite element method to solve the problem. The simulation tool is used as an external input which configures the geometry, finite element formulation and the result rendering. / Kolvringen i en marin tvåtaktsmotor arbetar under krävande förhållanden i form av hög temperatur och högt tryck. Dess huvudsyften är att täta motorns förbränningskammare, minimera friktion mot cylindern och transportera värme från kolven. Utvecklingen av nya kolvringsmodeller för marint bruk är huvudsakligen baserat på ingenjörskunskap och expertkunnande vilket dock lett till en viss osäkerhet. En modern metod för att bemästra denna osäkerhet är att simulera kolvringen och dess förhållanden i motorn. Det huvudsakliga målet är att skapa en simuleringsmetod som ger noggranna och tydliga resultat och därav kunskap om kolvringens påfrestningar och egenskaper under drift av motorn. Simuleringsmetoden är skapad för en tredimensionell geometri som är beskriven av bl.a. den svarvkurva som används inom industrin. Metoden skall även vara implementerad och fungera automatiskt som ett beräkningsverktyg vilket inom en rimlig tidsrymd skall beräkna intresseområden såsom spänningar, kontakttryck och twist. Det skall även vara konstruerat så att två olika kolvringmodeller skall kunna simuleras, nämligen rakskuren ring och gastät ring, och båda med valbara dimensioner. Simuleringsmetoden är bekräftad genom att jämföra med en enklare simuleringsmodell samt teknisk kunskap och resonemang. Utöver att bekräfta modellen genomförs även en del mer avancerade undersökningar för att kunna återge simuleringsverktygets verkliga effektivitet. Resultaten återger rätt karaktär och i rätt storleksordning i jämförelse med den enklare modellen men visar även på sanningenliga resultat vid mer avancerade tester. Exempelvis har överhettade motorer ofta en förstärkt twist, vilket är uppmärksammat vid mätningar, och sådana effekter kan återges med simuleringsverktyget. Även tester med förändrade tvärsnittsprofiler, vilka ofta används inom fordonsindustrin, och vilken effekt dessa profiler får på twistningen har genomförts. Metoden och det automatiska simuleringsverktyget är implementerat i den kommersiella programvaran ANSYS. Programmet använder sig av finita elementmetoden för att lösa problem och är ett vanligt program inom flera olika utvecklingsområden. Verktyget används som en extern inläsning till programmet vilket konfigurerar geometrin, finita elementformuleringen och resultatrenderingen.

L'étude suivante décrit la synthèse des ligands nacnacxylH, nacnacBnH, nacnacR,RH et nacnacCyH en utilisant une méthode générale qui implique des rendements élevés et des coûts raisonnables, la complexation de ces ligands au Zr, la caractérisation de ces complexes et l’investigation de leurs réactivités. Les complexes de zirconium ont été obtenus en utilisant deux méthodes synthétiques principales : la première consiste en traitement du sel de lithium du ligand avec le ZrCl4. La seconde est la réaction du ligand neutre avec les complexes d’alkyl-zirconium(IV) par protonation de l'alkyle coordonné. Le ligand adopte deux modes de coordination avec le Zr. Une coordination 2 est observée dans les complexes octaèdriques contenant un ou deux ligands nacnac. En présence d'un autre ligand ayant une coordonnation 5, par exemple Cp ou Ind, le ligand nacnac se trouve en coordination x avec le centre métallique de zirconium. En solution, les complexes obtenus de (nacnac)2ZrX2 montrent un comportement dynamique via un « Bailar-twist » et les paramètres d'activation de cette isomérisation ont été obtenus. Le complexe octaèdrique (nacnacBn)2ZrCl2, 2c, n'a pas montré de réactivité dans la carbozirconation et son alkylation n'était pas possible par l’échange des chlorures avec les alkyles. L’analogue dimethylé (nacnacBn)2ZrMe2, 2d, peut être préparé par alkylation du ZrCl4 avant la complexation du ligand. Ce dernier a été prouvé aussi de ne pas être réactif dans la carbozirconation. / The present study describes the synthesis of ligands nacnacxylH, nacnacBnH, nacnacR,RH and nacnacCyH, using a general method of synthesis which affords high yields at affordable costs, the complexation of these ligands to Zr, the characterization of these complexes and the investigation of their reactivities. Zirconium complexes were obtained using two major synthetic routes: The first one consists of treatment of the previously prepared lithium salt of the ligand with ZrCl4. The second is the reaction of the neutral ligand with alkyl-Zr(IV) complexes by protonation of the coordinated alkyl(s). The nacnac ligand adopts two coordination modes with the Zr metal. 2-Coordination is observed in octahedral complexes containing one or two nacnac ligands. In the presence of another 5-coordinated ligand, such as Cp or Ind, the nacnac ligand is found to be 4/5-coordinated to the Zr center. The obtained complexes (nacnac)2ZrX2 showed a fluxional behavior in solution via a Bailar Twist and the activation parameters of this isomerisation were obtained. The cis octahedral dichloride complex (nacnacBn)2ZrCl2, 2c, showed no reactivity in carbozirconation and its alkylation was not possible by exchange of chlorides with alkyls. The dimethyl analogue (nacnacBn)2ZrMe2, 2d, could be prepared by alkylation of ZrCl4 prior to ligand complexation, but proved as well to be unreactive in carbozirconation.

L'optimisation de la forme des pales en fonction des phases de vol constitue un levier puissant dans ladémarche d'amélioration des performances des hélicoptères et de minimisation de leurs impactsenvironnementaux. Cette thèse propose l'étude et la caractérisation d'un concept permettant, grâce àl'utilisation d'un actionneur passif, de contrôler le vrillage d'une pale d'hélicoptère, en vol, en fonctionde la vitesse de rotation. L'actionneur retenu pour tordre une pale rigide est une plaque compositestratifiée munie d'un couplage traction/torsion et intégrée au sein de la pale. Les travaux développés ontpermis de démontrer la faisabilité de ce concept à l'échelle d'un prototype de partie courante de pale. Enpremier lieu, et ce afin de concevoir une architecture de profil adaptée à ce type de plaque, un modèleanalytique a été développé pour relier les caractéristiques des plaques composites à leur vrillage soussollicitations statique et dynamique. Une formulation simple de la réponse en vrillage a permisd'optimiser les séquencements de ces plaques dans l'objectif de maximiser le couplage en minimisant lesdéformations résiduelles liées au procédé de fabrication. Les plaques optimisées et fabriquées ontensuite été caractérisées sous traction quasi-statique uniforme puis sur un banc rotatif. Plusieurstechniques expérimentales ont été développées dans le but de quantifier le vrillage. Ce travail a conduità l'insertion d'une plaque épaisse dans un profil de pale. Sous un chargement statique, les tronçons ontexposé un vrillage de l'ordre de 2 °.m-1. Ces multiples expériences et les différentes simulationsréalisées permettent d'envisager des essais en soufflerie sur ces prototypes de pales. / Blade morphing optimization during a flight provides a powerful lever to improve helicoptersperformance and reduce their fossil based energy consumption. This PhD thesis examines a newconcept of passive blade twist controlled by the rotation speed. One of the most suitable actuator able totwist a stiff blade is an integrated laminate with extension/twist coupling. Developed work proves thefeasibility of this assembly at a laboratory scale. In a first stage, an analytical model was developed toestimate the twist behaviour of a laminate subjected to static and dynamic loads. This effectivecalculation of the twist response was used to optimize the stacking sequence in order to improve thecoupling and minimize residual stresses due to the manufacturing process. Some optimized plates havebeen manufactured and characterized using uniform tensile test and a rotative bench. Severalmeasurement methods have been developed to quantify twist. This study led to the integration of a thicklaminate in a blade airfoil profile. Under quasi-static axial loading, these blade sections have shownapproximately 2 °.m-1 in twist. Results from experiments and models make it possible to expect windtunnel tests on these adaptive twist blades.

This diploma thesis deals with roll stiffness of twist beam axle. There are described experi-mental and analytic methods of measuring, its applications and comparison on a particular type of axle. There is also construction plan of system usable for this measuring.