Nas plantas industriais dos setores químico e petroquímico observa-se uma grande quantidade de complexas redes de tubulações instaladas, o que se deve basicamente à necessidade de transferir e processar fluídos em diversas condições de pressão e temperatura em suas operações produtivas. Uma indústria petroquímica de médio porte possui entre 3.000 e 15.000 toneladas de tubulações de aço-carbono instaladas, fazendo com que o adequado dimensionamento desse sistema de tubulações adquira grande importância. Este trabalho caracteriza os principais componentes, materiais, condições de projeto e critérios normativos existentes, em especial sob temperaturas elevadas. Realiza uma avaliação comparativa dos métodos de solução estrutural dessas tubulações e analisa criticamente algumas das premissas originais que ainda orientam o seu dimensionamento, visando uma melhor adequação destas. Por fim, juntamente com um estudo de caso, apresenta uma proposta de metodologia de dimensionamento, aplicando o Método dos Elementos Finitos, com o objetivo de aliar mais segurança, otimizar a construção e permitir um projeto mais econômico, diante das grandes quantidades de material envolvidas nessas instalações. / In the chemical and petrochemical plants we can notice a big amount and complexity of pipings installeds, it happens due to the need to transfer and process fluids with differents pressures and temperatures and to get the operational requirements of production. A middle size petrochemical plant has among 3,000 to 15,000 tons of carbon steel pipings assembled so an adjusted sizing of these piping systems is very important. This study presents the main components, materials, design features and existing code procedures, especially under higher temperatures. It makes a comparative valuation about methods of structural solution to pipings and discussing previous concepts applied in the codes to improve these applications. In also, together a case study, presents a proposal of a methodology to sizing of pipings using Finity Element Analyse, with the goal to get a solution more safety, optimized and an economic project, in front of the large quantity of material involved in these installations.

O presente trabalho visa compreender o processo de degradação da parede celular vegetal de hospedeiros de fitopatógenos da família Xanthomonadaceae. Criamos e aperfeiçoamos uma técnica de enumeração dos genes relacionados ao metabolismo de polissacarídeos, com enfoque na distinção entre aqueles que agem sobre os componentes da parede celular vegetal e sobre outros polissacarídeos. A história evolutiva desse conjunto de enzimas foi delineada através de inferências sobre as relações de homologia entre os genes enumerados, sua presença ou ausência nos diversos genomas abordados e comparação das taxas de mutação entre grupos de homólogos. Além disso, procuramos também, com essa etapa de bioinformática e a etapa seguinte, incrementar a anotação desses genes, muitos descritos como hipotéticos ou com vaga definição de sua função. Na segunda parte do desenvolvimento do projeto foram feitos experimentos de expressão heteróloga e verificação da atividade enzimática para validação da anotação de alguns dos genes identificados. / This study aims to understand the process of degradation of host plant cell walls by plant pathogens of the Xanthomonadaceae family. We created and perfected a technique for enumeration of genes related to the metabolism of polysaccharides, focusing on the distinction between those who act on components of plant cell wall and on other polysaccharides. The evolutionary history of this group of enzymes has been outlined through inferences about the relations of homology between the genes listed, their presence or absence in different genomes and comparison of mutation rates between groups of homologues. Moreover, we also attempted with this bioinformatics step and the next step, to enhance the annotation of these genes, many described as hypothetical or vague in the determination of its function. In the second part of the project development heterologous expression and enzymatic activity assays were made to validate the annotation of some of the genes identified.

Os estudos com traqueídes vasculares em Caryophyllales têm focalizado questões filogenéticas e funcionais. Embora sejam descritas como traqueídes, com espessamento da parede secundária superior a 2µm, o relato de WBTs em diferentes tecidos em outras famílias evidencia que a definição dessas células não está bem estabelecida. O objetivo deste trabalho é compreender a ontogenia das traqueídes vasculares de Pilosocereus aurisetus (cacto colunar), descrevendo a sua estrutura em nível celular e bioquímico, bem como suas implicações funcionais e evolutivas. Para isso foi descrita a ontogênese, como base para o estudo de composição de parede, e anticorpos foram utilizados para melhor entendimento das moléculas de relevância funcional. Além disso, uma revisão anatômica que sintetiza o conhecimento atual sobre ocorrência das WBT, polimorfismo do lenho e diversidade de hábitos foi inserida em um contexto filogenético, a fim de esclarecer o papel do polimorfismo do lenho na evolução de Cactoideae. Plântulas foram incluídas em parafina para obtenção de cortes seriados, analisados em microscopia óptica e confocal. A análise de composição de parede celular foi feita com tecido xilemático de plântulas, cujos polissacarídeos foram sujeitos a hidrólise ácida, seguida de análise em cromatografia. Na imunolocalização foram utilizados os anticorpos anti-galactano LM5 e anti-arabinano LM6, para pectinas, e anti-manano, para hemiceluloses. Dados sobre a presença de traqueídes vasculares e do tipo de lenho em Cactaceae foram coletados da literatura e mapeados em uma filogenia robusta. A grande proporção de parede primária, associada à deposição de galactano, permite a função de armazenamento de água. Além disso, o aumento de parede secundária associada à deposição de manano na base, sugere função de sustentação nesta região, ainda que, somente a formação do lenho fibroso pareça fornecer o suporte necessário para que um cacto colunar atinja a altura de um adulto. Tal processo parece ter sido a predisposição anatômica crucial para a evolução dos cactos colunares. O presente estudo fornece um panorama amplo e novas evidências sobre a origem e função das traqueídes vasculares de Cactaceae. / Studies with wide-band tracheids have adressed phylogenetic and functional questions. Although these cells have been described as tracheids, with secondary cell walls thicker than 2µm, their recent register in different tissues of other families has pointed out that this definition may not be well established. The aim of the present study is to understand the ontogeny of the wide-band tracheids in Pilosocereus aurisetus (a columnar cactus), describing their structure at both celular and biochemical levels, and to investigate their possible functional and evolutionary implications for the Cactoideae as a whole. Therefore, Pilosocereus aurisetus ontogeny was studied as basis to cell wall composition analyses. Such analyses involved the use of antibodies and the identification of molecules of functional relevance. Furthermore, an anatomical review that summarizes the current knowledge about wide-band tracheid occurrence, wood polymorphism, and habit diversity was analyzed within a phylogenetic framework to investigate the role of polymorphic wood in Cactoideae evolution. Seedlings were embedded in paraffin, and the resulting sections were analyzed in optical and confocal microscopy. Studying the cell wall composition in seedling xylem involved the use of acid hydrolization of polysaccharides followed by chromatography analysis. The antibodies used for imunocitolocalization were anti-galactan LM5 and anti-arabinan LM6, for pectins, and anti-mannan, for hemicelluloses. Data about wide-band tracheids occurrence and wood polymorphism in Cactaceae were collected from the literature and mapped in a robust phylogeny for the subfamily. The prevalent proportion of primary cell wall with galactan suggests a water storage function for the wide-band tracheids. Furthermore, the rise of secondary cell wall deposition, and the high concentration of mannan in the cactus base suggest a sustaining function for this region. However, the fibrous wood development alone seems to provide enough support to sustain a mature columnar cactus. Such process may have been the most important anatomical prerequisite in the evolution of columnar cacti. The present study offers an overview and new evidences for the origin and function of wide-band tracheids.

Neste trabalho é apresentada a análise do transitório hidráulico com a tensão de cisalhamento na parede do conduto forçado, tendo sido modelada por gradiente harmônico de pressão. É apresentada, também, a comparação dos resultados obtidos com a aplicação do método numérico de MacCormack com a utilização de fator de atrito em relação aos obtidos através da utilização de MacCormack com a introdução da tensão de cisalhamento modelada por gradiente harmônico de pressão, na análise de transitórios hidráulicos em condutos forçados. / This work presents the analysis of the Hydraulic Transient with wall shear stress on the pressurized flow modeled by harmonic Pressure Gradient. Appears also to compare results obtained with the application of the MacCormack numerical method with the use of friction factor with respect to those obtained through use of MacCormack with the introduction of wall shear stress on the pressurized flow modeled by harmonic Pressure Gradient in the analysis of hydraulic transients.

TITLE: IN VIVO ANTRAL FOLLICLE WALL BIOPSY: A NEW RESEARCH TECHNIQUE TO STUDY OVARIAN FUNCTION USING THE HORSE AS A MODEL Abstract Understanding hormone and growth factor receptor expression in the follicular wall associated with the intrafollicular milieu and systemic endocrine aspects in vivo is crucial for a complete discovery of mechanisms behind folliculogenesis in different species. Furthermore, the comprehension of the interrelationships existent among the preovulatory follicle (POF) and corpus luteum (CL) diameter and blood flow, and progesterone (P4) production during different seasons of the year are warranted to optimize fertility in different species. In this dissertation, four studies in mares are presented with the following general objectives: (i) develop and validate a minimally invasive in vivo technique to obtain antral follicle wall biopsy (FWB) and follicular fluid (FF) samples simultaneously and repeatedly from the same individuals, during different stages of follicle development in different seasons of the year; (ii) use the FWB technique to elucidate and compare the expression pattern of different receptors and proteins involved in folliculogenesis and ovulatory mechanisms during different seasons of the year; and (iii) use B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography techniques to characterize POF and CL diameter and blood flow during two transitional ovulatory seasons (spring and fall), and elucidate the interrelationships among these variables with systemic P4 concentration. In the first study (Chapter 2), two experiments were conducted; in Experiment 1 (ex vivo), a proof of concept study was developed to check the feasibility of using the biopsy forceps to harvest FWB samples. Ovaries of six slaughtered mares were used, and each follicle was sampled using two techniques: biopsy forceps and scalpel blade (control). In Experiment 2 (in vivo), FWB and FF samples from growing follicles during various developmental stages were harvested using a novel FWB transvaginal ultrasound-guided technique. In the second study (Chapter 3), antral follicle wall and FF samples were obtained from 10−, 20−, and 30−mm follicles during spring anovulatory (SAN) and spring ovulatory (SOV) seasons. Samples were collected in vivo from the same mares in both seasons, with the aims to study and compare the expression of proliferative, angiogenic, and pro-/anti-apoptotic receptors and proteins in the follicle wall among three follicle classes, and between the SAN and SOV seasons. In the third study (Chapter 4), FWB and FF samples were collected in vivo from dominant growing follicles during the SAN, SOV, summer (SU), and fall ovulatory (FOV) seasons, to study the expression patterns of different receptors and proteins involved in follicle development. In the fourth study (Chapter 5), the temporal relationships among diameter and blood flow of the POF and CL, and systemic P4 concentration during spring and fall transitional ovulatory seasons were studied. The main findings of the present studies were: (i) the histological appearance, organization, and thickness of the follicle wall layers (i.e. granulosa, theca interna, and theca externa) were not influenced by the harvesting techniques (biopsy forceps vs. scalpel blade); (ii) the overall recovery rates of FWB and FF samples were 97% and 100%, respectively. However, the success rate of obtaining samples with all layers of the follicle wall and clear FF varied according to follicle size; (iii) follicles of the SOV season had a higher expression of proliferative, angiogenesis, and anti-apoptotic proteins compared to the SAN season; (iv) follicles of the FOV season had lower expression of proliferative, angiogenesis, and luteinizing hormone receptors; and (v) positive correlations were observed among POF and CL parameters, and P4 concentration. In conclusion, results demonstrated that the novel in vivo FWB technique developed in this study can be repeatedly and simultaneously used to provide sufficient FWB and FF samples for various cellular and molecular studies without jeopardizing the ovarian function in mares. Furthermore, results presented herein showed that several proliferative, angiogenic, and pro-/anti-apoptotic proteins are differentially expressed within different layers of the antral follicle wall among different seasons of the year. Finally, results demonstrated that larger and well-vascularized POFs have the potential to produce larger CLs with greater blood flow, and subsequently greater P4 systemic levels.

As the global population rises to an estimated 9.4bn by 2050, the pressure for food, fuel and freshwater will continue to increase. Current renewable energy technologies are not widely applicable to the transport sector, which requires energy dense liquid fuels that drop into our existing infrastructure. Algal biofuels promise significantly higher yields than plants, without the displacement of valuable agricultural resources and have the potential to meet the global demand for transport fuel. Fossil fuel energy is largely ‘a legacy of algal photosynthesis’, with algae accounting for ~50% of global CO2 fixation today. In addition, these curious organisms show remarkable diversity in form, behaviour and composition. Recently there has been a global resurgence of interest in microalgae as a resource of biomass and novel products. With the present level of technology, knowledge and experience in commercial scale aquaculture, the capital cost and energy investment for algal biomass production is high. Culturing, harvesting and disrupting microalgal cells account for the largest energy inputs with more positive energy balances requiring low energy designs for culture, dewatering and extraction, efficient water and nutrient recycling with minimal waste. Little is known about the variable cell wall of microalgae, which presents a formidable barrier to the extraction of microalgal products. Staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and enzymatic digestion were all utilised in an attempt to visualise, digest and characterise the cell wall of stock strains of Chlorella spp. and Pseudochoricystis ellipsoidea. The presence of algaenan, a highly resistant biopolymer, rendered staining and enzymatic digestion techniques ineffective. TEM revealed that algaenan is present in the outer walls of microalgae in a variety of conformations which appeared to impart strength to cells. A preliminary investigation utilising Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. elaeidis as a novel source of enzymes for the digestion of algaenan has also been described. Methods were developed for the mutagenesis of Chlorella emersonii and P. ellipsoidea using EMS and UV with the intent of generating cell-wall mutants. Although no viable cell wall mutants were produced, a viable pale mutant of C. emersonii was recovered 5 from UV mutagenesis. Growth rates of the pale mutant were significantly slower than the wild type, yet FAME profile was largely unaffected. Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) was also investigated as a means for the rapid screening of mutagenized cells for cell wall mutants. In an attempt to reduce cooling costs of closed-culture systems, temperature tolerant species of microalgae were sought by bioprospecting the thermal waters of the Roman Baths. Numerous methods for isolation and purification of microalgae from the Baths were employed, ultimately yielding seven diverse isolates including cyanobacterial, eukaryotic, filamentous and single celled species. Despite some species possessing an increased tolerance to higher temperatures, none showed marked temperature tolerance coupled with high productivity. Further improvements to the culture conditions may have improved the productivity at higher temperatures. All seven isolates were deposited to the Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa (CCAP). A variety of extraction methods including soxhlet, beadbeating, sonication and microwaving was investigated for efficacy of extracting fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) from C. emersonii. Beadbeating proved most effective in the extraction of FAMEs from C. emersonii. Microwaving showed potential as a rapid method of extraction yet was coupled with degradation of FAMEs, requiring further method development to resolve this issue. Method development has been a significant component of the work described in this thesis.

Techniques for preliminary analysis of various tall building systems subjected to lateral loads have been studied herein. Three computer programs written in Matlab® graphical user interface language for use on any personal computer are presented. Two of these programs incorporate interactive graphics. A program called Wall_Frame_2D is introduced for two-dimensional analysis of shear wall-frame interactive structures, using the shear-flexural cantilever analogy. The rigid outrigger approach was utilized to develop a program called Outrigger Program to analyze multi-outrigger braced tall buildings. In addition, a program called Frame Tube was developed which allows analysis of single and quad-bundled framed tube structures. The tube grids are replaced with an equivalent orthotropic plate, and the governing differential equations are solved in closed form. Results for lateral deflections, rotations, and moment, shear, and torque distributions within the various resisting elements are compared against other preliminary and "exact" matrix analysis methods for several examples. SAP2000 was used to obtain "exact" results. The approximate analyses are found to give reasonable results and a fairly good indication of the behavior of the actual structure. These programs are proposed for inclusion in a knowledge-based approach to preliminary tall building design. The tall building design process is outlined and criteria are given for the incorporation of these "Resource Level Knowledge Modules" into an integrated tall building design system.

Le ketchup, la moutarde, la mousse à raser, sont des fluides à seuil, ils s’écoulent uniquement lorsqu’on leur applique une contrainte supérieure à une valeur critique, appelée contrainte seuil. Sur des surfaces lisses, ces fluides peuvent s’écouler sous de petites contraintes : on a alors un phénomène de glissement. En étudiant par rhéométrie les écoulements de ces matériaux des séquences originales et une technique d’imagerie directe (vélocimétrie en IRM), on montre que le glissement ne se produit qu’au-delà d’une contrainte critique. Selon les cas, cette contrainte critique est due soit à un effet de bord, soit à un effet de surface. L’excès de contrainte par rapport à cette contrainte critique varie linéairement avec la vitesse de glissement. De ce fait le glissement peut être représenté comme le cisaillement d’une couche de liquide le long de la paroi, mais la réalité est plus complexe compte tenu de la structure du matériau au contact avec la paroi. Curieusement l’épaisseur de cette couche de liquide « équivalente » ne semble pas varier avec la concentration, la taille des gouttes, la force normale, etc. Ceci suggère que cette épaisseur est gouvernée par des forces plus élevées que la lubrification et la pression osmotique. Nous étudions également le glissement pour des écoulements plus complexes. Pour cela on impose une élongation au fluide à seuil par une expérience de traction avec des surfaces lisses. La force normale mesurée pour différents matériaux avec des structures différentes montre que la condition de transition solide-liquide en élongation est différente que ce que prédit la théorie standard, et l’épaisseur de la couche de glissement est de plusieurs ordres de grandeur supérieure à celle trouvée en cisaillement simple / Ketchup, mustard, shaving creams flow only when submitted to stresses greater than a critical stress – yield stress, these are yield stress fluids. On smooth surfaces, these fluids can flow under very small stresses; this phenomenon is the wall slip. Using gels, emulsions, clay suspensions, etc., and from rheometrical tests with original protocols and internal measurements (MRI velocimetry), we show that a minimal stress must be reached to initiate wall slip and, depending on cases, this value is either due to an edge effect or to an adhesion of the suspended elements to the wall. Above this critical value, the excess of stress is found to vary linearly with the slip velocity, except at the transition of the yield stress or using a microtextured surface: in that cases the relation becomes quadratic. The wall slip can be interpreted as the shear flow of a thin liquid layer between the yield stress fluid and the wall. However, given the complexity of the material structure in contact with the wall, the exact picture of the slip layer requires further investigations. The apparent thickness of the liquid layer seems to be independent of the concentration, the mean droplet size, the external normal forces, etc., suggesting that it depends on interactions between the suspended droplets and the surface which are much stronger than the lubricating and osmotic pressures. We also study wall slip under more complex flow conditions, by inducing an elongational flow during a traction test with smooth surfaces. The normal force measured for various materials with different microstructures shows that the yielding condition in an elongational flow is different from the standard theory, and the apparent thickness of the wall slip layer is several orders of magnitude larger than that found in shear flows

O estudo do processo de fusão e solidificação da água contida dentro de materiais confinantes tem sido amplamente discutido em química, biologia, física, geologia, e com diversas aplicações tecnológicas, tais como aplicação na fabricação de etanol de segunda geração, ou etanol celulósico, separação de fases, fabricação de nanomateriais. Pesquisas mostraram que as temperaturas de transição da água nanoconfinada são muito sensíveis ao diâmetro do poro, mas que podem ser pouco afetadas pela natureza, hidrofóbica ou hidrofílica, da superfície do poro. Outra importante constatação em experimentos de fusão e congelamento em nanoporos é que nem toda água presente nos poros pode ser cristalizada até gelo. A existência de uma camada de água pré-fundida em nanoporos tem sido confirmada através de experimentos. Com o objetivo de entender mais profundamente como a temperatura de transição da água confinada depende da natureza da parede confinante e do tamanho do confinamento, propõe-se um modelo de nanoporos de celulose para o confinamento, onde varia-se o diâmetro e comprimento do nanoporo, além da natureza da parede do nanoporo. Nossos estudos, mostram que para sistemas hidrofóbicos, com formação de camada de água líquida na parede, as temperaturas de transição variam desde relativamente baixas, para menores valores de calor latente, até atingindo a temperatura de transição da água bulk, para calor latente mais alto. Enquanto que para sistemas hidrofílicos, para nenhum dos valores de calor latente trabalhados, e para nenhum tamanho do sistema, a temperatura de transição atinge o valor de bulk. / The study of the fusion process and water solidification inside confining materials has been widely discussed in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Geology, and has various technological applications as the usage and fabrication of second generation ethanol or cellulosic ethanol, phase separation, and nanomaterials fabrications. Researches have shown that nanoconfined water’s transition temperature are highly sensitive to the pore. Another interesting remark on freezing and fusion experiments on nanopores is that not all water present in pores can be crystallized into ice. The existence of a water layer pre-melted on nanopores has been confirmed through experiments. Aiming at understanding deeply how water’s transition temperature depends on the nature of the confining wall and size, a cellulose nanopore model is proposed to the confinement, where the nanopore diameter and length are varied, besides the nature of the wall of the nanopore. Our studies show that for hydrophobic systems, with the liquid water layer formation on the wall, the transition temperatures vary from relatively low latent heat to smaller values, even reaching the temperature transition on bulk water to higher latent heat. While for hydrophilic systems, for none of the latent heat used and no system size the transition temperature reaches bulk value.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Alfred P. Sloan School of Management, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND DEWEY. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Henry M. Montrey, III. / M.S.