Children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) are often secluded from society, as the condition is perceived to be a defect. These children constantly fidget, move, lose track of time, and forget to complete tasks, leading them to struggle within existing social environments. Additionally, in Qatar there is a need to educate society about ADHD. This research explores wearable solutions that alter behaviors through physical interactions and sensory engagements. In response to the challenges faced by ADHD, Qatari traditional attire has been customized to support children with time management, and communication between child, parent, and society. Additionally, these wearables challenge Qatari perspectives surrounding existing health conditions in Qatar. Design outcomes consists of clothing elements, driven and shaped by the experiences of ADHD children, their physical behavior, their senses like touch, smell and sight. It addresses the daily conduct of the ADHD child, and the relationship of the child and parent. By challenging existing norms and analyzing the Qatari traditional clothing (the Thobe, the Abaya and the Prayer Bead), design outcomes have been realized by experimenting and playing with materials, prototyping and 3D printing on fabric. Existing functions of zippers, pockets, beads, cuffs and technical construction of the outfit have been redesigned and reconstructed.

Le détachement d'une goutte est un phénomène que nous observons quotidiennement. Il résulte de la rupture de l'interface entre le fluide dispersé en goutte et le fluide environnant. Cette rupture a fait l'objet de nombreuses études. Il est bien établi que sa dynamique est régie par une compétition entre la capillarité, l'inertie, et la viscosité du fluide. Ce manuscrit décrit l'influence sur la dynamique de rupture d'une modification des propriétés de l'interface entre deux fluides à l'aide d'agents de surface. Lorsque l'agent de surface est un surfactant (SDS), la dynamique d'amincissement peut se faire selon deux modes. Deux régimes linéaires en temps constituent le premier mode. Le second mode comporte trois régimes linéaires. Dans les deux cas, l'amincissement commence par un premier régime, suivi d'un deuxième régime de pente plus forte. Lorsque le troisième régime existe, sa pente est inférieure à celle du second régime. La variation des pentes des régimes linéaires témoigne du comportement dynamique du surfactant à l'interface. La valeur de la tension interfaciale extraite du premier régime linéaire correspond à la valeur à l'équilibre de la tension interfaciale du système, gamma_eq. La vitesse d'amincissement plus élevée au cours du second régime est reliée à une dépletion partielle en surfactant de la zone d'amincissement maximal. Le ralentissement constaté pendant le troisième régime est lié au déplacement de cette zone vers une région plus riche en surfactant, où la tension est plus faible. La dynamique d'amincissement du cou est très différente lorsque des polymères de poids moléculaire intermédiaire (env. 100 kDa) sont présents simultanément avec du SDS dans la phase continue. Lorsque [SDS] est supérieure à 0,15 fois la concentration micellaire critique (CMC), le comportement est identique à celui observé en présence de surfactant seul. En dessous de 0,15 CMC, l'amincissement ralentit exponentiellement à l'approche de la rupture, et un phénomène de beads-on-a-string apparaît. Ces constatations sont analogues à celles faites lorsqu'une solution de polymères est menée à la rupture. Dans notre cas, les polymères sont uniquement à la surface du jet et non dans son volume ! Une analyse des profils du cou au cours du temps démontre l'existence d'une auto-similarité à l'approche de la rupture. Bien que les systèmes étudiés soient plus complexes, ils présentent des caractéristiques qualitativement analogues à celles observées dans des systèmes de fluides simples. Toutefois, il existe une grande différence quantitative.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters composed of (R)-3-hydroxy-fatty acids. A variety of gram-positive as well as gram-negative bacteria and some archaea are able to produce these biopolymers as energy and carbon storage materials. In times of unbalanced growth, when carbon is available in excess but other nutrients are limited, PHA inclusions are formed. These granules are water-insoluble, stored intracellularly and can be maintained outside the cell as beads. The key enzyme for the formation of PHA inclusions is the PHA synthase PhaC, which catalyses the polymerization of (R)- 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA to PHA with the concomitant release of CoA. The PHA synthase from Ralstonia eutropha (currently Cupriavidus necator), which is covalently bound to the PHA granule surface, tolerates fusions to its N terminus without loss of activity. In this study it was investigated if it would also tolerate translational fusions to its C terminus. A specially designed linker was employed, aiming at maintaining the hydrophobic surroundings of the R. eutropha synthase C terminus to allow proper folding and activity. Two reporter proteins were tested as fusion partners, the maltose binding protein MalE and the green fluorescent protein GFP. As GFP is a hydrophobic protein itself, no additional linker between the PHA synthase and the reporter protein was necessary to produce PHA granules displaying the functional fusion protein on the surface. Principally, the PHA synthase PhaC tolerates translational fusions to its C terminus but the nature of the fusion partner influences the functionality. Recently, PHA granules have often been acknowledged as bio-beads. A one-step production allows the formation of functionalised beads without the need for further cross-linking to impart desired surface properties. PHA beads displaying a gold- or silica-binding peptide at the N terminus of PhaC were constructed and tested for their applicability. Additionally, these beads were able to bind IgG due to the ZZ domain of the IgG binding protein A, which was employed as a linker sequence. These functionalised beads can be used as molecular tools in bioimaging and biomedicine, combining organic core with inorganic-binding shell structures. In a different biomimetic approach, the display of ten lysine residues at the granule surface was achieved using the phasin protein PhaP as the anchoring matrix. Extensive work was performed in an attempt to also employ the synthase protein, but was unsuccessful. These positively charged bio-beads can be used for dispersion or crosslinking experiments as well as silica binding.

Quantum dots (QDs) are potentially advantageous tools for both diagnostics and therapeutics due to their light emitting characteristics. The impact of QDs on biological systems however, is not fully understood. The aim of this project therefore, was to investigate the interaction of a series of different surface modifies QDs with macrophages and their subsequent toxicity. CdTe/CdSe (core), ZnS (shell) QDs with either an organic, COOH or NH2 polyethylene glycol (PEG) surface coatings were used. Fluorescent COOH polystyrene beads (PBs) at (Ø) 20nm and 200nm were also studied. J774.A1 murine ‘macrophage-like' cells were treated for two hours with QDs (40nM) of PBs ($50μg.ml^{-1}$) in the presence of 10% FCS prior to assessment of cellular uptake via confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. COOH and $NH_{2}$ (PEG) QDs, as well as 20nm and 200nm PBs entered macrophages within 30 minutes, and were found to locate within endosomes, lysosomes and the mitochondria. T.E.M. also illustrated particles, including organic QDs, to be present inside J774.A1 cells within membrane- bound vesicles at two hours. Organic QDs were unable to be visualised via fixed cell confocal microscopy. Live cell confocal microscopy (without 10% FCS) did suggest however, that organic QDs entered cells in low quantities up to 30 minutes, after which fluorescence declined. Particle toxicity was determined over 48 hours via the MTT, LDH and GSH assays, as well as via assessment of their potential to produce the pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) and effect cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ signalling in the J774.A1 cells. Organic QDs were found to be highly toxic at all time points and concentrations used. Both COOH and $NH_{2 }$ (PEG) QDs induced significant (p<0.0001) cytotoxicity (MTT and LDH assays) at 80nM after 48 hours, as well as significant (p<0.01) GSH depletion over 24 hours at all doses, as well as increasing the level of cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ at 40nM when assessed over 30 minutes. Organic and NH2 (PEG) QDs were found to significantly increase TNF-α production after 24 hours at 80nM. The findings of this study demonstrate that QDs differ in their uptake by macrophages according to their surface coating, with the organic surface coated QDs being the most toxic. At sub-lethal concentrations, in the presence of 10% FCS, the COOH and $NH_{2}$ (PEG) QDs are taken up resulting in GSH depletion and modulated $Ca^{2+}$ signalling, with $NH_{2}$ (PEG) QDs and organic QDs only eliciting limited TNF-α production. Interestingly however, despite these observations, QD surface coating does not affect the intracellular fate of these NPs, with all of the different surface coated QDs observed to be present in endosomes, lysosomes and the mitochondria within J774.A1 macrophage cells. Therefore, in conclusion, the surface coating of QDs plays a significant role in their interaction with macrophages, their uptake and their subsequent toxicity.

L'objectif de cette étude est la diminution du pouvoir de combinaison du dioxyde de soufre des vins blancs liquoreux. La méthode retenue passe par l'élimination du vin de dérivés carbonylés naturellement présents et responsables de la formation de combinaisons bisulfitiques.Les dérivés carbonylés responsables de la plus grande partie du piégeage du dioxyde de soufre sont l'éthanal, l'acide pyruvique et l'acide 2-oxoglutarique. L'extraction de ces composés doit s'effectuer sans dénaturer les qualités organoleptiques du vin et sans générer l'apparition de nouvelles molécules dans le vin. Pour cela, la méthode retenue a été l'extraction liquide-solide : il s’agit de mettre en présence deux réactifs dont l’un l’agent d’extraction est fixé sur un support insoluble. Notre objectif est d’étudier la possibilité de substituer les polymères d’origine industrielle utilisés jusqu’à présent par des supports d’origine naturelle préparés à partir d’un constituant du bois : la lignine. Le recours à des supports d’origine naturelle, dérivé du bois, présente le double intérêt de permettre un meilleur contrôle des matériaux introduits dans le vin à traiter et de rendre les contaminations éventuelles provenant du traitement à priori, plus admissibles, étant constituées de composés déjà présents dans le bois de tonnellerie. / The objective of this study is the reduction of the power of sweet white wines sulfur dioxide combination. The method used relies on the extraction of carbonyl compounds from wine; these are naturally present and responsible for the formation of bisulfite combinations.The carbonyl compounds responsible for most of the trapping of sulfur dioxide are acetaldehyde, pyruvic acid and the 2-oxoglutaric. The extraction of these compounds should be done without altering the organoleptic qualities of wine and without creating the appearance of new molecules in wine. Therefore, the method we used was the liquid-solid extraction: bringing together two reactants, one of which -the extracting agent- is attached to an insoluble support.Our goal is to study the possibility of substituting the industrial polymers, used so far, by natural origin supports, prepared from a wood constituent: the lignin.The use of natural origin materials, deriving from wood, has the double advantage of allowing a better control of materials, introduced in the wine process, and making more acceptable the possible contaminations broad about by the a priori treatment, as they are compounds already present in the wood cooperage.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This research aims to analyze human burials through the Archaeothanatological methods. We focus on studying skeleton deposition in its graves and the adornments that were buried to them. Following the methodology aforementioned, our approach to gather details from human burials is realized intending to understand its original deposition (when it's originally kept) and other elements that we may link individuals to specific artifacts buried along the graves. Each skeleton characterization and singularities, such as pathologies and other alterations, must be considered in order to profile the deceased individuals. Referring to adornments, we analyze them according to geometrical characteristics and the material they are made of, so we may know this artifact “history” in order to establish a link to the individual who it was buried together. Knowing adornments’ historical trajectory may help us to make a chronological cut, specially to the period after Europeans groups arrival. The utilization of these two kind of products ensures that the natives contacted with the foreigns, so as the incorporation of European beads in burial adornments. The approach to human skeletons and the adornments in its graves intends to how these groups lived, including ceremonial burials, so these rituals show us that the attention given to the dead reflects, in many ways, the importance of the living. / O trabalho tem por objetivo analisar os sepultamentos humanos através dos métodos propostos pela Arqueotanatologia tendo como foco o modo de deposição do esqueleto em sua sepultura, bem como, os acompanhamentos do tipo adornos a eles pertencentes de modo particular. Seguindo os métodos acima mencionados, é promovida uma abordagem dos sepultamentos humanos de forma detalhada para compreender sua deposição original (quando assim mantidos) e demais elementos que possibilitem uma correlação entre os indivíduos e os artefatos específicos depositados em suas sepulturas. A caracterização de cada esqueleto e suas particularidades como patologias e demais alterações devem ser consideradas para traçar um perfil do morto. No que se refere aos adornos, são analisados conforme suas características geométricas e o tipo de material empregado em sua confecção buscando assim conhecer a “história” deste artefato estabelecendo uma ligação entre ele e o indivíduo a que foi depositado. Compreender o tipo do artefato também pode nos possibilitar um corte cronológico no que se refere principalmente, aos objetos pertencentes ao período após a chegada de grupos europeus. O envolvimento desses dois tipos de produtos atesta o contato do nativo com o recém-chegado, e a incorporação das contas europeias nos adereços funerários. A abordagem dos esqueletos humanos e dos adornos presentes em suas sepulturas visa uma compreensão desses agrupamentos, através das ações empregadas nos ritos funerários, considerando que o cuidado com o morto, reflete em muitos aspectos o grau de importância dado ao vivo.

Orientadoesr: Angela Maria Moraes, Silvia Yuko Eguchi / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-07T08:22:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lucchesi_ElianeGama_M.pdf: 1203175 bytes, checksum: 28d918ad922300d0066ef3f03d052bdd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: Biofilme microbiano é definido como uma associação de células microbianas, fixadas a superfícies, bióticas ou abióticas, envolta por uma complexa matriz extracelular de substâncias poliméricas. Os biofilmes representam mais de 90% dos contaminantes existentes em sistemas aquosos, industriais, clínicos e ambientais. A resistência de microrganismos em biofilmes (sésseis) a biocidas é muito maior que a resistência de células livres (planctônicas), quando se compara seus antibiogramas. A rápida e correta avaliação do efeito de agentes antimicrobianos sobre os microrganismos sésseis é muito importante para a adequada seleção das ações corretivas a serem aplicadas em sistemas industriais contaminados. Atualmente, o sistema in vitro mais indicado para gerar, quantificar e erradicar biofilmes é o dispositivo MBECTM, de alto custo, desenvolvido por pesquisadores canadenses. O presente estudo visou o desenvolvimento de um sistema alternativo que fornecesse resultados análogos ao MBECTM, empregando esferas de vidro como suporte para o crescimento de biofilmes ao invés de placas de poliestíreno. Em amostras de três segmentos industriais diferentes (óleo de corte usado na usinagem de metais, amaciante ,. de roupas e caldo de cana) contaminados com microrganismos formadores de biofilmes, foram testadas sete formulações de biocidas em diversas concentrações, tanto no sistema desenvolvido quanto no dispositivo MBECTM. Os biocidas utilizados foram fomecidos pela IPEL Itibanyl Produtos Especiais Ltda, formulados com os seguintes princípios ativos: 2-bromo-2nitropropano-1 ,3-diol (BNP-115); 2-n-octíl-4isotiazolin-3-ona, 2-tiocianometiltiobenzotiazol, dimetílolurea, 5-cloro-2 metil-4isotiazolin-3-ona, 2-metil-4-isotiazolin-3-ona (FBP-124); 2-n-octil-4 isotiazolin-3-ona, dimetilolurea, 1,2-benzisotiazolin-3-ona (FBP-128); sódio-2-piridinatiol-n-óxido (FBP-140); hexahidro-1,3,5-tris(2-hidroxietil) s-triazina (BP-180); 2-bromo-2nitropropano-1,3-diol, 5cloJo-2metíl-4-isotiazolin-3-ona, 2-metil-4-isotiazolin-3-ona (BP-509);e 2-n-octil-4isotiazolin-3-ona, dimethylolurea, 3-iodo-2-propinil butil carbamato (FBP-417). A concentração inibitória mínima. (MIe) dos biocidas e suas concentrações mínimas de morte (CMM) foram determinadas para as bactérias planctônicas do fluido de corte, e a melhor relação custo/benefício foi observada para o biocida BNP-11,5, que apresentou MIC e CMM de 0,014% (v/v). Quanto às células sésseis, formadas em ambos os dispositivos utilizando-se fluido de corte contaminado como inóculo, o biocida de melhor relação custo/benefício foi o BP180. Nos ensaios com amaciante de roupas e caldo de cana, as melhores relações custo/benefício foram verificadas para os biocidas BNP-115, BP-180 e BP-509. A maturidade do biofilme foi muito importante para avaliar a eficácia dos biocidas. Verificou-se, durante o desenvolvimento. do trabalho, que para a concentração de erradicação (CE) do biofílme formado no dispositivo MBECTM ser semelhante às concentrações determinadas nas esferas de vidro, houve a necessidade de um periodo de incubação maior (72 horas) no MBECTM do que no sistema de esferas (48 horas). Os valores de CE determinados para o dispositivo MBEC TM, com 48 horas e 72 horas de incubação foram, respectivamente, 12 vezes maior que a concentração tradicional recomendada e de 30 a 125 vezes tal concentração, dependendo do biocida testado. Estes resultados evidenciaram que a maturidade do biofilme formado a partir do óleo de corte contaminado é atingida mais rapidarTIente no sistema de esferas de vidro do que no dispositivo MBEC TM, mostrando que é possível gerar um biofilme representativo da contaminação industrial em 48 horas no sistema alternativo desenvolvido, agilizando as ações corretivas e evitando ou minimizando principalmente os custos com o descarte das emulsões / Abstract: A microbial biofilm is defined as an association of microbial cells adhered to surfaces, biotic or abiotic, wrapped up in a complex extracellular polymeric matrix. Biofilms represent more than 90% of the existent contaminants in aqueous, industrial, and clinical systems, as well as in the environment. The resistance to biocides of microorganisms in biofilms (sessile cells) is much larger than that observed for cells in suspension (planktonic) when their antibiograms are compared. The fast and correct evaluation of the effect of antimicrobial agents on sessile microorganisms is very important for the appropriate selection of the corrective adions to be applied in contaminated industrial systems. Nowadays, the most indicated system to generate, quantify and eradicate biofilms is the MBECTM device, developed by Canadian researchers. The present study seeked the development of an altemative system to supply results similar to those obtained with the MBEC TM device, employing glass spheres as a support for biofilm growth instead of polystyrene plates. In samples of three different industrial segments (metal working cutting fluid, liquid fabric softener and sugar cane extract), seven commercial biocide formulations were tested in several concentrations, on "'rboth the developed system using glass spheres as support, and on the MBECTM device. The biocides employed were provided by IPEL ltibanyl Produtos Especiais Ltda, and were formulated with the following active agents: 2-brome-2nitropropane-1,3-diol (BNP-115); 2-n-octil-4isotiazolin-3-0ne, 2-tiocianometiltiobenzotiazol, dimethyilolurea, 5cloro-2metil-4-isotiazolin-3-one, 2-metil-4-isotiazolin-3-one (FBP-124); 2-n-octil-4 isotiazolin-3-0ne, dimethylolurea, 1,2-benzisotiazolin-3-0ne (FBP-128); sodium-2piridinatiol-n-oxide (FBP-140); hexahidro-1,3,5-tris(2-hidroxietil) s-triazine (BP-180); 2brome-2nitropropane-1 ,3-diol, 5-cloro-2metil-4-isotiazolin-3-one, 2-metil-4-isotiazolin-3-0ne (BP-509);e 2-n-octil-4-isotiazolin-3-0ne, dimethylolurea, 3-iodo-2-propinil butil carbamate (FBP-417). . The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum concentration of death (CMM) of the different biocides were determined for the cutting fluid planktonic bacteria and the best costlbenefit ratio was observed for BNP-115 biocide, which presented MIC and CMM values equal to 0,014% (v/v). Referring to sessile cells formed on both systems, when the contaminated cutting fluid was used as inoculum, the biocide presenting the best costlbenefit ratio was BP-180. In the tests with liquid fabric softener and sugar cane extract, the best costlbenefit ratios were verified when using BNP-115, BP-180 and BP-509 biocides. The maturity of the biofilm was very important to evaluate the effectiveness of the biocides. It was verified, during the development of the work, that for the eradication concentration (CE) of the biofilm formed in the MBEC TM device to be similar to the concentrations determined in the glass spheres, a larger incubation period was required (72 hours) in MBECTM than in the system constituted of spheres (48 hours). The determined values of CE using the MBECTM device, after incubation periods of 48 hours and 72 hours, were, respedively, 12 times higher than the traditional recommended concentration and from 30 to 125 times such concentration, depending on the tested biocide. These results evidenced that the biofilm formed trom the cutting oil reached its maturity more quickly in the glass spheres system than in the MBEC TM device, showing that it is possible to generate a representative biofilm starting from an industrial contaminated sample in 48 hours in the developed system, accelerating the proper corrective actions and avoiding or minimizing mainly the costs related to emulsion disposal / Mestrado / Desenvolvimento de Processos Biotecnologicos / Mestre em Engenharia Química

O presente trabalho visou à valorização da fibra lignocelulósica de sisal, focando principalmente em seu componente majoritário, a celulose, através da síntese de ésteres de celulose e também na preparação de diferentes materiais. A escolha dessa fonte lignocelulósica deveu-se a sua disponibilidade no país, sendo o Brasil o maior produtor e exportador mundial, e por se tratar de uma fonte de fibras com alto teor de celulose e de curto ciclo de crescimento. A síntese de ésteres de celulose com diferentes tamanhos de cadeia (acetatos, butanoatos e hexanoatos) e grau de substituição (GS) foi explorada, em meios homogêneo e heterogêneo, visando à identificação de condições que levassem aos melhores rendimentos. Em meio homogêneo, utilizando DMAc/LiCl como sistema de solvente e anidridos ácidos como agentes esterificantes, a síntese de ésteres de celulose com diferentes tamanhos de cadeia e GS (0,2-3,0) foi possível, apenas ajustando-se a razão MolAnidrido/MolCelulose. Em meio heterogêneo, diferentes rotas de síntese foram exploradas. Com o uso do sistema anidrido ácido/iodo metálico (catalisador), apenas ésteres de cadeia curta (acetatos) puderam ser obtidos com alta eficiência. Na busca de rotas alternativas para a obtenção de ésteres de cadeias mais longas, o uso de cloreto ácido e piridina (como meio reacional e como catalisador nucleofílico, respectivamente) levou à obtenção de butanoatos de celulose completamente substituídos, em apenas 30 minutos. Posteriormente, os ésteres de celulose, preparados em meio homogêneo, foram considerados como materiais de partida na preparação de filmes e biocompósitos [ésteres de celulose/celulose (0-20%)], também utilizando DMAc/LiCl como sistema de solvente. Os resultados de análise dinâmico- mecânica (DMA) e ensaios de tração revelaram que, de modo geral, a introdução de celulose levou a biocompósitos com propriedades superiores em relação aos filmes sem celulose. Resultados superiores de módulo de armazenamento e resistência à tração foram obtidos com a consequente geração de materiais que apresentaram valores superiores de Módulo de Tração e menor alongamento na ruptura. Por exemplo, biocompósitos a partir de butanoato de celulose (GS 1,8) com 20% de celulose mostraram valor de módulo de armazenamento (675 MPa) quase 4x maior que o mesmo filme sem reforço (195 MPa). Para os filmes a partir de hexanoatos de celulose (GS 1,8), a adição de celulose aumentou a resistência à tração em até 1 unidade (15% de celulose), em relação ao filme sem reforço. Por meio do uso de técnicas avançadas de caracterização de superfície (XPS e ToF-SIMS), pôde-se estudar a distribuição dos grupos ésteres nas superfícies dos filmes, assim como a influência da variação do tamanho da cadeia do éster, GS e da presença da celulose nesta distribuição. Em linhas gerais, quando a cadeia lateral manteve-se constante (butanoatos), os resultados de XPS revelaram um aumento na contribuição do carbono alifático com o aumento do GS. Em relação à cobertura superficial por cadeias alifáticas dos grupos ésteres, os resultados de XPS indicaram uma maior concentração de celulose na superfície da matriz do biocompósito preparado a partir de acetato de celulose. Por outro lado, para os ésteres de cadeias maiores (butanoatos e hexanoatos de celulose), os resultados de XPS apontaram que a celulose estaria majoritariamente presente nas camadas mais internas, gerando um maior recobrimento da superfície dos biocompósitos pelos grupos ésteres da matriz. De acordo com os dados de ToF-SIMS, os grupos ésteres se distribuíram de maneira uniforme ao longo das superfícies dos filmes e biocompósitos. Posteriormente, após uma exploração de diversas condições de pré-tratamento na massa celulósica, as quais visaram condições ótimas para a dissolução da celulose em sistema aquoso de NaOH/Uréia e posterior coagulação em meio ácido, microesferas de celulose de sisal foram preparadas com sucesso. Essas microesferas de celulose apresentam potencialidade de aplicação em diversas áreas, como na liberação controlada de fármacos e cromatografia. Na etapa final, a fibra lignocelulósica e a celulose de sisal foram consideradas como materiais de partida em um estudo envolvendo a técnica de eletrofiação a temperatura ambiente, utilizando ácido trifluoroacético (TFA) como solvente. A partir do uso dessa técnica, a dissolução da fibra lignocelulósica e sua posterior reconstrução levou a formação de fibras ultrafinas (120 a 510 nm). A eletrofiação da celulose de sisal levou a formação de fibras ultrafinas e nanofibras (&lt;100 nm), em um amplo intervalo de diâmetros, apenas ajustando-se a vazão da solução. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho abrem uma vasta gama de possíveis aplicações, nas quais as fibras ultrafinas e nanofibras, preparadas a partir da biomassa lignocelulósica, podem ser empregadas, tais como membranas, filmes em estruturas do tipo sanduíche ou mesmo como reforço em compósitos. Através do presente trabalho, diferentes tipos de materiais foram preparados, a partir da fibra lignocelulósica e da celulose de sisal, ampliando as possibilidades de aplicação destes materiais em diversas áreas. / The present investigation aimed at the valorization of the lignocellulosic sisal fiber, mainly focusing on its main component, i.e. cellulose, through the synthesis of cellulose esters and preparation of different materials. This lignocellulosic source was chosen due to its availability in the country since Brazil is the largest producer and exporter worldwide and also because this lignocellulosic source has a high cellulose content and a short life cycle. The synthesis of cellulose esters with varied chain lengths (acetates, butanoatos and hexanoates) and degree of substitution (DS) was explored in homogeneous and heterogeneous media in order to identify the conditions that led to better yields. In the homogeneous medium, by using DMAc/LiCl as the solvent system and acid anhydrides as the esterifying agents, the synthesis of cellulose esters with varied chain lengths and DS (0.2-3.0) was possible by only adjusting the MolAnhydride/MolCellulose ratio. In the heterogeneous medium, different synthesis routes were explored. By using acid anhydride/metallic iodine (catalyst) as the system, only short-chain cellulose esters (acetates) could be obtained with high efficiency. In the search for new routes to obtain cellulose esters with longer chains, completely substituted esters (GS 3.0) were obtained by using acid chloride and pyridine (as the reaction medium and nucleophilic catalyst) in just 30 minutes. Afterwards, by using the same solvent system (DMAc/LiCl), cellulose esters prepared in a homogeneous medium were used as starting materials in the preparation of films and biocomposites [cellulose ester/cellulose (0-20 wt%)]. The results of dynamic-mechanical analysis (DMA) and tensile tests revealed that, in general, the cellulose loading led to biocomposites with superior properties than the films without cellulose. Thus, higher values of storage modulus and tensile strength were obtained, which consequently led to materials with higher Young Modulus and lower elongation at break. For example, biocomposites from cellulose butanoate (GS 1.8) with 20 wt% of cellulose showed a storage module value (675 MPa) almost 4 times higher than the film without cellulose (195 MPa). For the cellulose biocomposites from cellulose hexanoate (GS 1.8), the cellulose loading increased the tensile strength up to 1 unit (15 wt% cellulose) comparatively to the film without cellulose. By means of advanced techniques of surface characterization (XPS and ToF-SIMS), the distribution of the cellulose ester groups along the films/biocomposites surfaces were studied as well as the influence of the different cellulose esters chain lengths, DS and presence of cellulose on that distribution. XPS results revealed an increase in the contribution of the aliphatic carbon as the DS increased when the side chain remained constant (butanoates). Regarding the surface coverage by aliphatic chains of the ester groups, XPS results indicated a higher concentration of cellulose on the surface of the biocomposite prepared from cellulose acetate as its matrix. Conversely, for the cellulose esters with longer chains (butanoates and hexanoates), XPS results pointed that the cellulose was mostly present in the inner layers, which generated a higher surface coverage of these biocomposites\' surfaces by the aliphatic chains of the ester groups. According to the ToF- SIMS results, the esters groups were evenly distributed on the surface of the films and biocomposites. Thereafter, beads from sisal cellulose were successfully prepared after an exploration of various pre-treatment conditions on the cellulosic mass, where optimal conditions were found to lead to complete cellulose dissolution in NaOH/Urea aqueous system followed by coagulation in acid medium. Cellulose beads present a high potential of application in several areas, for example in controlled drug delivery and chromatography. At the final stage of this work, the lignocellulosic sisal and sisal cellulose fibers were used as starting materials in a study involving the electrospinning technique at room temperature, by using trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as solvent. Through this technique, the lignocellulosic fiber dissolution and later reconstruction led to ultrathin fibers (120 to 510 nm). The electrospinning of sisal cellulose led to ultrathin fibers and nanofibers (&lt;100 nm) in a wide interval of diameters, by only varying the solution flow rate. The results obtained in this investigation open a wide range of possible applications, in which the ultrathin and nanofibers prepared from the lignocellulosic biomass can be used, such as membranes, sandwich-type structure of films or as reinforcement in composite materials. Through the present work, different materials were prepared from the lignocellulosic sisal and sisal cellulose fibers, which contributed to expand the possibilities of application of these materials in diverse areas.

Les perles, petites masses percées de part en part destinées à être enfilées pour servir en particulier d’ornement, sont une des catégories d’objets les plus fréquemment observées dans les fouilles archéologiques en Afrique. Elles sont aussi présentes dans nombre d’objets perlés actuels ou récents, tels que les colliers, les coiffes, les vêtements, les instruments de danse ou même le mobilier. Employées dans les arts de cour comme dans les formes plus populaires, montées par enfilage simple ou incluses dans des broderies et des tissages, les perles sont omniprésentes dans l’existence d’un Africain, au point d’être considérées comme un des marqueurs d’africanité. Durant la période du commerce triangulaire, elles étaient une des marchandises européennes les plus prisées et ont été une des contreparties les plus courantes dans l’achat d’esclaves. L’objectif de cette thèse est de comprendre les raisons qui ont abouti à un tel engouement pour ces éléments, à travers l’étude des usages et des symboliques des perles du Cameroun, pays surnommé « l’Afrique en miniature ». Au cours de cette recherche, seront évoquées les « pierres d’aigris » ou « accory », perles bleues produites localement et constituées d’une matière mystérieuse, particulièrement recherchées dans le Golfe de Guinée durant les temps modernes (XVe- XVIIIe siècles). / Beads, beautiful small and perforated items made to be strung, are very common in African archaeological excavations. They are also familiar in actual and modern articles, like collars, headdresses, clothes, dance stuff and furniture. Used in art of courts as well as popular forms, put together in simple assembly or included into embroidery or weaving, beads are everywhere in the life of an African, that’s why they are today a designer label of africanism. All along the triangular trade, Europeans often gave beads in exchange of slaves. This thesis aims to understand why the beads are so valuable in Africa for many centuries. To reach it, uses and symbolism of Cameroonian beads are studied because Cameroon is called “Africa in miniature”. During this research, we investigate the mystery of agree beads, also called acory, which were highly valued in early modern period.