Neurons are able to maintain membrane potential and synaptic integrity by an intricate equilibrium of membrane transporter proteins and ion channels. Two membrane proteins of particular importance in the vertebrate retina are the excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) which are responsible for the reuptake of glutamate into both glial and neuronal cells and the sodium potassium chloride cotransporters (NKCCs) that are responsible for the uptake of chloride ions into the cell. NKCCs are electro-neutral with the uptake of 2 Cl- coupled to an exchange of a potassium and Na+ ion into the cells. Therefore, there is little change of cell membrane potential in the action of NKCCs. In this study the localization and function of EAATs in the distal retina is investigated. Whole cell patch clamp recordings in lower vertebrate retina have demonstrated that EAAT2 is the main synaptic EAATs in rod photoreceptors and it is localized to the axon terminals. Furthermore, the action of the transporter seems to be modified by intracellular calcium concentration. There is also evidence that EAAT2 might be regulated by feedback from the neuron network by glycinergic and GABAergic mechanisms. The second half of this study investigates expression of NKCCs in the retina by western blot analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. There are two forms of NKCCs, NKCC1 and NKCC2. NKCC1 is mostly expressed in the central nervous system and NKCC2 was thought to only be expressed in the kidneys. NKCC1 is responsible for the majority of chloride uptake into neuronal and epithelial cells and NKCC1 is expressed in the distal retina where photoreceptors synapse on second order horizontal and bipolar cells. This study found the expression of NKCC1 in the distal retina to be regulated by temporal light and dark adaptation. Light adaptation increased phosphorylated NKCC1 expression (the active form of the cotransporter). The increase in NKCC1 expression during light adaptation was modulated by dopamine. Specifically, a D1 receptor agonist increased phosphorylated NKCC1 expression. Dopamine is an essential chemical and receptor known for initiating light adaptation in retina. Finally, an NKCC1 knockout mouse model was examined and it revealed that both forms of NKCC are expressed in the vertebrate retina. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Leishmaniases is a group of diseases caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania. The estimated number of deaths from visceral leishmaniases ranges from 20,000 to 50,000 annually. The most common treatment over the past 60 years has been pentavalent antimonials. Besides the doubtful effectiveness, they present several disadvantages such as the need for parenteral administration, large doses, long treatment, severe toxicity and parasite resistance. Buparvaquone (BPQ), a drug used for veterinary treatment of theileriosis, showed promising activity against Leishmania spp. However, due to its low aqueous solubility and bioavailability, it has failed in in vivo tests. The use of nanotechnologies has the potential to overcome these drawbacks due to the following advantages: increase in drug water-solubility, increase in therapeutic efficacy and treatment toxicity reduction. Therefore, the present work aimed the development, optimization, physical-chemical evaluation and in vitro performances of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) for BPQ encapsulation. The NLC preparation was performed by high pressure homogenization, and surface response and factorial design were applied to formulation optimization. In vitro dissolution profiles were evaluated in phosphate buffer pH 7.4 with tween 80 0.07% w/v or sodium dodecyl sulfate 1% w/v and simulated body fluid pH 7.4. Cytotoxicity was evaluated in mouse peritoneal macrophages and leishmanicidal activity in L. infantum amastigotes. Six optimized NCL were prepared and they showed solubility improvement from 1.5- fold to 611-fold when compared with free BPQ, depending on the formulation and medium. Dissolution profiles showed the NLC formulation suitability for BPQ regarding oral administration, the release could reach 83.29% of a 4mg dose in 30 minutes for formulation of 175.1 nm, while the free drug could be dissolved only 2.89% of the same dose after 4 hours. Moreover, formulation of 230.7 nm showed 81.42% of drug release in in phosphate buffer pH 7.4 with dodecyl sulfate 1.0% w/v after 30 minutes, while BPQ did not dissolved. Cytotoxicity assay showed the safety of all formulations. The iv CC50 values were close to 500 µM, while the IC50 against amastigotes was only 456.5 nM for free BPQ. Developed NLCs showed an increase in IC50 from 2.0 to 3.1-fold when compared to free drug in the in vitro leishmanicidal evaluation. Therefore, the NLC containing BPQ are a promising alternative for the treatment of leishmaniases as oral and parenteral drug dosage forms. Additionally, they have a potential use for lymphatic targeted drug delivery, which can be an innovative approach for this neglected disease. / Leishmanioses são um grupo de doenças causadas por parasitas do gênero Leishmania. O número estimado de óbitos por leishmaniose visceral varia entre 20.000 e 50.000 por ano. O tratamento mais comum nos últimos 60 anos tem sido os antimônios pentavalentes. Além da eficácia duvidosa, eles apresentam várias desvantagens, como a necessidade de administração parenteral, altas doses, tratamento prolongado, toxicidade severa e resistência parasitária. Buparvaquona (BPQ), um fármaco usado para tratamento veterinário da teileriose, mostrou atividade promissora contra Leishmania donovani. No entanto, devido à sua baixa solubilidade e biodisponibilidade aquosa, falhou em testes in vivo. O uso das nanotecnologias tem o potencial de superar esses obstáculos devido às seguintes vantagens: aumento da solubilidade em água, aumento da eficácia terapêutica e redução da toxicidade do tratamento. Portanto, o presente trabalho objetivou o desenvolvimento, otimização, avaliação físico-química e avaliação do desempenho in vitro de carreadores lipídicos nanoestruturados (NLC) para o encapsulação da BPQ. A preparação do NLC foi realizada por homogeneização de alta pressão e superfície de resposta e planejamento fatorial foram aplicados à otimização das formulações. Os perfis de dissolução in vitro foram avaliados em tampão fosfato pH 7.4 com tween 80 a 0.07% p/v ou dodecilsulfato de sódio 1.0% p/v e fluido corporal simulado pH 7.4. A citotoxicidade foi avaliada em macrófagos peritoneais de camundongos e atividade leishmanicida em amastigotas de L. infantum. Foram preparados quatro NCL otimizados e mostraram melhora da solubilidade de 1,5 a 611 vezes quando comparado com a BPQ livre, dependendo da formulação e do meio. Os perfis de dissolução mostraram a adequação da formulação NLC para BPQ em relação à administração oral. A dissolução pode atingir 83,29% de uma dose de 4.0 mg em 30 minutos para a formulação de 175,1 nm, enquanto o fármaco livre dissolveu apenas vi 2,89% da mesma dose após 4 horas. Além disso, a formulação de 230,7 nm mostrou 81,42% de liberação do fármaco em tampão fosfato pH 7.4 com dodecil sulfato de sódio 1.0% p/v após 30 minutos, enquanto o BPQ não se dissolveu. O teste de citotoxicidade mostrou a segurança de todas as formulações. Os valores CC50 foram próximos de 500 µM, enquanto o IC50 em amastigotas foi de apenas 456,5 nM para BPQ livre. Os NLC desenvolvidos mostraram um aumento no IC50 de 2,0 a 3,1 vezes quando comparado ao;fármaco livre na avaliação leishmanicida in vitro. Logo, as NLC contendo BPQ são uma alternativa promissora para o tratamento de leishmanioses como formas farmacêuticas oral e parenteral. Além disso, eles têm um uso potencial para a sítio-específico ao sistema linfático, o que pode ser uma abordagem inovadora para esta doença negligenciada.

Tsang Po Ting. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 135-152). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Abstract 摘要 --- p.iv / List of Figures --- p.vi / List of Tables --- p.viii / List of Abbreviations --- p.ix / Table of Contents --- p.xii / Chapter Chapter 1: --- General Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- The Role of Glucose in Biological System --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Glucose Transporter Families --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Na+-Dependent Glucose Transporters --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Facilitative Glucose Transporters --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Glucose Transporter Type1 --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Primary Structure of the Glutl Protein --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Secondary Structure --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Tertiary Structure --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Kinetics Properties --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.5 --- Tissue Distribution --- p.12 / Chapter 1.3.6 --- Multifunctional Property --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3.7 --- Characterization of GLUT1 Gene --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3.8 --- Regulation of GLUT1 Expression --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4 --- Glucose Transporter Type 1 and the Brain --- p.16 / Chapter 1.5 --- Glucose Transporter Type 1 Deficiency Syndrome (GIutlDS) --- p.19 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Backgronnd of GIutlDS --- p.19 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Clinical Features of GIutlDS --- p.23 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Genotype-Phenotype Correlations --- p.24 / Chapter 1.5.4 --- Diagnosis --- p.26 / Chapter 1.5.5 --- Manage nent --- p.27 / Chapter 1.5.5.1 --- Ketogenic Diet --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6 --- Hypothesis and Objectives --- p.29 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Biochemical and Molecular Analysis of GLUT1 in a Suspected GlutlDS Case --- p.31 / Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Clinical History of Suspected GlutlDS Patient --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Blood Samples --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Reagents and Buffers for Reverse Transcription --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Reagents and Buffers for TA Cloning --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Reagents for Genomic DNA Extraction --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- Reagents and Buffers for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1.7 --- Reagents and Buffers for Agarose Gel Electrophoresis --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1.8 --- Reagents for Zero-trans 3-OMG Influx in Erythrocytes --- p.37 / Chapter 2.1.9 --- Reagents for Zero-trans 3-OMG Efflux from Erythrocytes --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.10 --- Reagents for Erythrocytes Membrane Extraction and Detection --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2 --- Methods --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- GLUT1 Gene Analysis --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Zero-trans 3-OMG Influx into Erythrocytes --- p.51 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Zero-trans 3-OMG Efflux from Erythrocytes --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Glutl Protein Expression --- p.54 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Statistics --- p.57 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.58 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Molecular Analysis of the GLUT1 Gene of a Suspected GlutlDS Patient --- p.58 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Functional Analysis of the GlutlDS Patient's Glutl Protein --- p.61 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Glutl Protein Expression in the GlutlDS Patient --- p.64 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.66 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Pathogenicity Studies of GLUT1 Mutations --- p.71 / Chapter 3.1 --- Materials --- p.72 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Construction of Glutl-Encoding Vectors --- p.72 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Cell Lire --- p.73 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- "Cell Culture Media, Buffers and Other Reagents" --- p.73 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Cell Culture Wares --- p.75 / Chapter 3.1.5 --- Reagents for Transfection --- p.75 / Chapter 3.1.6 --- Reagents for Protein Determination and Western Blot Analysis --- p.76 / Chapter 3.1.7 --- Consumables for Confocal Microscopy --- p.77 / Chapter 3.1.8 --- Reagents and Buffers for Flow Cytometry --- p.77 / Chapter 3.1.9 --- Reagents for 2-DOG Uptake in CHO-K1 Cells --- p.77 / Chapter 3.2 --- Methods --- p.79 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Cell Culture Methodology --- p.79 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Construction of GLUT1 Mutants --- p.80 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Establishment of Wild Type and Mutant Glutl Expressing Cell Lines --- p.84 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Protein Expression Study --- p.85 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- 2-DOG Influx Assay in CHO-K1 Cells --- p.87 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Confocal Microscopy Studies on Glutl Cellular Localization --- p.89 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- Statistics --- p.90 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.91 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Molecular Analysis of 1034-1035Insl2 Mutation --- p.91 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Expression of the Wild Type and Mutant GFP-Glutl Fusion Proteins --- p.92 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Functional Analysis of the 1034-1035Insl2 Mutant --- p.95 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.97 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- GLUT1 Promoter Study --- p.100 / Chapter 4.1 --- Materials --- p.101 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Construction of GLUT1 Promoter Vectors --- p.101 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Cell Lines --- p.102 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Cell Culture Media and Other Reagents --- p.103 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- Dual Luciferase Reporter Assay System --- p.103 / Chapter 4.2 --- Methods --- p.105 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Bioinformatics --- p.105 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Cell Culture --- p.105 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Construetion of GLUT1 Promoter Vectors --- p.105 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- 5'-Deletion Analysis of GLUT1 Promoter --- p.108 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Determination of the Activities of GLUT1 Promoter Fragments --- p.110 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Statistics --- p.113 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.114 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Determination of the Promoter Activity of the 5'-deletion Fragments --- p.114 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Prediction of Transcription Factors in the 5'-deletion Fragments --- p.119 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.121 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- General Conclusion and Future Perspectives --- p.133 / References --- p.135

Metal homeostasis in plants is regulated by diverse mechanisms that act together to maintain optimal metal ion concentrations inside the cell. P1B-ATPases are heavy metal transport ATPases that are likely to be related to these processes. The sequencing of the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana revealed the presence of eight putative P1B-ATPases, HMA1-8. The main goal in this work is to characterize of the role of P1B-ATPases in plant metal homeostasis. Toward this goal, the P1B-ATPases HMA1 and HMA6 from Arabidopsis thaliana were cloned from leaves and sequenced. Results from RT-PCR experiments show ubiquitous expression in planta of this two ATPases, except for HMA1 that does not express in roots. Upon Cu2+ exposure during growth, expression of HMA6 increases in seedlings. HMA1 expression increases when seedlings are grown in high Cu2+ and Co2+ media, and decreases when grown in high concentrations of Zn2+ and Ni2+. hma1-1 plants have smaller size and less chlorophyll content than WT plants. Growth is affected in hma1-1 seedlings when grown in Zn2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+ and Cu2+ deficient media, or when these metals are in excess. Moreover, hma1-1 plants show an increase in Zn2+, Mn2+ and Fe2+ content in whole plants compared to WT plants. Mutant plants also show increased levels of HMA3 and HMA4 transcripts (Zn2+/Cd2+/Pb2+ P1B-ATPases), upregulation of metallothioneins 1a and 2b, downregulation of metallothionein 1c, and a decrease in the phytochellatin synthases 1 and 2 transcripts, compared to WT plants. Homozygous for mutation in HMA6 seems to be lethal, given that none was recovered after screening. These results indicate HMA1 and HMA6 as essential components of plant metal homeostasis in Arabidopsis thaliana.

This thesis describes a real-time software-defined-radio implementation of the time-slotted round-trip carrier synchronization protocol in two-source and three-source communication systems. The techniques developed in this thesis can be used to synchronize the carriers of two or three single-antenna wireless transmitters with independent local oscillators so that their band-pass transmissions combine constructively at an intended receiver. Synchronization is achieved via the time-slotted transmission of (i) an unmodulated primary beacon from the destination to the sources and (ii) a series of secondary unmodulated beacons between the sources. Explicit channel state information is not exchanged between the sources and/or the destination. When synchronized, the single-antenna sources are able to cooperatively transmit as a distributed beamformer and achieve increased transmission range, reduced transmission energy, and/or increased security. The experimental results in this thesis confirm the theoretical predictions and also provide explicit guidelines for the real-time implementation of a carrier synchronization technique suitable for distributed transmit beamforming.

One of the major challenges in the field of organic semiconductors is to develop molecular design rules and processing routes which optimise the charge carrier mobility, whilst independently controlling the radiative and non-radiative processes. To date there has existed a seeming trade-off between charge carrier mobility and photoluminescence efficiency, which limits the development of some devices such as electrically pumped laser diodes. This thesis investigates fluorescence enhancement strategies for high-mobility polymer semiconductor systems and the mechanisms by which they currently display poor emission properties. Four independent approaches were taken and are detailed as follows. 1. Solubilising chain engineering It is shown that for the high mobility polymer poly(indacenodithiophene-co-benzothiadiazole), the addition of a phenyl- initiated side chain can enhance the solid-state fluorescence quantum yield, exciton lifetime and exciton diffusion length significantly in comparison to that without phenyl-addition. 2. Energy transfer to a highly fluorescent chromophore It is shown that for the high mobility polymer poly(indacenodithiophene-co-benzothiadiazole) efficient energy transfer to a more emissive squaraine dye molecule is possible despite fast non-radiative decay short exciton diffusion lengths. This results in a significant fluorescence enhancement, which in turn facilitates an order of magnitude increase of the efficiency of polymer light emitting diodes made from this material combination. 3. Energy gap engineering The well known Energy Gap Law predicts an increase in the non-radiative rate as the optical bandgap of an organic chromophore decreases in energy. In combination with this, almost all polymer semiconductors reported to date with high charge carrier mobility have low optical bandgaps. Therefore, molecular design principles which act to increase the optical bandgap of polymer semiconductors whilst retaining a high mobility were sought out. One specific system was successfully identified and showed a significant fluorescence enhancement compared to is predecessor poly(indacenodithiophene-co-benzothiadiazole) in both the solution and the solid state. It is found that the Frenkel exciton lifetime in this new system is a factor of four larger which also results in a significantly increased exciton diffusion length. An inter-chain electronic state is also identified and discussed. 4. Hydrogen substitution For some low-bandgap material systems such as erbium chromophores, high energy vibrational modes such as the C-H stretching mode can act as non-radiative pathways. The effect of hydrogen substitution with deuterium and fluorine was therefore investigated in a series of polythiophene derivative families. It was found that in the solid state, fluorescence and exciton lifetime enhancement occurred when the backbone hydrogen atoms were replaced with fluorine. However, evidence is given that this was not owing to the initial hypothesis, and is more likely owing to structural differences which occur in these substituted material systems.

Au Yeung, Wan Kin. / "August 2011." / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-103). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Thesis committee --- p.i / Statement --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iii / Acknowledgements --- p.v / General abbreviations --- p.vi / Abbreviations of chemicals --- p.vii / List of figures --- p.ix / List of figures in Appendix VI --- p.xii / List of tables --- p.xiv / Table of Contents --- p.xv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- The significance of studying rice disease resistance --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Economic importance of rice --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Diseases caused by pathogens virulent to rice --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2.1 --- Bacterial leaf blight diseases --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2.2 --- Fungal blast diseases --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Approach to enhance resistance of crops towards pathogens --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- Literature review on plant immunity system --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMP) and PAMP -triggered immunity (PTI) --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Pathogen effectors and effector-triggered immunity (ETI) --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Roles of phytohormones in plant defense responses --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- G protein signaling and plant defense responses --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3 --- Literature review on FK506 binding proteins (FKBPs) --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4 --- Background information of this study - origin of the clone chosen for study in this project --- p.11 / Chapter 1.5 --- Hypothesis and Objectives --- p.12 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- "Plants, bacterial strains and vectors" --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Chemicals and Regents --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Commercial kits --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Primers and Adaptors --- p.19 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Equipments and facilities used --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- "Buffer, solution, gel and medium" --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2 --- Methods --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.1. --- Bacterial and yeast cultures --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Plant growth conditions and treatments --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.2.1 --- Surface sterilization of J. thaliana seeds --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.2.2 --- Environmental conditions of A. thaliana for germination of seeds and growing of seedlings --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.2.3 --- Environmental conditions of A. thaliana for growing of plants --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.2.4 --- Pathogen inoculation test of A. thaliana with Pst DC3000 --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Cloning and subcloning of OsFKBP 12 and OsUCCl --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.3.1 --- Sub-cloning of OsFKBP12 to pGEX-4T-l and pMAL-c2 --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.3.2 --- Cloning of OsUCCl to pGEX-4T-l --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- "DNA, RNA and protein extractions" --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.4.1 --- Plasmid extraction from bacterial cells --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.4.2 --- Genomic DNA extraction from plant through CTAB method --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.4.3 --- RNA extraction from plant tissues --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2.4.4 --- Protein extraction from plant tissues --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.4.5 --- Fusion protein extraction from E. coli --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Western blot analyses --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.5.1 --- Western blot analysis of GST tag and MBP tag fusion proteins --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.5.2 --- Western blot analysis native OsYchFl proteins --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Real-time PCR study --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.6.1 --- cDNA synthesis --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.6.2 --- Real-time PCR --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Yeast two hybrid --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.7.1 --- Screening of OsFKBP 12 interaction protein partners by yeast mating --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.7.2 --- Identification of positive interacting protein partners by extracting DNA plasmid from yeast --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.7.3 --- Re-transformation of pGBKTl-OsFKBP 12 with their interacting partner clones into yeast (AH 109) by co-transformation --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- In vitro pull down assay of OsFKBP 12 with their putative protein interacting partner --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.8.1 --- In vitro pull down of native OsYchFl by MBP-His-OsFKBP12 --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.8.2 --- In vitro pull down of GST-AtYchF 1 by MBP-His-OsFKBP12 --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.8.3 --- In vitro pull down of MBP-His-OsFKBP12 by GST-OsUCCl --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.8.4 --- In vitro pull down of MBP-His-OsFKBP12 by GST-OsYchFl G domain --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.9 --- GTPase assay ofOsYchF with OsFKBP12 --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.0 --- Phylogenetic analysis and sequence alignment --- p.39 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Results --- p.40 / Chapter 3.1 --- Identification of OsFKBP 12 encoding a FKBP (FK506 binding protein)-domain containing protein in Oryza sativa (rice) --- p.40 / Chapter 3.2 --- OsFKBP12 was down-regulated in the pathogen-inoculated Xal4 rice line CBB14 --- p.47 / Chapter 3.3 --- Ecotpic expression of OsFKBP 12 repressed the expression of defense marker genes in transgenic A. thaliana --- p.50 / Chapter 3.4 --- Expressing OsFKBP 12 in transgenic A. thaliana enhanced the susceptibility to the bacterial pathogen Pst DC3000 --- p.54 / Chapter 3.5 --- OsFKBP 12 protein interacted with a putative defense-related G-protein and a copper binding protein --- p.57 / Chapter 3.6 --- "OsFKBP 12 protein interacted with the G domain of defense-related G protein, OsYchFl" --- p.69 / Chapter 3.7 --- OsFKBP 12 protein enhanced the in vitro phosphate release of OsYchFl --- p.72 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Discussion --- p.74 / Chapter 4.1 --- The identification and characterization of OsFKBP 12 --- p.74 / Chapter 4.2 --- Expression pattern of OsFKBP 12 upon biotic stress in bacterial blight resistant near isogenic line (NIL) --- p.75 / Chapter 4.3 --- OsFKBP 12 repressed the expression of SA-regulated defense marker genes when ectopically expressed in A. thaliana --- p.75 / Chapter 4.4 --- Ectopic expression of OsFKBP 12 enhanced susceptibility towards Pst DC3000 in transgenic A. thaliana --- p.76 / Chapter 4.5 --- The interacting partners of OsFKBP 12 in relation to plant defense response --- p.78 / Chapter 4.6 --- The specific biochemical interaction of OsFKBP 12 with OsYchFl --- p.80 / Chapter 4.7 --- Future perspectives --- p.85 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Conclusion --- p.87 / References --- p.89 / Appendix --- p.104

With a wide range of potential applications, the machine type communication (MTC) is gaining a tremendous interest among mobile network operators, system designers, MTC specialist companies, and research institutes. The idea of having electronic devices and systems automatically connected to each other without human intervention is one of the most significant objectives for future wireless communications. Low data rate transmission and the requirement for low energy consumption are two typical characteristics for MTC applications. In terms of supporting low cots MTC devices, industrial standards will be more efficient if designers can re-use many features of existing radio access technologies. This will yield a cost effective solution to support MTC in future communication systems. This thesis investigates efficient MTC waveform and receiver designs for superior signal transmission quality with low operational costs. In terms of the downlink receiver design, this thesis proposes a novel virtual carrier (VC) receiver system for MTC receivers, which aims to reduce the maximum bandwidth to improve the data processing efficiency and cost-efficiency by using analogue filters to extract only sub-carriers of interest. For the VC receiver systems, we thus reduce the sampling rate in order to reduce the number of subsequent processing operations, which significantly reduces the analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) cost and power consumption while providing high signal to interference noise ratio (SINR) and low bit to error rate (BER) to support low data rate MTC devices. Our theoretical equations account for the interference effect of aliasing on the sub-carrier location, and this helps the system designer to evaluate what kind of filters and receiver sampling rate can be used to balance the energy cost and detection performance. In terms of the uplink waveform design, considering the enhanced number of MTC devices in the future communication systems, i.e. the fifth generation (5G) communications, the same tight synchronisation as used in today appears not to be cost-effective or even possible. Synchronisation signals, which aim to provide a perfect time or frequency synchronisation in the current fourth generation (4G) communication systems (known as the long-term evolution, LTE), is much more costly for low data rate MTC transmissions. The system bandwidth will be significantly reduced if a base station tries to synchronise all received signals among hundreds or thousands MTC devices in one transmission time period. In terms of relaxing the synchronisation requirements, this thesis compares and analyses the side-lobe reduction performance for several candidate multi-carrier waveforms to avoid these problems. We also propose the infinite impulse response universal filtered multi-carrier (UFMC) system and the overlap and add UFMC system, which significantly reduce the processing complexity compared with the state of the art UFMC techniques. This thesis derives closed-form expressions for the interference caused by time offsets between adjacent unsynchronised MTC users. Our analytical equations can be used in both simple and complex time-offset transmission scenarios, and enable the system designer to evaluate the SINR, the theoretical Shannon capacity and the BER performance.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:41:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 VitorRMM_DISSERT.pdf: 2544703 bytes, checksum: 4453e8b3e10e994e669daf77efdaa72b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-04 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / Perovskites oxides win importance by its properties and commercials applications, they have a high thermal stability, have conductive properties, electrical, catalytic, electro catalytic, optical and magnetic, and are thermally stable. Because of these properties, are being widely studied as carriers of oxygen in the process of power generation with CO2 capture. In this work, the base carrier system La1-xMexNiO3 (Me = Ca and Sr) were synthesized by the method via the combustion reaction assisted by microwave. were synthesized from the combustion reaction method by microwave process. This method control the synthesi`s conditions to obtain materials with specific characteristics. The carriers calcined at 800 ? C/2h were analyzed by thermal analysis (TG-DTA), to verify its thermal stability, X-ray diffraction (XRD) to verify the phase formation, with subsequent refinement by the Rietveld method, to quantify the percentage of phases formed, the surface area by BET method was determined, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was obtained to evaluate the material morphology and temperature programmed reduction (TPR) was done to observe the metallic phase of the nickel. After all proposed characterization and analysis of their results can be inferred to these oxides, key features so that they can be applied as carriers for combustion reactions in chemical cycles. The final products showed perovskite-type structures K2NiF4 (main) and ABO3. / ?xidos com estrutura tipo perovsquita destacam-se por suas diversas propriedades e aplica??es comerciais, pois possuem alta estabilidade t?rmica, apresentam propriedades condutoras, el?tricas, catal?ticas, eletrocatal?ticas, ?pticas e magn?ticas, al?m de serem termicamente est?veis. Devido a estas propriedades, est?o sendo amplamente estudados como carreadores de oxig?nio em processos de gera??o de energia com captura de CO2. Neste trabalho, carreadores a base do sistema La1-xMexNiO3 ( Me = Ca e Sr) foram sintetizados a partir do m?todo via rea??o de combust?o assistida por microondas. Este m?todo controla as condi??es de s?ntese para obten??o de materiais com caracter?sticas espec?ficas. Os carreadores calcinados a 800?C/2h foram analisados atrav?s de an?lise t?rmica (TG-DTA), para verifica??o de sua estabilidade t?rmica; difra??o de raios-X (DRX), para verifica??o das fases formadas, com posterior refinamento atrav?s do m?todo de Rietveld, para quantificar o percentual das fases formadas; ?rea superficial pelo m?todo BET; microscopia eletr?nica de varredura (MEV) e redu??o ? temperatura programada (TPR). Ap?s toda caracteriza??o proposta e an?lise dos seus resultados pode-se inferir a esses ?xidos, caracter?sticas fundamentais para que os mesmos possam ser aplicados como carreadores em rea??es de combust?o por ciclos qu?micos. Os carreadores de oxig?nio obtidos possuem estruturas perovsquitas do tipo K2NiF4 (principal) e ABO3.

The Master's thesis is dealing with equal opportunities in organizations in terms of gender, gender discrimination, work-life balance and other related topics. The aim of the thesis is to analyze equal opportunities in a selected organization, to find out the viewing of equal opportunities by female and male managers and to compare programs supporting equal opportunities offered by bank to programs of organizations awarded for their innovative approach to this issue. After analysis of all available materials it's possible to conclude that the Bank is not the leader in the field of equal opportunities but a successful follower. Currently the bank is trying to implement various programs supporting women in management and work-life balance and following the principles of diversity.