Os filmes micrométricos contendo óxido misto de lantânio, estrôncio, cobalto e ferro (La0,60Sr0,40)(Co0,20Fe0,80)O3-δ - LSCF, misturado com (Ce0,90Gd0,10)O1,95 - CGO, são relevantes para a utilização como camada funcional para o cátodo da Célula a Combustível de Óxido Sólido de Temperaturas Intermediárias. Estes filmes foram depositados no um substrato cerâmico e denso de CGO ou CGO sobre (ZrO2)0.92(Y2O3)0.08 - YSZ. O estudo deste cátodo é fundamental, pois é nele que ocorre a reação de redução do gás oxigênio, e o seu desempenho eletroquímico depende da interface destes dois materiais. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho contribui para a síntese dos particulados de LSCF para o processamento de filmes, utilizando a técnica de deposição com uso de aerógrafo e para sua conformação em camadas contendo porosidade com espessuras entre 30 e 50 μm. Inicialmente, os particulados de LSCF foram sintetizados pela técnica do citratos e de LSCFCGO obtidos por mistura mecânica, sendo caracterizados por DRX para a confirmação da formação da estrutura cristalina ortorrômbica para o LSCF e cúbica para CGO. Em seguida, foram preparadas suspensões orgânicas de LSCF, LSCFCGO e CGO que foram alimentadas por gravidade em um aerógrafo manual para deposição sobre substrato do eletrólito. Para a conformação dos substratos de CGO ou YSZ, utilizou-se prensa uniaxial e isostática, sinterização e retificação. Verificaram-se, pelas micrografias, que os substratos CGO e YSZ apresentaram densidades (> 92%) suficientes para serem utilizados como eletrólitos. Os filmes de LSCF e LSCFCGO apresentaram-se com porosidades adequadas (> 30%) e espessura total de aproximadamente 40 μm, com boa aderência ao eletrólito. A presença do cátodo compósito contendo eletrólito de CGO sobre YSZ possibilitou aumento de 25% no desempenho eletroquímico (2,50 Ω.cm2 para 650ºC) em decorrência da melhora na reação de redução do oxigênio na interface cátodo/eletrólito. / The study of micrometrics films of (La0.60Sr0.40)(Co0.20Fe0.80)O3-δ - LSCF mixture with (Ce0.90Gd0.10)O1.95 - CGO is relevant for use as functional cathode of Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (ITSOFC). These films were deposited on the CGO or CGO and YSZ dense ceramic substrate, used as electrolyte, structural component of the module. The study of this cathode is fundamental, because is there that occurs oxygen reduction reaction, and the electrochemical performance depends on the interface of these two materials. In this sense, this work contributes for the synthesis of LSCF particulates, for processing films using the wet powder spraying technique, adopted for the conformation of the ceramic films for allowing the attainment porous layers with thicknesses between 30 and 50 μm. Initially, the LSCF particulates were synthesized by the citrate technique and the LSCFCGO produced by solid mixture were characterized by XRD to confirm the formation of LSCF orthorhombic structure and CGO cubic structure. In the stage of formation were prepared organic suspensions of LSCF, LSCFCGO and CGO fed by gravity in a manual airbrush for electrolyte substrate deposition, sintering and grinding for thickness reduction. The micrographs showed that the CGO and YSZ substrates were dense (> 92%) enough to be used as solid electrolyte. The LSCF and LSCFCGO films presented with adequate porosity (> 30%) and total thickness of approximately 40 μm, with good adhesion to electrolyte. The presence of the composite cathode containing CGO or YSZ electrolyte allowed the increase of 25% in the electrochemical performance (2.50 Ω.cm2 to 650ºC) due to improvement in the oxygen reduction reaction at the interface cathode/electrolyte.

The microbes that inhabit the human body, our microbiota, greatly influence our physiology and propensity for disease. For instance, the gut microbiota metabolizes compounds from our diet to provide important nutrients. Similarly, the microbiota has the potential to impact drug response; directly by metabolizing drugs, or indirectly by providing metabolites to the host. The complexity of the mammalian microbiota, and the limited throughput of such models, prohibit a systematic interrogation of specific interactions between microbes and host drug response. Here, I use C. elegans and its bacterial diet as a suitable model with the scalability and genetic tractability to address these questions. In Chapter II, I describe host-bacteria-drug interactions involving the anti-pyrimidine drugs 5-FU and FUDR. In brief, we identified two main mechanisms by which bacteria affect the C. elegans response to anti-pyrimidines: (1) metabolic conversion into FUMP by uridine phospho-ribosyltransferase (upp) and (2) dietary supplementation of uracil. Chapter III will focus on a selective estrogen-receptor modulator, TAM, with no clear target in bacteria or C. elegans. I will describe my work characterizing a bacteria-dependent response to TAM involving fatty acid metabolism. Lastly, the Appendix will summarize my efforts to expand the sample space of tested host-microbe-drug interactions.

Title: Preparation and characterization of substituted Y ferrites in the form of ceramics and thin films Author: Dorota Pulmannová Department: Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague Supervisor: RNDr. Daniel Nižňanský, Ph.D. Consultant: Ing. Josef Buršík, CSc. Abstract: In this work we describe a preparation and characterization of a hexagonal ferrite series with composition BaSrCoZnXFe11O22 where X=Fe, Al, Ga, In and Sc. We have prepared these ferrites in the powder and ceramic form using the citrate synthesis and in the thin film form using the chemical solution deposition method. Using the powder neutron diffraction we have found that the sample containing only Fe has collinear magnetic structure that belongs to the C2/m or C2'/m' group. Magnetic structure of the samples substituted with In and Sc is similar, but the magnetic moments of the 18hVI site atoms are not aligned parallely with the other moments. Magnetic structure of Ga-substituted sample is different, it is modulated with a propagation vector k ≈ (0, 0, 3/4). Propagation vector of the Al-substituted ferrite is k ≈ (0, 0, 3/2). Substituting elements show strong preferences for the cation sites. Al and Ga prefer the 3bVI site, Zn prefers the tetrahedral 6cIV and In and Sc prefer the 6cVI site. Room...

The intertidal zone is characterized by persistent, tidally-driven fluctuations in both abiotic (e.g., temperature, [O2], salinity) and biotic (e.g., food availability, predation) conditions, which makes this a very physiologically challenging habitat for resident organisms. The magnitude and degree of variability of these environmental stressors differs between intertidal zones, with the most extreme physiological stress often being experienced by organisms in the high intertidal. Given that many of the fluctuating conditions in this environment are primary drivers of metabolic rate (e.g., temperature, [O2], food availability), we hypothesized that sessile conspecifics residing in different tidal zones would exhibit distinct ‘metabolic phenotypes,’ a term we use to collectively describe the organisms’ baseline metabolic performance and capacity. To investigate this hypothesis, we collected acorn barnacles (Balanus glandula) from low, mid, and high intertidal positions in San Luis Obispo Bay, CA and measured a suite of biochemical (whole-animal citrate synthase (CS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, aerial [lactate]), physiological (O2 consumption rates), morphological (body size), and behavioral (e.g., cirri beat frequency, % time operculum open) indices of metabolism. We found tidal zone-dependent differences in B. glandula metabolism that primarily related to anaerobic capacity, feeding behaviors and body size. Barnacles from the low intertidal tended to have a greater capacity for anaerobic metabolism (i.e., increased LDH activity), feed less when submerged, and be smaller in size compared to conspecifics in the high intertidal. We did not, however, see differences between barnacles from different tidal heights in whole-animal [lactate] following 24h of air exposure, which indicates that the enhanced capacity of low intertidal barnacles for anaerobic metabolism may have evolved to support metabolism during more prolonged episodes of emersion (>>24h) or during events other than emersion (e.g., coastal hypoxia, predation). There were also no significant differences in CS activity or baseline oxygen consumption rates (in air or seawater at 14˚C) across tidal heights, which implies that aerobic metabolic capacity may not be as sensitive to tidal position as anaerobic processes. Understanding how individuals occupying different shore heights differ in their metabolic capacity becomes increasingly interesting in the context of global climate change, given that the intertidal zone is predicted to experience even greater extremes in abiotic stress.

No description available.

Tomato is an important food crop and a model for fleshy fruit development. The process of fruit ripening involves changes in chemical composition and in particular the accumulation of sugars, organic, amino acids and carotenes. The research described in this thesis aimed to identify key regulatory aspects associated with the accumulation of the major acids in tomato fruit by analysis of introgression lines resulting from a cross between a cultivated variety, Solanum lycopersicum, and a wild progenitor species, Solanum pennellii. Line 2-5 showed increases in citrate, malate, aspartate and glutamate in fruit grown under greenhouse conditions. The genetic differences between line 2-5, its overlapping lines, sub-introgression lines and the recurrent parent were used to link the metabolite phenotypes to smaller chromosomal regions. This analysis suggested multiple epistatic loci control fruit metabolite accumulation. Investigation of the biochemical differences between line 2-5 and the recurrent parent revealed that organic and amino acid accumulation did not dependent upon increased TCA cycle capacity. Regulation at the metabolic level was identified for citrate accumulation with changes in cytosolic aconitase in line 2-5. As these metabolites accumulate in the vacuole, tonoplast transport was investigated. Correlation of ATPase-dependent malate influx with altered malate content suggested malate tonoplast transport plays a role in malate accumulation and highlights the importance of vacuolar storage and transport in the regulation of organic and amino acid accumulation.

Este trabalho tem como finalidade obter condições de recuperar e purificar a pró-toxina épsilon e uma protease produzida pelo Clostridium perfringens através do uso da técnica de extração líquido-líquido em sistema de duas fases aquosas (SDFA) para utilização na produção de vacinas. A aplicação do sistema de duas fases aquosas é proposta como alternativa para a purificação, pois permite a separação e análise de partículas biológicas. Esta técnica é aconselhável para purificação em larga escala pela possibilidade de partição seletiva com altos rendimentos, além de apresentar uma boa relação custo-benefício. Foram construídas as curvas binodais que foram utilizadas para análise da composição dos sistemas de duas fases aquosas formados por polietileno glicol e citrato de sódio, como também a extração e recuperação da pró-toxina épsilon e da protease produzidas por Clostridium perfringens. As curvas binodais foram construídas utilizando PEG 400, 550, 1000, 1500, 3350 e 8000 em diferentes valores de pH (6,0; 6,5; 7,0; 7,5 e 8,0) e água para formação do sistema. Também foram construídas curvas na presença de caldo clarificado em substituição à água. Foi avaliada ainda a estabilidade da pró-toxina épsilon, antes da extração, e da protease antes e após a extração, frente às variações de pH e temperatura. Um planejamento experimental ('2pot.8-3') foi usado para avaliar a influência das variáveis concentração e massa molar do PEG, concentração de citrato, pH, concentração de NaCl, fator de diluição do extrato, temperatura e massa total do sistema na extração da pró-toxina épsilon. A partição de uma protease presente no meio fermentado de C. perfringens foi estudada através do uso de três planejamentos experimentais completos (dois do tipo '2pot.4' e um do tipo '2pot.3') que avaliaram a influência das variáveis concentração e massa molar do PEG, concentração de citrato e pH. Três variáveis-resposta foram obtidas (aumento de pureza, coeficiente de partição e recuperação da enzima). Os resultados atingidos foram: coeficiente de partição de 0,57, aumento de pureza de 4,2 com uma recuperação de 131% da atividade enzimática na fase superior do sistema. O sistema de extração que proporcionou as melhores condições de extração foi constituído por: PEG 10000 (g/mol) e concentração de 22% (m/m), concentração de citrato de 8% (m/m) e pH 8,5. A protease permaneceu estável (durante 48 h), mesmo após a extração, nas temperaturas de 5°C e 25°C e nos valores de pH de 6,0 a 9,0. / The purpose of this work is to obtain best conditions of recovery and purification of proteins (epsilon prototoxin and a protease) produced by Clostridium perfringens through the use of the liquid-liquid extraction by aqueous two-phases systems (ATPS). The application of these systems is proposed as alternative for protein purification, because it allows the separation and analysis of biological particles. This technique is advisable process purification applied to large scale since it provides a selective partition with high yields, and good cost-benefit ratio. The binodal curves were constructed and used to determine the system composition based on polyethylene glicol and citrate concentrations. The binodal curves were built by using PEG 400, 550, 1000, 1500, 3350 and 8000 g/mol at different pH values (6.0; 6.5; 7.0; 7.5 and 8.0). The curves were, initially, built in the presence of water and, later, with clarified fermented broth. The differences in the curve profiles (water versus broth) helped to explain the phase separation behaviour. The stability, as a function of pH and temperature, of the epsilon prototoxin was evaluated before the extraction, while the stability of the protease was evaluated before and after the extraction. An experimental design ('2pot.8-3') was used to evaluate the influence of the following variables on epsilon prototoxin extraction: concentration and molar mass of PEG, citrate concentration and NaCl concentrations, pH, dilution factor of the extract, temperature and total mass of the system. However, the partition of the protease was studied through the use of the three full different experimental designs (two of the type '2pot.4', and one of the type '2pot.3') that evaluated the influence of the following variables: concentration and molar mass of PEG, citrate concentration and pH. Three parameter responses were obtained: purification factor; coefficient partition; and recovery yield of the enzyme. The results were satisfactory: partition coefficient = 0.57, purification factor = 4.2; yield = 131%. The extraction conditions which provided the best results were: molar mass of PEG 10000 (g/mol); concentration of PEG of 22% (w/w); concentration of citrate of 8% (w/w); and pH 8.5. The protease was stable (during 48h), even after the extraction, in the temperatures of 5°C and 25°C, and at pH values of from 6.0 to 9.0.

O emprego de aditivos hidrossolúveis como açúcares, tensoativos, sais e polímeros é prática comum na tentativa de se estabilizar proteínas durante aquecimento. Diversos polímeros têm sido utilizados para estabilizar proteínas, sendo seu efeito dependente das características da proteína. Sais podem estabilizar, desestabilizar ou não ter efeito na estabilidade de proteínas; dependendo do tipo, concentração, natureza das interações iônicas e resíduos carregados da proteína. A termoestabilidade da proteína verde fluorescente (GFP) tem sido demonstrada ao calor úmido, à temperaturas elevadas (T ≥ 95°C), à valores de pH alcalinos e a alguns agentes químicos. Sua denaturação térmica é altamente reprodutível e a variação da intensidade de fluorescência pode ser facilmente determinada por espectrofluorimetria. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o comportamento da GFP na presença de diferentes soluções aquosas de polímeros (polietileno glicol, DEAE-Dextrana e ácido poliacrílico) e sais (citrato e fosfato). A partir dos dados obtidos, pode-se concluir que o citrato favoreceu a preservação da estrutura nativa da GFP nas temperaturas estudadas (70 a 95ºC), em concentrações acima de 10% m/m. O ácido poliacrílico também auxiliou na manutenção da estrutura nativa da GFP, porém em menor intensidade, e com concentrações acima de 20% m/m. / The addition of hydrosoluble excipients, such as, sugars, surfactants, salts and polymers is a common practice in the intent of stabilization of proteins during heating. Several polymers have been used to proteins stabilization, being their effect dependent of protein characteristics, however in some cases, it could cause a reduction of stability. Salts can stabilize proteins, or have no influence in their stability, and these behaviors depend on the type, concentration, ionic interaction and charged protein residues. Thermal stability of green protein fluorescent (GFP) have been demonstrated to humid heat, elevated temperatures (T ≥ 95°C), alkaline pH and to some chemical agents. Its thermal denaturation is highly reproducible and the variation of fluorescence intensity can be easily determinate by spectrofluorometry. The objective of this work was study the behavior of GFP in the presence of different aqueous solutions of polymers (polyethylene glycol, DEAE-Dextran and acid polyacrylic) and salts (citrate and phosphate). From the results, it may be concluded that the citrate favored the preservation of native structure of GFP in the temperatures studied (70ºC to 95ºC), in concentrations above 10% m/m. The PAA polymer also favored the GFP thermal stability, but in a minor intensity and in concentrations above 20% m/m.

Este trabalho tem como finalidade obter condições de recuperar e purificar a pró-toxina épsilon e uma protease produzida pelo Clostridium perfringens através do uso da técnica de extração líquido-líquido em sistema de duas fases aquosas (SDFA) para utilização na produção de vacinas. A aplicação do sistema de duas fases aquosas é proposta como alternativa para a purificação, pois permite a separação e análise de partículas biológicas. Esta técnica é aconselhável para purificação em larga escala pela possibilidade de partição seletiva com altos rendimentos, além de apresentar uma boa relação custo-benefício. Foram construídas as curvas binodais que foram utilizadas para análise da composição dos sistemas de duas fases aquosas formados por polietileno glicol e citrato de sódio, como também a extração e recuperação da pró-toxina épsilon e da protease produzidas por Clostridium perfringens. As curvas binodais foram construídas utilizando PEG 400, 550, 1000, 1500, 3350 e 8000 em diferentes valores de pH (6,0; 6,5; 7,0; 7,5 e 8,0) e água para formação do sistema. Também foram construídas curvas na presença de caldo clarificado em substituição à água. Foi avaliada ainda a estabilidade da pró-toxina épsilon, antes da extração, e da protease antes e após a extração, frente às variações de pH e temperatura. Um planejamento experimental ('2pot.8-3') foi usado para avaliar a influência das variáveis concentração e massa molar do PEG, concentração de citrato, pH, concentração de NaCl, fator de diluição do extrato, temperatura e massa total do sistema na extração da pró-toxina épsilon. A partição de uma protease presente no meio fermentado de C. perfringens foi estudada através do uso de três planejamentos experimentais completos (dois do tipo '2pot.4' e um do tipo '2pot.3') que avaliaram a influência das variáveis concentração e massa molar do PEG, concentração de citrato e pH. Três variáveis-resposta foram obtidas (aumento de pureza, coeficiente de partição e recuperação da enzima). Os resultados atingidos foram: coeficiente de partição de 0,57, aumento de pureza de 4,2 com uma recuperação de 131% da atividade enzimática na fase superior do sistema. O sistema de extração que proporcionou as melhores condições de extração foi constituído por: PEG 10000 (g/mol) e concentração de 22% (m/m), concentração de citrato de 8% (m/m) e pH 8,5. A protease permaneceu estável (durante 48 h), mesmo após a extração, nas temperaturas de 5°C e 25°C e nos valores de pH de 6,0 a 9,0. / The purpose of this work is to obtain best conditions of recovery and purification of proteins (epsilon prototoxin and a protease) produced by Clostridium perfringens through the use of the liquid-liquid extraction by aqueous two-phases systems (ATPS). The application of these systems is proposed as alternative for protein purification, because it allows the separation and analysis of biological particles. This technique is advisable process purification applied to large scale since it provides a selective partition with high yields, and good cost-benefit ratio. The binodal curves were constructed and used to determine the system composition based on polyethylene glicol and citrate concentrations. The binodal curves were built by using PEG 400, 550, 1000, 1500, 3350 and 8000 g/mol at different pH values (6.0; 6.5; 7.0; 7.5 and 8.0). The curves were, initially, built in the presence of water and, later, with clarified fermented broth. The differences in the curve profiles (water versus broth) helped to explain the phase separation behaviour. The stability, as a function of pH and temperature, of the epsilon prototoxin was evaluated before the extraction, while the stability of the protease was evaluated before and after the extraction. An experimental design ('2pot.8-3') was used to evaluate the influence of the following variables on epsilon prototoxin extraction: concentration and molar mass of PEG, citrate concentration and NaCl concentrations, pH, dilution factor of the extract, temperature and total mass of the system. However, the partition of the protease was studied through the use of the three full different experimental designs (two of the type '2pot.4', and one of the type '2pot.3') that evaluated the influence of the following variables: concentration and molar mass of PEG, citrate concentration and pH. Three parameter responses were obtained: purification factor; coefficient partition; and recovery yield of the enzyme. The results were satisfactory: partition coefficient = 0.57, purification factor = 4.2; yield = 131%. The extraction conditions which provided the best results were: molar mass of PEG 10000 (g/mol); concentration of PEG of 22% (w/w); concentration of citrate of 8% (w/w); and pH 8.5. The protease was stable (during 48h), even after the extraction, in the temperatures of 5°C and 25°C, and at pH values of from 6.0 to 9.0.

O emprego de aditivos hidrossolúveis como açúcares, tensoativos, sais e polímeros é prática comum na tentativa de se estabilizar proteínas durante aquecimento. Diversos polímeros têm sido utilizados para estabilizar proteínas, sendo seu efeito dependente das características da proteína. Sais podem estabilizar, desestabilizar ou não ter efeito na estabilidade de proteínas; dependendo do tipo, concentração, natureza das interações iônicas e resíduos carregados da proteína. A termoestabilidade da proteína verde fluorescente (GFP) tem sido demonstrada ao calor úmido, à temperaturas elevadas (T ≥ 95°C), à valores de pH alcalinos e a alguns agentes químicos. Sua denaturação térmica é altamente reprodutível e a variação da intensidade de fluorescência pode ser facilmente determinada por espectrofluorimetria. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o comportamento da GFP na presença de diferentes soluções aquosas de polímeros (polietileno glicol, DEAE-Dextrana e ácido poliacrílico) e sais (citrato e fosfato). A partir dos dados obtidos, pode-se concluir que o citrato favoreceu a preservação da estrutura nativa da GFP nas temperaturas estudadas (70 a 95ºC), em concentrações acima de 10% m/m. O ácido poliacrílico também auxiliou na manutenção da estrutura nativa da GFP, porém em menor intensidade, e com concentrações acima de 20% m/m. / The addition of hydrosoluble excipients, such as, sugars, surfactants, salts and polymers is a common practice in the intent of stabilization of proteins during heating. Several polymers have been used to proteins stabilization, being their effect dependent of protein characteristics, however in some cases, it could cause a reduction of stability. Salts can stabilize proteins, or have no influence in their stability, and these behaviors depend on the type, concentration, ionic interaction and charged protein residues. Thermal stability of green protein fluorescent (GFP) have been demonstrated to humid heat, elevated temperatures (T ≥ 95°C), alkaline pH and to some chemical agents. Its thermal denaturation is highly reproducible and the variation of fluorescence intensity can be easily determinate by spectrofluorometry. The objective of this work was study the behavior of GFP in the presence of different aqueous solutions of polymers (polyethylene glycol, DEAE-Dextran and acid polyacrylic) and salts (citrate and phosphate). From the results, it may be concluded that the citrate favored the preservation of native structure of GFP in the temperatures studied (70ºC to 95ºC), in concentrations above 10% m/m. The PAA polymer also favored the GFP thermal stability, but in a minor intensity and in concentrations above 20% m/m.