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Abstract The removal of Natural Organic Matter (NOM) from water supplies is crucial for the provision of clean, safe drinking water. Lab-scale experiments have been extensively utilized in water treatment facilities to optimize this process. The most used lab-scale method is known as jar test. However, with emerging membrane filtration, lab-scale inline coagulation has been recently utilized to mimic the inline coagulation over membrane filtration in water treatment plants (WTPs).     This study aims to compare the jar test with inline coagulation micro pilot methods from different aspects, including the NOM removal, time, and cost needed for each process. Three case studies were conducted using different water sources in Sweden: Katrineholm, Mälaren, and Mjörn.     In the experiments conducted to find the optimal NOM removal condition, the inline coagulation micro pilot method outperforms the jar test in terms of removal efficiency. In the Katrineholm case, the micro pilot method with a coagulant dosage of 4.5mg/l Al at pH 6.7 achieved removal efficiencies of 63% for fluorescent dissolved organic matter (fDOM), whereas the jar test showed 60% for fDOM but with a significantly higher coagulant dosage (7mg/l) . In the Mälaren case, the micro pilot method using a dosage of 2.5mg/l Al at pH 6.4 yielded removal efficiencies of 62% for UV254, absorbing organic matter and the jar test showed almost the same removal (64%) for UV254 but with a significantly higher coagulant dosage. Finally, in the Mjörn case, the micro pilot method with a coagulant dosage of 3.5mg/l Al at a pH of 6.6 resulted in removal efficiencies of 76% for UV254, the jar test also resulted in 76% for UV254 at the same pH level.     While the micro pilot method showed better removal efficiencies, it consumed more chemicals compared to the jar test. The micro pilot experiments required higher volumes of coagulant and additional chemical backwashing after each set of experiments. In contrast, the jar test method used lesser quantities of coagulant and chemicals due to the smaller scale of the experiments.     The findings of this study highlight the superiority of the inline coagulation micro pilot method over the jar test for optimizing NOM removal in water treatment processes. Despite the jar test being quicker and more cost-effective, it often required higher coagulant dosages to achieve comparable results. This was mainly because jar test demands heavy and large enough flocs to be removed from the water. Conversely, the micro pilot method, although more time-consuming and costly, provided more precise coagulant dosage control, resulted in higher removal efficiencies, and offered a more comprehensive understanding of the coagulation process. This is achieved by using a sensor called EXO sensor, which allows for immediate monitoring of the treatment results.

This thesis summarizes the results concerning the manufacture of medical implants for bone replacement using electron beam melting (EBM) which is an additive manufacturing (AM) technology, and aims to satisfy the engineering needs for the medical functionality of manufacturing technology. This thesis has focused on some microscopic properties for surfaces and bone integration. The process parameters of EBM manufacturing were studied to ascertain whether they have impacts on surface appearance, as surface properties have impacts on bone integration and implant performance. EBM manufacturing uses an electron beam to melt metal powder onto each layer in a manner akin to welding. The electron beam is controlled by process parameters that may be altered to a certain extent by the operator. There are individual process parameters for every material, and new parameters are set when developing new materials. In this thesis, process parameters in default settings were altered to ascertain whether it was possible to specify process parameters for implant manufacturing. The blood chamber model was used for thromboinflammation validation, using human whole blood. The model is used to identify early reactions of coagulation and immunoreactions. The material used in this study was Ti6Al4V-ELI, which is corrosion resistant and has the same surface oxide layers as titanium, and CoCr-F75, which has high stiffness, is wear-resistant and is commonly used in articulating joints. The study shows that among the process parameters researched, a combination of speed and current have the most impact on surface roughness and an interaction of parameters were found using design of experiment (DOE). As-built EBM surfaces show thrombogenicity, which in previous studies has been associated with bone ingrowth. Surface structure of as-build EBM manufactured surfaces are similar to implants surfaces described by Pilliar (2005), but with superior material properties than those of implants with sintered metals beads. By altering the process parameters controlling the electron beam, surface roughness of as-build parts may be affected, and the rougher EBM manufactured surfaces tend to be more thrombogen than the finer EBM manufactured surfaces. As-build EBM manufactured surfaces in general show more thrombogenicity than conventional machined implants surfaces. / Denna avhandling behandlar tillverkning av medicinska implantat för integration i ben. I fokus är den additiva tillverkningstekniken ”elektronstrålesmältning” ( Electron Beam Melting –EBM), en av flera tekniker som populärt beskrivs med termen 3D-skrivare. Avhandlingen fokuserar på mikroskopiska ytegenskaper och dess inverkan på benintegration. Processparametrarna för EBM-tillverkning studerades för att fastställa hur de påverkar ytans utseende, efter som ytegenskaper har effekt på implantatens funktion. EBM-tillverkning använder en elektronstråle som likt svetsning smälter ihop metallpulver. Elektronstrålen styrs av processparametrar som till viss mån kan justeras av maskinoperatören. Det finns individuella processparametrar för varje material och nya parametrar utvecklas till varje ny legering. I denna avhandling har ”grundinställningarnas processparametrar” studerats för att ta reda på om det är möjligt att ställa in specifika parametrar till implantattillverkning. Med hjälp av blodkammarmetoden, som använder humant blod, har thromboinflammatoriska egenskaper undersökts. Metoden identifierar tidiga koagulations- och immunologiska reaktioner. Legeringarna som undersökts i denna studie var Ti6Al4V-ELI, som är korrosionsbeständigt med samma uppsättning oxider på ytan som titan har, och CoCr-F75, en legering som har hög styvhet, är slitstarkt och är vanligt förekommande i implantat för leder. Bland de undersökta processparametrarna visar en kombination av hastighet och ström ha mest inverkan på ytjämnhet och en interaktion mellan parametrar identifierades med hjälp av försöksplanering. EBM-tillverkade ytor visade på thrombogena egenskaper som i tidigare studier kan relateras till god integration i benvävnad. Ytstrukturen hos EBM-tillverkade ytor liknar de implantatytor som Pilliar (2005) beskriver, men materialegenskaperna är bättre än de materialegenskaper som implantat, med sintrad yta, har. Genom att ändra processparametrarna som styr elektronstrålen kan ytstrukturen påverkas. Grövre EBM-tillverkade ytor tenderar att vara mer thrombogena än de finare EBM-tillverkade ytorna är. Obehandlade EBM-tillverkade ytor i allmänhet är mer thrombogena än vad konventionellt framställda implantatytor är.

Thesis (MScEng (Process Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In a floating medium filter, polymeric beads with a density less than that of water form a floating bed which removes suspended material. Polyolefinic beads (polypropylene and polyethylene) are commonly used as filter media in this application. The geometric properties of the beads, and to a lesser extent the surface properties, strongly influence the performance of the filter. In the case of water treatment, the primary performance requirement is the production of a filtrate with turbidity ≤ 1.0 NTU. The influence of geometric properties on the performance of existing upflow filtration systems has not been extensively researched. The aim of this thesis was therefore to investigate the effects of floating medium granule size and shape on the performance of the floating medium filter (FMF). Towards this goal a pilot plant consisting of a dosing and flocculation unit and a clear PVC column with an inner diameter of 0.3 m and height of 2.8 m was designed and constructed, allowing the effect of media type, bed depth and filtration conditions to be investigated. Artificial feed water for use during the experimental work was made up by dissolving 250 mg/L of bentonite in tap water (≈ 60 NTU). Four median grain sizes (d50 = 2.28, 3.03, 3.30, and 4.07 mm) of polypropylene plastic granules were used. Two media shapes (cubic and disc) were evaluated. The effect of filtration rising velocity, medium depth, and coagulant chemical dosage were investigated using a complete 23 full factorial experimental design. Filter performance was evaluated in terms of filtrate turbidity and headloss development. The direction of filtration was upward in all the experiments. It was found that optimal conditions for turbidity removal were low filtration rate (36.8 L/m2· min), longer media depth (0.6 m) and optimum coagulant dose (23 mg/L). At these conditions the best medium was the one with d50 = 2.28 mm, for which a minimum turbidity of 0.4 NTU was achieved, and which was able to provide 624 L of filtrate of ˂ 1.0 NTU using a bed of 0.014 m3. For this medium headloss was 109 mm H2O at breakthrough, while the other three media showed a headloss of 42 mm H2O at breakthrough. Visual observation indicated that removal of solids took place primarily in the first 0.3 m of the floating bed in the case of the smallest medium, but that solids removal took place over the full depth of the bed for the other three media. It was found that bed depth had the strongest influence on performance for a given medium type. Experimental observation showed that coagulant dosage played an important role in floc size. A higher coagulant dosage (23 mg/L) resulted in a larger floc size which gave better performance. A lower velocity gradient was favourable for the formation of larger flocs. Some effect of media shape was noted, although it appeared that media size was dominant. It is concluded that FMF show promise for application in the water treatment. FMF, however, can be applied successfully as pre-filtration unit for treatment of high turbid water. Proper medium selection in conjunction with operating conditions can enhance performance of the filter. Smaller medium would give better turbidity removal but high headloss development and more frequent backwashing becomes necessary than with larger medium. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In ʼn dryfmediumfilter vorm polimeriese korrels met ʼn laer digtheid as dié van water ʼn dryfbedding wat swewende materiaal verwyder. Poli-olefiniese korrels (polipropileen en poliëtileen) word algemeen in hierdie toepassing as filtermedia aangewend. Die geometriese kenmerke, en in ʼn mindere mate die oppervlakkenmerke, van die korrels het ʼn groot invloed op die funksionering van die filter. In geval van waterbehandeling is die hooffunksioneringsvereiste die produksie van ʼn filtraat met ʼn troebelheid van ≤ 1.0 NTU (“nephelometric turbidity units”). Die invloed van die geometriese kenmerke van filtermedia op die funksionering van bestaande stroomop-filtreerstelsels is nog nie omvattend nagevors nie. Die doel van hierdie tesis is dus om ondersoek in te stel na die uitwerking van die korrelgrootte en -vorm van ʼn dryfmedium op die funksionering van die dryfmediumfilter (DMF). Hiervoor is ʼn proefaanleg met ʼn doseer- en uitvlokkingseenheid sowel as ʼn deursigtige pilaar van polivinielchloried (PVC) met ʼn binnedeursnee van 0.3 m en ʼn hoogte van 2.8 m ontwerp en gebou, met behulp waarvan verskillende mediumtipes, beddingdieptes en filtreeromstandighede ondersoek kon word. ʼn Kunsmatige watertoevoer vir die proefneming is vervaardig deur 250 mg/L bentoniet in kraanwater op te los (≈ 60 NTU). Polipropileenplastiekkorrels met vier verskillende deursneë (d50 = 2.28; 3.03; 3.30 en 4.07 mm) is gebruik, en twee mediumvorms (kubus- en skyfvormig) is beoordeel. Die uitwerking van filtrasiestygsnelheid, mediumdiepte en die dosis koaguleermiddel is met behulp van ʼn volledige 23-faktoriaalontwerp ondersoek. Filterfunksionering is aan die hand van filtraattroebelheid en verlies aan drukhoogte beoordeel. Alle proefnemings is teen ʼn opwaartse filtrasierigting uitgevoer. Daar is bevind dat die beste omstandighede vir die verwydering van troebelheid ʼn lae filtrasiekoers (36.8 L/m2 per minuut), ʼn groter mediumdiepte (0.6 m) en ʼn optimale dosis koaguleermiddel (23 mg/L) is. In hierdie omstandighede was die beste medium die een met ʼn d50 van 2.28 mm, waarvoor ʼn minimum troebelheid van 0.4 NTU verkry is, en wat 624 L filtraat van 1.0 NTU met behulp van ʼn bedding van 0.014 m3 kon lewer. By deurbraak het hierdie medium egter ʼn drukhoogteverlies van 109 mm H2O getoon, teenoor die ander drie media se 42 mm H2O op dieselfde punt. Visuele waarneming dui daarop dat, met die kleinste medium, vaste stowwe hoofsaaklik oor die eerste 0.3 m van die dryfbedding verwyder is, teenoor die volle diepte van die bedding vir die ander drie media. Beddingdiepte blyk dus die grootste invloed te hê op funksionering wat enige bepaalde mediumtipe betref. Proefwaarneming toon dat die dosis koaguleermiddel ʼn belangrike rol in vlokgrootte speel. ʼn Hoër dosis koaguleermiddel (23 mg/L) het ʼn groter vlokgrootte en dus beter funksionering tot gevolg. ʼn Laer stygsnelheid blyk ook die beste te wees vir die vorming van groter vlokke. Hoewel mediumvorm oënskynlik ʼn mate van ʼn rol speel, is mediumgrootte eerder die dominante faktor. Volgens die studie blyk DMF belowend vir aanwending in waterbehandeling te wees, veral as voorfiltreereenheid vir die behandeling van baie troebel water. Behoorlike mediumkeuse saam met die regte bedryfsomstandighede kan die funksionering van die filter verder verbeter. Kleiner media sal troebelheid beter verwyder, maar het ʼn groot verlies aan drukhoogte tot gevolg, en sal dus meer gereelde terugspoeling as groter media verg.

Les tiques sont des arthropodes ectoparasites obligatoires qui se nourrissent sur une grande variété de vertébrés sur une large partie du globe. Au cours de leur repas, les tiques sécrètent dans leur salive de nombreux facteurs leur permettant de contourner bon nombre des défenses de l’hôte. Bien que la littérature rapporte beaucoup d’informations au sujet des effets du repas de la tique sur l’hôte, la nature des facteurs actifs exprimés par les glandes salivaires de la tique est peu connue. Au cours d’anciens travaux au sein du laboratoire, le crible de deux banques d’ADN complémentaires - issues de la rétro-transcription des ARN messagers synthétisés par les glandes salivaires de la tique Ixodes ricinus – a permis l’identification de 27 protéines dont l'expression est spécifiquement induite ou régulée positivement pendant le repas sanguin de la tique I. ricinus. Parmi ces protéines, la protéine Seq24, induite au cours du repas sanguin, présente la capacité de moduler les immunités innée et acquise de l’hôte. En conséquence, la protéine Seq24 a été nommée Iris pour « Ixodes ricinus Immunosuppressor ». Au cours de la présente étude, notre but fût de caractériser le rôle d’Iris et de déterminer son importance dans le repas sanguin de la tique I. ricinus. La protéine Iris appartient à la famille des inhibiteurs de sérine protéases et présente une homologie significative avec l’inhibiteur d’élastase de leucocytes. Une analyse in silico a confirmé qu’Iris présentait la structure des serpines, et notamment le RCL (Reactive Center Loop), boucle responsable de l’activité anti-protéasique. Comme attendu (sur base de l’analyse in silico), Iris inhibe de manière spécifique l’activité de plusieurs sérine protéases, et en particulier l’élastase de leucocyte. Ces tests effectués, nous avons essayé de comprendre quel(s) pouvai(en)t être le(s) rôle(s) d’Iris dans l’accomplissement du repas sanguin de la tique, c’est à dire dans la lutte contre les différents systèmes de défenses de l’hôte. Tout d’abord, des tests ont démontré la capacité d’Iris à inhiber les mécanismes de l’hémostase. Des tests sur du plasma et du sang complet ont montré qu’Iris allonge le temps de fibrinolyse, la voie intrinsèque de la coagulation et l’adhésion plaquettaire. L’utilisation de mutants a également démontré que si les deux premières activités sont dépendantes du RCL, et donc d’un mode de fonctionnement anti-protéolytique, l’adhésion plaquettaire est indépendante de ce système. Ce résultat met en évidence l’existence d’autres sites actifs, isolés par analyse in silico, nommés Receptor Binding Domain (RBD). Un travail antérieur du laboratoire avait permis d’indiquer la capacité de la protéine recombinante Iris semi-purifiée à inhiber la production de TNF-a, d’IL-6, et d’IL-8 (cytokines pro-inflammatoires) ainsi que l’IFN-g par des PBMCs (Peripherical Blood Mononuclear Cells) humaines. Ces résultats ont été confirmés avec de la protéine purifiée. Des analyses complémentaires ont démontré qu’un mutant d’Iris - dépourvu d’activité anti-protéasique - conserve l’activité pro-inflammatoire. Là encore, ce mécanisme semble impliquer un ou plusieurs RBD. L’utilisation d’anticorps dirigés contre ces zones a permis de déterminer le domaine d’interaction (aa : 105-120) impliqué dans cette fonction. D’autre part, une analyse par FACS a permis de démontrer qu’Iris interagit uniquement avec les cellules d’origine monocytaire. Enfin, nous avons également analysé l’importance d’Iris au cours du repas sanguin de la tique par une approche vaccinale. Les résultats observés indiquent que 30 % des tiques nourries sur des lapins immunisés par la protéine rIris ne survivent pas au repas.

<p>Myocardial infarction (MI) is often caused by a disruption of an atherosclerotic plaque with activation of coagulation, platelets and inflammation. The aims were; to investigate whether the oral direct thrombin inhibitor, ximelagatran affected markers for coagulation, platelet and inflammation in a patient cohort with recent MI and if the coagulation markers could identify patients with increased risk of new ischemic events; to evaluate some of the mechanisms involved in formation of platelet-monocyte aggregates (PMAs). </p><p>In a biomarker substudy patients with recent MI were randomized to 24-60 mg of ximelagatran or placebo for six months. There was a persistent dose-independent reduction of coagulation markers (F1+2, D-dimer) by ximelagatran treatment. 60 % reduced their D-dimer levels after one week and that group had less ischemic events during treatment. There was an early increase of the platelet activation marker and ximelagatran in higher doses attenuated these increased levels. Both in vivo and in vitro the direct thrombin inhibitor diminished procoagulant activity and tissue factor (TF) presenting microparticles. In contrast, the inflammatory markers increased after six months of ximelagatran treatment. The PMA-levels were elevated for long-term after MI. In vitro thrombin inhibition diminished formation of PMAs. Formation of PMAs in stimulated whole blood was P-selectin dependent and induced TF expression through phosphorylation of the Src-family member Lyn in monocytes.</p><p>Addition of an oral direct thrombin inhibitor reduces coagulation and platelet activation markers for long-term after a MI together with reduced procoagulant activity which may contribute to the clinical benefit of the drug. Early reduction of D-dimer levels seems to be suitable to identify patients with reduced risk of new ischemic events independent of antithrombotic treatment. Circulating PMAs persist after a MI connecting coagulation to inflammation. Within these aggregates P-selectin induces TF, the main initiator of coagulation, partly through phosphorylation of Lyn.</p>

<p>Syftet med examensarbetet var att undersöka effekterna av ozonering och filtrering på råvattnet från sjön Mälaren. Studien är utförd i en pilotanläggning på Lovö vattenverk, Stockholm Vatten AB, under våren 2004.</p><p>En negativ effekt med den konventionella reningen är den stora konsumtionen av kemiska koagulanter. Kemikalieanvändningen leder till många transporter och processen producerar också ett slam som för närvarande transporteras till Mälaren. År 2001 byggdes en pilotanläggning på Lovö vattenverk för utveckling av nya processer, en av processerna är ozonering följt av olika filter.</p><p>Ozonering har använts i Europa i många år som desinfektion i slutet av dricksvattenreningsprocessen. Intresset för ozonering har ökat markant sista åren och idag används ozonet också i andra steg i processen. Förutom desinfektion har ozonet andra fördelar, som oxidation av järn och magnesium, mikroflockning, reduktion av lukt och smak samt är bra på att reducera färgen på vattnet. Mikroflockningen leder till att kemikalieanvändningen kan minska och i vissa fall tas bort helt.</p><p>Den här studien startade med en litteraturundersökning följd av försök med ozonering och filtrering i pilotanläggningen. De första undersökningarna sammanfattades med att ozonering följt av filtrering inte gav tillräckligt bra resultat och processen behöver ett komplement för att producera ett högklassigt vatten.</p><p>Undersökningen fortsatte med laboratorieanalyser för att undersöka effekterna av olika kemiska koagulanter. Resultatet visade att järnsulfat tillsammans med kalcium var ett bra alternativ och en lägre kemikaliedos kunde användas.</p><p>Efter implementering av kalcium och järnsulfat till pilotanläggningen testades olika ozondoser och olika järnsulfatdoser. Det bästa resultatet erhölls då man använde sig av en ozondos på 6 mg O3/l och en järnsulfatdos på 50-60 μmol/l. Denna mängd av järnsulfat är ca 60 % lägre än den dos som används vid den konventionella reningen på Lovö vattenverk.</p><p>Olika filter används i pilotanläggningen och för att förbättra resultatet provades även ett Filtralite-filter som biofilter istället för GAC-filtret. Jämförelsen mellan Filtralite-filter och GAC-filter visade på stora skillnader i parametervärden i början av studietiden. När bakteriepopulationen ökade i Filtralite-filtret blev skillnaderna mindre och i slutet av undersökningstiden var parametervärdena likartade. Det slutliga resultatet indikerar att Filtralite-filter kan vara ett bra alternativ som biofilter.</p> / <p>This Master thesis was made to investigate the effects of ozonation and filtration on raw water from Lake Mälaren. The study was performed in lab-scale as well as in a pilot plant at Lovö waterworks, Stockholm Water Company during spring 2004.</p><p>The conventional treatment at Lovö waterworks comes with a few disadvantages, such as large consumption of chemical coagulants. The chemical consumption leads to many transports and the treatment also produces a sludge which is, in present, returned to Lake Mälaren. In 2001 a pilot plant were built at Lovö waterworks for research on new treatment processes, and ozonation followed by filtration is one of them.</p><p>Ozonation has been used in Europe for several years as disinfection at the end of the drinking water treatment process. The interests of ozonation has increased significantly in recent years and today the ozonation is used in other steps in the drinking water treatment process. Except for the disinfection, ozone has other benefits such as oxidation of iron and manganese, microflocculation, reduction of taste and odour and it is also effective to reduce the water colour. The microflocculation leads to the fact that less or no coagulants need to be used in the process.</p><p>This study started with a literature overview followed by experiments on ozonation and filtration in the pilot plant. After the first experiments the conclusions were that the ozonation and filtration did not reach the same results as Lovö waterworks. To continue, jar tests were made to see the effects of different coagulants. The result indicated that ferric sulphate together with calcium addition (pH-adjustment) was a good alternative. Thereby a lower coagulant dose could be used.</p><p>When ferric sulphate and calcium were implemented into the pilot plant, different ozone doses and ferric sulphate doses were tested. The best results occurred when an ozone dose of 6 mg O3/l and a ferric sulphate dose of 50-60 μmol/l were used. This amount of ferric sulphate is approximately 60 % lower than that for the conventional treatment at Lovö waterworks. To produce ozone electrons are needed and energy consumption increases with approximately 66 % compared to the conventional treatment. The decrease in chemical dose and increase in energy demand gives a decrease of the total cost with 10 % compared to the conventional treatment. The results indicate that the treatment with ozonation, calcium addition and ferric sulphate as a coagulant is an alternative to the conventional treatment.</p><p>Different filters were used in the pilot plant and to improve the results a Filtralite-filter was tested instead of the GAC-filter as a bio filter. When comparing Filtralite-filter with the GAC-filter there were large differences between the filters at the beginning of the study. When the bacteria population in the Filtralite-filter had started to increase the differences became less. In the end of the experimental period the filters had similar conditions and Filtralite-filter may be a good alternative as a biofilter.</p>

The complement system is an important immune system mechanism involved in both the recognition and elimination of invading pathogens. It is activated by three different pathways: The classical pathway, which relies on binding of C1, and results in the cleavage of C4 and C2 through activation of C1r and C1s; the alternative pathway that relies on the spontaneous hydrolysis of C3 and the lectin pathway. The lectin pathway is activated by binding of Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) or the ficolins (L-ficolin, H-ficolin and M-ficolin) to microbial binding motifs, and the subsequent activation of the MBL-associated serine proteases (MASP) 1/ 2/ 3. Of these MASP2 has been identified as the enzyme responsible for the activation of complement by C4 and C2 cleavage. The work presented here will focus on four different aspects of the lectin pathway: specificity and stoichiometry of the L-ficolin protein complex, expression of H-ficolin, substrate characterization for MASP1 and investigation of the prothrombin activation potential of MASP2. L-ficolin binding specificity was investigated using glycan array technology, and it was found that L-ficolin, instead of recognizing single monosaccharides like MBL, instead binds to extended oligosaccharide structures. The binding to these was dependent not only on the presence of acetyl groups, but also on their orientation in space. It was also found that L-ficolin in serum is found as a multimeric protein complex composed of 18 polypeptide chains and associated with one MASP dimer. The expression of H-ficolin resulted in the generation of a stable mammalian cell line producing oligomerized and biologically functional H-ficolin. MASP1 substrate specificity was investigated by two different procedures. Firstly fractionated plasma was subjected to MASP1 treatment in an attempt to identify a plasma protein substrate. This did not yield any substrate candidates, since only cleavage of the protease inhibitor α-2-macroglobulin could be detected. Additionally the thrombin-like activity of MASP1 was investigated through cleavage experiments done with factor XIII and fibrinogen. These experiments showed that the factor XIII cleavage site for MASP1 and thrombin is identical. This was also found for the fibrinogen β-chain but not for the α-chain showing that MASP1 interaction with fibrinogen is distinct from that of thrombin. An earlier observation that MASP2 was capable of activating prothrombin and generating thrombin was further characterized. Here it was shown that the activation of prothrombin by MASP2 is identical to that by factor Xa, which is the enzyme undertaking this role in the coagulation system, and that the activation can result in deposition of fibrin on the surface upon which MASP2 is bound. The prothrombin activation potential of MASP2 was also utilized to develop a new MASP2 activity assay, which was shown to be capable of measuring MASP2 activity, when MASP2 is bound, via MBL (or L-ficolin) to appropriate surfaces.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Forty-eight Holstein cows at Utah State Dairy Farm were blocked statistically according to date of calving, previous milk production, and numbers of lactation at parturition. The cattle were assigned randomly to one of four treatments within blocks. The four treatments included a base ration (control, treatment #1), base ration plus .8% of sodium bicarbonate (treatment #2), base ration plus .4% of magnesium oxide (treatment #3), and base ration plus both .8% of sodium bicarbonate and .4% of magnesium oxide (treatment #4). The research was conducted from February 1983 to November 1984. A formagraph was used to measure milk coagulation parameters and pH was determined. There was no significant difference in milk coagulation parameters or pH between the control and the buffer treatments. Milk parameters were significantly different in individual cow, week, and milk pH. Milk parameters did not appear to be dependent upon season. Curd firmness was significant in interaction of season and treatment. Significant variations in milk pH were observed in relation to week, season, and individual cow. Overall treatments, the clotting time, K20, and pH value increased each week, and A30 decreased each week. The milk parameters and pH in each treatment were significant between weeks except K20 and A30 in treatment #3, and A30 in treatment #2 (p>0.05). The clotting time and K20 were negatively correlated with firmness, and there was positive correlation between Ct and K20 as expected. Somatic cell count was positively correlated with clotting time, K20, and pH and negatively correlated with A30. Milk pH was the most significant and had positive correlation coefficient with clotting time and firming rate and negative correlation coefficient with curd firmness.