At the intersection of materials chemistry and biology, biomaterials have been successfully employed in an array of medical applications. From diagnostic tools to targeted drug delivery, the modular physical and chemical properties of these materials provide numerous applications. For example, porous nanoparticles have been widely integrated as vehicles to carry chemotherapeutics to localized tumor sites. By encapsulating these cytotoxic compounds within a porous framework, the commonly associated adverse side effects of conventional chemotherapeutics, such as Doxorubicin, have been greatly reduced. One such material, mesoporous silica, has received widespread attention due to its excellent biocompatibility, high surface area to mass ratio, tunable pore diameters and volumes, and robust surface chemistry. However, recent studies have demonstrated that exposing silica nanoparticles, and other synthetic materials, to biological milieu envelops the particles in layers of proteins and biomolecules. The resulting protein coat, known as the "protein corona", has been shown to have profound effects on bioavailability, cellular targeting, and cytotoxicity. Thus, in order to develop safe and effective particle-based therapies, it is of utmost importance to establish a more thorough understanding of this process. To examine how changes in surface chemistry influence protein adsorption, monodisperse, spherical mesoporous silica nanoparticles, ca. 50 nm, were modified with a variety of surface functionalizations, -NH2, -COOH, and -PEG. Exposing these materials to biological fluid revealed drastically different protein fingerprints, suggesting a strong correlation between the surface chemistry and the identity and composition of the protein corona. Quantification of the protein corona, i.e. mg protein/mg particles, was then achieved by performing thermogravimetric analysis. These values, in concert with spectral counts obtained by shotgun proteomics, illustrates a method for quantifying individual proteins present in the corona. Spherical, silica particles of varying diameters, 70-900 nm, were then synthesized to investigate how particle diameter may affect the biomolecular identity of the protein corona. Applying the previously described methods, it was found that mesoporous particles exhibit a higher affinity for low-molecular weight proteins compared to dense silica particles of similar diameters. Finally, stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) was used to map protein adsorption/diffusion throughout as-prepared (pore diameter ~ 30 Å) .and large pore (pore diameter > 60 Å) mesoporous silica particles. By collecting three-dimensional data on the protein-adsorbed materials, a sphere-fitting algorithm could be applied to determine the center and radius of the host particle. This calculation demonstrated that the depth by which specific proteins diffused into the porous framework was a function of both the protein's molecular weight as well as the pore diameter.

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CICYT (MAT 98-0611)

This diploma thesis is focused on waves and oscillations in the solar corona, which takes place in a large number of phenomena that occurs here. In recent years these waves have been observed in Earth observation same like as cosmic observation.The task of this thesis is to familiarize with the problems of waves and oscillations in solar corona and subsequent interpretation into numerical simulations that are performed by FLASH code. The aim of the work will be to modify numerical simulations and thus to achieve more realistic of the observed phenomena.

Orientador: José Ricardo de Arruda Miranda / Resumo: A proposta deste trabalho é inédita e consiste na aplicação do sistema de Biosusceptometria AC (BAC), associado à nanopartículas magnéticas (MNPs), a fim de disponibilizar uma nova ferramenta para estudos de função e fisiologia renal, cerebral e efeito corona. Foram realizados experimentos com ratos para o estudo de parâmetros biofísicos da dinâmica de perfusão de MNPs nos rins e cérebro, em situações normais e alteradas, bem como sua biodistribuição no organismo. Além disso empregamos o sistema BAC para avaliar as alterações em propriedades magnéticas e farmacocinéticas das MNPs quando em contato com fluidos biológicos (formação de corona proteica - CP). No estudo de perfusão e dinâmica renal estudamos diferentes fases de lesão renal induzida por doxorrubicina, utilizando o sistema BAC para detectar as MNPs em trânsito nos rins do animal, bem como sua biodistribuição. O trabalho referente à dinâmica de perfusão cerebral utilizou o fármaco manitol, um conhecido disruptor hiperosmótico, para influenciar no fluxo sanguíneo cerebral e permeabilidade da barreira hematoencefálica. Assim, foi possível estudar as alterações que este fármaco causa no cérebro, contribuindo para o desenvolvimento de novas estratégias de diagnóstico e tratamento envolvendo este órgão. Estudamos também a formação da CP nas MNPs, seus impactos em propriedades magnéticas e farmacocinéticas das MNPs. Este trabalho mostra que esses parâmetros são relacionados, uma vez que as MNPs com menor formação de CP apr... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This work consists in the application of the AC Biosusceptometry (ACB) system, associated with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), to provide a new tool for studies of renal and cerebral function and physiology, and corona effect as well. We performed experiments using rats to study biophysical parameters of the MNPs perfusion dynamics in the kidneys and brain, in normal and altered situations, as well as their biodistribution in the animals’ body. Also, we applied the ACB system to evaluate changes in the MNPs magnetic and pharmacokinetic properties when in contact with biological fluids (corona protein formation - CP). In the renal perfusion dynamics studies, we accessed three phases of doxorubicin-induced kidney injury, using the ACB system to detect the transit of the MNPs in the animals’ kidneys, as well as its biodistribution. In work regarding the dynamics of cerebral perfusion, we used the drug mannitol, a known hyperosmotic disruptor, to influence the cerebral blood flow and permeability of the blood-brain barrier. It was possible to study the changes that this drug causes in the brain, contributing to the development of new strategies for cerebral diagnosis and treatment using nanomedicines. We also studied the CP formation in MNPs, its impacts on the magnetic and pharmacokinetic properties of MNPs. This work shows that these parameters are related, since, the MNPs with lower CP formation, presented smaller differences in the magnetic properties of the MNPs and the great... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Le chauffage de la couronne et la formation du vent solaire sont plus que jamais d'actualité en astrophysique stellaire. En ce qui concerne le vent solaire, nous avons cherché à vérifier l'hypothèse selon laquelle il est issu des frontières de régions actives. En combinant l'imagerie en rayons X et Extrême Ultra Violet (EUV), la spectroscopie EUV et les mesures de champ magnétique longitudinal au niveau de la photosphère, nous avons développé une technique d’estimation quantitative des échanges de masse entre deux régions actives. Nous avons ainsi montré que cet échange n'est pas négligeable devant le flux de matière participant au vent solaire. Une attention particulière a été apportée aux traitements des données spectroscopiques notamment en ce qui concerne la référence en longueur d'onde. En effet, celle-ci est cruciale pour déterminer les vitesses y compris leurs signes dans les échanges. Sur la thématique des micro-événements de chauffage, nous avons développé une méthode de détection à partir d'images prises à haute cadence en rayons X. A l'aide de données spectroscopiques, nous avons pu estimer les vitesses Doppler et l’élargissement Doppler des raies dans les événements et les comparer au reste du champ de vue. Nous en avons déduit l’énergie contenue dans les vitesses non résolues, susceptible de contribuer au chauffage, qui s’avère être comparable aux pertes radiatives observées dans les régions actives. / The coronal heating and the formation of the solar wind are one of the core issues in stellar astrophysics.Concerning the solar wind, we have undertaken to verify the hypothesis that its origin is located at the borders of active regions. By combining X-ray and Extreme Ultra Violet (EUV) images, EUV spectroscopy and measurements of the longitudinal magnetic field at the photosphere, we have developed a technique for quantitatively estimating the mass exchange between two active regions. We have shown that this mass exchange is significant compared to the flow of material involved in the solar wind. Particular attention was paid to the analysis of spectroscopic data and more specifically the issue of reference wavelength. Indeed, it is crucial to determine the speeds including their signs in the exchange. On the topic of heating micro-events, we have developed a method for detecting micro-events from high-cadence X-ray images. With the help of spectroscopic data, we have been able to estimate the Doppler velocities and Doppler broadening of the lines in the events and compare them to the rest of the field of view. We derived the energy in the unresolved velocities, which can contribute to the heating, which turns out to be comparable to the radiative losses observed in active regions.

Chung, Chor Fung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-97). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.iv / Table of Contents --- p.v / List of Figures --- p.viii / List of Tables --- p.xiii / Nomenclature --- p.xiv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Development of Micro Indoor Surveillance Flyers --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Overview --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Intrinsic Problem of Surveillance Helicopters --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- Proposed Non-moving Parts and Noiseless Flyers --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Organization of the remaining dissertation --- p.5 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- The Basic Structure of the Ionic Flyers --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1 --- The Components and the Structural Parameters of the Ionic Flyers --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2 --- Proposed Operational Principles --- p.8 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- The Electrohydrodynamic Effect --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- The Biefeld-Brown Effect --- p.10 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Overview of Corona Discharge --- p.11 / Chapter 3.1 --- The Gaseous Discharge --- p.11 / Chapter 3.2 --- "Uniform Fields, Electrical Breakdown" --- p.12 / Chapter 3.3 --- "Non-uniform Fields, Corona Discharge" --- p.12 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Positive Corona Discharge --- p.13 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Negative Corona Discharge --- p.14 / Chapter 3.4 --- Conclusion --- p.15 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Electrical Current-Voltage Model --- p.16 / Chapter 4.1 --- Experimental Setup and Measurement --- p.17 / Chapter 4.2 --- Basic Current to Voltage Relationship --- p.18 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- The Three Electrical Stages of the Ionic Flyers --- p.20 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Proposed Quadratic Equation for the Current to Voltage Relationship --- p.22 / Chapter 4.3 --- Determination of the Current Gain C and the Onset Voltage V0 by the Structural Parameters of the Ionic Flyers --- p.22 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- The Electrode Length (L) --- p.24 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- The Gap Distance between the Wire-emitter and the Plate-collector (d) --- p.27 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- The Wire-emitter Radius (rw) --- p.31 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- The Plate-collector Height (h) --- p.36 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- The Electrode Enclosed Area (A) --- p.38 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- The Electrical Environmental Constant (Ke) --- p.43 / Chapter 4.4 --- Summary of the Experimental Derived Current-Voltage Model --- p.45 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Mechanical Lift-force Models --- p.46 / Chapter 5.1 --- Experimental Setup and Measurement --- p.47 / Chapter 5.2 --- Basic Lift-force to Voltage Relationship --- p.49 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- The Initial Power Dissipation (IPD) --- p.50 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- The Maximum Lift-force --- p.51 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Proposed Third-order Equation for the Lift-force to Power Relationship --- p.52 / Chapter 5.3 --- Determination of the Voltage Gain J and the Barrier Voltage Vfby the Structural Parameters of the Ionic Flyers --- p.54 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- The Electrical Length (L) --- p.55 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- The Gap Distance between the Wire-emitter and the Plate-collector (d) --- p.59 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- The Wire-emitter Radius (rw) --- p.63 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- The Plate-collector Height (h) --- p.66 / Chapter 5.3.5 --- The Electrode Enclosed Area (A) --- p.67 / Chapter 5.3.6 --- The Lift-force Environmental Constant (Kf) --- p.71 / Chapter 5.4 --- Summary of the Experimental Derived Lift-force Model --- p.73 / Chapter 5.5 --- Analysis on the Force/Power Ratio of the Ionic Flyers --- p.74 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Further development of the Ionic Flyers --- p.76 / Chapter 6.1 --- Multi-directional Force Generation --- p.76 / Chapter 6.1.1 --- Linear Motion --- p.77 / Chapter 6.1.2 --- Rotation Motion --- p.78 / Chapter 6.2 --- Application of MEMS Motion Sensors and Wireless Signal Transmission --- p.80 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Future Work --- p.84 / Chapter 7.1 --- Single-Emitter-Multiple-Collector Ionic Flyers --- p.84 / Chapter 7.2 --- Development of Miniaturized High-voltage Power Supply --- p.88 / Chapter Chapter 8 --- Conclusion --- p.90 / Chapter 8.1 --- The Electrical Current to Voltage Model --- p.90 / Chapter 8.2 --- The Mechanical Lift-force to Power Model --- p.91 / Chapter 8.3 --- The Force/Power Ratio Model --- p.91 / Appendix A --- p.92

La Orden del Císter surgida en Francia a finales del siglo XI, no sólo nos descubre una forma de vida religiosa basada en el aislamiento, la oración, el trabajo y la austeridad, sino toda una arquitectura hidráulica que, lejos de romper con la técnica de épocas anteriores, se sirve de ella depurándola y asegurando la continuidad del conocimiento adquirido. Su esquema de organización materno-filial entre abadías facilitó que la tecnología aplicada en cualquiera de ellas, rápidamente alcanzase una gran difusión por toda Europa. Aragón y Cataluña por su situación limítrofe con el país galo, serían testigos de primera línea de la llegada del Císter a la Península. Dos Comunidades unificadas entonces en la Corona del reino de Aragón y el condado catalán, que verían en esta Orden una forma de repoblar los territorios conquistados, y un modelo a seguir en cuanto a técnicas hidráulicas y de regadío. En el presente trabajo se analizan las instalaciones hidráulicas del Císter desde su origen hasta su implantación en España, y su desarrollo posterior en los principales cenobios cistercienses de la Corona de Aragón. Un trabajo que pretende arrojar luz en torno a la lógica hidráulica que subyace en éstos, estableciendo relaciones con el entorno, y teniendo siempre presente que quizá la actualidad arquitectónica requiera de una mirada atrás, a partir de la cual podamos desarrollar nuestro futuro.

Particles that deposit in the respiratory airways can come from many sources, such as environmental pollution, particles created in the workplace, and inhalers that are designed to deliver medicines to the lungs. Once these particles deposit in the respiratory airways, they can interact in a variety of ways. Some particles are toxic and can cause damage to lung tissues, others may have little to no effect on health, and some may provide some benefit or therapy. Once particles land in the respiratory airways, the interactions they have with proteins can impact where they go and how they behave. This thesis explores how particles that are inhaled may impact health through toxicity to lung cells. Aerosols produced from photooxidation of decamethylcyclopenta-siloxane, an ingredient common in personal care products, were exposed to lung cells using an air-liquid interface exposure system to assess if these aerosols impact lung cell health. No significant impacts on lung cell health were observed. Copper oxide, a component of cigarette smoke, urban particulate matter, and e-cigarette vapor, was assessed for its role in lung disease. Copper oxide nanoparticles were exposed to lung cells, and their viability, expression of a platelet activating factor receptor (PAFR), and susceptibility to infection with a pneumonia-causing bacterium (S. pneumoniae) were measured. Copper oxide nanoparticles were found to be toxic to lung cells. At some doses, increases in PAFR were observed, but no clear differences in susceptibility to bacterial infection were observed. This research improves knowledge of how inhaled materials can impact health, providing insight into how particles from human-derived sources affect the lungs. This thesis further explores how particles behave in the thin layer of fluid that covers the respiratory epithelium. This fluid contains a complex mixture of proteins, and this work aims to identify some of the ways these proteins interact with particles and influence behavior. This was accomplished by first investigating how individual proteins from this fluid interact with particles. Particle behavior was studied after exposure to these proteins, as well as the lung cell responses to the particles before and after interaction with individual proteins. These lung proteins were found to induce aggregation, significantly alter surface charge, and reduce cell uptake of particles. After studying how individual proteins might specifically affect particle behavior, particles were exposed to bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), a diluted lung fluid collected by rinsing lungs with saline. Particle responses to proteins in this fluid were compared to those in serum, a protein-rich blood extract. These studies identified differences in how various surface-functionalized polystyrene particles aggregated in BALF compared to serum. When particles were exposed to serum or BALF, they tended to be less likely to associate with lung cells. With some particle types studied, there were significant differences in how much BALF or serum reduced cell attachment and uptake. In addition to demonstrating that lung fluids impact particle behavior in a manner that differs from serum, a method was developed to increase the concentration of the proteins in BALF to partially undo the dilution that occurs during collection. After studying how protein adsorption can cause aggregation, cover up particle surfaces, and reduce attachment and uptake by lung cells, a polymer coating was synthesized to reduce particle interactions with these proteins and assist in stabilizing particles in lung fluids. This coating was tested in both BALF and serum to demonstrate its general utility at reducing undesired interactions with proteins in biological fluids and was found to enhance particle stability in lung fluids as well as saline. This research enhances understanding of how particles behave in the respiratory airways, providing tools to further study how particles behave in lung fluids and demonstrating a polymer coating that is useful in this environment.

Even minimal improvements in particle collection efficiency of electrostatic precipitators significantly reduce dust emission from fossil-fuelled power stations and reduce pollution. Yet current designs rely on the Deutsch collection theory, which was developed for tubular precipitators and has been applied to wire-plate precipitators on the assumption that the inter-electrode electric fields at the same discharge distance in both were similar. Differences in geometry and associated collector electric fields and current density non-uniformity have not been taken into account, although the collector electric field and current density of the wire-plate precipitator are not uniform. And observations show that precipitated dust patterns and the distribution of collector current density are interrelated. Investigations revealed a simple square law relationship between the collector electric field and the collector current density in the space charge dominated coronas. Applying this relationship to the Deutsch collection theory led to a current-density-based collection formula that takes into account the non-uniform collector current density distribution. The current-density-based collection formula is then used to assess the impact of collector current density on collection efficiency, the results closely following published measurements. Applying the current-density-based collection formula to estimate the dust accumulation shows that most of the dust accumulates at collector locations facing the corona wires. The effect of the non-uniform precipitated dust layer on collection performance is assessed using the distributed corona impedance - the ratio of the inter-electrode voltage and the non-uniform collector current. Re-distribution of the collector current profile as dust builds up is also compatible with published measurements. Finally this is applied to optimize the wire-plate precipitator collection performance. This shows that optimal collection performance is obtained with the wire-wire spacing less than the wire-plate distance, once again confirming published experimental results. This is the first analytical approach to show better collection performance can be achieved at the ratio of wire-wire spacing/wire-plate distance not equal to unity, which has been the standard industry practice since 1960.