A espectrometria de massas com plasma acoplado indutivamente com simples quadrupolo (q-ICP-MS) e cela de reação dinâmica (DRC-ICP-MS) foi avaliada para determinação seqüencial de Al, As, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Mn, Mo, Pb, Pt, Sb, Se, Sn, Te, Tl, V e Zn em sangue. Para as análises, amostras de sangue (200 µL) foram diluídas 1:50 em uma solução contendo 0,01% v/v Triton® X-100 e 0,5% v/v de ácido nítrico. As calibrações foram realizadas com ajuste de matriz, utilizando sangue ovino. Como gás de reação utilizou-se a NH3. O uso do DRC foi fundamental para a determinação de Cr e V. A escolha da melhor vazão do gás e a otimização do parâmetro de rejeição (RPq) foram estudadas utilizando sangue base ovino ou uma solução de matriz sintética (SMS), de acordo com a concentração do analito no sangue base. Os limites de detecção (3s/coeficiente angular) para determinação de 27Al, 75As, 111Cd, 59Co, 63Cu, 55Mn, 98Mo, 208Pb, 195Pt, 123Sb, 82Se, 120Sn, 130Te, 205Tl e 66Zn em sangue por q-ICP-MS foram 0,223; 0,014; 0,003; 0,011; 0,304; 0,009; 0,009; 0,003; 0,001; 0,005; 0,264; 0,006; 0,010; 0,001; 0,834 µg L-1, respectivamente, e para determinação de 52Cr e 51V em sangue por DRC-ICP-MS utilizando o gás de reação amônia os limites de detecção foram de 0,007 e 0,006 µg L-1. Para a determinação de 27Al, 63Cu, 65Cu, 64Zn e 66Zn em sangue por q-ICP-MS através da calibração com ajuste de matriz com SMS os limites de detecção foram 0,083; 0,090; 0,055; 0,281; 0,306 µg L-1, respectivamente. A validação do método foi realizada por meio da análise de materiais de referência do INSP-Canadá, NYSDOH-EUA e Seronorm-Noruega. / The use of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with quadrupole (q-ICP-MS) and dynamic reaction cell (DRC-ICP-MS) was evaluated for sequential determination of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Mn, Mo, Pb, Pt, Sb, Se, Sn, Te, Tl, V and Zn in whole blood by q-ICP-MS or DRC-ICP-MS methods. Prior to analysis, sample (200 µL) were diluted 1:50 v/v in a solution containing 0.01% v/v Triton® X-100 and 0.5% v/v nitric acid. For all elements, except Cr and V, the instrument was operated in q-ICP-MS mode. The use of DRC was only mandatory for Cr and V. NH3 was evaluated as the reaction gas. Selection of best flow rate of reaction gas and optimization of the quadrupole dynamic bandpass rejection parameter (RPq) were carried out, using base whole blood or synthetic matrix solution (SMS), in according with element base blood concentration. Method detection limits (3s/slope) for 27Al, 75As, 111Cd, 59Co, 63Cu, 55Mn, 98Mo, 208Pb, 195Pt, 123Sb, 82Se, 120Sn, 130Te, 205Tl and 66Zn determination in whole blood by q-ICP-MS against matrix matching calibration (base blood) were 0.223; 0.014; 0.003; 0.011; 0.304; 0.009; 0.009; 0.003; 0.001; 0.005; 0.264; 0.006; 0.010; 0.001; 0.834 µg L-1, respectively, and for 52Cr and 51V determination in whole blood by DRC-ICP-MS the detection limits were 0.007 e 0.006 µg L-1. For 27Al, 63Cu, 65Cu, 64Zn and 66Zn determination by q-ICP-MS through matrix matching calibration with SMS the detection limits were 0.083; 0.090; 0.055; 0.281; 0.306 µg L-1, respectively. Method validation was accomplished by the analysis of reference materials from INSP-Canada, NYSDOH-USA, Seronorm-Norway.

The airway epithelium plays a central role in respiratory physiology through its transport and immunological functions. Our previous study suggested that P2Y receptors are expressed in airway epithelia and play a significant role in regulating transepithelial ion transport. P2Y receptors belong to the family of purinergic receptors, which can be stimulated by nucleotides such as UTP and UDP. P2Y receptors are G protein-coupled receptors and classically signal through G[subscript q], resulting in an increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]ᵢ) and thereby in the activation of Ca²⁺-dependent ion channels and downstream signalling pathway(s). Furthermore, P2Y receptors are involved in asthmatic inflammation. / Estrogen (or E₂) is an important hormone in human physiology. In addition to the classical nuclear hormone receptors ERα and ERβ, a novel estrogen receptor, G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), was recently identified and found to be involved in both rapid signalling and transcriptional regulations. The action of GPER is unclear, but it has been implicated in mediating anti-inflammatory responses. / In our experiments, both human bronchial epithelial cell line, 16HBE14o-, and primary normal human bronchial epithelial cells expressed GPER at mRNA and protein levels, as demonstrated by RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. ERα and ERβ expression were also detected at mRNA and protein level. Expression of GPER receptors was localized in the human bronchial epithelial cells by immunofluorescence staining and western blotting of fractionated cell lysates. / [Ca²⁺]ᵢ induced by nucleotides were monitored by calcium imaging technique using MetaFluor fluorescence ratio imaging system. Stimulation of epithelial cells with E₂ or with the specific agonist of GPER, G1, rapidly attenuated a UDP-, UTP- or ATPyS- evoked increase in [Ca²⁺]ᵢ in both 16HBE14o- cell line and primary cells. This inhibitory effect of E₂ and G1 were concentration dependent, while this effect was reversed by GPER specific antagonist, G15. To examine the effect of E₂ and G1 on UDP-activated intracellular Ca²⁺ release and influx, the epithelia were exposed to nominally Ca²⁺ -free solution in the presence or absence of G1 or E₂, and then stimulated with UDP. Subsequently, Ca²⁺ was added to the perfusate. Both E₂ and G1 could inhibit UDP-induced Ca²⁺ release. However, only E₂ but not G1 could inhibit UDP-induced Ca²⁺ influx. / E₂ or G1 inhibited the secretion of two pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-6 or IL-8, in cells stimulated by different nucleotides or the cationic protein, poly-L-arginie, as quantified by ELISA. CFP-Epac-YPF, an Epac-based polypeptide FRET reporter was used to monitor the real-time cAMP changes in 16HBE14o- cells. Both G1 and E₂ induced an increase in cAMP production. The transepithelial chloride (Cl⁻) secretion was measured using short circuit current technique in cells grown on permeable support. Cl⁻ secretion induced by apical UDP was partially inhibited by G1 in a concentration dependent manner. / Our results provide the first evidence that human bronchial epithelia express GPER, which interact with the P2Y receptor-mediated calcium signalling pathway and cytokine secretion. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory role of GPER may be due to its opposing effect on the pro-inflammatory pathway activated by the P2Y receptors in inflamed airway epithelia. / 气道上皮具有调节运输以及参与免疫反应等功能，在呼吸生理学研究中有着十分关键的意义。我们曾经的研究发现P2Y受体在气道上皮中表达并调节上皮细胞离子运输过程。P2Y受体属于嘌呤受体，可被三磷酸尿苷（UTP），二磷酸尿苷（UDP）等核苷酸激活。同时，P2Y受体也是一类G蛋白偶联受体，可通过活化G[subscript q]蛋白调控细胞内钙离子浓度而激活钙依赖性离子通道及其他下游信号通路。此外P2Y受体还参与哮喘炎症的调控。 / 雌激素（或雌二醇，E₂）是人体一类十分重要的激素。除传统的核受体ERα与ERβ外，一类新型雌激素受体GPER已被发现和鉴定。GPER属于G蛋白偶联受体，可同时参与转录调控和非基因依赖的快速信号调节。尽管具体机理尚不明确，但研究发现GPER可介导抗炎症反应。 / 实验结果显示，在支气管上皮细胞株16HBE14o-和原代人支气管上皮细胞中GPER都被检测到基因和蛋白水平的表达。GPER在人支气管上皮细胞中的定位也通过免疫荧光染色（immunofluorescence）和亚细胞组分蛋白质印迹（western blot of fractionated cells）得到鉴定。 / 本研究中，荧光显微技术（fluorescence microscopy）被用于测定核苷酸介导的细胞内钙离子浓度（[Ca²⁺]ᵢ）。在16HBE14o- 和原代培养人支气管上皮细胞中，E₂和GPER特异性激动剂G1都可抑制核苷酸介导的 [Ca²⁺]ᵢ增加，且这种抑制作用呈浓度依赖。GPER特异性拮抗剂G15可抵消G1的抑制作用。进一步研究表明，E₂和G1都可抑制UTP诱导的胞内钙库释放，然而只有E₂抑制UTP诱导的胞外钙离子内流。 / 除钙离子调节外，E₂和G1还可抑制支气管上皮细胞中核苷酸或聚精氨酸（poly-L-arginine）刺激介导的两种促炎症细胞因子，白介素6（IL-6）和白介素8（IL-8）的分泌。酶联免疫法（ELISA）被用于细胞因子的定量。同时，CFP-Epac-YPF作为一类多肽荧光共振能量转移（FRET）探针被转染入16HBE14o- ，探测细胞内腺苷-3',5'-环化一磷酸（cAMP）的实时变化。结果显示在人支气管上皮细胞中E₂和G1都可引导cAMP生成。此外，我们使用短路电流（short-circuit current, Isc）技术测定单层上皮细胞的氯离子（Cl⁻）分泌，并发现人支气管上皮顶膜面UDP诱导的Cl⁻ 分泌可被G1部分抑制，且抑制效果呈浓度依赖。 / 本研究首次证明GPER表达于人支气管上皮, 且激活GPER对P2Y受体介导的钙离子信号通路以及细胞因子生成起到抑制作用。这些结果表明在气道炎症反应中，GPER可通过反向调节P2Y受体激活的促炎症作用，达到抗炎症的效果。 / Hao, Yuan. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2014. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 187-211). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on 03, November, 2016). / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar parâmetros para o desenvolvimento de métodos visando à determinação elementar em alumina, cimento e quartzo por espectrometria de emissão óptica com plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP OES) com amostragem de suspensão. Alguns elementos foram investigados como possíveis candidatos a padrões internos (PIs) Be, Dy, Gd, In, La, Sc, Y, Yb eTl. Amostras de material de referência certificado (CRM) de alumina (Alumina Reduction Grade 699), de cimento Portland (1889a Blended with Limestone e 1886a White Portland cement with low iron) do National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST), e amostras de quartzo, cedidos pelo Departamento de Física da Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), denominados T-4FI, T-2FI e T-4GR, foram utilizadas na otimização instrumental, no desenvolvimento e na avaliação da exatidão do método. Nanopartículas de sílica de alta pureza (Wacker HDK® T40), Wacker Chemie AG foram utilizadas no estudo de adsorção dos elementos e padrões internos como proposta de produção de material calibrante para a análise direta de sólidos. Para a escolha dos PIs foram construídos gráficos de correlação usando valores de potenciais de excitação, energias de ionização e temperaturas de fusão dos analitos e dos candidatos a PIs. Análise exploratória por agrupamentos hierárquicos (HCA) e análise dos componentes principais (PCA), também foram realizadas. A avaliação de desempenho do ICP OES foi feita em meio das suspensões das amostras a partir do estabelecimento de figuras de mérito como sensibilidade, robustez, seletividade e repetibilidade. Na otimização do foram considerados os parâmetros potência, vazão de nebulização e vazão de gás auxiliar. A determinação de Ca, Fe, Ga, Na, Si e Zn em alumina foi feita após dissolução em forno de micro-ondas com posterior precipitação do Al(III) com NH3. O uso de padrão interno foi essencial para a exatidão do método, com recuperações do CRM que variaram de 83 a 117%. Para a matriz cimento foram avaliados o efeito da concentração de ácido nítrico na extração dos analitos ( Al, Ca, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Si, Sr, Ti e Zn) e na adsorção dos elementos candidatos a PIs (Be, Sc, In, Dy). As determinações por suspensão e uso de padrão interno (exceto para Cr, S e Zn), com 0,5% v v-1 de HNO3, nebulizador Burgener e condições robustas do ICP geraram resultados com recuperações entre 68 e 119%. As determinações de Al, Ba, Cr, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Na, Sr e Ti em quartzo foram executadas com introdução de suspensão e ausência de padrão interno, usando condições do ICP similares àquelas adotadas na determinação elementar para matriz de cimento. Nesse caso as recuperações variaram de 90 a 107%. A adsorção dos analitos e padrões internos sobre as nanopartículas de sílica pode ser uma alternativa para a preparação de padrões de calibração quando se deseja realizar a introdução direta do material sólido em suspensão. / The aim of this study was to evaluate parameters for the development of methods for elements determination in alumina, cement and quartz by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) with slurry sampling. Some elements were investigated as candidates for internal standards (ISs) Be, Dy, Gd, In, La, Sc, Y, Yb and Tl. Samples of certified reference material (CRM) of alumina (Alumina Reduction Grade - 699), Portland cement (blended with the 1889a and 1886a Limestone White Portland cement with low iron) from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and quartz samples, suplied by the Department of Physics from Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), named T-4FI, T-2FI and T4GR were used to optimize instrumental, method development and accuracy evaluation of the method. Nanoparticles of high purity silica (Wacker HDK T40 ®), Wacker Chemie AG were used in the study adsorption of the analytes and internal standards as calibrating material for direct analysis of solids. Correlation graphs using excitation potentials, ionization energies and melting point temperatures were used for chosing the best ISs. Exploratory analysis using hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were also performed. Optimization of ICP OES was performed in aqueous and slurry samples to establishment figures of merit, such as sensitivity, robustness, selectivity and repeatability. In the optimization of ICP, power supply, nebulizer flow rate and auxiliary gas flow rate were considered. The determination of Ca, Fe, Ga, In, Si and Zn in alumina was made after decomposition in a microwave oven with subsequent precipitation of Al(III) with NH3 gas. The internal standard was essential to obtain the accuracy of the method, with recoveries of CRM analysis ranging from 83 to 117%. For the cement analysis was evaluated the effect of nitric acid concentration over analytes extraction (Al, Ca, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Si, Sr, Ti and Zn) and ISs candidate adsorption (Be, Sc, In and Dy). Determinations of the elements in cement slurry with the internal standard (except for Cr and Zn), with 0.5% v v-1 HNO3, nebulizer Burgener and robust conditions of ICP produced results with recoveries between 68 and 119%. The determinations of Al, Ba, Cr, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Na, Sr and Ti in quartz were performed with the slurry introduction and without of internal standard, using similar conditions of those adopted for cement matrix. In this case the recoveries ranged from 90 to 107% with addition and recovery test. The adsorption of the analytes and internal standards on silica nanoparticles could be an alternative for the preparation of calibration standards when considering performing the direct introduction of solid material.

"Photonic crystals have recently been the subject of studies for use in optical signal processing. In particular, a Coupled Resonator Optical Waveguide (CROW) structure has been considered by M. F. Yanik and S. Fan in “Stopping Light All Optically” for use in a time-varying optical system for the storage of light in order to mitigate the effects of waveguide dispersion. In this thesis, the effects of the thermal field on the state stored in such a structure is studied. Through simulation, this thesis finds that when this structure is constructed of gallium arsenide cylinders in air, loss of the signal was found to be caused by free-carrier absorption, and the decay of the signal dominates over thermal spreading of the optical signal’s spectrum."

A fundamental problem of microwave (MW) thermal processing of materials is the intrinsic non-uniformity of the resulting internal heating pattern. This project proposes a general technique to solve this problem by using comprehensive numerical modeling to determine the optimal process guaranteeing uniformity. The distinctive features of the approach are the use of an original concept of uniformity for MW-induced temperature fields and pulsed MW energy as a mechanism for achieving uniformity of heating. The mathematical model used to represent MW heating describes two component physical processes: electromagnetic wave propagation and heat diffusion. A numerical solution for the corresponding boundary value problem is obtained using an appropriate iterative framework in which each sub-problem is solved independently by applying the 3D FDTD method. Given a specific MW heating system and load configuration, the optimization problem is to find the experiment which minimizes the time required to raise the minimum temperature of the load to a prescribed goal temperature while maintaining the maximum temperature below a prescribed threshold. The characteristics of the system which most dramatically influence the internal heating pattern, when changed, are identified through extensive modeling, and are subsequently chosen as the design variables in the related optimization. Pulsing MW power is also incorporated into the optimization to allow heat diffusion to affect cold spots not addressed by the heating controlled by the design variables. The developed optimization algorithm proceeds at each time-step by choosing the values of design variables which produce the most uniform heating pattern. Uniformity is measured as the average squared temperature deviation corresponding to all distinct neighboring pairs of FDTD cells representing the load. The algorithm is implemented as a collection of MATLAB scripts producing a description of the optimal MW heating process along with the final 3D temperature field. We demonstrate that CAD of a practical applicator providing uniform heating is reduced to the determination of suitable design variables and their incorporation into the optimization process. Although uniformity cannot be attained using“static" MW heating, it is achievable by applying an appropriate pulsing regime. The functionality of the proposed optimization is illustrated by computational experiments which show that time-to-uniformity can be reduced, compared to the pulsing regime, by up to an order of magnitude.

Orientador: Gustavo Silva Wiederhecker / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-02T10:33:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Luiz_GustavoDeOliveira_D.pdf: 5507367 bytes, checksum: 506db63a5a93a33d67a84dbb1f7b33ce (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017 / Resumo: Nas últimas décadas a optomecânica de microcavidades chamou a atenção de cientistas e engenheiros, que encontraram na interação entre luz e ondas acústicas aplicações que variam de sensores de massa com resolução atômica, até a preparação de estados quânticos de osciladores harmônicos mesoscópicos, passando por simuladores quânticos, filtros ópticos controláveis opticamente, criação de estados topológicos para luz e fônons, apenas citando alguns exemplos. Apesar das diversas demonstrações de vários dispositivos, sendo discos e cristais fotônicos os formatos mais comuns, há ainda um grande esforço no sentido de aperfeiçoá-los reduzindo perdas ópticas e mecânicas e suprimindo outros fenômenos de óptica não-linear, como absorção de dois fótons, que podem impedir seu funcionamento apropriado. Como ressonadores ópticos e mecânicos tipicamente compartilham a mesma estrutura nestes dispositivos, seus projetos são acoplados, dificultando o aprimoramento independente de cada um. Nesta tese usamos dispositivos optomecânicos de campo próximo, cuja interação entre modos mecânicos e ópticos se dá através do campo evanescente do último, para desacoplar o projeto mecânico do óptico, o que nos permitiu estudar a otimização do ressonador mecânico sem qualquer efeito sobre a cavidade óptica. Com um ressonador mecânico de silício composto por dois osciladores acoplados, pudemos demonstrar que o correto equilíbrio das massas de cada oscilador é um método simples e eficiente para suprimir as perdas devido à radiação de energia mecânica para o substrato na escala de frequência de 50 MHz. Este processo permitiu que fatores de qualidade limitados por perdas relacionadas ao material e à superfície, da ordem de 10 mil à temperatura ambiente e de 50 mil a aproximadamente 25 K, fossem obtidos. Também observamos nestes dispositivos o fenômeno de auto-pulsação, que apresenta uma dinâmica própria tão interessante quanto a optomecânica, apesar de impedir a operação apropriada dos osciladores optomecânicos. Estudamos este fenômeno separadamente e demonstramos que estes pulsos, ocorrendo em duas cavidades ópticas acopladas por seus campos evanescentes, podem sincronizar com o campo óptico sendo o único intermediador. Ambas as demonstrações têm implicações importantes, abrindo caminho para o desenvolvimento de novas plataformas de interesse tanto científico quanto tecnológico, como estruturas para o estudo de estados topológicos para a luz e para ondas acústicas e geradores de sinal de radio-frequência de alto desempenho. Além disso, os dispositivos foram todos produzidos em uma fábrica comercial, o que também demonstra que sua fabricação está pronta para ser escalada para produção em massa / Abstract: Cavity optomechanics in the micro-scale has attracted the attention of scientists and engineers on the last few decades, who encountered applications to the interaction of light and acoustic waves ranging from atomic resolution mass sensors to the preparation of quantum states of mesoscopic harmonic oscillators, passing by quantum simulators, optically controllable optical filters, formation of topological states for both photons and phonons, just to mention a few examples. Although various devices have been demonstrated, with disks and photonics crystals being the most common designs, there is still a large effort to improve them by reducing optical and mechanical losses and suppressing other non-linear phenomena, such as two-photon absorption, that may affect their proper operation. Because optical and mechanical resonators typically share the same structure in these devices, their designs are coupled, which complicates the independent improvement of each one. In this thesis we used near-field optomechanical devices, whose mechanical modes interact with the optical through the latter¿s evanescent field, to decouple the mechanical design from the optical, what allowed us to focus all attention on the mechanical resonator. With a silicon mechanical resonator composed of two coupled oscillators, we could demonstrate that the correct balance of the masses of the oscillators is an efficient and simple way to suppress losses due to energy radiation to the substrate at the 50 MHz frequency range. This strategy led to material and surface limited quality factors close to 10k at room temperature and 50k at approximately 25 K. We also observed the phenomenon of self-pulsing in these devices, which presents dynamics as interesting as the optomechanical interactions do, in spite of being a problem for the proper operation of the optomechanical devices. We studied this phenomenon separately and demonstrated that these pulses, when occurring in two evanescently coupled optical cavities, may synchronize with the optical field being the sole intermediary. These two demonstrations have important implications, paving the way for new platforms of scientific and technological interest, such as structures for the study of topological states for both light and acoustic weaves as well as high efficiency radio-frequency signal generators. Moreover, these devices were all fabricated in a commercial foundry, which also demonstrates that the fabrication of such technology is ready to be scaled up to mass production / Doutorado / Física / Doutor em Ciências / 153044/2013-6 / CNPQ

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T19:25:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Joao Frederico.pdf: 2218397 bytes, checksum: 781c58d12bce3113c45da4e65bd0e36d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-03-11 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / In this dissertation, we studied entanglement in some fundamental systems of physics, such as an excited atom in free-space spontaneously decaying and coupled harmonic oscillators. In order to study entanglement in spontaneous emission in free-space, we employed theWeisskopf-Wigner theory which allowed us to obtain the time evolution of both the atom and field states. In the case of bipartite entanglement among field modes after spontaneous emission, we showed that the modes can become highly entangled and that the features of this entanglement strongly depend on the way the partitions are made. For the entanglement between atom and field during spontaneous emission, we were able to relate entanglement to a well known physical quantity namely the lifetime of an atom in a excited state. Keeping in mind the intention to study simple but relevant physical systems, we used in the second work a chain of coupled harmonic oscillators. It was well-known among researchers in the field of quantum information that a linear chain of coupled oscillators in the rotating wave approximation and prepared in classical states would never create entanglement. Then, we used two reference oscillators prepared in squeezed states to make creation of entanglement possible. We found results concerning the relationship between the phases in the reference oscillators’ state and dynamics of entanglement in the chain for some coupling configurations. We showed that it is not always true that squeezing can favor entanglement creation and that with the configuration used by us it is possible to localize entanglement. We proposed a possible implementation of our results in coupled microelectromechanical systems. / Nesta dissertação estudamos o emaranhamento em alguns sistemas fundamentais da Física, como um átomo no espaço livre realizando emissão espontânea e em osciladores harmônicos acoplados. Para o estudo do emaranhamento na emissão espontânea no espaço livre, utilizamos a teoria de Weisskopf-Wigner que nos permitiu obter a evolução temporal, tanto do estado do átomo, quanto do estado do campo. Para o caso de emaranhamento bipartido entre os modos do campo após a emissão espontânea, mostramos que os modos podem ficar altamente emaranhados e que as características desse emaranhamento dependem fortemente de como são realizadas as partições. Para o emaranhamento entre o átomo e o campo durante a emissão espontânea, pudemos relacionar o emaranhamento com uma quantidade Física bastante conhecida, o tempo de vida do átomo no seu estado excitado. Ainda com o intuito de estudar sistemas físicos simples, mas de relevância na Física, utilizamos, em um segundo trabalho, uma cadeia de osciladores harmônicos acoplados. Já era bem conhecido dos pesquisadores na área de informação quântica que uma cadeia linear de osciladores acoplados, na aproximação de onda girante e preparados em estados clássicos, não cria emaranhamento. Assim, utilizamos dois osciladores de referência em estados comprimidos para permitir a criação de emaranhamento. Encontramos resultados a respeito da relação das fases dos osciladores de referência e a dinâmica do emaranhamento na cadeia para algumas configurações de acoplamentos. Mostramos que nem sempre a compressão dos estados comprimidos favorece a criação de emaranhamento e que na configuração utilizada por nós é possível localizar o emaranhamento. Nós propusemos uma possível implementação de nossos estudos em sistemas microeletromecânicos acoplados.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T19:26:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Romeu Miqueias.pdf: 9797233 bytes, checksum: d4b08f71cb22063247e9bb495366dd55 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-01-31 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Synchronization is a dynamical behavior exhibited by a wide range of systems. Neurons, firefly and Josephson junctions are examples of these systems. It is defined as an adjustment of rhythms of oscillating objects due to weak interaction between them, and it is studied using different mathematical models including the coupled map lattices (CMLs). In CML the synchronization corresponds to process in which all state variables become identical at the same instant. Usually we study the CML synchronization by calculating the conditional Lyapunov exponents. However, if the coupling or network topology is time-varying, this exponents are not readily determined. In this work we propose new quantities to study the synchronization in these CMLs. These quantities are defined as weighted averages over all possible topologies and, if the topology is constant, they are equivalent to the usual Lyapunov exponents. We find an analytical expression for the effective quantities when the topology is invariant over translation on the network and demonstrate that an ensemble of short time observations can be used to predict the long-term behavior of the lattice. Also we point that, if network has constant and homogeneous structure, the effective quantities correspond to the projection on the eigenvectors associated with this structure. We show the availability of effective quantities using them to build a lattice with constant topology that exhibits the same synchronization critical properties of the lattice with time-varying topology. Finally, we present a cryptosystem for communication systems based on two replica synchronized networks whose elements are not synchronous. We investigate it as to operation time, robustness and security against intruders. Our results suggest that it is safe and efficient for a wide range of parameters. / A sincronização é um comportamento dinâmico exibido por uma ampla variedade de sistemas naturais tais como neurônios, vaga-lumes e junções Josephson. Ela é definida como um ajuste de ritmos de objetos oscilantes devido a uma fraca interação entre eles, e é estudada usando diferentes modelos matemáticos tais como as redes de mapas acoplados (RMAs). Em uma RMA, o processo de sincronização representa uma evolução conjunta entre todas variáveis de estados. Este processo é geralmente investigado com base nos expoentes de Lyapunov condicionais. No entanto, para redes com topologia variável tais expoentes não são facilmente determinados. Neste trabalho propomos novas quantidades para estudar a sincronização nestas redes. Estas quantidades são definidas como médias ponderadas sobre todas as topologias possíveis e, no caso em que a topologia é constante, equivalem aos expoentes de Lyapunov usuais. Encontramos uma expressão analítica para as quantidades efetivas para o caso em que a topologia é invariante sobre translação na rede e demonstramos que um conjunto de observações sobre um intervalo curto de tempo pode ser usado para predizer o comportamento da rede a longo prazo. Também verificamos que, se a rede possui uma estrutura constante e homogênea, as quantidades efetivas podem ser obtidas considerando a projeção sobre os autovetores associados a esta estrutura. Mostramos a eficácia das quantidades efetivas usando-as para construir uma rede com topologia constante que exibe as mesmas propriedades de sincronização da rede com topologia variável. Por último apresentamos um criptossistema para sistemas de comunicação que é baseado em duas réplicas de redes sincronizadas cujos elementos são não-síncronos. Investigamos este sistema quanto ao tempo de operação, a robustez e a segurança contra intrusos. Nossos resultados sugerem que ele é seguro e eficiente para uma amplo intervalo de parâmetros.

Dans les avions et lanceurs, des systèmes entraînés par l’énergie hydraulique, mécanique ou pneumatique sont progressivement remplacés par des systèmes électriques pour des raisons techniques et industrielles. Cependant, ces nouveaux systèmes doivent répondre aux contraintes économiques et de poids concernant ces domaines tout en garantissant une certaine fiabilité. Dans ce contexte industriel, des topologies innovantes multi-machines multi-convertisseurs à haut niveau de fiabilité sont comparées ici à des structures plus standards toujours tolérantes aux défaillances. Ainsi, des topologies avec des machines polyphasées couplées électriquement en série ont été choisies pour ce travail de thèse. La mise en série permet la mutualisation des bras d’onduleurs, réduisant ainsi leur nombre, et augmente la résistance totale du système. La valeur crête du courant est alors réduite lors de l’apparition de certains défauts avec, comme contrepartie, une augmentation inéluctables des pertes Joule globales. Pour que le contrôle de ces machines couplées électriquement en série soit indépendant, il est mis en évidence pourquoi le nombre de phase de ces machines doit être supérieur à 3 et avec de plus une connexion électrique spéciale permutant les phases. Une nouvelle topologie brevetée est tout particulièrement étudiée et testée expérimentalement. Apres validation du concept, des stratégies de contrôle plus complexes et des reconfigurations de la commande après le défaut sont appliquées afin de juger des potentialités d’amélioration des systèmes Pour les comparaisons, des simulations et des essais expérimentaux ont été réalisés. Les critères choisis pour cette comparaison ont été la puissance de dimensionnement de l’onduleur, servant d’image de son coût et de son poids, les pertes Joule et le couple pulsatoire, tous les trois pour un fonctionnement en mode dégradé. / In airplanes and launch vehicles, hydraulics, mechanical and pneumatic systems are progressively being replaced by electric systems for technical and industrial reasons. However, these new electric systems have to take into account the economical and weight reliability constraints of the aeronautics industry, ensuring the required reliability. Therefore, novel high reliability multi-machine and multi-converter topologies are compared to standard structures looking forward to find solutions that can be industrially implemented. Then, series-coupled machine topologies were chosen for this work. The series-coupling mutualizes the inverter legs, reducing their number, and increases the total electrical resistance of the system. As a consequence, the peak-current after the occurrence of certain faults is reduced, but the total copper losses are higher. In order to independently control the series-coupled machines, it is highlighted the reason why the number of phases must be higher than 3 and with a special electric coupling that permutes the machine’s phases. A new patented topology is deeply analyzed with experimental tests. After a validation of the studied system, more complex control strategies and control reconfiguration after a fault are also implemented in order to evaluate the potential improvements on the system performance in degraded mode. Simulation and experimental results were used on this study. For this analysis the dimensioning power of the inverter, the copper losses and the torque ripple, all of them in degraded mode, are the compared criterions.

Introdução: A apneia do sono é condição prevalente e apresenta forte correlação com as principais causas de morbidade e mortalidade na sociedade ocidental. A perda do controle neuromotor proveniente de estágios mais profundos do sono está associada ao colapso faríngeo e a patogênese da apneia obstrutiva do sono (SAOS). A língua é implicada como principal protagonista na patogênese da obstrução das vias aéreas superiores (VAS) durante o sono. Não há farmacoterapia para SAOS. Novas tecnologias moleculares para controle neuronal através da inserção de um receptor de membrana geneticamente modificado, denominado Designer Receptor Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs [DREADDs], o qual pode ser ativado por uma droga inicialmente inerte, de alta especificdade, clozapina-n-oxide (CNO). Objetivos: 1) Modificar geneticamente os neurônios motores do núcleo do hipoglosso utilizando-se de DREADDs, o qual permite regular sua atividade; 2) Analisar a atividade do músculo genioglosso sob administração de CNO; 3) Desenvolver abordagens para rastreamento dos músculos protrusores e retratores da língua por marcadores retrógrados, injecção de subunidade B de toxina colérica (CTB-AF) e do vírus de pseudoraiva (PRV) 267 transportando um gene repórter, nos músculos efetores. Métodos: Receptores muscarínicos mutados em um vetor adenoviral associado (AAV) foram infundidos no núcleo do hipoglosso de camundongos via injeção esterotáxica bilateral. Após quatro semanas, período para expressão fenotípica, foram comparadas a atividade eletromiográfica do músculo genioglosso (EMGGG) em resposta a administração de ligante (CNO) versus solução salina. Em um segundo grupo foram realizadas infusões com vírus controle e comparação da EMGGG pré e pós infusão de CNO. Para rastreamento neural a CTB-AF foi injetado nos músculos protusores e retratores da língua e para expressão de Cre o vírus PRV-267 foi injetado no músculo genioglosso. A expressão dessas substâncias no núcleo do hipoglosso foi avaliada através de microscopia de fluorescência. Resultados: Dos dezoito camundongos injetados com DREADDs, dezesseis foram transfectados pelo vetor de AAV. Em camundongos onde o núcleo motor do hipoglosso foi corretamente atingido a EMGGG apresentou importante aumento após a administração de CNO. Em contraste, a atividade do genioglosso não apresentou alteração após a administração de soro fisiológico. Em três camundongos onde a transfecção ultrapassou os limites do núcleo foi observado arritmia respiratória após infusão do ligante. Todos animais infundidos com vírus controle foram adequadamente transfectados mas não apresentaram alteração eletromiográfica após a infusão de CNO. Foram diferenciados no núcleo do hipoglosso os neurônios motores da musculatura retratora e protusora da língua. A expressão intranuclear da enzima Cre-recombinase foi identificada no núcleo hipoglosso. Conclusão: A utilização de métodos quimiogenéticos para ativar grupos selecionados de neurônios motores em áreas cerebrais específicas representa técnica promissora para o estudo do controle neuromotor das VAS. Estes resultados sugerem que a terapia transgênica pode ser eficaz no tratamento da SAOS além de uma vasta gama de patologias que resultam de perturbações no controle neural das VAS. Através da manipulação das fibras musculares efetoras na língua foi possível a identificação do seu respectivo neurônio motor no núcleo do hipoglosso e induzi-lo a sintetizar uma enzima específica (Cre-recombinase) / Introduction: Sleep Apnea is a prevalent condition and strongly correlates with the major causes of morbidity and mortality in Western Society. The loss of motor input from deeper sleep stages is associated with pharyngeal collapsibility and the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The tongue plays a major role in the pathogenesis of upper airway (UA) obstruction during sleep. There is no pharmacotherapy for OSA. New molecular techniques allow to control neuronal function by inserting a genetically modified membrane receptor termed the Designer Receptor Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs [DREADDs] which can be activated by a highly specific and otherwise pharmacologically inert drug clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) Objectives: 1) To genetically modify the hypoglossal nucleus motor neurons using DREADDs, which allows to regulate their activity; 2) To analyze the genioglossal activity upon administration of CNO; 3) to develop novel approaches to targeting tongue protruders and retractors by retrograde tracers, cholera toxin subunit B (CTB-AF) and pseudorabies virus (PRV) 267 injection carrying a reporter gene into the effector muscles. Methods: Mutated muscarinic receptors in an adenoviral associated vector (AAV) were delivered to the hypoglossal nucleus via stereotactically bilateral injection. Four weeks after adenoviral delivery (expression period), responses in genioglossal electromyography (EMGGG) activity to intraperitoneal administration of CNO ligand vs. Saline (control) were compared in mice. In a second group, control-virus was infused and genioglossus muscle EMGGG was compared before and after CNO infusion. For neuronal tracing CTB-AF was injected into the protrusor and retractor muscles of the tongue and for Cre induction PRV-267 virus was injected in the genioglossus muscle. Expression of these substances in the hypoglossal nucleus were evaluated by fluorescence histology. Results: Of eighteen DREADDs injected mice, sixteen were transfected with AAV vector. After CNO administration EMGGG activity increased in mice where the hypoglossal motor nucleus was correctly targeted. In contrast, genioglossal activity was not augmented following saline administration. In three mice where transfection surpassed the nucleus limits, breathing arrhythmia was observed following ligand infusion. All animals infused with control virus were adequately transfected but did not present electromyographic change following CNO infusion. The motor neurons of the rectractor and protrusor musculature of the tongue were well differentiated in the hypoglossal nucleus. Intranuclear expression of Cre recombinase enzyme was identified in the hypoglossal nucleus. Conclusion: Utilizing chemogenetic methods to activate motor neuron groups in selected brain areas show promise to UA neuromotor control, and suggest that transgenic therapy may be effective in treating OSA and a wide range of pathologies that result in disturbances of UA neural control. By manipulating the effector muscle fibers of the tongue, it was possible to identify its respective motor neuron in the hypoglossal nucleus and to induce synthesis of a specific enzyme (Cre recombinase)