RBMS3 belongs to the family of c-myc gene single-strand binding proteins (MSSPs) that play important roles in transcriptional regulation. Here, we show that RBMS3 functions as a tumor promoter in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a highly aggressive BC subtype. Analysis of RBMS3 expression shows that RBMS3 is upregulated at both mRNA and protein levels in TNBC cells. Functionally, overexpression of RBMS3 increases cell migration, invasion and cancer stem cell (CSC) behaviors. Moreover, RBMS3 induces expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and CSC markers. Conversely, loss of RBMS3 in TNBC BT549 cells inhibits cell proliferation, migration and mesenchymal phenotype. Correlation analysis shows RBMS3 is associated with TGF-β signaling. Mechanistically, RBMS3 interacts with Smad2, Smad3 and Smad4 mRNA and regulates the stability of these transcripts. Importantly, RBMS3 prevents TGF-β-induced cytostasis and apoptosis in premalignant cancer cells. Moreover, RBMS3 inversely correlates with expression of ESRPs, epithelial-specific splicing regulatory proteins that regulate morphogenesis-associated alternative splicing events. ESRPs appear to suppress EMT through distinct mechanisms: ESRP1 restricted cell migration, whereas ESRP2 prevented cell growth. RBMS3 significantly facilitates the EMT process when ESRPs are lost. Collectively, the studies within this dissertation identify RBMS3 as a positive regulator of EMT and breast cancer progression by regulating the TGF-β signaling pathway.

No description available.

<p>  </p> <p>Forward genetics discovery of the molecular basis of induced mutants has fundamentally contributed to our understanding of basic biological processes such as metabolism, cell dynamics, growth, and development. Advances in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies enabled rapid genome sequencing but also come with limitations such as sequencing errors, dependence on reference genome accuracy, and alignment errors. By incorporating pedigree information to help correct for some errors I optimized variant calling and filtering strategies to respond to experimental design. This led to the identification of multiple causative alleles, the detection of pedigree errors, and an ability to explore the mutational spectrum of multiple mutagens in Arabidopsis. Similar to the problems in forward genetic discovery of mutant alleles, variation in genomes complicates the analysis of gene expression affected by natural variation. The plant hypersensitive response (HR) is a highly localized and rapid form of programmed cell death that plants use to contain biotrophic pathogens. Substantial natural variation exists in the mechanisms that trigger and control HR, yet a complete understanding of the molecular mechanisms modulating HR is lacking. I explored the gene expression consequences of the plant HR in maize using a semi-dominant mutant encoding a constitutively active HR-inducing Nucleotide Binding Site Leucine Rich Repeat protein, <em>Rp1-D21,</em> derived from the receptor responsible for perceiving certain strains of the common rust <em>Puccinia sorghi</em>. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) in response to <em>Rp1-D21</em> were identified in different genetic backgrounds and hybrids that exhibit divergent enhancing (NC350) or suppressing (H95, B73) effects on the visual manifestations of HR. To enable this analysis, I created anonymized reference genomes for each comparison, so that the reference genome induced less bias in the mapping steps. Comprehensive identification of DEG corroborated the visual phenotypes and provided the identities of genes influential in plant hypersensitive response for further studies. The locations of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) that determined the differential response of NC350 and B73 were identified using 198 F1 families generated by crossing B73 x NC350 RIL population and <em>Rp1-D21</em>/+ in H95. This identified 3514 eQTL controlling the variability in differential expression between mutant versus wild-type. <em>Trans-</em>eQTL were dramatically arranged in the genome and identified 17 hotspots with more than 200 genes influenced by each locus. A single locus significantly affected expression variation in 5700 genes, 5396 (94.7%) of which were DGE. An allele specific expression analysis of NC350 x H95 and B73 x H95 F1 hybrids with and without <em>Rp1-D21</em> identified <em>cis-</em>eQTL and ASE at a subset of these genes. Bias in the confirmation of eQTL by ASE was still present despite the anonymized reference genomes indicating that additional efforts to improve signal processing in these experiments is needed.</p>

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:40:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 372745 bytes, checksum: 6f1e60efc5a019ffb5aabeff2579b6ad (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-07-13 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The objective of this work was to select superior genotypes of the yellow passion flower related to productivity and quality of the fruits. A population of 26 families of whole brothers was evaluated in the second year of production, in a design of random plots, with three repetitions, starting with four plants per plot. The experiment was carried out in the experimental area of Fruitculture in the Departamento de Fitotecnia of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. In the selection among and within the families, the efficiency of the direct and indirect selection as well as that based on the classical index was verified. The selection strategies among and within, combined, massal and stratified massal were compared. The results found by the selection among and within were compared with those obtained from the selection made in this same population in the first year of production. The characteristics measured were number of fruits per plant, estimated production per plant, length of the fruit, diameter of the fruit, weight of the fruit, weight of the peel, thickness of the peel, weight of the pulp, color of the pulp, percentage of the pulp, total content of soluble solids, titrable total acidity and the rate between the total soluble solids/titrable total acidity. Samples of 10 fruits of each plant were obtained to evaluate the qualitative characteristics of the fruits. The collection of the fruits for the analyses was made as they became yellowishgreen, during the second year of production, from January to July 2006. All the statistical analyses were made with the genetics and statistics software GENES. The selection gains were estimated based on a percentage of 24% among families and of 25% within families for all the characteristics measured. The selection criterium adopted for all the characteristics was the increase in peel their original mediuns, except for the weight and thickness of the peel for which a decrease was desired. For the characteristics choice that were part of the classic index of selection, the multicolinearity diagnosis was carried out, using the autovalues and the autovectors analyses. The selected characteristics to make up the index were estimated production per plant, diameter of the fruit, pulp percentage, pulp color and total titrable acidity. The use of the strategy of simultaneous selection of characters, based on the classic index showed estimations of gains greater than those of the other methodologies, in estimated production per plant and pulp percentage. In the direct selection, the estimations of gains were greater in pulp color and total titrable acidity. The combined selection, when compared to the among and within selection massal and stratified massal, provided the greatest estimations of gains in 11 out of 13 characteristics evaluated, except length and weight of the fruit, thus being the most suitable strategy for the breeding of the population studied. The evaluations made in the first year of production generated satisfactory results, which practically were reproduced in the second year, and therefore can be recommended, because of costs and time reduction of the selection cycle. / Com o objetivo de selecionar genótipos de maracujazeiro amarelo superiores quanto à produtividade e qualidade dos frutos, uma população constituída de 26 famílias de irmãos completos foi avaliada no segundo ano de produção, em delineamento de blocos casualizados, com três repetições e originalmente com quatro plantas por parcela. O trabalho foi realizado na área experimental de Fruticultura do Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal de Viçosa, em Viçosa, MG. Verificou-se, na seleção entre e dentro de famílias, a eficiência da seleção direta, indireta e com base em índice clássico. Compararam-se as estratégias de seleção entre e dentro, combinada, massal e massal estratificada. Os resultados encontrados pela seleção entre e dentro foram confrontados com os obtidos em seleção realizada, nessa mesma população, no primeiro ano de produção. As características mensuradas foram número de frutos por planta, produção estimada por planta, comprimento do fruto, diâmetro do fruto, massa do fruto, massa da casca, espessura da casca, massa da polpa, coloração da polpa, porcentagem de polpa, teor de sólidos solúveis totais, acidez total titulável e relação entre teor de sólidos solúveis totais/acidez total titulável. Foi obtida amostra de 10 frutos de cada planta, para avaliação das características qualitativas dos frutos. A colheita dos frutos foi feita de forma parcelada durante o segundo ano de produção, de janeiro a julho de 2006. Os frutos destinados à análise foram colhidos a partir do estádio verde-amarelo . Todas as análises estatísticas foram realizadas com o aplicativo computacional em genética e estatística (GENES). Foram estimados os ganhos de seleção em função de uma porcentagem de seleção de 24% entre famílias e 25% dentro de famílias para todas as características mensuradas. O critério de seleção adotado para todas as características foi o acréscimo em suas médias originais, exceto em massa e espessura da casca, em que se buscou o decréscimo. Para escolha das características que fizeram parte do índice clássico de seleção, foi realizado o diagnóstico de multicolinearidade, empregando para isso a análise dos autovalores e autovetores. As características selecionadas para compor o índice foram produção estimada por planta, diâmetro do fruto, porcentagem de polpa, coloração da polpa e acidez total titulável. A utilização da estratégia de seleção simultânea de caracteres, com base no índice clássico apresentou estimativas de ganhos superiores às das outras metodologias em produção estimada por planta e porcentagem de polpa. Na seleção direta, as estimativas de ganhos foram superiores em coloração de polpa e acidez total titulável. A seleção combinada, quando comparada à seleção entre e dentro, massal e massal estratificada, proporcionou as maiores estimativas de ganhos em 11 das 13 características avaliadas, exceto comprimento e massa do fruto, sendo, assim, a estratégia mais apropriada para o melhoramento genético da população estudada. A realização das avaliações no primeiro ano de produção gera resultados satisfatórios, os quais praticamente, se reproduzem no segundo ano, podendo ser recomendada, por reduzir o custo e o tempo de realização do ciclo de seleção.

As the Worlds energy demand is increasing we need more of our energy to be generated from resources that affect the climate as little as possible. Solar power could be the solution if there were solar panels with a less energy demanding production than the established silicon based solar modules. Printable organic solar cells will enable a cheap production process, thus they are mainly made out of polymers in solution. However, to be able to decrease the total cost of the solar modules the commonly used indium tin oxide (ITO) for the transparent electrode needs to be replaced by a less expensive material. If the cheap, high conductive and transparent polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) could replace ITO the cost of organic solar modules would significantly decrease. For PEDOT:PSS to be able to replace ITO there are requirements that have to be met. The transparent electrode needs to be apart from transparent, highly conductive, have a low contact resistance to the other materials in the organic solar cell and be printable. In this study it has been shown that the PEDOT:PSS film with Zonyl and Diethylene Glycol (DEG) as an secondary dopant, is capable of laminating to thin films made out of PEDOT:PSS, metal or a polymer fullerene blend. The contact resistances between two PEDOT:PSS films and PEDOT:PSS film and a metal film proved to be low. When laminating to a metal film an interlayer of Silver Nano Wires (AgNW) was needed to achieve a low contact resistance.

Η φασματοσκοπία Raman είναι τεχνική ανελαστικής σκέδασης φωτός, ικανή να ανιχνεύει και να χαρακτηρίζει μόρια σε ποικιλία υδατικών διαλυμάτων. Σκοπός της εργασίας είναι η ανάπτυξη μιας μη επεμβατικής, μη καταστροφικής φασματοσκοπικής μεθόδου για την ανίχνευση και τον ποσοτικό προσδιορισμό τόσο φαρμακευτικών ουσιών (π.χ αντιβιοτικών) όσο και φυσιολογικών ουσιών (π.χ γλυκόζη) στο υδατοειδές υγρό οφθαλμού. Στο πλαίσιο της παρούσας εργασίας αναπτύχθηκε μια νέα γεωμετρική οπτική διάταξη για την καθοδήγηση της δέσμης του laser στον οφθαλμό, που προσαρμόζεται σε φασματοσκόπιο Raman με ανιχνευτή CCD, δίνει τη δυνατότητα επιλεκτικής συλλογής του σκεδαζόμενου φωτός, σαρώνοντας τον εμπρόσθιο θάλαμο, σε γεωμετρία σκέδασης 90 μοιρών. Τα πειράματα πραγματοποιήθηκαν (α) σε χοιρινούς οφθαλμούς in-vitro, max 24 ώρες μετά τη θανάτωση των ζώων και την αφαίρεση του βολβού, μετά την έγχυση στον εμπρόσθιο θάλαμο μορίων κεφταζιδίμης, αμφοτερισίνης Β και γλυκόζης και (β) σε μοντέλο πρόσθιου θαλάμου (AAC) σε συνδυασμό με κερατοειδή χιτώνα χοιρινών οφθαλμών μετά την έγχυση μορίων κεφταζιδίμης, αμφοτερισίνης, θειικής αμικασίνης και σιπροφλοξασίνης. Επιπλέον, χρησιμοποιήθηκε χημειομετρικός αλγόριθμος μερικών ελαχίστων τετραγώνων (PLS) για να προβλέψει τη συγκέντρωση των αντιβιοτικών στο μοντέλο του πρόσθιου θαλάμου. Με τον νεό αυτό σχεδιασμό αποφεύγεται η απευθείας έκθεση βασικών οφθαλμικών ιστών, όπως του φακού και του αμφιβληστροειδούς, στη δέσμη του laser, ενώ παράλληλα επιτυγχάνονται βέλτιστες συνθήκες συλλογής του σκεδαζόμενου φωτός βελτιώνοντας το λόγο σήματος/θορύβου των φασμάτων. Ανιχνεύτηκαν συγκεντρώσεις στην περιοχή της μέσης ανασταλτικής πυκνότητας για τα αντιβιοτικά τόσο στο υδατοειδές υγρό χοιρινών οφθαλμών όσο και στο μοντέλο του πρόσθιου θαλάμουֹ η γλυκόζη ανιχνεύτηκε σε συγκέντρωση κοντά στα παθολογικά επίπεδα των διαβητικών ασθενών. Με βάση και το σφάλμα RMS της ποσοτικής ανάλυσης PLS, προσδοκάται βάσιμα ότι η μέθοδος είναι δυνατό χρησιμοποιηθεί στον τομέα της οφθαλμολογίας για τη μελέτη της φαρμακοκινητικής καθώς και για την έγκαιρη διάγνωση ασθενειών (π.χ. σακχαρώδης διαβήτης). / Laser Raman spectroscopy is an inelastic light scattering technique able to characterize molecules in aqueous environments. The purpose of this work is to develop a non-contact and non-invasive spectroscopic method to identify and eventually quantify the presence of medicines (e.g. antibiotics) and physiological substances (e.g. glucose) in the aqueous humor of the eye. Α new laser light delivery probe has been developed and adapted to a Raman spectroscopic system with the ability of favorable collection of the Raman light at 90o scattering geometry while scanning the anterior chamber of the eye. The technique is applied both, to porcine eyes in-vitro, max. 24 hours after death and extraction, for ceftazidime, amphotericin B and glucose and to a commercially available artificial anterior chamber (AAC) fitted with corneas of porcine eyes for ceftazidime, amphotericin B, amikacin sulphate and ciprofloxacin. Finally, a PLS chemometric algorithm has been developed to predict the concentration of antibiotics in AAC. This special illumination design gives the opportunity of reducing the direct exposure of the basic cordial ocular tissues, like lens and retina, to the laser beam, while at the same time an optimum collection of scattered light is accomplished. Concentrations close to the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) have been detected for antibiotics both in porcine eyes and AAC; the detection of glucose has been realized at concentrations close to the early pathological levels of patients with diabetes. Furthermore, the quantification of concentration of antibiotics in AAC is accomplished by a partial least-squares (PLS) chemometric regression algorithm and the RMS error of the validation procedure further emphasize the promising prospect of the application of the Raman spectroscopy to the Ophthalmology.

LIMA, Cândice Camelo. Aplicação das Farinhas de Linhaça (Linum usitatissimum L.) e Maracujá (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg.) no Processamento de Pães com Propriedades Funcionais. 2007. 148 f. : Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Ceará, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Departamento de Tecnologia de Alimentos, Fortaleza-CE, 2007 / Submitted by Nádja Goes (nmoraissoares@gmail.com) on 2016-06-01T12:41:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_dis_cclima.pdf: 988233 bytes, checksum: 61b6ebae5003a46d0973ccc4ede61a5b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Nádja Goes (nmoraissoares@gmail.com) on 2016-06-01T12:42:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_dis_cclima.pdf: 988233 bytes, checksum: 61b6ebae5003a46d0973ccc4ede61a5b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-01T12:42:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_dis_cclima.pdf: 988233 bytes, checksum: 61b6ebae5003a46d0973ccc4ede61a5b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / In the last decades, there is a growing in the interest research and consume foods product with functional properties. This happening due the public knowledge of these product’s benefits. The flaxseed (Linum usitatissimun L.) has been considerated a functional ingredient of great importance. This importance is due its functional combinations such as linolenic acid, lignans and fibers that are potentially beneficial to our health. Several researches evidence the positive effects of adding flaxseed to the food to the combat and prevention of many diseases, for example: cancer, constipation, menopause, disease cardiovascular, among others. The passion fruit flour has demonstrated its ability to reduce the bad cholesterol (LDL) and to increase the good cholesterol (HDL). Therefore, the passion fruit flour has been pointed out as an auxiliary in the treatment of diabetes and weight reduction. Thus, this research work has the purpose of developing bread with functional characteristics. We have formulated four experiments. The first one, the standard bread (FP), without the addition of flaxseed and passion fruit flour. In the other three experiments have received 3% of fiber food (fruit passion flour) and additionally 4% (FML4), 7% (FML7) and 10% (FML10) of flaxseed flour. The experiments were evaluated over their physic, chemical, physic-chemical, sensorial, microbiological and rheologic characteristics. They were put under sensorial tests to prove the global acceptance, acceptance for the attributes of purchasing intention. The data were statically investigated through descriptive analysis and variance analysis (ANOVA) and the Tukey test for comparison of the averages, using the significance level of 5% (p≤0,05). The most noteworthy modifications in the composition of the bread that were added flaxseed flour were verified into values of proteins, lipids, calories, fibers and carbohydrates. The acceptability of the bread was evaluated by 60 volunteers by the attribution of flavor, taste, texture, residual taste, smoothness, and general reception and purchase intention. These evaluations were made by hedonic scale and the ideal scale to value aroma, taste, texture and residual taste. All analyzed results had received hedonics values in the range and a global acceptance. The outcome of purchasing intention suggested that the volunteers have shown more interest to the bread FML4 and FML7. The addition of flaxseed flour and passion fruit flour has promoted a significant increase on the fiber amount, turning the bread with high amount of fiber food / Os benefícios do consumo de produtos alimentícios com propriedades funcionais vêm aumentando e desenvolvendo interesse nas últimas décadas em muitos pesquisadores e consumidores. A linhaça (Linum usitatissimum L.) tem sido considerada um ingrediente funcional de grande importância por conter combinações funcionais como o ácido linolênico (ALA), lignanas e fibras. Diversas pesquisas evidenciam os efeitos positivos da alimentação acrescentada com linhaça no tratamento e prevenção de muitas enfermidades como: doenças cardiovasculares, câncer, artrite, sintomas indesejáveis da menopausa, constipação, entre outras. A farinha do maracujá vem demonstrando possuir a capacidade de reduzir o chamado “mau colesterol” (LDL) e aumentar o “bom colesterol” (HDL), sendo indicada como auxiliar no tratamento do diabetes e redução de peso. Assim este trabalho teve como objetivo desenvolver um produto de panificação com características funcionais. Foram elaboradas quatro formulações de pão de forma, sendo uma formulação padrão, sem adição das farinhas de linhaça e maracujá (FP) e três substituindo-se parcialmente a farinha de trigo por percentuais de farinha de linhaça 4% (FML4), 7% (FML7) e 10% (FML10), e todas com adição de 3% de fibra alimentar (farinha de maracujá). As amostras foram avaliadas quanto às suas características físicas, químicas, físico-químicas, reológicas, sensoriais e microbiológicas. Foram submetidos a testes sensoriais de aceitação global, aceitação por atributos e intenção de compra. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente através de análise descritiva, análise de variância (ANOVA) e teste de Tukey para comparação das médias, utilizando nível de significância de 5% (p≤0,05). As modificações mais significativas na composição dos pães com adição de farinha de linhaça e farinha de maracujá foram verificadas nos teores de proteínas, lipídios, carboidratos, fibras e valores calóricos. A aceitabilidade dos pães foi avaliada por 60 provadores, quanto ao aroma, textura, sabor, sabor residual, aceitação geral e intenção de compra através da escala hedônica e escala do ideal para avaliar aroma, maciez, sabor e sabor residual. Todas as formulações analisadas receberam valores hedônicos na faixa e aceitação em todas as variáveis. Os resultados de intenção de compra sugeriram que os consumidores tiveram maior interesse nos pães FML4 e FML7. A adição da farinha de linhaça e farinha de maracujá provocou aumento significativo nos teores de fibras, tornando os pães com alto teor de fibra alimentar

nÃo hà / Os benefÃcios do consumo de produtos alimentÃcios com propriedades funcionais vÃm aumentando e desenvolvendo interesse nas Ãltimas dÃcadas em muitos pesquisadores e consumidores. A linhaÃa (Linum usitatissimum L.) tem sido considerada um ingrediente funcional de grande importÃncia por conter combinaÃÃes funcionais como o Ãcido linolÃnico (ALA), lignanas e fibras. Diversas pesquisas evidenciam os efeitos positivos da alimentaÃÃo acrescentada com linhaÃa no tratamento e prevenÃÃo de muitas enfermidades como: doenÃas cardiovasculares, cÃncer, artrite, sintomas indesejÃveis da menopausa, constipaÃÃo, entre outras. A farinha do maracujà vem demonstrando possuir a capacidade de reduzir o chamado âmau colesterolâ (LDL) e aumentar o âbom colesterolâ (HDL), sendo indicada como auxiliar no tratamento do diabetes e reduÃÃo de peso. Assim este trabalho teve como objetivo desenvolver um produto de panificaÃÃo com caracterÃsticas funcionais. Foram elaboradas quatro formulaÃÃes de pÃo de forma, sendo uma formulaÃÃo padrÃo, sem adiÃÃo das farinhas de linhaÃa e maracujà (FP) e trÃs substituindo-se parcialmente a farinha de trigo por percentuais de farinha de linhaÃa 4% (FML4), 7% (FML7) e 10% (FML10), e todas com adiÃÃo de 3% de fibra alimentar (farinha de maracujÃ). As amostras foram avaliadas quanto Ãs suas caracterÃsticas fÃsicas, quÃmicas, fÃsico-quÃmicas, reolÃgicas, sensoriais e microbiolÃgicas. Foram submetidos a testes sensoriais de aceitaÃÃo global, aceitaÃÃo por atributos e intenÃÃo de compra. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente atravÃs de anÃlise descritiva, anÃlise de variÃncia (ANOVA) e teste de Tukey para comparaÃÃo das mÃdias, utilizando nÃvel de significÃncia de 5% (p&#8804;0,05). As modificaÃÃes mais significativas na composiÃÃo dos pÃes com adiÃÃo de farinha de linhaÃa e farinha de maracujà foram verificadas nos teores de proteÃnas, lipÃdios, carboidratos, fibras e valores calÃricos. A aceitabilidade dos pÃes foi avaliada por 60 provadores, quanto ao aroma, textura, sabor, sabor residual, aceitaÃÃo geral e intenÃÃo de compra atravÃs da escala hedÃnica e escala do ideal para avaliar aroma, maciez, sabor e sabor residual. Todas as formulaÃÃes analisadas receberam valores hedÃnicos na faixa e aceitaÃÃo em todas as variÃveis. Os resultados de intenÃÃo de compra sugeriram que os consumidores tiveram maior interesse nos pÃes FML4 e FML7. A adiÃÃo da farinha de linhaÃa e farinha de maracujà provocou aumento significativo nos teores de fibras, tornando os pÃes com alto teor de fibra alimentar / In the last decades, there is a growing in the interest research and consume foods product with functional properties. This happening due the public knowledge of these productâs benefits. The flaxseed (Linum usitatissimun L.) has been considerated a functional ingredient of great importance. This importance is due its functional combinations such as linolenic acid, lignans and fibers that are potentially beneficial to our health. Several researches evidence the positive effects of adding flaxseed to the food to the combat and prevention of many diseases, for example: cancer, constipation, menopause, disease cardiovascular, among others. The passion fruit flour has demonstrated its ability to reduce the bad cholesterol (LDL) and to increase the good cholesterol (HDL). Therefore, the passion fruit flour has been pointed out as an auxiliary in the treatment of diabetes and weight reduction. Thus, this research work has the purpose of developing bread with functional characteristics. We have formulated four experiments. The first one, the standard bread (FP), without the addition of flaxseed and passion fruit flour. In the other three experiments have received 3% of fiber food (fruit passion flour) and additionally 4% (FML4), 7% (FML7) and 10% (FML10) of flaxseed flour. The experiments were evaluated over their physic, chemical, physic-chemical, sensorial, microbiological and rheologic characteristics. They were put under sensorial tests to prove the global acceptance, acceptance for the attributes of purchasing intention. The data were statically investigated through descriptive analysis and variance analysis (ANOVA) and the Tukey test for comparison of the averages, using the significance level of 5% (p&#8804;0,05). The most noteworthy modifications in the composition of the bread that were added flaxseed flour were verified into values of proteins, lipids, calories, fibers and carbohydrates. The acceptability of the bread was evaluated by 60 volunteers by the attribution of flavor, taste, texture, residual taste, smoothness, and general reception and purchase intention. These evaluations were made by hedonic scale and the ideal scale to value aroma, taste, texture and residual taste. All analyzed results had received hedonics values in the range and a global acceptance. The outcome of purchasing intention suggested that the volunteers have shown more interest to the bread FML4 and FML7. The addition of flaxseed flour and passion fruit flour has promoted a significant increase on the fiber amount, turning the bread with high amount of fiber food

This dissertation aims to understand the mechanisms behind the adoption of smart cities technologies (SCT) and how they can promote social equity in local communities in the United States. There is a distinct lack of empirical research addressing the methods designed for the promotion of social equity despite their numerous benefits. The present study will address this omission in the scholarship by providing evidence-based insights on how public administrators can leverage SCT to promote distributional social equity through the Digital Era Governance (DEG) and Adoption Theory frameworks. This study also demonstrates the efficacy of applying the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to understand better the mechanism leading to the acceptance and adoption of SCT in the United States. Lastly, it provides insightful evidence demonstrating the value of these approaches and their influence on policymakers’ decisions using SCT to address one of society’s most challenging issues, fostering social equity. It utilizes data from the ICMA’s 2016 Smart Cities Survey, the 2015 Sustainability Practices Survey, and the U.S. Census Bureau. The study employs logistic and negative binomial regressions to examine the factors influencing commitment to using SCT, engagement with SCT, and distributional social equity. The findings indicate that factors such as ‘perceived usefulness’ and ‘ease of use’ influence commitment to SCT usage, which impacts SCT engagement, leading to social equity outcomes

Abiotic stress is a major constraint for crop productivity worldwide. To better understand the common biological mechanisms of abiotic stress responses in plants, we performed meta-analysis of 652 samples of RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) data from 43 published abiotic stress experiments in Arabidopsis thaliana. These samples were categorized into eight different abiotic stresses including drought, heat, cold, salt, light and wounding. We developed a multi-step computational pipeline, which performs data downloading, preprocessing, read mapping, read counting and differential expression analyses for RNA-Seq data. We found that 5729 and 5062 genes are induced or repressed by only one type of abiotic stresses. There are only 18 and 12 genes that are induced or repressed by all stresses. The commonly induced genes are related to gene expression regulation by stress hormone abscisic acid. The commonly repressed genes are related to reduced growth and chloroplast activities. We compared stress responsive genes between any two types of stresses and found that heat and cold regulate similar set of genes. We also found that high light affects different set of genes than blue light and red light. Interestingly, ABA regulated genes are different from those regulated by other stresses. Finally, we found that membrane related genes are repressed by ABA, heat, cold and wounding but are up regulated by blue light and red light. The results from this work will be used to further characterize the gene regulatory networks underlying stress responsive genes in plants. / Master of Science