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Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2017-10-18T21:17:40Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DanielaMariaDeSousaMoura_TESE.pdf: 5064072 bytes, checksum: ff797a9a6f4cca34baad638e77a8a3f2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-10-30T19:11:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DanielaMariaDeSousaMoura_TESE.pdf: 5064072 bytes, checksum: ff797a9a6f4cca34baad638e77a8a3f2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-30T19:11:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DanielaMariaDeSousaMoura_TESE.pdf: 5064072 bytes, checksum: ff797a9a6f4cca34baad638e77a8a3f2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-30 / As c?lulas granulares do hipocampo s?o um dos poucos tipos de neur?nios gerados no sistema nervoso central de mam?feros adultos. O modelo atual de neurog?nese no hipocampo adulto assume que c?lulas tronco neurais (CTN) geram progenitores com potencial restrito ? gera??o de neur?nios ou astr?citos. Est?mulos ambientais e condi??es patol?gicas podem alterar a progress?o da linhagem, modulando a prolifera??o, diferencia??o, sobreviv?ncia e integra??o sin?ptica dos neur?nios gerados. Por exemplo, a Epilepsia do Lobo Temporal mesial (ELT), a forma mais comum de epilepsia em adultos, est? associada a altera??es na taxa de neurog?nese hipocampal adulta. Neste trabalho, n?s utilizamos dois modelos experimentais de ELT para avaliar os efeitos de um insulto epileptog?nico (i.e., status epilepticus, SE) sobre a linhagem e amadurecimento celular no giro denteado adulto. Atrav?s da t?cnica de fate-mapping utilizando animais Dcx-CreERT2/CAG-CAT-GFP, n?s acompanhamos o destino de c?lulas que apresentavam o promotor do gene doublecortin (DCX) ativado antes ou depois da inje??o intrahipocampal dos agentes convulsivantes ?cido ca?nico ou pilocarpina. Desta forma, pudemos avaliar o efeito destas drogas sobre progenitores e neur?nios imaturos DCX+ gerados antes ou ap?s o tratamento. Em ambos os modelos, foram observados um aumento de neurog?nese e altera??es no posicionamento e morfologia de c?lulas granulares, conforme descri??es pr?vias na literatura. Altera??es neuronais, tais como localiza??o ect?pica e presen?a de dendritos basais, foram observadas tanto em c?lulas geradas antes quanto ap?s a indu??o do SE, embora com frequ?ncias distintas. No entanto, apenas no hipocampo ipsilateral ? inje??o de ?cido ca?nico n?s observamos dispers?o da camada granular e morte neuronal em CA1 e CA3, apesar da atividade parox?stica epil?ptica ocorrer em ambos os hipocampos. Surpreendentemente, o aumento da neurog?nese em animais que receberam ?cido ca?nico foi restrito ao hipocampo contralateral, enquanto no lado ipsilateral foi observado um significativo aumento na gera??o de astr?citos a partir dos progenitores DCX+. Al?m disso, tamb?m observamos neste modelo a presen?a de c?lulas com morfologia e marcadores de CTNs, sugerindo que progenitores DCX+ poderiam regredir para estados mais primitivos na linhagem celular do hipocampo adulto. O aumento da astrogliog?nese no lado ipsilateral ? inje??o de ?cido ca?nico foi associado a uma degenera??o de interneur?nios parvalbumina (PV)+ no hipocampo, sugerindo que a atividade gaba?rgica poderia estar contribuindo para o redirecionamento da linhagem celular. Em conjunto, nossos dados indicam que a linhagem celular no giro denteado n?o ? unidirecional e irrevers?vel, e que o aumento da atividade el?trica neuronal induzida por ?cido ca?nico e pilocarpina t?m efeitos diferentes sobre a diferencia??o celular e destino fenot?pico dos progenitores e neur?nios nessa regi?o. Esses resultados imp?em a necessidade de revermos o modelo atual de neurog?nese hipocampal adulta e tamb?m indicam que diferentes modelos animais de epilepsia produzem altera??es celulares distintas no hipocampo adulto e, portanto, poderiam representar diferentes graus/est?gios da patologia. / The granular cells of the hippocampus are one of the few types of neurons generated in the central nervous system of adult mammals. The current model of neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus assumes that neural stem cells (NSCs) give rise to progenitors restricted to the generation of neurons or astrocytes. Environmental stimuli and pathological conditions can alter the lineage progression, modulating cell proliferation, differentiation, survival and synaptic integration of newly generated neurons. For example, mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE), the most common form of epilepsy in adults, is associated with changes in the rate of adult hippocampal neurogenesis. In this work, we used two experimental TLE models to evaluate the effects of an epileptogenic insult (i.e., status epilepticus, SE) on the cell lineage and neuronal maturation in the adult dentate gyrus. Using Dcx-CreERT2 / CAG-CAT-GFP animals, we fate mapped the fate of cells expressing the doublecortin gene (DCX) either before or after intrahippocampal injection of the convulsive agents kainic acid or pilocarpine. In this way, we could evaluate the effect of these drugs on DCX+ progenitors and immature neurons generated before or after treatment. In both models, we observed an increase in neurogenesis and changes in the positioning and morphology of granular cells, according to previous descriptions in the literature. Neuronal aberrations, such as ectopic localization and presence of basal dendrites, were observed both in cells generated before and after induction of SE, albeit at different frequencies. However, only in the hippocampus ipsilateral to the injection of kainic acid we observed granule cell dispersion and neuronal death in CA1 and CA3, although the paroxysmal epileptic activity occurred in both hippocampi. Surprisingly, the increase in neurogenesis in animals that received kainic acid was restricted to the contralateral hippocampus, whereas on the ipsilateral side a significant increase in astrocyte generation was observed within the DCX+ progenitor lineage. In addition, we also observed the presence of cells with NSC hallmarks, suggesting that DCX+ progenitors could regress to more primitive states in the adult hippocampal cell lineage. The increased astrogliogenesis on the ipsilateral side to the injection of kainic acid was associated with a degeneration of parvalbumin (PV)+ interneurons in the hippocampus, suggesting that GABAergic activity could be contributing to the rerouting of the DCX+ progenitor cell lineage. Taken together, our data indicates that the cell lineage in the dentate gyrus is neither unidirectional nor irreversible, and that the increased neuronal electrical activity induced by kainic acid and pilocarpine have different effects on cell differentiation, as well as on the fate of progenitors and neurons in that region. These results highlight the need to review the current model of adult hippocampal neurogenesis and also indicate that different animal models of epilepsy produce distinct cellular alterations in the adult hippocampus and could therefore represent different degrees / stages of the pathology.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-23T14:34:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Diego Henrique Carvalho dos Santos.pdf: 664413 bytes, checksum: 9b89955577d748bc73682dc9f48c6e83 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-07 / O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar como se dá a correspondência entre teoria de calibre e conexões em espaços …brados. Mais precisamente estabelecemos um dicionário entre a teoria de calibre da mecânica quântica de uma partícula carregada sujeita a um campo eletromagnético e o estudo das conexões em …brados por círculos e por retas complexas. Em seguida, analisamos dois objetos de estudo em física utilizando o conhecimento adquirido no estudo da geometria de espaços …brados. As classes de Chern e a holonomia de uma conexão nos fornecerão uma visualização geométrica de, respectivamente, monopolos magnéticos e o efeito Aharonov-Bohm / The aim of this work is to present how works the correspondence between the gauge theory and connections in ber bundles. More precisely establishing a dictionary between gauge theory of the quantum mechanics of a charged particle under the in‡uence of an electromagnetic eld and the studies of connections in circle bundles and line bundles. Then, we analyzed two objects of studies in physics using the knowledge acquired in the study of the geometry of ber bundles. The Chern classes and the holonomy of a connection will provide a geometrical visualization of, respectively, magnetic monopoles and the Aharonov-Bohm e¤ect

Intelligent conversational agents (ICAs) are artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled systems that can communicate with humans through text or voice using natural language. The first ICA, “Eliza,” appeared in 1966 to simulate human conversation using pattern matching. Commercial ICAs appeared on the AOL and MSN platforms in 2001 and aided in developing advanced AI and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Since then, ICAs have progressively appeared in consumer products and services. Their success depends on the user’s experience and attitude towards these services. This research examines customer attitudes towards ICAs through a theoretical framework of integrated Expectation Confirmation Theory (ECT) and Task Technology Fit Theory (TTF). By exploring user experience via an experiment that engages end-users with ICA’s different functions and tasks, this study examines user perception of ICA’s AI capabilities, such as Conversation Ability, Friendliness, Intelligence, Responsiveness, Task Performance, and Trust. This research investigates how customer satisfaction with ICA capabilities and perceived task technology fit influence their intention to use ICAs. A field survey of 380 Canadian end-users utilizing ICAs on the websites of five large Canadian telecom service providers enabled empirical testing of the model. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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The law of civil procedure is an important branch of South African law as it resolves individual civil disputes through a regulated judicial system. Mandatory statutes and rules regulate the processes when bringing disputes to court. For example, the Superior Courts Act 10 of 2013, regulates the superior courts, while the provisions of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 32 of 1944, as well as the Small Claims Court Act 61 of 1984, control the lower courts. Further, a series of court rules ensure efficient operation of different courts and support the overarching legislation. For example, the Constitutional Court Rules, Rules Regulating the Conduct of the Proceedings of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Uniform Rules of Court, Magistrates’ Courts’ Rules, and the Rules of Small Claims Court support the implementation of legislation. The researcher submits, however, that the current legislative provisions, and their enabling rules, are not fully complementing the Electronic Communication and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 and are thereby impeding the growth of e-technology law in South Africa. Put differently, they do not embrace the use of e-technology and digital devices. It appears that in future civil proceedings will occur electronically through digital and e-technology devices. Present legislation does not cater for this practical reality. This calls for South African courts to, for example, install satellite devices that will ease the use of e- technology in civil proceedings. The researcher avers that there have been attempts by the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court of Appeal to enable electronic communication through their websites, but this is insufficient to effectively implement the provisions of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 especially insofar as service of process. The courts have effectively moved away from the decision in Narlis v SA Bank of Athens, which excluded computer-generated evidence and there have been attempts by South African courts in recent decisions to appreciate the use of e-technology. For example, in CMC Woodworking Machinery v Odendaal Kitchens the court, for the first time, acknowledged service of court papers via Facebook. Further, in Spring Forest Trading v Wilbery, the Supreme Court of Appeal confirmed that electronic communication such e-mail, can be used to cancel agreements, even where parties incorporated a non-variation clause into the agreement. However, there is an urgent need to review and amend South African statutes and rules to fully acknowledge the fact that e-technology is a constantly evolving modern reality. Therefore, South African laws and rules ought to be in-line with e-technology developments and competitive with international jurisdictions such as England, the United States of America and Canada. The rules of these jurisdictions realise the use of e-technology and digital e-technology, particularly in England where a pilot project that facilitates the use of e-technology and digital e-technology in civil proceedings, is already in place. The time has come to fully employ e-technology and digital e- technology law within South African law of civil procedure. This research investigates the possibility, and practical implications, thereof. / Criminal and Procedural Law / LL. D.

Submitted by Viviane Lima da Cunha (viviane@biblioteca.ufpb.br) on 2016-05-02T10:49:21Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1791577 bytes, checksum: ecd7a6eb8a18230d0145c24932d9e248 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-02T10:49:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1791577 bytes, checksum: ecd7a6eb8a18230d0145c24932d9e248 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-03 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / The Hanbury Brown-Twiss experiment is very well established in quantum optics literature, so we devoted this dissertation in order to embed the parity and temporal reversal symmetry in the former experiment. Therefore, we developed the scattering matrix formalism which allow us use some techniques such as the scattering matrices' concatenation of di erent sections in terms of one matrix and the scattering problem of a parity and temporal reverse symmetric system. In this manner, we could derive the scattering matrix of a parity and temporal reverse symmetric Hanbury Brown- Twiss experiment(HBT-PT). With the possession of this matrix, we proposed a theoretical model which provides how to measure the symmetry of this system, which we called correlation functions formalism. In order to stablish the former formalism, we studied B uttiker formalism, which we veri ed how the correlation between 2 incident particles in a system relates to the noise due transport of this particles and what kind of noise we are treating in a given regime which the system is operating. Then, we found the input states in terms of the output states of two particles inciding in a multiterminal system, which we used it's scattering matrix to stablish the relation between the states. Thereat, we derived all the possibles correlations(therefore, the noise) of two incident particles in the former system. Thereby, we analysed the extreme cases of a barrier coupled to the HBT-PT experiment for the purpose of stablish which regime the experiment is symmetric adjusted, so, demonstrating the Hanbury Brown-Twiss E ect with parity and temporal reverse symmetries. / Sendo o experimento Hanbury Brown-Twiss bem estabelecido na literatura da otica quântica, dedicamos esta dissertação a embutir no mesmo experimento a questão da simetria por paridade e reversão temporal. Para tanto, abrimos mão do formalismo da matriz de espalhamento que permitiu nos utilizar tecnicas como a concatenação de matrizes de espalhamento de sec ções diferentes em termos de apenas uma matriz e o problema do espalhamento em um sistema simétrico por paridade e reversão temporal. Dessa forma, pudemos derivar a matriz de espalhamento para o experimento Hanbury Brown-Twiss com simetria de paridade e revers~ao temporal(HBT-PT). De posse dessa matriz, propusemos um modelo teórico que propicia a medição experimental a simetria desse sistema, o qual chamamos de formalismo das fun c~oes de correla c~ao. Para estabelecermos o formalismo supracitado, estudamos o formalismo de Buttiker, onde veri case como a correlaçãao entre 2 partículas incidentes em um sistema relaciona-se com o ru do devido ao transporte dessas part culas e que tipo de ru do estamos tratando, dado o regime em que o sistema está operando. Em seguida, encontramos os estados de entrada em termos dos estados de saída de 2 partículas incidindo em um sistema multiterminal, onde utilizamos a sua matriz de espalhamento para estabelecer a rela c~ao entre os estados. Com isso, derivamos todas as possíveis correlações (e, por conseguinte, o ruído) de 2 partículas incidentes nesse sistema. Assim, analisamos os casos extremos de uma barreira acoplada ao experimento HBT-PT, a m de estabelecer o regime em que o experimento está simetricamente ajustado e demonstramos o Efeito Hanbury Brown-Twiss por paridade e reversão temporal.

Serotonin gilt als Hauptangriffsstelle gängiger Antidepressiva bei schweren Depressionen, wie bspw. selektive Serotonin-Wiederaufnahmehemmer (SSRI), und -Enhancer (SSRE). Es bleibt offen, ob SSRI / E ausschließlich über die Manipulation des Serotoninspiegels wirken, oder ob alternative Signalwege daran beteiligt sind. Ansatzpunkte hierfür sind beispielsweise die neurotrophen Signalwege (spez. Brain derived neurotophic factor, BDNF) oder die Hypothalamus-Hypophysen-Nebennieren- (HPA) – Signalwege des Stressachsensystems. Ebenfalls wurde in Nagetiermodellen beobachtet, dass mit der Dysregulation des zentralen Serotoninsystems bei schweren Depressionen, ein Rückgang der Neurogenese im Gyrus dentatus des Hippocampus einhergeht. Ziel dieser Arbeit war, das Zusammenspiel von Serotonin, BDNF, adulter Neurogenese und der Stressachse zu untersuchen. Zentrum der Studien ist ein Mausmodell, mit einer genetischen Depletion des zentralen Serotonin-synthetisierenden Enzyms Tryptophanhydroxylase 2 (sog. Tph2-/- Mäuse). Es wurden die physiologische Reaktionen auf die Behandlung mit gängigen Antidepressiva abhängig von der Abwesenheit von Serotonin untersucht, um mögliche alternative Signalwege aufzeigen zu können. Die bekannte Zunahme der Neurogenese nach SSRI/SSRE-Behandlung wurde in Wildtyptieren beobachtet, während die Therapie in Tph2-/- Mäusen keine direkte kausale Wirkung zeigte. Im Gegensatz dazu waren die BDNF-Spiegel in depressionsrelevanten Hirnregionen in Tph2-/- Mäusen nach SSRI, signifikant verringert. Auch zeigen die Studien eine neurobiologische Relevanz von Serotonin im ZNS, bei den antidepressiven Mechanismen einer Elektrokonvulsiven Krampftherapie. Ebenfalls deuten erhöhte Neurogeneseraten bei lebenslanger Abwesenheit von Serotonin im ZNS, Therapiemethoden-unabhängig, möglicherweise auf eine modulierte Stressreaktion hin. Untersuchungen der Parameter des HPA-Stressachsensystems, wiesen auf einen grundlegend veränderten Stresshormonspiegel in Tph2-/- Mäusen hin. / Serotonin, the "molecule of happiness" is an important target for antidepressants. The mainly prescribed drugs in major depression are selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI); but recently, SSR-enhancer (SSRE) have also attracted clinical attention. However, only a quarter of patients responds to treatment. It needs to be determined, whether SSRI/E act solely via manipulating serotonin levels or whether other pathways are involved, e.g. neurotrophic signaling (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF) or the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis. Furthermore, in major depression, dysregulation of central serotonin signaling is accompanied with a decline in hippocampal neurogenesis, as has been observed in rodent models. At the center of this thesis is a mouse model deficient in the central serotonin-synthesizing enzyme, tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2-/- mice). I have investigated physiological responses to antidepressant treatment in the absence of brain serotonin, and the possible role of alternative pathways. I observed the typical increase in neurogenesis upon SSRI treatment in WT mice, while it had no effect in Tph2-/- mice. In contrast, BDNF levels were significantly decreased in Tph2-/- mice after treatment with no effect in WT control mice. Furthermore, my results show a critical role of brain serotonin in the neurobiological effects of electroconvulsive seizure. Surprisingly, in animals lacking central serotonin, increased neurogenesis was observed independently of the treatment. The gathered data indicated an altered stress response; therefore, parameters of the HPA-axis have been studied, indicating a downregulated HPA system in Tph2-/-animals in baseline state, but showed no difference in treatment or feedback control. This thesis gives insight into the mechanisms of antidepressant action and reveals ideas for novel pathways involved in the process that could be used as targets in therapeutic approaches and further research in major depression.

The relationship between international investment agreements and EU law has attracted increased attention in past few years. The aim of this thesis is to bring a detailed analysis of various aspects of this complicated relationship. In attainment of this aim it proceeds in the following steps. After a short introduction (Chapter I.), Chapter II. briefly overviews typical content of bilateral investment treaties, following with a more detailed analysis of relevant EU law rules concerning foreign investment and subsequent comparison of both sets of rules. Chapter III. deals with investment agreements to be concluded by the EU, in particular with questions of external competence for foreign investment, responsibility for breaches of investment agreements concluded by the EU and the future shape of EU investment policy. The status of existing bilateral investment treaties concluded between EU member states and third countries is analyzed in Chapter IV. Chapter V. tackles various issues related to investment treaties concluded between member states (so called intra-EU BITs).

Investment Policy of the European Union - protection of foreign direct investment Abstract One of the changes brought about by the Lisbon Treaty is the explicit inclusion of foreign direct investment and its protection in the common commercial policy of the European Union. This is one of the areas of exclusive competence of the EU. The European Union has subsequently stated negotiating bilateral agreements governing, inter alia, investment issues. However, it has not been spared from controversy and negative publicity that has been accompanying especially the TTIP and the CETA. This work aims to analyse the investment policy of the EU and mutual interaction of its institutions with the Member States and third parties. After general introduction to the topic of international investment law and EU law (chapters II. and III.), it is devoted to the issue of protection of foreign investment in the internal market. Its regime is then compared with the BIT regime (chapter IV.). Attention is then focussed towards the EU's external relations in the field of investment protection. Its competence is subjected to further analysis (chapter V.) and current results of efforts of the Commission and the EU as such are also discussed (chapter VI.). It is so in the light of possible impacts of foreign investment in terms of...