Aspergillus fumigatus produces enzymes required for the hydrolysis of galactomannans like locust bean gum. Among these enzymes endo-beta-1,4 mannanase is also produced at high levels. However, the fungus is not safe for use in the food industry. Therefore, the gene encoding endo-beta-1,4-mannanase of A. fumigatus IMI 385708 was previously cloned in our laboratory into Aspergillus sojae ATCC11906 which is a safe microorganism for use in food applications. Altogether eight transformants were obtained. It was shown that some of these transformants overproduce the enzyme because of expression under the control of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter and fusion to the glucoamylase signal and pro-peptide coding region of Aspergillus niger. In this study, mannanase production of these transformants was compared with A. fumigatus and A. sojae transformant AsT1 showed c. 12 fold increase with the maximum activity of 352 U/ml. The effects of initial medium pH and number of spores on activity were investigated and maximum activity was achieved at pH 7.0 and the number of spores was found as 3.6 &times / 106. Optimization of the growth conditions for maximum mannanase production in shake flasks by using the best mannanase producing transformant AsT1 was carried out by using Box-Behnken design under Response Surface Methodology. The highest beta-mannanase activity on the fourth day of cultivation at 30 &ordm / C was obtained as 363 U/ml in the optimized medium containing 7% sugar beet molasses, 0.43% NH4NO3, 0.1% K2HPO4, 0.05% MgSO4 as the weight/volume percentage at 207 rpm. On sixth day of cultivation under the optimized conditions, the highest mannanase activity was achieved as 482 U/ml which is 1.4 fold of 352 U/ml activity found on glucose medium previously. After 48 h of LBG hydrolysis by 40 U of mannanase, mannotriose, 61-galactosyl-beta-D-mannotriose and 63,64-di-alpha-galactosyl-beta-1,4-mannopentaose were found as the main products via HPLC analysis.

Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) is a well-known and widely used signal processing method in airborne and spaceborne radars. In airborne radar and GMTI literature, many radar designs and signal processing techniques have been developed to increase the detection and estimation performance under heavy interference conditions. The motion of the aircraft on which the radar is mounted, high altitudes and ranges, targets with low radar cross sections and slowly moving targets complicates the problem of localization and observation of moving targets on a huge area of interest. In order to overcome these problems, engineers developed more complex radar hardwares with many receiver channels and signal processing algorithms. Multi-channel receivers provide adaptive digital beam-forming and adaptive Doppler processing capabilities. However, designing a cost efficient and light multi-channel receiver and a signal processing unit, which can handle a huge amount of received data from multi channels, is a difficult task to accomplish. Therefore, this thesis aims to propose non-adaptive antenna beams to reduce the number of channels to two in GMTI processing. This reduction yields a simplification both in receiver structure and signal processing unit. The measure of excellence of these propositions will be the ability to detect slowly moving targets with nearly optimum performance.

No description available.

Wood and wood products are of great economical and environmental importance, both in Sweden and globally. Biotechnology can be used both for achieving raw material of improved quality and for industrial processes such as biobleaching. Despite the enormous amount of carbon that is fixed as wood, the knowledge about the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis, re-organization and degradation of plant cell walls is relatively limited. In order to exploit enzymes more efficiently or to develop new biotechnological processes, it is crucial to gain a better understanding of the function and mechanism of the enzymes. This work has aimed to increase the knowledge about some of the enzymes putatively involved in the wood forming processes in Populus. Xyloglucan endotransglycosylases and a putative xylanase represent transglycosylating and hydrolytic enzymes, respectively. Carbohydrate binding modules represent non-catalytic modules, which bind to the substrate. Among 24 genes encoding for putative xyloglucan endotransglycosylases or xyloglucan endohydrolases that were identified in the Populus EST database, two were chosen for further studies (PttXTH16-34 and PttXTH16-35). The corresponding proteins, PttXET16-34 and PttXET16-35, were expressed in P. pastoris, purified and biochemically characterized. The importance of the N-glycans was investigated by comparing the recombinant wild-type proteins with their deglycosylated counterparts. In order to obtain the large amounts of PttXET16-34 that were needed for crystallization and development of biotechnological applications, the conditions for the large-scale production of PttXET16-34 in a fermenter were optimized. In microorganisms, endo-(1,4)-β-xylanases are important members of the xylan degrading machinery. These enzymes are also present in plants where they might fulfill a similar, but probably more restrictive function. One putative endo-(1,4)-β-xylanase, denoted PttXYN10A, was identified in the hybrid aspen EST library. Sequence analysis shows that this protein contains three putative carbohydrate-binding modules (CBM) from family 22 in addition to the catalytic module from GH10. Heterologous expression and reverse genetics were applied in order to elucidate the function of the catalytic module as well as the binding modules of PttXYN10A. Just as in microorganisms, some of the carbohydrate active enzymes from plants have one or more CBM attached to the catalytic module. So far, a very limited number of plant CBMs has been biochemically characterized. A detailed bio-informatic analysis of the CBM family 43 revealed interesting modularity patterns. In addition, one CBM43 (CBM43PttGH17_84) from a putative Populus b-(1,3)-glucanase was expressed in E. coli and shown to bind to laminarin (β-(1,3)-glucan), mixed-linked β-(1,3)(1,4)-glucans and crystalline cellulose. Due to their high specificity for different carbohydrates, CBMs can be used as probes for the analysis of plant materials. Generally, they are more specific than both staining techniques and carbohydrate-binding antibodies. We have used cellulose- and mannan binding modules from microorganisms as tools for the analysis of intact fibers as well as processed pulps. / QC 20100903

Orientador: Eduardo Piza Pellizzer / Banca: Eduardo Passos Rocha / Banca: Alcides Gonini Júnior / Resumo: A resolução protética dos arcos com extremidades livres através da associação entre prótese parcial removível e implantes osseointegrados é, ainda, uma opção pouco utilizada na clínica odontológica. Quando dessa associação, na instalação do implante, por motivos anatômicos ou diversos, o mesmo pode ser instalado com certa angulação. Desse modo, o propósito dessa pesquisa é avaliar, através do método dos elementos finitos bidimensional, a distribuição de tensão e a tendência ao deslocamento nas estruturas de suporte de uma prótese parcial removível de extremidade livre (PPREL), e da própria PPREL, associada a um implante osseointegrado de 10,0 x 3,75 mm (Sistema Bränemark) com diferentes angulações, localizado na distal do rebordo residual, atuando apenas como suporte para a base da prótese. Foram utilizados 6 modelos, os quais, em corte sagital, representam: Modelo A (MA) - hemiarco contendo o dente natural 33 somente e o rebordo alveolar distal; Modelo B (MB) - semelhante ao MA, com um PPREL convencional substituindo os dentes ausentes; Modelo C (MC) - semelhante ao anterior, com um implante verticalizado a 0o na região distal do rebordo, sob a base da prótese; Modelo D (MD) - semelhante ao MC, com o implante angulado a 5º para mesial; Modelo E (ME) - semelhante ao MD, com o implante angulado a 15º para mesial; Modelo F (MF) - semelhante ao ME, com o implante angulado a 30º para mesial. Com o auxílio do programa de elementos finitos ANSYS 8.0, os modelos foram carregados com forças estritamente verticais de 50 N em cada ponta de cúspide. A análise dos Mapas permitiu concluir que: para a maioria das estruturas analisadas, quanto menor o ângulo do implante, menores as tensões observadas nos modelos; O MD (com implante a 5o) foi o que apresentou as melhores combinações de resultados, sendo portanto a melhor opção nas condições estudadas. / Abstract: The prosthetic resolution of arches with free end saddles by association among removable partial denture and osseointegrated implants, still have a low use in dentistry clinic. This way, the purpose of this study was to evaluate, by the bidimensionsal finite element analysis, the tension distribution and the displacement tendency in the supporting structures of a free end removable partial denture (FERPD), and the own FERPD, associated to an osseointegrated implant of 10,0 x 3,75 mm (Bränemark System), located in the distal area of the free end saddle, acting solely as support for the prosthesis base. Six models in sagital cut were utilized. Such represented: Model A (MA) - hemi arch containing the inferior left canine and the free end saddle; Model B (MB) - similar to MA, with a conventional RPD substituting the absent teeth; Model C (MC) - similar to the previous, with a vertical implant (0o) in the distal of the free end saddle, under the prosthesis base; Model D (MD) - similar to the previous, with the implant in an angulation of 5° to the mesial; Model E (ME) - similar to the previous, with the implant in an angulation of 15°; Model F (MF) - similar to the previous, with the implant angulation of 30°. With the aid of the finite element analysis program ANSYS 8.0, the models were loaded with 50 N of vertical forces on each cuspid of the teeth. The maps analysis allowed conclude that: For the most of analyzed structures, as lower the implant's angle, the lower the observed tension in the models. The MD (implant at 5°) was the better results combination, being the best option in the studied conditions. / Mestre

The central objective of this work consists of gives rise to a theoretical reflection on the relationships involving Man and Nature. It constitutes also a dialogue with a previously written paper on the same subject. Both, this work and the corresponding paper, give rise to an educational product consisting of a blog. This emerging product can be applied to several teaching situations for high school and university levels. Formal and informal situations are included. The starting point here concerns the confrontation between a predominantly anthropocentric adoption due to Popper and the deconstruction of it by Lynn Margulis. This deconstruction gives rise to a conflict involving different universes of criteria. In this paper is also explored the possible incommensurability implied by the conceptual universes represented by categories like: dignity, critical discussion and reason on the one hand, and time of evolutionary experience, biochemical versatility and importance of the bacteria for the biota, on the other. This reflection leads to the result according to which both, Margulian deconstruction as well as the deconstruction of the deconstruction of her point of view, do not constitute an overcome of the self reference. Therefore, the dignity and autonomy appear as central categories of this confrontation. Rationality, language and education are emergencies concerning the socio cultural world. This study entails an articulated confluence of the fields of Philosophy, Natural and Social Sciences and Education. Several authors are invited to participate of this dialogue. / Esta dissertação tem como objetivo precípuo ensejar uma reflexão teórica sobre as relações Homem/Natureza. Ela se apresenta em diálogo com um artigo escrito sobre o mesmo tema, mas diferentemente estruturado. A dissertação e o artigo correspondente constituem juntos na base teórica para gerar um produto educacional constituído por um blog, aplicável em situações de ensino concernentes tanto ao ensino médio quanto aos primeiros anos do ensino superior. São contempladas tanto situações de ensino formais quanto informais. A presente reflexão sobre as relações Homem/Natureza parte de um confronto, por nós proposto, entre a adoção preponderantemente antropocêntrica de Popper e a desconstrução desta por Lynn Margulis. Esta desconstrução enseja um conflito entre universos distintos de critérios. São exploradas também as relações de comensurabilidade/incomensurabilidade dos universos conceituais de ambas as adoções como: dignidade, discussão crítica e razão, por um lado, e, tempo de experiência evolutiva, versatilidade bioquímica e importância bacteriana para a biota, por outro. Como um dos resultados importantes desta reflexão, ressalta-se que tanto a desconstrução marguliana quanto a desconstrução da desconstrução desta não podem prescindir da autorreferência antropocêntrica. Portanto, dignidade e autonomia revelam-se como categorias centrais deste confronto. Racionalidade, linguagem e educação são emergências concernentes ao mundo sócio cultural. Este estudo se insere nos campos articulados da Filosofia, das Ciências Naturais e Sociais e da Educação. Para tal, procede-se a uma interlocução com autores de diversificadas lavras intelectuais.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:50:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-04-27 / INTRODUÇÃO: A reabilitação mastigatória com implantes dentais tornou-se, atualmente, uma terapêutica comum e necessária para pacientes edêntulos. Técnicas em implantodontia são aperfeiçoadas constantemente, dentre as quais o torque, para fixação dos cilindros de titânio em osso, considerado fundamental no prognóstico de sucesso da osteointegração. A reconstrução com retalhos microcirúrgicos, em ossos da face, tem sido cada vez mais realizadas em pacientes para reparação de sequelas pós-cirúrgicas. Para a completa reabilitação funcional desses pacientes é necessária a instalação de implantes osseointegráveis para o suporte de próteses dentais, mas inexistem pesquisas que determinem o torque necessário para estabilização inicial, desses implantes, em transplantes ósseos revascularizados. OBJETIVO: Mensurar o torque na instalação de implantes de titânio, em transplante de fíbula microrrevascularizado e consolidado, para reconstrução de maxila e mandíbula. MÉTODOS: Foram instalados 28 implantes dentais, em sete pacientes, com reconstrução cirúrgica em maxila e mandíbula por retalhos microcirúrgicos. No momento da instalação dos implantes mensurou-se o torque para estabilização final, cujos dados foram tabulados e analisados. RESULTADOS: O torque mínimo para instalação dos implantes foi de 20Ncm em 39,3% dos implantes, e o máximo de 45Ncm em 28,5%. CONCLUSÃO: A medida do torque no implante de titânio em transplante de fíbula microrrevascularizado, para reconstrução maxilomandibular, variou de 20 a 45Ncm, não tendo sido observada nenhuma influência relativamente ao gênero, à faixa etária e ao tempo de transplante. / INTRODUCTION: The masticatory rehabilitation with dental implants has become, a therapeutic technique for edentulous patients. Techniques in dental implant are constantly perfected, as the torque to fix the cylinders in a bone, considered fundamental in the prognosis of success in bone integration. The reconstruction with microsurgical flaps, in facial bones, has been increasingly performed in patients to repair the post-surgical sequelae. For the complete functional rehabilitation of these patients, the installation of bone integrable implants is necessary. With the objective of supporting the dental prosthesis, but there are no studies that determine the necessary torque to the initial stabilization of these dental implants in bone revascularized transplants. OBJECTIVE: To measure torque in installation of titanium implants, fibula microrevascularized and consolidated, in reconstruction of maxilla and mandibula. METHODS: Twenty eight dental implants were installed in seven patients with surgical reconstructions in the maxila and mandibular by microsurgical flaps. At the time of the installation of the implants, torque for final stabilization was measured, whose data were tabulated and analyzed. RESULTS: The minimum torque for installation of the implants was of 20Ncm in 39,3% of the implants, and the maximum, of 45Ncm in 28,5%. CONCLUSION: The measure of torque in implants of titanium of fibula microrevascularized transplants, for maxilomandibular reconstruction, varied from 20 to 45Ncm, and no influence related to gender, to age group or to time of transplant has been observed. / TEDE

Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo experimental foi comparar histologicamente o preenchimento do assoalho do seio maxilar por coágulo local com ou sem a associação de osso autógeno (controle), bem como investigar a osseointegração em duas diferentes superfícies de implante sob essas condições, através de medidas histométricas, análises histológicas e em freqüência de ressonância (RFA). Quatro macacos prego (tufted capuchin) tiveram todos os pré-molares e os primeiros molares superiores extraídos. Após quatro meses de reparo, os animais foram submetidos a cirurgia para acessar o assoalho do seio maxilar, através de uma janela óssea, para elevação da membrana do seio. O seio direito foi deixado para que se reparasse espontaneamente (somente coágulo), enquanto o esquerdo foi preenchido com enxerto ósseo autógeno. A membrana dos seios foram mantidas elevadas pela inserção simultânea de dois implantes (um usinado e outro oxidado eletroliticamente, Sistema Branemark®, Nobel Biocare) em cada lado da maxila. A estabilidade dos implantes foi acessada através da freqüência de ressonância (RFA, Ostell®) no momento da fixação dos implantes e no dia do sacrifício. Com a injeção de fluorocromos foi possível investigar o processo de neoformação óssea nos animais bem como relacioná-lo às diferentes superfícies dos implantes. Os animais foram sacrificados 6 meses após a cirurgia para análise histológica e de histomorfometria (contato-osso-implante - BIC, área de osso nas roscas - BA, e área de osso em um retângulo desenhado - BAR). Concluímos que não houve diferença entre o seio preenchido somente com coágulo local e o seio preenchido com osso autógeno, em relação à RFA, BIC, BA e BAR...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This experimental study aimed at comparing histologically the use of coagulum alone or autogenous bone graft (control) for sinus floor augmentation procedures as well as investigating the role played by implants surface on osseointegration under such circumstances, as measured by histological, histometric and resonance frequency analysis (RFA). Four tufted capuchin monkeys had all upper premolars and 1st molar extracted bilaterally. Four months later the animals underwent maxillary sinus floor augmentation surgery using the window technique. The right sinus was left to heal spontaneously (coagulum alone), whilst the left sinus was filled with autogenous bone graft. The Schneider's membrane was kept elevated by insertion of two implants (machined and oxidized, Bränemark System) in both sinuses. Implant stability was assessed through resonance frequency analysis (RFA, Osstell) at installation and at sacrifice. The pattern of bone formation in all experimental sites as well as related to the different implants surface was investigated using fluorochromes. The animals were sacrificed 6 months after MSFA for histology and histomorphometry (bone-to-implant contact - BIC, bone area in threads - BA, and bone area in rectangle - BAR). The results showed no difference between coagulum and bone graft sites regarding RFA, BIC, BA and BAR. As to BIC, the oxidized implants exhibited improved integration compared with machined ones. Oxidized implants showed higher BA compared to machined implants in bone grafts. The amount of bone tissue do not differ in coagulum alone and autogenous bone sites. Histologically, new bone is frequently deposited in contact with Schneider's membrane in coagulum alone sites, confirming the osseoinductive potential of the membrane. The oxidized implants should be preferred to machined implants in sinus floor augmentation procedures. / Orientador: Osvaldo Magro Filho / Coorientador: Luiz Antônio Salata / Banca: Luis Eduardo Marques Padovan / Banca: Renato Mazzonetto / Banca: João Gualberto Cerqueira Luz / Banca: Idelmo Rangel Garcia Júnior / Banca: Paulo Sérgio Perri de Carvalho / Doutor

Resumo: O sucesso dos sistemas modernos de implantes dentais tem sido relacionado ao desenvolvimento do design e das características de superfícies dos implantes. O propósito do presente estudo foi avaliar duas novas superfícies de implantes (modificada por laser - SML e recoberta por hidroxiapatita biomimética - HA), comparando-as a outros dois implantes comerciais, (superfície usinada - SU e modificada por jateamento e ataque ácido - SMC). Um total de 96 implantes (3,75 x 10mm), 24 de cada superfície, foram instalados na tíbia de coelhos e avaliados após 4, 8 e 12 semanas. Após os períodos de cicatrização os animais foram sacrificados, os implantes expostos e a força necessária para derosquea-los foi aferida por um torquímetro analógico. Em 4 e 8 semanas, os implantes HA apresentaram valor de torque de remoção estatisticamente superior (p<0,05) quando comparado aos demais, sendo o mesmo observado para os implantes SML quando comparados aos SU. Após 12 semanas, os implantes HA e SML foram estatisticamente superiores aos implantes SU. Os resultados deste estudo sugerem que os implantes HA foram superiores aos demais nos períodos iniciais, obtendo uma estabilidade satisfatória com 4 semanas de implantação. Os implantes SML foram superiores aos SU em todos os períodos avaliados, porém não apresentando diferenças quando com parados aos SMC. / Abstract: The success of modern dental implant systems has been associated with the development of implant designs and surface characteristic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate two new implant surfaces (laser-modified - LSM and biomimetic-hydroxyapatite coating - HA) comparing them with two other commercial implants (machined surface -MS and modified by sandblasted and acid etched - MCS). A total of 96 implants (3,75 x 10mm), 24 of each surface, were placed in rabbit tibia being evaluated after 4, 8 and 12 weeks. After the healing periods, the animals were sacrificed, the implants sites were exposed, and the needed force to unscrew the implants was measured using an analogical torque gauge. At 4 and 8 weeks, the HA implants removal torque was statistically greater (p<0,05) in comparison with the others, being the same observed to LSM when compared with MS. After 12 weeks, the HA and LSM implants were statistically greater just when compared with MS. The results of this study suggest that the HA implants were superior to the other at the initial periods, having a satisfactory stability with 4 weeks post-implantation. The LSM implants were superior to MS at all periods evaluated, but having no difference when compared with MCS. / Orientador: Elcio Marcantonio Junior / Coorientador: Antonio Carlos Guastaldi / Banca: Idelmo Rangel Garcia Junior / Banca: Maria Lucia Rubo de Rezende / Mestre

This study examines the extent of the impact of proficiency and language use on sociophonetic variation in Indian English (IE). It is based on an oral corpus using the methods and tools of the PAC project and derived from a pool of South Delhi-based highly proficient speakers. The investigation was conducted using quantitative and qualitative methods and focused on two understudied variables: (1) the fricative realisation of th, and (2) the realisations of the vowels in words of the NORTH and FORCE lexical sets. First, the results demonstrate that a significant amount of variation which cannot be accounted for by the traditional age, gender and social class factors can be explained by the language use parameter. A degree of correlation was found between the volume of use of English in a range of domains, and how speakers take advantage of the sociolinguistic potential of prestigious forms. This offers indications on the location of the leaders of the linguistic change. The second central feature of this study is derived from the investigation of the NORTH versus FORCE distinction. It is argued that the general maintenance of this distinction in IE provides evidence for the endo-normative nature of this variety. In the light of these findings, issues ultimately relating to the debate over nativeness are discussed.