O consumo de fórmulas infantis no Brasil, utilizadas como substituto do leite materno, tem aumentado nos últimos anos de forma significativa. Tal fato é uma preocupação para os órgãos de saúde pois, o aleitamento materno exclusivo até no mínimo 6 meses, deixou de fazer parte de nutrição da maioria dos lactentes. Os produtos utilizados como substituto do leite materno contêm quantidades suficientes de vitaminas e nutrientes que ajudam no desenvolvimento normal do organismo dos lactentes. Entretanto, além de elementos essenciais, podem conter elementos potencialmente tóxicos presentes na matéria prima ou oriundos das etapas de processamento e armazenamento das mesmas. No presente trabalho foram desenvolvidos métodos analítico para determinar a presença de elementos potencialmente tóxicos (As, Cd, Pb e Tl) e essenciais (Cu e Mn) em fórmulas infantis, utilizando espectrometria de absorção atômica de alta resolução com fonte contínua e forno de grafite e análise direta de sólidos. As amostras utilizadas neste trabalho foram obtidas nos mercados da cidade de Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil, todas na forma sólida (pó) com diferentes composições e matéria prima (arroz, aveia, soja e leite). As curvas de calibração foram realizadas com soluções padrão aquosas e os métodos otimizados foram aplicados nas amostras em estudo. Em todas as amostras os elementos As, Cd, Pb e Tl apresentaram valores de concentração abaixo do limite de detecção. Das seis amostras analisadas, três apresentaram valores de concentração de Cu abaixo dos parâmetros mínimos estabelecidos pela legislação brasileira, enquanto que para o Mn todas amostras apresentaram valores de concentração dentro dos parâmetros mínimos da legislação brasileira. Os métodos desenvolvidos foram simples, exatos e precisos, podendo ser utilizados para análise de rotina. / The consumption of infant formula in Brazil, as a replacement of breast milk, has lately increased significantly. It is a major concern for health agencies because the exclusive breastfeeding up to at least 6 months is no longer part of most infants. The products used as a substitute of the breast milk contain sufficient amounts of vitamins and nutrients, which helps in the normal development of the infants. However, besides the essential elements, it may contain potentially toxic elements present in raw material or from of the processing and storage stages of the same. In the present work the presence of the essential (Cu e Mn) and potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Pb e Tl) in infant formulas were evaluated. For this, analytical methods were developed for the determination of As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Tl using high-resolution continnum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and direct solid sampling analysis in infant formulas. The samples were acquired in Porto Alegre’s market, RS, Brazil, all in powder form with different compositions and raw materials (rice, oats, soy and bovine milk). The calibration curves were performed with aqueous standard solutions and the optimized methods were applied in the study samples. In all samples, the concentration values of As, Pb, Cd and Tl were below of the limit of detection. For the analyzed samples, three of them present the concentration values of Cu lower than the minimum parameters established by Brazilian legislation, while for Mn, all samples present the concentration values within the minimum parameters of Brazilian legislation. The developed methods for the determination of these elements in infant formulas were simple, exacts and precise, and can be applicated for the routine analysis.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-07-19T12:18:56Z No. of bitstreams: 1 anamariadoresbernardocuvaca.pdf: 1256292 bytes, checksum: 4b658a65a999025394370fe4b78b9cf0 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-08-09T11:58:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 anamariadoresbernardocuvaca.pdf: 1256292 bytes, checksum: 4b658a65a999025394370fe4b78b9cf0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-09T11:58:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 anamariadoresbernardocuvaca.pdf: 1256292 bytes, checksum: 4b658a65a999025394370fe4b78b9cf0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-05-11 / Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar, usando técnicas espectrométricas a lixiviação de metais de bijuterias em diferentes soluções extratoras. A técnica de espectrometria de massas com fonte de plasma acoplado indutivamente (ICP-MS) foi usada inicialmente para fazer uma varredura nos extratos de quatro soluções para verificar os metais que estavam sendo lixiviados. O planejamento 23 com triplicata no ponto central foi empregado de modo a estudar os parâmetros de lixiviação. Os parâmetros escolhidos foram temperatura (26º C), tempo de 24 h, pH 5,0 (solução 3) e pH 7,5 (solução 1). Após isto, os parâmetros escolhidos foram aplicados para a lixiviação de Cd e Pb em cinco amostras de bijuterias. Amostras de bijuterias de mesmo lote também foram digeridas para a determinação do teor total de Cd e Pb. As soluções resultantes da lixiviação e da digestão das cinco amostras de bijuterias foram analisadas utilizando a técnica de espectrometria de absorção atômica com forno de grafite (GF AAS). As amostras de bijuterias digeridas continham de 1,96 x 10-6 a 3,74 x 10-6 % m/m de Cd e 1,24 x 10-6 a 1,60 x 10-6 % m/m de Pb. Os extratos lixiviados continham de 9,96 x 10-8 a 1,48 x 10-6 % m/m de Cd e <LD a 8,65 x 10-6 % m/m de Pb. Os limites de detecção foram de 2,9 x 10-11 % m/m para Cd e 1,2 x 10-10 % m/m para Pb obtidos por espectrometria de massas com fonte de plasma acoplado indutivamente (ICP-MS); 5,5 x 10-6 % m/m para Cd e 1,9 x 10-5 % m/m para Pb obtidos por espectrometria de absorção atômica com chama (F AAS) e de 2,5 x 10-8 % m/m para Cd e 3,2 x 10-7 % m/m para Pb por espectrometria de absorção atômica com forno de grafite (GF AAS). A curva em meio aquoso foi adequada para as análises, que foi avaliada com estudos de adição e recuperação, em que os valores variaram entre 84-100% e 75-81% para Cd e Pb, respectivamente. Os resultados obtidos pelo método de adição de padrão foram concordantes com os obtidos pela curva externa em 6% para Cd e 0,5 e 1,3 % para Pb nas amostras A e E. Dentre os analitos estudados, o Cd foi o que mais lixiviou e a solução que mais lixiviou foi a solução 1, indicando que este metal se encontrava na forma mais disponível e a possibilidade de ocorrer a lixiviação em soluções com pH entre 6-8. / The aim of this work was to evaluate the leaching of metals in jewelry in different extractive solutions using spectrometric techniques. The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique was initially used to scan the extracts of four solutions to verify the metals being leached. The 23 full factorial design with triplicate at the central point was carried to study the leaching parameters. The parameters chosen were temperature (26 ° C), time of 24 h, pH 5.0 (solution 3) and pH 7.5 (solution 1). After this, the chosen parameters were applied to the leaching of Cd and Pb in five samples of jewelry. Samples of jewelry from the same batch were also digested for determination of the total Cd and Pb content. The solutions resulting from the leaching and digestion of the five jewelry samples were analyzed using the graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS). The leached extracts contained from 9.96 x 10-8 to 1.48 x 10 -6 % m/m of cadmium and < LD to 8.65 x 10-6 % m/m of lead. The samples of digested jewelry contained from 1.96 x 10 -6 to 3.74 x 10-6 a % m/m of cadmium and 1.24 x 10-6 to 1.60 x 10-6 % m/m of lead. The limits of detection were 2.9 x 10-11 % m/m for cadmium and 1.2 x 10-10 % m/m for lead in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), 5.5 x 10-6 % m/m for cadmium and 1.9 x 10-5 % m/m for lead (F AAS) and 2.5 x 10-8 % m/m for cadmium and 3.2 x 10-7 % m/m for lead in the graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS). The curve in aqueous medium was suitable for the analyses, which was evaluated with addition and recovery studies, where values varied between 84-100% and 75-81% for cadmium and lead, respectively. The results obtained by standard addition were similar with those obtained by the calibration curve in 6 % for cadmium and 0.5 and 1.3 % for lead in samples A and E. Among the analyzed analytes, the Cd was the one more leached and the solution that leached more metals was solution 1, indicating that this metal was in the most available form and the possibility of leaching occurred in solutions with pH between 6-8.

Orientadores: Marco Aurélio Zezzi Arruda, Fábio Augusto / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-21T15:26:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva_ElidianeGomesda_D.pdf: 2153115 bytes, checksum: 5169aef7da6fd6ddcc74f0fd71a98fe7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: No Capítulo 1, é proposta a combinação das técnicas de microextração em fase sólida com a espectrometria de absorção atômica em forno de grafite para extração de Se(IV) derivado, seguida de detecção por GC-MS. O método é aplicado com sucesso na determinação de Se total em materiais de referência certificado (BCR-414 and SRM 1643e), sendo obtidas recuperações de 97% para a água (SRM 1643e) e 101% para o plâncton (BCR-414). O método também é aplicado para determinação de selênio em amostra de medicamento manipulado a base de quelato de selênio. No Capítulo 2, a técnica de HPLC com troca aniônica acoplada a ICP-MS, é usada para identificação e determinação de quatro espécies de selênio (Se(IV), Se(VI), selenometionina e selenocistina) em amostras biológicas (plâncton, castanha-do-pará, urina e folhas de girassol). A extração das espécies, presente em plâncton (BCR-414), castanha-do-pará e folhas de girassol, é realizada com água, e um teste de simulação de digestão gastrointestinal também é aplicado para identificar as espécies de selênio bioacessíveis em castanha do Pará. O Se(IV) é a principal espécie extraída no plâncton, com maior concentração de selênio no extrato. A castanha-do-pará possui, principalmente, selenocistina e selenometionina, sendo que somente a selenometionina é identificada como bioacessível. O estudo de especiação de selênio por HPLC-ICP-MS sugere a presença de selenocistina em urina de homens e mulheres. As folhas de girassol, de plantas cultivadas com solução de selenito apresentam um maior número de espécies de selênio, em comparação a planta controle / Abstract: In Chapter 1, the combination of the techniques of solid phase microextraction with atomic absorption spectrometry graphite furnace is proposed, using an SPME fiber device and graphite furnace (GF) for extracting Se compounds. The extracted compounds are separated and detected by GC-MS. The method is successfully applied to the total Se determination in certified reference materials (BCR-414 and SRM 1643e). The SPME-GF method combined with GC-MS is also applied to the determination of total selenium in a commercial drug sample (selenium chelate). In Chapter 2, the anion-exchange HPLC technique coupled to ICP-MS is used for identification and determination of four selenium species (Se(IV), Se(VI), selenomethionine and selenocystine) in biological samples (plankton, Brazil nuts, urine and sunflower leaves). The extraction of the species is carried out using water for plankton (BCR-414), Brazil nuts and sunflower leaf. A simulated gastrointestinal digestion is also used to identify bioaccessible selenium in Brazil nuts. The Se(IV) is the predominant specie in the plankton, with the highest selenium concentration in the extract. The Brazil nuts contain selenomethionine and selenocystine species, but only selenomethionine is identified as bioaccessible. The study of selenium speciation by HPLC-ICP-MS suggests the presence of selenocystine in the urine of women and men. The sunflower leaves of plants cultivated with selenite have a higher number of selenium species compared to the control plants / Doutorado / Quimica Analitica / Doutora em Ciências

The main objective of this thesis is to contribute to a better understanding of the forms that environmental cooperation takes in regions of the South and the processes determining these different forms. Environmental cooperation has been researched extensively in other contexts, notably in relation to global environmental regimes, but the regional dimension and regions in the South in particular, have received very little attention. This thesis provides an in-depth exploratory study comparing three cases of regional environmental cooperation in one region of the South, the Southern Cone of South America. Based on the findings from two extensive fieldwork periods which served to conduct over 50 interviews with policy-makers, civil society representatives and researchers in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay and to collect relevant documentation, the thesis argues that regional environmental cooperation in the Southern Cone takes place in three main forms; regional organisations; regional resource regimes; and the regional implementation of global environmental conventions. These vary in terms of the type of institutional framework and its political purpose; the scope of issues addressed; and the way the membership is determined. Regional environmental cooperation in the Southern Cone is promoted by different types of drivers from within the region, notably civil society organisations and networks of government officials, as well as drivers from outside the region, most importantly donors and international organisations. The variation in the forms of cooperation is thus determined not only by the position of national governments, but also by the objectives and strategies used by the different drivers. In addition, regional environmental cooperation in the Southern Cone is marked by low political will and takes a marginal position in particular in relation to economic interests. While different drivers have been crucial in shaping the different forms that regional environmental cooperation takes, the marginality of this is an outcome of the political and economic context and the development strategy adopted by governments. Consequently, during the research process it became clear that it is important to distinguish between differing levels of strength of regional environmental cooperation and the thesis has developed the concepts of robustness and marginality to this end. These theoretical tools provide an important basis for further research and comparisons on environmental cooperation in regions of the South.

Modern public-key cryptography relies extensively on modular multiplication with long operands. We investigate the opportunities to optimize this operation in a heterogeneous multiprocessing platform such as TI OMAP3530. By migrating the long operand modular multiplication from a general-purpose ARM Cortex A8 to a specialized C64x+ VLIW DSP, we are able to exploit the XOR-Multiply instruction and the inherent parallelism of the DSP. The proposed multiplication utilizes Multi-Precision Binary Polynomial Multiplication with Unbalanced Exponent Modular Reduction. The resulting DSP implementation performs a GF(2^233) multiplication in less than 1.31us, which is over a seven times speed up when compared with the ARM implementation on the same chip. We present several strategies for different field sizes and field polynomials, and show that a 360MHz DSP easily outperforms the 500MHz ARM. / Master of Science

The need for interacting with machines using spoken natural language is growing, along with the expectation that synthetic speech in this context sound natural. Such interaction includes answering questions, where prosody plays an important role in producing natural English synthetic speech by communicating the information structure of utterances. CCG is a theoretical framework that exploits the notion that, in English, information structure, prosodic structure and syntactic structure are isomorphic. This provides a way to convert a semantic representation of an utterance into a prosodically natural spoken utterance. GF is a framework for writing grammars, where abstract tree structures capture the semantic structure and concrete grammars render these structures in linearised strings. This research combines these frameworks to develop a system that converts semantic representations of utterances into linearised strings of natural language that are marked up to inform the prosody-generating component of a speech synthesis system. / Computing / M. Sc. (Computing)

This thesis describes studies on the analysis of arsenic (As) in human biological samples, mainly urine but also hair and fingernails using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS). The relationship between ethnicity and arsenic metabolism was investigated for the first time for a population in the United Kingdom. This investigation has been carried out through comparative analysis of arsenic in human urine, hair and fingernails in volunteers from three different ethnic groups (Whites, Asians and Somali Black-Africans) who are only exposed to background levels of arsenic. Results obtained with 63 volunteers showed ethnic differences in urinary arsenic excretion as well as differences in arsenic levels in fingernail samples. The averages of total arsenic levels for the Somali Black-Africans (urine 7.2 µg/g creatinine; fingernails 723 µg/kg) are significantly (P< 0.05) different from both the Asians (urine 20.6 µg/g creatinine; fingernails 153.9 µg/kg) and Whites (urine 24.5 µg/g creatinine; fingernails 177.0 µg/kg). The Somali group also shows a higher percentage (50%) of dimethylarsinate (DMA) and a lower percentage (48%) of arsenobetaine (AB), compared to Asians (16% DMA and 83% AB) and Whites (22% DMA and 77% AB). The effect of fasting on urinary arsenic species distribution was also investigated by monitoring urine samples from 29 Ramadan fasting volunteers, with each volunteer providing a sample at the beginning (RF1) and at the end (RF2) of an approximately 12 hours fast. The results obtained showed the frequency of MA detection for RF2 was 12 and 2-fold higher than for the non-fasting and RF1 groups, respectively. This suggests fasting may alter the pattern of arsenic metabolism and excretion. However, there was no significant difference (P> 0.05) in the average of total level of arsenic for RF1 (18.3 µg/g creatinine) and RF2 (17.7 µg/g creatinine). A relationship between excretion of arsenic and selenium in individuals exposed to background levels of arsenic and selenium was investigated through analysis of urine samples from 93 volunteers from Leicester, UK. A positive correlation between arsenic and selenium was found and the As:Se ratio was 0.7 ± 0.4. The intra-individual variation of As:Se ratio does not alter significantly over time, as determined by monitoring urine samples from a volunteer over a period of one year. Furthermore, within a single day, with urine samples collected at the beginning and after a 12-hour fast, the As:Se ratio was found to be similar (0.7 ± 0.5). These findings suggest a close relationship between these two metalloids, the biological significance of which needs to be explored in the future.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

This thesis wishes to draw attention to the economic, social and political implications of the rise and establishment of the institutional Church in Early Christian Greece, particularly by exploring the pilgrimage, philanthropic and industrial function of the churches’ annexes. The diverse functions of churches annexes, besides reflecting a social dimension, they also reflect economic and political realities that require the development of an interdisciplinary approach, based on civil and ecclesiastical legislation, archaeology, epigraphy, history and theology, in order to explore the extent and the effects of the institutional Church’s activity in Greece. Interpreting Christian archaeology in key excavated sites of Greece by interweaving literary and material evidence both of ecclesiastical and secular origin, will help not only to ascertain how churches stood in relation to adjoining buildings combining religious and economic purposes, but also to restore to the most possible extent the Early Christian Greek urban and rural topographies.

Interpretations of osteological remains from mainland Greece during the 1960-1980s led to the suggestion that the most virulent form of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, was prevalent between the Mesolithic and Late Bronze Age (c. 8700 cal. BC-1100 cal. BC). Although disregarded over the past decade, the theory has regained support in recent years from osteological, epidemiological, environmental and DNA studies. However, the presence of this strain of malaria in prehistoric Greece remains controversial. This thesis evaluates 1) the palaeoclimatic conditions of the Aegean between the Mesolithic and Late Bronze Age and 2) the palaeoenvironmental conditions of three archaeological settlements, with the aim of ascertaining whether the climatic and environmental conditions were as conducive for P. falciparum and the mosquito vectors as the osteological evidence suggested. Equal consideration is given to the so-called ‘lesser strains’ of malaria, P. vivax and P. malariae, the significance of which is considered to have been underestimated in previous studies.