According to the paradigm of lambda-CDM cosmology, the stellar halo ofour Galaxy has been built-up over time through the accretion of other galaxiesand star clusters. The remnants of some of these are still observable today asstellar streams, but are typically very faint and difficult to resolve amidst the farmore numerous foreground Milky Way stars. The VelHel-4 stream, discoveredby Helmi et al. [2017], consists of seven members selected based on their energiesand angular momenta. Further studies of these stars has shown evidence ofglobular cluster (GC) abundance patterns, suggesting that the stream originatedfrom a GC progenitor, but a larger sample is needed to verify this signature. Theobjective of this thesis is to find new candidate members of the VelHel-4 stellarstream in order to better characterize its properties and to confirm a possibleGC origin.The preliminary selection of stars was done kinematically, by computing theorbital actions and energies using astrometric data and radial velocities for abright subset of the Gaia DR3 database, and then analyzing the clustering ofstream members in different combinations of action space. The selected samplewas then cleaned by analyzing the positions of these stars in a colour-magnitudediagram. In total, 34 stars were included in the final selection. Follow-up high-resolution spectroscopy of these candidates is needed to study their stellar abun-dances and confirm the possible GC origin of this stream.

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Nous avons cherché à évaluer l'impact de conditions opératoires pour la préparation d'agrégats protéiques et d'émulsions stabilisées par des protéines en vue de la protection de l'α-tocopherol, servant de modèle de molécules d'intérêt, hydrophobes et sensibles. Les matrices protéiques ont été formées à partir d'un concentrat de protéines de lactosérum (6 wt% de WPC, pH 6.5 et 65 à 75°C), en présence ou absence de 4% α-tocopherol. Le mélange (65°C -15 min) des protéines en solution sans ou avec α-tocopherol a donné lieu à la formation de particules avec modification de charge (de -42 à -51 mV) et de taille (de 183 à 397 nm). Ces paramètres ont diminué davantage sous l'effet d'homogénéisation sous haute pression à 1200 bar que à 300 bar, alors qu'une meilleure protection de l'α-tocopherol a été observée après 8 semaines conservation. Les mécanismes impliqués dans la formation des matrices protéiques correspondantes ont été décrits sur la base de procédés de dénaturation-agrégation de protéines sériques, à partir de résultats obtenus par calorimétrie différentielle à balayage (DSC), spectrofluorescence, diffusion multiple de la lumière et électrophorèse SDS-PAGE. Les matrices lipidiques ont été préparées à partir de phases aqueuses contenant (6 wt% or 3 wt% de WPC) et lipidiques (20 %) en présence ou absence de lécithines (1.5%) avec ou sans α-tocopherol (4%), et par application d'une première étape de dispersion (65°C - 15 min) suivie d'une homogénéisation sous pression à 300 ou 1200 bar. Les nanoparticles lipidiques formées à plus haute pression étaient de taille et concentration protéique de surface plus faibles et de degré d'encapsulation de l'α-tocopherol plus faible (près de 15 %). L'analyse par DSC en modes balayage et isothermes des particules lipidiques a montré que plus leur taille est faible, plus le sur-refroidissement est important, l'apparition des cristaux de matière grasse plus retardée, et leur développement à 4°C moins important. Ces effets sont accentués dans les gouttelettes contenant l'α-tocopherol. La diffraction aux grands et petits angles de rayons X (synchrotron Soleil), couplée à la DSC, a montré la co-existence des polymorphes 2Lα, 2Lβ' et 2Lβ dans toutes les émulsions, mais à des proportions différentes. Les cristaux 2Lβ étaient plus développés dans les gouttelettes de plus petite taille et contenant du tocopherol en présence de lécithins, celles qui présentaient la plus forte dégradation chimique d'α-tocopherol pendant une conservation à long-terme. / We investigated effects of processing conditions for the preparation of protein aggregates and protein-stabilized lipid droplets, as matrix carriers of sensitive lipophilic bioactive compounds, with α-tocopherol as a model. Protein-based matrices were formed from whey protein concentrate (6 wt% WPC, pH 6.5 and 65 to 75°C), in presence or absence of 4% α-tocopherol. Mixing the protein solutions without or with α-tocopherol (65°C for 15 min) led to changes in particle surface charges (from -42 to -51 mV) and sizes (from 183 to 397 nm). These parameters decreased more under further high pressure homogenisation at 1200 bar than 300 bar, in parallel with increased vitamin protection over 8 week's storage. Molecular mechanisms involved in formation of corresponding α-tocopherol-loaded protein matrix were described on the basis of heat- and high-pressure-induced whey protein denaturation and aggregation, as evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), spectrofluorescence, multi-light scattering and SDS-PAGE electrophoretic patterns. Lipid-based matrices were developed from aqueous phases (80 wt%) containing WPC (6 wt% or 3 wt%) and lipid phases (20 wt%) in presence or absence of lecithins and/or 4% α-tocopherol, and by using a first dispersion step (65°C for 15 min) followed with HPH at 300 or 1200 bar. Our results showed that increasing HPH was accompanied by formation of lipid nanoparticles with decreasing size and protein surface concentration with an increase in α-tocopherol degradation (up to 15 wt% for 1200 bar). DSC in scanning and isothermal modes showed that reduction in lipid droplet size was accompanied by retardation in crystalline fat development under storage at 4°C, with further reduction in crystalline fat development along with further increase in supercooling for lipid droplets containing α-tocopherol. Fat polymorphism observed using time-resolved synchrotron X-ray scattering at wide and small angles (WAXS and SAXS) coupled with DSC, showed co-existence of 2Lα, 2Lβ' and 2Lβ polymorphs in all the emulsions, but at different proportions. It was observed that 2Lβ polymorphs were more prominent in lipid droplets with lower size and containing α-tocopherol in presence of lecithins that were shown to present the lowest long-term stability of α-tocopherol against chemical degradation.

Hyperfosforylering av biomarkörproteinet Tau förekommer i flera neurodegenerativa sjukdomar som kallas Taupathies. Proteinets huvudfunktion i människokroppen är att modulera flexibilitet och stabilitet för axonal-mikrotubulin. I Taupathies utlöser hyperfosforyleringen av Tau instabilitet och neurodegenerationen. I dagens läge kan hyperfosforylering av treonin 217 (P217) endast mätas i hjärnan. I den här studien undersöks hyperfosforyleringen av treonin 217 (P217). I syfte att se om nivåerna av P217 är mätbara i cerebrospinalvätska (CSV) och i blodet. Samt för att evaluera hur nivåer av P217 förändras i olika Taupathies, genom att testa hjärnprover från friska kontroller och olika Taupathies. Studien görs för att öka kunskapen om effekten av hyperfosforylering av treonin 217 i Taupathies och för att bidra med en ny provtagningsmetod för P217. Simoa HD-1 Analyzer var instrumentet som användes för analyserna av P217. Det är ett instrument som kan upptäcka onormala nivåer av biomarkörer genom kvantifiering, med hjälp av antikroppar och ett enzym. Enzymet kallas Streptavidin β-galaktosidas och omvandlar en befintlig P217-molekyl i proven till en fluorescerande produkt. Genom Simoa HD-1 Analyzer utvecklades en ultrasensitiv analys med antikropparna P217 och Tau 12, som kunde upptäcka mycket låga nivåer av P217 i hjärnan, CSF och i blod. Förändring av P217-nivåer hittades även i olika Taupathies. De Taupathies med de högsta nivåerna av P217 var Progressiv supranukleär pares, Corticobasal degeneration och Globular glial Taupathies. / Hyperphosphorylation of the biomarker protein Tau occurs in many neurodegenerative diseases called Taupathies. The proteins main function in the human body is to modulate flexibility and stability for axonal microtubules. In Taupathies the hyperphosphorylation of the Tau triggers instability and neurodegeneration. Nowdays hyperphoshorylation on threonine 217 (P217) can only be measured in the brain. In this study the hyperphoshorylation on the phosphorylation site of threonine 217 (P217) is examined. In aim to see if levels of P217 is measurable in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in blood. As well to evaluate how P217 variate in different Taupathies, through the use of brain samples from healthy controls and different Taupathies. The study is made for the purpose of enhancing the pure knowledge about the effect of hyperphosphorylation on threonine 217 in Taupathies and to contribute with a new sampling method for P217. Simoa HD-1 Analyzer was the key instrument of the analyses of P217. It’s an instrument which can detect abnormal levels of biomarkers through quantification, with help of antibodies and an enzyme. The enzyme is called Streptavidin β-galactosidase and converts an existing P217 molecule in the samples to a fluoresce product. Through the use of Simoa HD-1 Analyzer an ultrasensitive assay with antibodies P217 and Tau 12 was developed which could detect very low levels of P217 in brain, CSF and in blood. Variation of P217 levels was also found in different Taupathies. The Taupathies with the highest levels of P217 was Progressive supranuclear palsy, Corticobasal Degeneration and Globular glial Taupathies.

Há uma concentração de aglomerados globulares moderadamente pobres em metais no bojo galáctico, e muitos deles mostram um Ramo Horizontal Azul (BHB). Essas características juntas apontam para uma idade antiga. Para entender melhor a origem desses aglomerados, o estudo de seu padrão de abundâncias pode ajudar a identificar o tipo das primeiras supernovas nas partes centrais da Galáxia. O NGC 6522 na janela do Baade é um representante desta classe de aglomerados. Análises de abundância de estrelas individuais nesses aglomerados confirmaram sua metalicidade de [Fe/H] -1.0, enriquecimento em elementos-$\\alpha$ e detectaram uma variação nas abundâncias dos elementos pesados de processo-s. Entre os maiores enriquecimentos em Y e Ba, a explicação usual da transferência de massa de uma companheira do ramo assintótico das gigantes pode não se aplicar, e um enriquecimento por estrelas massivas de alta rotação foi sugerido. A fim de estudar melhor as abundâncias em NGC 6522, obtivemos um programa com o FLAMES em 2012, a partir da qual, com os dados de UVES, mostramos que o enriquecimento em elementos-s ainda poderia ser acomodado com o modelo de transferência de massa de uma estrela companheira. Além disso, obtivemos novos dados com o FLAMES em 2016. No presente trabalho analisamos outras 6 estrelas observadas em alta resolução com UVES, e 32 estrelas em resolução média-alta observadas com GIRAFFE, onde foram selecionadas por suas velocidades radiais em torno de -14,3 km/s com uma abrangência de ±15 km/s. Os parâmetros atmosféricos e as abundâncias dos elementos leves C, N, O, elementos de Z ímpar Na e Al, elementos-$alpha$ Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, elementos de pico de ferro Mn, Cu, Zn, elementos de processo-s Y, Zr, Ba, La, Ce, Nd e o elemento de processo-r Eu são derivados para a amostra UVES e preliminarmente para a amostra GIRAFFE. Entre as estrelas UVES, duas delas mostram um enriquecimento significativo nos elementos do processo-s e uma com alto valor nas razões [Y/Ba] e [Zr/Ba], sugerindo um enriquecimento por estrelas massivas de alta rotação. / There is a concentration of moderately metal-poor globular clusters in the Galactic bulge, and many of them show a Blue Horizontal Branch (BHB). These characteristics together point to an old age. In order to better understand the origin of these clusters, the study of their abundance pattern can help identifying the kind of the earliest supernovae in the central parts of the Galaxy. NGC 6522 in Baades Window is a representative of this class of clusters. Abundance analyses of individual stars in this clusters have confirmed its metallicity of [Fe/H]-1.0, enhanced -elements, and detected a variation in the abundances of the s-process heavy elements. Among the highest enhancements of Y and Ba, the usual explanation of mass transfer from a companion in the Asymptotic Giant Branch might not apply, and an enrichment by early fast-rotating massive stars was suggested. In order to further study the abundances in NGC 6522 we obtained a run with FLAMES- UVES in 2012, from which with the UVES data we have shown that the enhancement in s-elements could still be accommodated with the companion transfer model. We further obtained new data with FLAMES-UVES in 2016. In the present work we analyze another 6 stars observed at high resolution with UVES, and 32 stars at medium-high resolution observed with GIRAFFE. The latter were selected from their radial velocities of -14.3±15 km/s. The abundances of the light elements C, N, O, odd-Z elements Na, Al, -elements Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, iron-peak elements Mn, Cu, Zn, s-process elements Y, Zr, Ba, La, Ce, Nd and r-process element Eu are derived. Among the UVES stars, two of them show a significant enrichment in s-process elements and one of them show high [Y/Ba] and [Zr/Ba] ratios, suggesting that an early enrichment by fast rotating massive stars is a probable scenario.

Lisozima mostrou-se capaz, quando dispersa em certos meios orgânico-aquosos, de gerar sistemas pseudoplásticos que evoluem espontaneamente para redes de caráter viscoelástico. Esse fenômeno foi investigado neste estudo, para lisozima dispersa em uma série de misturas binárias contendo derivados de uréia como componente orgânico. Devido aos notáveis efeitos observados para um de tais derivados, a saber, tetrametiluréia (TMU), especial atenção foi dedicada aos sistemas contendo esse composto. O enfoque experimental incluiu espectroscopia Raman, microcalorimetria, reologia e espalhamento de raios X a baixo ângulo (SAXS). O trabalho envolveu o estudo dos sistemas orgânico-aquosos isolados e na presença de proteína. No primeiro caso, foi feita uma investigação espectroscópica e microcalorimétrica dos sistemas quanto a aspectos relativos à segregação de microdomínios na fase liquida e sua conseqüente relação com a deflagração da transição viscoelástica na proteína. Foram observadas descontinuidades nos valores de entalpias de excesso de mistura para o sistema TMU/água em torno de wTMU = 0,6, assim como padrões peculiares de comportamento espectral em torno dessa concentração da mistura binária. No segundo caso, os sistemas complexos de proteínas gerados foram investigados sob o ponto de vista morfológico e dinâmico, através das técnicas reológicas e de SAXS. Energias de ativação de fluxo determinadas na região sub-crítica, de comportamento Newtoniano, mostraram uma dependência exponencial direta com wTMU, indicando que mudanças estruturais nos fluidos complexos já ocorrem em regiões de composição do solvente bem abaixo da região de transição em wTMU = 0,6. Na região viscoelástica, 0,6<wTMU<0,9, ensaios de relaxação indicaram a presença de duas populações distintas. A tangente de perda (tg &#948; = G\"/G\') apresentou valores menores que a unidade para todos os casos, indicando o caráter \"solid-like\" das redes nas condições de ensaio. Apesar de seu caráter sólido, as redes mostram-se bastante flexíveis, suportando grandes deformações antes da ruptura, como inferido a partir da larga região viscoelástica linear. A variação nos módulos elástico (G\') e de perda (G\") com a composição do solvente indica a dependência do caráter viscoelástico com a fração de massa de TMU na mistura binária. Na região de baixo conteúdo de água (wTMU = 0,9), um aumento em G\" após a região viscoelástica linear é observado, indicando aumento da estruturação antes da ruptura da rede. As curvas de SAXS foram modeladas em seus fatores de forma e de interferência com uma equação unificada para objetos aleatoriamente distribuídos em um continuum. Os resultados permitiram a construção de um modelo, compatível com as demais evidências experimentais, segundo o qual as moléculas de lisozima encontram-se em duas conformações distintas nas matrizes: uma de conformação estendida e caráter fractal, predominante em wTMU > 0,6, com dimensão máxima de ca. de 160 &#197;, responsável pela interdigitação com espécies fractais vizinhas e uma espécie compacta, minoritária em wTMU > 0,6 (porém predominante em wTMU <0,6), com raio de giro de ca. 48 &#197;, presente nos microdomínios intersticiais aquosos da matriz. Verificou-se ainda a viabilidade de incorporação homogênea de uma metaloproteína, o citocromo-c, às matrizes de lisozima, sem perturbação significativa de sua morfologia, o que constitue um evento de potencial interesse biotecnológico. Os resultados deste trabalho trazem novos suportes experimentais à hipótese de correlação entre inversão na microconfiguração do meio solvente binário e deflagração do processo de transição sol-gel da proteína. / Lysozyme was found to be able, when dispersed in certain organic/aqueous media, to generate pseudoplastic systems that spontaneously evolve to three-dimensional networks with viscoelastic character. This phenomenon was investigated in this study, for lysozyme dispersed in a series of binary mixtures containing urea derivatives as the organic component. Due to the remarkable effects obtained in one of such derivatives, namely, tetramethylurea (TMU), special attention was given to systems containing that compound. The experimental approach included Raman spectroscopy, microcalorimetry, rheology and small angle X ray scattering (SAXS). The work involved the study of the organic/aqueous systems on their own and in the presence of protein. The former consisted of binary liquid mixtures that were spectroscopically and microcalorimetrically investigated as to aspects concerning microdomain segregation in the liquid phase and its consequent relationship with the threshold of the protein viscoelastic transition. Discontinuities in the excess enthalpy of mixture were observed for TMU/water system around wTMU=0.6, as well as peculiar spectral patterns around that same binary mixture concentration. The latter comprised complex protein systems that were investigated both under a morphological and dynamical point of view. Flow activation energies determined in the sub-critical (Newtonian) region showed an exponential increase with wTMU, indicating that structural changes in the comp]ex fluids are under way at solvent concentration regions well below that of the transition, at wTMU = 0.6. In the viscoelastic region, 0.6<wTMU<0.9, relaxation studies indicated the presence of two distinct populations. The loss tangent (tan &#948; = G\"/G\') presented values lower than the unity for all cases, indicating the solid-like character of the matrices, in the assay conditions. Despite their solid character the networks are quite flexible, standing large strains before rupture, as inferred from the large linear viscoelastic region. The variation in elastic (G\') and loss (G\") moduli with solvent composition indicates a dependence of the viscoelastic character on TMU mass fraction in the binary mixture. In the region of low water content (wTMU = 0.9), an increase in G\" after the LVR is observed, indicating increase in network structuring before rupture. SAXS curves were modeled with a unified equation for randomly distributed objects in a continuum. Results allowed the proposal of a model, which is compatible with the experimental evidence obtained through the other techniques in this work, according to which lysozyme molecules occur in two distinct conformations: one expanded and with fractal character, prevailing at wTMU > 0.6, with maximum dimension ca. 160 &#197; and interdigitated with neighbouring fractal species; and a compact conformation, of minor prevalence at wTMU>0.6 (but prevailing at wTMU < 0.6), with radius of gyration ca. 48 &#197;, present in the matrix microdomain interstices. It has also been verified the feasibility of homogeneous incorporation of cytochrome-c into the lysozyme matrices, an event of potential biotechnological interest. Results from this work bring further experimental support to our hypothesis on the correlation between microconfigurational inversion in the binary solvent medium and the sol-gel transition in the protein.