A two-dimensional finite element model for the infiltration of a dry textile preform by an injected resin has been verified. The model, which is based on the finite element/control volume technique, determines the total infiltration time and the pressure increase at the mold inlet associated with the RTM process. Important input data for the model are the compaction and permeability behavior of the preform along with the kinetic and rheological behavior of the resin. The compaction behavior for several textile preforms was determined by experimental methods. A power law regression model was used to relate fiber volume fraction to the applied compaction pressure. Results showed a large increase in fiber volume fraction with the initial application of pressure. However, as the maximum fiber volume fraction was approached, the amount of compaction pressure required to decrease the porosity of the preform rapidly increased. Similarly, a power law regression model was used to relate permeability to the fiber volume fraction of the preform. Two methods were used to measure the permeability of the textile preform. The first, known as the steady state method, measures the permeability of a saturated preform under constant flow rate conditions. The second, denoted the advancing front method, determines the permeability of a dry preform to an infiltrating fluid. Water, corn oil, and an epoxy resin, Epon 815, were used to determine the effect of fluid type and viscosity on the steady state permeability behavior of the preform. Permeability values measured with the different fluids showed that fluid viscosity had no influence on the permeability behavior of 162 E-glass and TTI IM7/8HS preforms. Permeabilities measured from steady state and advancing front experiments for the warp direction of 162 E-glass fabric were similar. This behavior was noticed for tests conducted with corn oil and Epon 815. Comparable behavior was observed for the warp direction of the TTl 1M7/8HS preform and corn oil. Fluid/fiber interaction was measured through the use of the single fiber pull-out test. The surface tension of both the corn oil and Epon 815 was determined. The contact angle between these two fluids and glass and carbon fibers was also measured. These tests indicated that the glass fiber had a lower contact angle than the carbon fiber and therefore is wet out better than the carbon fiber by both fluids. This result is attributed to the sizing commonly used on the carbon fibers. Mold filling and flow visualization experiments were performed to verify the analytical computer model. Frequency dependent electromagnetic sensors were used to monitor the resin flow front as a function of time. For the flow visualization tests, a video camera and high resolution tape recorder were used to record the experimental flow fronts. Comparisons between experimental and model predicted flow fronts agreed well for all tests. For the mold filling tests conducted at constant flow rate injection, the model was able to accurately predict the pressure increase at the mold inlet during the infiltration process. A kinetics model developed to predict the degree of cure as a function of time for the injected resin accurately calculated the increase in the degree of cure during the subsequent cure cycle. / Master of Science

Resumo: Amidos e gomas são hidrocolóides usados freqüentemente em alimentos para conferir textura apropriada, controlar a umidade e a mobilidade da água. Estudos têm relatado que a interação de gomas e amidos em sistemas alimentícios pode alterar o inchamento dos grânulos, as propriedades de gelatinização e reológicas dos amidos. Em bebidas lácteas fermentadas, a maioria dos polissacarídeos de interesse comercial é incompatível com as proteínas do leite em solução, e desta forma, os hidrocolóides tipicamente utilizados são amido e carragena. Neste trabalho foi avaliado o efeito da adição das gomas xantana, carboximetilcelulose sódica e carragena (nas concentrações de 0,15, 0,25, 0,35 e 0,45% - p/v) nas propriedades de pasta, térmicas, de poder de inchamento (PI), reológicas e na microscopia do amido de mandioca, bem como o efeito de misturas de amido de mandioca e as referidas gomas nas propriedades reológicas de bebidas lácteas fermentadas. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que a goma carragena (CAR) praticamente não modifica as propriedades do amido em função da inexistência de interações entre a referida goma e o amido de mandioca; já a goma xantana (GX) envolve praticamente por completo os grânulos de amido, possivelmente através da formação de pontes de hidrogênio, promovendo desta forma aumentos nas viscosidades de pasta, poder de inchamento, nos módulos G' e G" e diminuição na tendência a retrogadação; a carboximetilcelusose sódica (CMC), por sua vez, aumenta drasticamente as viscosidades e o poder de inchamento do amido devido a sua grande capacidade de retenção de água e não a sua interação com o amido de mandioca. Nas bebidas lácteas fermentadas, as misturas quando empregadas praticamente não modificaram seu comportamento reológico, exceto para as bebidas elaboradas a partir das misturas amido - goma xantana, onde observou-se... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Starches and gums are hydrocolloids frequently used in food systems to provide proper texture, moisture and water mobility. Studies have reported that the gum and starch interaction in food systems can modify the granule swelling, the gelatinization and rheological properties of starches. In fermented dairy beverages, the majority of commercial interest polysaccharides is not compatible with milk proteins in solution, consequently, starch and carrageenan are the hydrocolloids typically used. In this work, the effect of gum addition such as xanthan, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and carrageenan was evaluated (in the concentrations of 0,15, 0,25, 0,35 and 0.45% - w/v) in paste, thermal, swelling power (SP), rheological and microscopy properties of cassava starch, as well as the effect of mixtures of cassava starch and the referred gums in rheological properties of fermented dairy beverages. The results suggest that carrageenan gum (CAR) practically does not modify the starch properties since there is no interaction between this gum and cassava starch. Xanthan gum (GX) seems to involve the starch granules completely, possibly through the formation of hydrogen bonds, which increases paste viscosities, swelling power, increased the modulus G' and G" and decreased retrogradation behavior. Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), in turn, drastically increases viscosities and the starch swelling power due to its great capacity of water retention and not to the interaction with the cassava starch. In fermented dairy beverages, the gum - starch mixtures practically didn't modify its rheological behavior, except for beverages with mixtures xanthan gum - starch, where an initial reduction in the shear stress as deformation rate was increased, followed by a gradual increase, suggesting a possible incompatibility between cassava starch, xanthan gum and milk proteins. Keywords: Cassava starch... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientador: Célia Maria Landi Franco / Coorientador: Ana Lúcia Barretto Penna / Banca: Ivo Mottin Demiate / Banca: Roger Darros Barbosa / Mestre

This thesis is composed of a collection of twelve short stories, varying in length from 2 to 14 pages. Each story contains its own discrete theme, but fits as well within the overarching theme of the collection as a whole. This overarching theme is what gives the collection its cohesiveness. The main theme of the larger work can be found in the title of the collection, People on the Edges of Dreams. In many of the stories dreams, or dream-states, figure in the lives of the protagonists. In addition to the dream-state theme there is a less obvious theme, which has to do with the extent to which most or all of the main characters in the stories are faced with a kind of inescapable compassion for others. For example, the selfinvolved, self-gratifying protagonist in Matador cannot help but feel compassion first for Pearl, the woman he insults, and second for the "bums" on whom his livelihood depends. The theme of inescapable compassion can, I believe, be found to varying degrees in each of the stories in this collection.

Large Area Maskless Photopolymerization (LAMP) is a direct digital manufacturing technology being developed at Georgia Tech to produce ceramic molds for investment casting of turbine airfoils. In LAMP, UV light incident on a spatial light modulator is projected in the form of a structured black and white bitmap image onto a platform supporting slurry comprising a ceramic particle loaded photocurable resin. Curing of the resin is completed rapidly with exposures lasting 20~160ms. Three-dimensional parts are built layer-by-layer by sequentially applying and selectively curing resin layers of 25-100 micron thickness. In LAMP, diacrylate-based ceramic particle-loaded resins with photoinitiators sensitive in the range of spectral characteristics of the UV source form the basis for an ultra-fast photopolymerization reaction. At the start of the reaction, the monomer molecules are separated by van der Waals distance (~10⁴Å). As the reaction proceeds, these monomer molecules form a closely packed network thereby reducing their separation to covalent bond lengths (~ 1 Å). This results in bulk contraction in the cured resin, which accumulates as the part is fabricated layer-by-layer. The degree of shrinkage is a direct measure of the number of covalent bonds formed. Thus, shrinkage in LAMP is characterized by estimating the number of covalent bonds formed during the photopolymerization reaction. Polymerization shrinkage and accompanying stresses developed during photopolymerization of ceramic particle-loaded resins in LAMP can cause deviations from the desired geometry. The extent of deviations depends on the photoinitiator concentration, the filler loading, the degree of monomer conversion, and the operating parameters such as energy dose. An understanding of shrinkage and stresses built up in a part can assist in developing source geometry compensation algorithms and exposure strategies to alleviate these effects. In this thesis, an attempt has been made to understand the curing kinetics of the reaction and its relation to the polymerization shrinkage. Realtime Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (RTFTIR) is used to determine the conversion of monomers into polymer networks by analyzing the changes in the chemical bonds of the participating species of molecules. The conversion data can further be used to estimate the curing kinetics of the reaction and the relative volumetric shrinkage strain due to polymerization.

Thesis (MScFor)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Information on the external shape and internal properties of a tree such as the branch structure, tree ring widths and formation, and defects such as resin pockets is important for many forest –and wood science researchers as well as for the forest and wood processing industries. Resin pockets are internal defects associated with some softwood species, and are undesirable in some wood applications such as furniture and veneer. A tool that is often used in research to obtain this information is the Computed Tomography scanner. The high cost of the scanner, as well as the cost of transporting logs to the scanner, limits the application range of this equipment. An alternative, lower cost method would be beneficial for many researchers interested in tree shape and macroscopic internal tree characteristics. The objectives of this study were to: - Design, construct and test a mobile system that can be used in field to obtain a three‐dimensional model of a log or tree stem indicating selected macroscopic internal characteristics and, - Interpret results to explain the occurrence and causes of resin pockets in Pinus patula from the Mpumalanga escarpment, South Africa. A system for dissecting and measuring trees in field was designed, constructed and tested. The metal frame was used to cut a stationary, fixed log into discs and obtain digital images of crosssections along the stem axis. The frame was capable of processing logs with maximum dimensions of 3 m in length and 45 cm in diameter. Software was developed to convert the digital images into three‐dimensional models of logs and trees to demonstrate properties such as the external shape of the trees, branch structure and pith location. Properties such as ring width were measured from the images obtained. The study was conducted in the Mpumalanga escarpment to obtain three‐dimensional models of Pinus patula trees and to establish the reason for formation of resin pockets in these trees. Four 3 m logs from twenty‐four trees from three compartments were dissected and digitally reconstructed into three‐dimensional models. A total of 61 cross sections with resin pockets were identified from the 2750 cross cut images taken 20 cm apart along the longitudinal axis of the log. It was not possible to accept or reject conclusively any of the existing hypotheses for the cause of resin pocket formation. The formation of Type 2 resin pockets was most probably due to felling damage during thinning operations. It seems likely that wind damage and possibly insects might be responsible for the formation of Type 1 resin pockets. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kennis in verband met die interne eienskappe van ‘n boom soos takeienskappe, jaarringwydte en vorm, en harsholtes is belangrik vir sommige bos ‐en houtkundige navorsers. Die toerusting wat huidiglik algemeen gebruik word om inligting van hierdie aard te bekom is ‘n CT skandeerder. Die metode is egter duur as gevolg van hoë kapitale koste van die toerusting sowel as die vervoerkoste van stompe na die CT‐fasiliteit. ‘n Meer ekonomiese alternatief sal vir baie navorsers van waarde wees. Harsholtes in hout lei tot afgradering van hout en fineer. Die doel van die studie was twee‐sydig: - Om ‘n stelsel te ontwerp en bou wat ‘n drie‐dimensionele model van ‘n boom kan skep wat sommige makroskopiese, interne eienskappe weergee, en - Om die voorkoms en oorsaak van harsholtes in Pinus Patula van die Mpumalanga platorand te ondersoek. ‘n Raam is ontwerp en vervaardig wat in die plantasie gebruik word. Die raam kan stompe van tot drie meter lengte met ‘n maksimale diameter van 45 cm hanteer. Die raam is gebruik om snitte deur die stompe te maak, ‘n afstandmeting tot by die gesaagde oppervlak word deur ‘n lasermeter geneem en ‘n kamera neem ‘n foto. Sagteware word dan gebruik vir die uitkenning van sekere dele in elke beeld sowel as die samestelling van ‘n drie‐dimensionele model. Data‐insameling met die raam is in Mpumalanga gedoen. Die raam is in die tydperk getoets en het goed gefunksioneer. Vier stompe elk vanaf vier‐en‐twintig bome vanuit drie afsonderlike kompartemente is verwerk op die raam en volledige drie‐dimensionele modelle geskep vir hierdie bome insluitend hul eksterne vorm, takeienskappe en pitvorm (“pith location”). Ongeveer 2750 foto’s van dwarssnitte is tydens data‐insameling geneem. Net 61 van die foto’s het harsholtes bevat. Geen definitiewe oorsaak van harsholtes kon bepaal word nie. Tipe 2 harsholtes word waarskynlik as gevolg van skade tydens uitdunning van bome gevorm. Wind en insekte lyk na die mees waarskynlike oorsake van Tipe 1 harsholtes.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-02-18Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:29:27Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 leite_td_me_sjrp.pdf: 1234484 bytes, checksum: a978ecd0d075bc681b8906a7611095d9 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Amidos e gomas são hidrocolóides usados freqüentemente em alimentos para conferir textura apropriada, controlar a umidade e a mobilidade da água. Estudos têm relatado que a interação de gomas e amidos em sistemas alimentícios pode alterar o inchamento dos grânulos, as propriedades de gelatinização e reológicas dos amidos. Em bebidas lácteas fermentadas, a maioria dos polissacarídeos de interesse comercial é incompatível com as proteínas do leite em solução, e desta forma, os hidrocolóides tipicamente utilizados são amido e carragena. Neste trabalho foi avaliado o efeito da adição das gomas xantana, carboximetilcelulose sódica e carragena (nas concentrações de 0,15, 0,25, 0,35 e 0,45% - p/v) nas propriedades de pasta, térmicas, de poder de inchamento (PI), reológicas e na microscopia do amido de mandioca, bem como o efeito de misturas de amido de mandioca e as referidas gomas nas propriedades reológicas de bebidas lácteas fermentadas. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que a goma carragena (CAR) praticamente não modifica as propriedades do amido em função da inexistência de interações entre a referida goma e o amido de mandioca; já a goma xantana (GX) envolve praticamente por completo os grânulos de amido, possivelmente através da formação de pontes de hidrogênio, promovendo desta forma aumentos nas viscosidades de pasta, poder de inchamento, nos módulos G’ e G” e diminuição na tendência a retrogadação; a carboximetilcelusose sódica (CMC), por sua vez, aumenta drasticamente as viscosidades e o poder de inchamento do amido devido a sua grande capacidade de retenção de água e não a sua interação com o amido de mandioca. Nas bebidas lácteas fermentadas, as misturas quando empregadas praticamente não modificaram seu comportamento reológico, exceto para as bebidas elaboradas a partir das misturas amido - goma xantana, onde observou-se... / Starches and gums are hydrocolloids frequently used in food systems to provide proper texture, moisture and water mobility. Studies have reported that the gum and starch interaction in food systems can modify the granule swelling, the gelatinization and rheological properties of starches. In fermented dairy beverages, the majority of commercial interest polysaccharides is not compatible with milk proteins in solution, consequently, starch and carrageenan are the hydrocolloids typically used. In this work, the effect of gum addition such as xanthan, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and carrageenan was evaluated (in the concentrations of 0,15, 0,25, 0,35 and 0.45% - w/v) in paste, thermal, swelling power (SP), rheological and microscopy properties of cassava starch, as well as the effect of mixtures of cassava starch and the referred gums in rheological properties of fermented dairy beverages. The results suggest that carrageenan gum (CAR) practically does not modify the starch properties since there is no interaction between this gum and cassava starch. Xanthan gum (GX) seems to involve the starch granules completely, possibly through the formation of hydrogen bonds, which increases paste viscosities, swelling power, increased the modulus G' and G” and decreased retrogradation behavior. Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), in turn, drastically increases viscosities and the starch swelling power due to its great capacity of water retention and not to the interaction with the cassava starch. In fermented dairy beverages, the gum - starch mixtures practically didn´t modify its rheological behavior, except for beverages with mixtures xanthan gum - starch, where an initial reduction in the shear stress as deformation rate was increased, followed by a gradual increase, suggesting a possible incompatibility between cassava starch, xanthan gum and milk proteins. Keywords: Cassava starch... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Os resíduos gerados nos processos agroindustriais representam perdas econômicas no processo produtivo e, se não receberem destinação adequada, poderão ocasionar problemas ambientais, colocando em evidência a necessidade da instalação de sistemas de produção sustentáveis. Se por um lado, os efluentes da indústria cervejeira apresentam alto potencial de poluição pela sua carga orgânica, alto teor de sólidos em suspensão e presença de fósforo e nitrogênio, por outro, o bagaço de malte apresenta características favoráveis para uso em processos fermentativos, devido à elevada concentração de açúcares presentes e baixa concentração de compostos tóxicos aos microrganismos, tais como, furfural, hidroximetilfurfural, ácido acético e fenólicos. A utilização do bagaço de malte para produção de goma xantana poderia permitir ao Brasil suprir sua própria demanda de goma xantana com maior competitividade no preço final, com a vantagem do resíduo de malte não apresentar problemas de sazonalidade na produção, uma vez que, é gerado em grande volume o ano todo, e a instalação de uma unidade de produção de goma xantana irá promover trabalho e renda para a região, sem a utilização de novas matérias primas. Este estudo teve como objetivo desenvolver uma rota tecnológica de produção do polissacarídeo tipo goma xantana em escala laboratorial por fermentação do bagaço de malte oriundo da indústria cervejeira, agregando valor a um resíduo e desta forma colaborando para o desenvolvimento sustentável. Através do planejamento multifatorial foi verificado o efeito simultâneo de seis variáveis independentes (concentração de resíduo de malte, extrato de levedura, sacarose, fosfato de amônio, fosfato (mono)ácido de potássio e agitação) em agitador orbital utilizando a cepa Xanthomonas campestris sp campestris IBSBF 1866 obtendo como variável resposta a máxima produção da goma. A segunda matriz, complementar a primeira, avaliou o efeito da concentração de resíduo de malte e da agitação obtendo como variável resposta a máxima produção (8,51 g.L-1) da goma associada à alta viscosidade (70,35 mPa.s-1). A concentração inicial de resíduo de malte e tempo de fermentação na qualidade da goma produzida interferiram na viscosidade do polímero apresentando o melhor resultado com 20g.L-1 e 24 horas, respectivamente, mas não promoveram alteração significativa na estabilidade térmica do polímero.

Orientador: João Sinezio de Carvalho Campos / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-04T01:48:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Liba_AdemirDonizeti_M.pdf: 4797015 bytes, checksum: 1351ff08893b1a29731246cf2e4cd3c8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004 / Resumo: A resina de poliéster insaturada (RPI) é um polímero termofixo de baixo peso molecular obtido por condensação, o processo inicia-se através da esterificação entre diálcoois e diácidos saturados e insaturados, com o aumento do peso molecular do polímero, a retirada da água, que é gerada como subproduto da reação, torna-se difícil e lança-se mão do uso do vácuo ou de um maior fluxo de gás inerte para finalização da reação. Quanto à produção em escala industrial, apesar de conhecerem-se métodos de produção contínua, esta na maioria das indústrias é conduzida em bateladas com tempo de duração em média de 20 horas, podendo variar de acordo com a escolha das matérias primas utilizadas. Para a obtenção do polímero dentro dos parâmetros especificados, se faz necessário o controle dos radicais carboxilas, medidos através do índice de acidez (IA) e do peso molecular médio numérico (Mn), sendo este último parâmetro obtido de maneira indireta através da viscosidade(n). Para a viscosidade pode-se utilizar a escala Gardner, ou o viscosímetro cone e placa. A marcha de execução destas técnicas envolve várias etapas, desde a retirada da amostra até a obtenção do resultado da medida, sendo que para a amostragem, dependendo do equipamento disponível, esta pode implicar na interrupção do processo produtivo. Neste trabalho apresenta-se uma alternativa para o controle da reação, através do infravermelho próximo (NIR), em substituição às técnicas convencionais, com a vantagem do acompanhamento e do controle ser passível de execução em tempo real e sem a necessidade da retirada de amostras. Utilizou-se como base para o trabalho, a utilização anterior do NIR em processos envolvendo outros polímeros, tais como o policloreto de vinila (PVC), o policarbonato, o poliuretano e outros. Para verificar-se a viabilidade da utilização do NIR em substituição as técnicas convencionais, os valores obtidos para o IA e a viscosidade através destas técnicas foram comparados estatisticamente aos valores obtidos pelo NIR, obtendo-se forte correlação, com confiabilidade estatística de 95%. Com os resultados obtidos concluiu-se que o NIR pode ser utilizado com vantagens para o controle do processo de obtenção da resina de poliéster insaturada / Abstract: The unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) is a thermosetting polymer of low molecular weight obtained by condensation, the process begins through a esterification, between glycols and a mix of saturated and unsaturated acids, when the molecular weight of the polymer increase, the retreat of the water, generated as by-product of the reaction, if it turns more difficult and are necessary to use a vacuum or a larger flow of inert gas for finalization of the reaction. The production in industrial scale, in spite of they know each other methods of continuous production, are made in a batch with 20 hours long, could vary in agreement with the choice of the raw materials. For the obtaining of the polymer in the specified parameters, are necessary the control of the acid number (AN) and of the molecular weight (Mn), being this last obtained parameter in an indirect way through the viscosity. For measures those properties, are used as tools for the measure of the acidity number by titrimetric methods, and for the viscosity are use the Gardner scale, or the cone and plate viscometer. These techniques involves several stages, from the take of the sample to the obtaining of the result of the measure, and for obtain the sampling, depending on the available equipment, this can implicate in the interruption of the productive process. In this work we propose an alternative for the control of the reaction, by near infrared spectrometer (NIR), in substitution to the conventional techniques, with the advantage of the attendance and of the control to be susceptible to execution in real time and without the need of take samples. It was used as base for the work, the previous work of NIR in processes involving other polymeric materials, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate, the polyurethane and others. To verify the viability of the use of NIR in substitution of the conventional techniques, the values obtained for acid number and viscosity through these techniques were compared to the values obtained by NIR, being obtained strong correlation, with statistical reliability of 95%. With the obtained results it was ended that NIR can be used with advantages for the process control of unsaturated polyester resin / Mestrado / Ciencia e Tecnologia de Materiais / Mestre em Engenharia Química

Depuis plusieurs années, la sénescence cellulaire a été majoritairement étudiée comme un processus causé par le vieillissement des cellules et un mécanisme pour limiter la propagation des cellules précancéreuses. Cette perspective a changé suite aux publications des groupes Serrano et Keyes, qui ont démontré la présence des cellules sénescentes très tôt durant le développement embryonnaire de la souris. Dernièrement, le laboratoire de Dr Roy a identifié le pronéphros, un organe transitoire qui est remplacé par le mésonéphros (homologue du rein chez les humains) à la maturité, les fascicules du nerf olfactif ainsi que les gencives comme des zones riches en cellules sénescentes durant le développement de l’axolotl. Ces évidences suggèrent que la sénescence est une réponse biologique survenant non seulement lors du vieillissement, mais est également une réponse physiologique pouvant être activée par différents signaux présents dans son environnement. À ce jour, bien que plusieurs chercheurs ciblent l’identification des points de contrôle de la sénescence cellulaire, on connaît peu de chose sur le rôle des cellules sénescentes durant le développement embryonnaire et la manière dont celui-ci pourrait influencer la croissance et la morphogenèse des organismes. Dans la présente étude, on cherche à identifier les gènes qui sont importants dans la sénescence développementale. Les résultats de séquençage d’ARN dans le pronéphros de l’axolotl ont démontré un enrichissement significatif du gène PEBP1, qui code pour une protéine surtout connue pour son rôle inhibiteur sur la kinase Raf. De plus, nos résultats semblent démontrer une diminution de l’activité bêta galactosidase dans le pronéphros de l’axolotl en développement lorsque celui-ci est traité à la Locostatin, un inhibiteur pharmacologique qui bloque l’interaction de PEBP1 avec RAF. Nous suggérons que PEBP1 pourrait être important pour soit l’activation ou le maintien du caractère sénescent dans les organes en développement de l’axolotl. Un phénomène qui semble être important pour conserver la fonctionnalité de l’organe en transition. / For several years, cellular senescence has been mainly studied as a process caused by the aging of cells and a mechanism to limit the propagation of precancerous cells. This perspective changed following the publications of Serrano and Keyes, who demonstrated the presence of senescent cells very early in the embryonic development of mice. Recently, the laboratory of Dr. Roy identified the pronephros, a transient organ which is replaced by the mesonephros (kidney counterpart in humans) at maturity, the olfactory nerve fascicles as well as the gums as areas rich in senescent cells during the development of axolotl. The evidence suggests that senescence is not only related to the aging process, but rather a physiological response which is activated by various signals present in its environment. To date, although several researchers are targeting the identification of control points for the activation of senescence, little is known about the role of senescent cells during embryonic development and how it could influence growth and morphogenesis. In the present study, we seek to identify the genes that are important in developmental senescence. The results of RNA sequencing in the axolotl pronephros have, among other things, demonstrated a significant enrichment of the PEBP1 gene which codes for a protein that acts as an inhibitor of the Raf kinase. Our findings support the idea that cellular senescence that occurs during the embryonic development of the axolotl is dependent on PEBP1 since the pharmacological inhibitor of PEBP1 (Locostatin), which blocks the interaction of PEBP1 with RAF, seems to affect the activity of senescent beta galactosidase. We suggest that PEBP1 is necessary for either the activation or the maintenance of senescence in the pronephros during embryogenesis. We further suggest that embryonic senescent is crucial for the morphogenesis of the developing organ perhaps by keeping the organ functional during the transition.

This policy brief deals with the research findings of the collaborative research project “CHAnces IN Sustainability – promoting natural resource based product chains in East Africa” (CHAINS) funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and the DLR Project Management Agency. It presents the studies investigating the value chains of highland BAMBOO and NATURAL GUM AND RESIN products in Ethiopia as well as GUM ARABIC value chains in Sudan. These products possess high eco¬nomic, social and environ¬mental benefits and untapped potentials. However, their pro-duction and commercialization are con¬strained seriously by various challenges limiting the realization of their potentials. Identified policy options are: • strengthen institutional capacity; • improve infrastructure and support services; • organize necessary information for sustainable utilization planning; • facilitate actors’ communication, innovation and fair partnership. This calls for forest product value chain development that is supported by policy, training, research, technology development and transfer, market linkage that consider private sectors, state, civic organizations, universities and research institutes.