Orientador: Sandra C. B. Costa / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-22T14:09:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Nogueira_Eliana_M.pdf: 1773398 bytes, checksum: b10e465048807c44b7421ddd7e7eb4bb (MD5) Previous issue date: 1997 / Resumo: Os citomegalovírus (CMV) são uns dos principais agentes infecciosos que acometem pacientes imunocomprometidos. Antes do início da realização da triagem sorológica para lllV -1 e subseqüente tratamento para inativar viroses, por meio de aquecimento, indivíduos com deficiência nos fatores VIII ou IX apresentavam um alto risco de contrair infecção por estes vírus, mediante transfusão de produtos sangüíneos contaminados. Além deste problema em relação às infecções, as transfusões também estão associadas com alterações no sistema imunológico...Observação: O resumo, na integra, podera ser visualizado no texto completo da tese digital / Abstract: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is of major concem in immunocompromised and immunosuppressed patients. Prior to the introduction of mv -1 antibody screening and subsequent heat-treatment to inactivate viruses, individuals with Factor VIll or Factor IX deficiency had a high risk of contracting mv -1 infection through infusion of contaminated blood products. In addition to such infections, blood transfusions are also frequently associated with alterations in immune function...Note: The complete abstract is available with the full electronic digital thesis or dissertations / Mestrado / Farmacologia / Mestre em Ciências

Vortrag UNIX-Stammtisch 10/96

Spacecraft are vulnerable to hypervelocity impacts (HVIs) from micrometeoroid/orbital debris (MMOD) while in space and must mitigate these using shielding. In this research aluminum honeycomb core sandwich panels filled with a shear thickening fluid (STF) were developed as a novel MMOD shielding concept. STFs display a marked rise in viscosity with increasing shear rate above a critical shear rate. The results of HVI experiments with impact velocities of ~4.8 km/s or ~6.8 km/s at 80oC or 21oC showed that incorporating a STF into shielding, as opposed to the STF’s liquid phase alone, can reduce damage to the core and the likelihood of back-side facesheet perforation in the event of HVI. STFs can be subjected to a significant temperature variation in many applications such as the HVI experiments in this research or when deployed on the surface of a spacecraft. The effect of temperature on the shear-thickening behavior was investigated using four low molecular weight polymeric glycols/fumed-silica suspensions. The dispersed phase volumeraction, its surface chemistry, and the chemical compositions of the suspending media were varied in a series of steady shear rheological characterizations over a range of temperatures. It was thought that hydroclustering mechanism initiated the onset of shear thickening, and this onset was shown to be more closely correlated to a critical shear rate rather than a critical shear stress. Evidence of the hydroclustering mechanism was sought using small angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments. SANS steady state rheological characterization experiments were carried out on five low molecular weight polymeric glycols/fumed-silica STFs at the NIST Center for Neutron Research. The SANS experiments were conducted at shear rates below the critical shear rates, at the critical shear rates, and during shear thickening. In all the SANS experiments, the results showed an increase in scattering intensity with increasing shear rates indicating an evolution of the suspension microstructure consistent with the formation of hydroclusters.

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No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Demetrius José da Silva.pdf: 1875869 bytes, checksum: 1061e2217a110ec6fb9511ee004c9cde (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-24 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The analyzes of the physical properties of cotton fibers are made in HVI, which is characterized by the high cost of acquisition and maintenance, performs invasive analysis and can’t be used to evaluate chemical characteristics of the samples. The classical methods for analysis of cotton fibers are destructive, time consuming, laborious and require large amounts of reagents. The VIS and NIR spectroscopy appears as a good alternative for the analysis of white and naturally colored cotton fiber because this method maintains the integrity of the sample, can perform multiple measurements simultaneously and has a relatively low cost of acquisition if compared to HVI. This work aims to obtain calibration models for the prediction of physical properties of naturally colored cotton fiber using spectroscopy in the visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) spectra, combined with multivariate analysis. A set of 72 independent fiber samples of six cotton cultivars were used, 24 of them of two with white fiber cultivars (BRS Aroeira and BRS 8H) and four with naturally colored fiber (BRS Topázio, BRS Verde, BRS Safira, and BRS Rubi) were analyzed. The samples were analyzed for fiber yield (FIB), upper half mean length (UHM), uniformity index (UNF), short fiber index (SFI), strength (STR), elongation (ELG), micronaire (MIC), maturity (MAT), count strength product (CSP) and wax content (WAX). A Tukey’s test and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed in the reference results. The reflectance spectra were preprocessed (Savitzky-Golay, MSC and SNV) before a partial least squares regression (PLS) calibration method and then obtained within a spectral range of 400-2500 nm. The Tukey’s test and PCA results were statiscally significative for SFI, ELG and WAX (this last one is more specifically for BRS Verde) parameters to all analyzed cultivars but BRS Topázio. The STR, UHM and CSP measurements stand out for the white fiber cultivars and have a negative relationship as compared to the MIC, MAT and FIB variables. In the set of evaluatedsamples, the SFI, ELG and WAX measurements tend to provide an inverse correlation with theother variables analyzed. The results of these measurements using HVI system, for white andnaturally colored fiber, are dependent of the composition and the wax content of the the fiber.The PLS calibration models with pre-processed spectra used for analysis of the principal properties which express cotton fiber quality were consistent with results obtained in the HVI system. The application of VIS-NIR spectroscopy and PLS calibration are strategies that providesatisfactory results for the analysis of cotton fiber with speed, accuracy and reliability. / As análises das propriedades físicas das fibras de algodão são feitas em sistema HVI, que se caracteriza pelo alto custo de aquisição e manutenção, realiza análises invasivas e não pode ser usado para avaliação de características químicas das amostras. Já os métodos clássicos para análise de fibras de algodão são destrutivos, demorados, laboriosos e exigem grandes quantidades de reagentes. A espectroscopia VIS-NIR surge como uma boa alternativa para a análise de fibras de algodão branco e naturalmente colorido, pois se trata de um método que mantem a integridade da amostra, permite várias determinações simultaneamente e tem um custo de aquisição relativamente baixo se comparado ao HVI. Pelo exposto, objetivou-se obter modelos de calibração para a predição de atributos da fibra de algodão naturalmente colorido utilizando espectroscopia na região do visível (VIS) e infravermelho próximo (NIR), aliadas a técnicas de análise multivariada. Um conjunto de 72 amostras independentes de seis cultivares de algodão foi utilizado, sendo 24 delas de duas cultivares de fibra branca (BRS 8H e BRS Aroeira) e 48 amostras de quatro cultivares de fibra naturalmente colorida (BRS Topázio, BRS Verde, BRS Safira e BRS Rubi). As amostras foram analisadas para as propriedades de rendimento de fibra (FIB), comprimento médio (UHM), uniformidade (UNF), índice de fibras curtas (SFI), resistência (STR), alongamento à ruptura (ELG), micronaire (MIC), maturidade (MAT), índice de fiabilidade (CSP) e teor de cera (WAX). Os resultados de referência foram submetidos ao Teste de Tukey e análise de componentes principais (PCA). Os espectros de reflectância foram obtidos na faixa espectral de 400 a 2500 nm, os quais foram pré-processados (Savitzky-Golay, MSC e SNV) antes da calibração pelo método de regressão por Mínimos Quadrados Parciais (PLS). Constatou-se significância entre as variáveis SFI, ELG e WAX, as duas primeiras para as cultivares de fibra naturalmente coloridas, com exceção da BRS Topázio, e a última para a cultivar BRS Verde. As medidas de STR, UHM e CSP destacam-se para as cultivares de fibra branca e possuem relação negativa entre as variáveis MIC, MAT e FIB. No conjunto de amostras avaliadas, as medidas de SFI, ELG e WAX tendem a fornecer correlação inversa com as demais varáveis analisadas. Os resultados dessas medidas em sistema HVI, tanto em fibra branca e naturalmente colorida, são dependentes da composição da fibra para os teores de cera. Os modelos de calibração por PLS, em espectros pré-processados, para as principais propriedades que expressam a qualidade de fibras de algodão foram compatíveis com os resultados obtidos em sistema HVI. A aplicação da espectroscopia VIS-NIR e calibração por PLS são estratégias que fornecem resultados satisfatórios para análise de fibra de algodão com rapidez, precisão e confiabilidade.

The temporal system of fruiting on the cotton plant lends itself to bolls at different fruiting sites developing under different environmental conditions and with varied source-sink relationships. To investigate this, intra-plant fiber quality was assessed in four upland cultivars at College Station, Texas for three years and at Lubbock, Texas for two years. It was concluded that fiber quality steadily declines from the bottom sympodial branches towards the upper branches. 'FiberMax 832' had the best fiber quality among all cultivars but it also had the highest degree of variability within the plants. 'Half and Half' and 'Acala 1517-99' appear to have the least amount of intra-plant variability of fiber quality. Bolls from the bottom region of the plant have higher trash content compared to the upper region. To test the impact of fiber quality variability on boll sampling techniques employed, ten sampling protocols were compared against each other for three years in College Station, Texas, for two upland cultivars. Results suggest that randomized boll samples containing 50 bolls worked well to estimate inherent fiber quality for most fiber traits while estimation of trash and lint percent was not predictable based on boll samples. One of the problems associated with intra-plant fiber variability was the presence of immature fibers. In order to determine the potential for improvement of fiber maturity and standard fineness, five upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes were subjected to a diallel analysis at College Station, Texas, in 2011. Four cultivars that tend to produce fine and mature fibers and one cultivar that tends to produce coarse fibers were intermated in all combinations, without reciprocals. Estimates of general (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) for fiber maturity ratio and standard fineness based on Griffing's diallel Model I, Method 4 were calculated for AFIS and fiber micronaire, length and strength measurements for High Volume Instrument (HVI). Four parents had significant GCA effects and Acala 1517-99 was found to be the best parent for improving standard fineness followed by FiberMax 832 and 'Tamcot HQ-95'. Tamcot HQ-95 was the best parent to improve fiber maturity ratio while 'Deltapine 90' was the best parent to reduce fiber maturity ratio. The specific cross between Acala 1517-99 and Tamcot HQ-95 had the best performance. Diallel analysis indicated that fiber maturity ratio was influenced by non-additive gene effects more than additive gene effects while fiber standard fineness was highly influenced by additive gene effects. Developing cultivars with optimal fiber standard fineness and maturity should be prioritized to address problems associated with neps and short fiber content and improve spinning performance of US cotton.

Vortrag UNIX-Stammtisch 10/96

<p>DNA samples from crime scenes or mass disasters are often limited and degraded which limits the possibility of successful traditional STR analysis. Moreover, there is a need to decrease the turnaround time in criminal investigations. These circumstances require a wider set of assays and technologies to be investigated for potential use in forensic DNA analysis, which has been explored in this thesis work. DNA analysis can also provide a useful tool in forensic pathology investigations. </p><p>In a search for mutations involved in The Sudden Infant death Syndrome (SIDS), the entire mitochondrial genome was sequenced in six SIDS infants and shorter mtDNA regions were analysed in paraffin-embedded tissues from an additional 14 SIDS cases. In this sample material no mutations associated with SIDS were found that could explain the death of these infants. </p><p>To reduce time, cost and effort related to sequencing of the mtDNA HVI/HVII regions in caseworks, a HVI/HVII mtDNA linear array assay was used as a pre-screening for exclusions of suspects or evidence samples. Using this assay, 56% of the samples involved in casework analysis could be excluded before sequencing was undertaken.</p><p>The possibility to use the new array technology was explored in a SNP assay targeting both mtDNA and nuclear SNPs. The system relies on minisequencing in solution prior to hybridisation to tag arrays. Using this system, we demonstrate a rapid, highly multiplexable and flexible array-format for SNP analysis.</p><p>The properties of the Pyrosequencing technology being a fast and user-friendly assay was utilised in a study to investigate the possibility to use this method for limited and degraded samples. Ten STR loci, overlapping with standardised kits, were genotyped in 114 Swedish individuals. We found additional variation and higher resolution of repeats at some of these loci that are not detected using standard fragment analysis.</p>

DNA samples from crime scenes or mass disasters are often limited and degraded which limits the possibility of successful traditional STR analysis. Moreover, there is a need to decrease the turnaround time in criminal investigations. These circumstances require a wider set of assays and technologies to be investigated for potential use in forensic DNA analysis, which has been explored in this thesis work. DNA analysis can also provide a useful tool in forensic pathology investigations. In a search for mutations involved in The Sudden Infant death Syndrome (SIDS), the entire mitochondrial genome was sequenced in six SIDS infants and shorter mtDNA regions were analysed in paraffin-embedded tissues from an additional 14 SIDS cases. In this sample material no mutations associated with SIDS were found that could explain the death of these infants. To reduce time, cost and effort related to sequencing of the mtDNA HVI/HVII regions in caseworks, a HVI/HVII mtDNA linear array assay was used as a pre-screening for exclusions of suspects or evidence samples. Using this assay, 56% of the samples involved in casework analysis could be excluded before sequencing was undertaken. The possibility to use the new array technology was explored in a SNP assay targeting both mtDNA and nuclear SNPs. The system relies on minisequencing in solution prior to hybridisation to tag arrays. Using this system, we demonstrate a rapid, highly multiplexable and flexible array-format for SNP analysis. The properties of the Pyrosequencing technology being a fast and user-friendly assay was utilised in a study to investigate the possibility to use this method for limited and degraded samples. Ten STR loci, overlapping with standardised kits, were genotyped in 114 Swedish individuals. We found additional variation and higher resolution of repeats at some of these loci that are not detected using standard fragment analysis.

The mitochondrion is a tiny organelle that is the power supplier of the cell and vital to the functioning of the body organs. Additionally it contains a small circular genome of about 16 kb, present in many copies which makes the mitochondrial DNA more viable than nuclear DNA. Mitochondrial DNA is also maternally inherited and thus provides a direct link to maternal relatives. These two properties are of particular use for forensic samples, which only contain limited or degraded amounts of DNA, and for historical samples (ancient DNA). This thesis presents work on the mitochondrial DNA in the hypervariable regions (HV) I and II, in both contemporary and historical samples. Forensic genetics makes use of mitochondrial DNA analysis in court as circumstantial evidence, and population databases are used for the calculation of evidence value. Population samples (299) across Sweden have been analysed in order to enrich the EDNAP mtDNA database (EMPOP) (paper I). The application of mitochondrial DNA analysis allowed for analysis of historical skeletal remains: Copernicus, 1473-1543 (paper II), Karin Göring, 1888-1931 (paper III) and Medieval bones, 880-1000 AD, from a mass grave found in Sigtuna, Sweden (paper IV). The thesis also includes analyses of bones and teeth from the shipwrecked crew of the Vasa warship, 1628, samples from the Vasa museum, Stockholm, Sweden (paper V). Overall, the varying age of the samples and the different conservation environments (soil and water) accounted for variations in quality, but still allowed for successful DNA analysis.

Introdução: A resistência a infecção pelo HIV-1 depende de fatores virais, genéticos e imunológicos do hospedeiro, incluindo os componentes da resposta imune inata e adaptativa. As células Natural Killer (NK) e as células T CD8+ são as principais células efetoras que medeiam atividade citotóxica contra células transformadas ou infectadas, que exercem importante papel protetor nos indivíduos expostos e não infectados por HIV-1 (ENI). Objetivo: Avaliar a expressão de receptores de ativação e inibição/exaustão nas células NK e T CD8+, e a capacidade das células NK em secretar citocinas e componentes citotóxicos após estimulação via receptores Toll-like (TLRs), e a resposta de células T CD8+ a peptídeos da Gag do HIV-1 em indivíduos ENI e seus parceiros infectados por HIV-1. Resultados: No grupo ENI foi observado aumento da frequência de células NK CD56bright que expressam moléculas de ativação NKG2D e CD95 na população CD56dim, enquanto no grupo HIV-1 foi mais prevalente a expressão de MIC A/B em ambas populações de células NK, com redução da expressão de NKG2D na população CD56dim. Além disto, foi observado expansão da população de células NK CD56dim que expressam CD94, NKG2C e principalmente de CD57 foi mais prevalente nos indivíduos ENI, com correlação positiva com títulos de anticorpos IgG anti-citomegalovírus humano. Nos indivíduos ENI foi observado que a ativação via TLR-3, TLR-7 ou TLR-7/8 foi capaz de potencializar a expressão de marcadores de desgranulação e de citotoxicidade, CD107a e granzima B, principalmente na população CD56dim, e de IFN-y e TNF nas populações CD56bright e CD56dim. Além disto, somente o grupo ENI, foi detectado aumento da freqüência de células NK secretoras de CD107a, granzima B, IFN-y e TNF, após estimulação com acetato de miristato de forbol e ionomicina. A frequência de expressão de alelos de KIR (killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors) foi similar entre os grupos analisados. Elevada frequência de células T CD8+ CD38+ e CD8+PD-1+ (programmed cell death protein 1) foi detectado nos grupos ENI e HIV-1, cuja alteração foi observada em todas as fases de maturação celular. Os indivíduos ENI mostraram presença de resposta antígeno-específica de células T CD8+ secretoras de CD107a, granzima B, IFN-y e TNF, semelhante ao grupo HIV-1. Conclusão: Os resultados mostraram que no grupo ENI, as células NK expressam um perfil de ativação, com potente resposta aos estímulos de resposta inata e células NK com perfil de memória. Presença de células TCD8+ antígeno-específica foi evidenciada no grupo ENI, com perfil semelhante, mas de menor magnitude ao detectado no grupo infectado por HIV. Em conjunto, os achados mostraram que no grupo ENI a resposta inata está potencialmente ativa, e que em associação a resposta T CD8+ antígeno-específica podem contribuir para a resistência a infecção pelo HIV-1 / Introduction: Resistance to human immunodeficency virus 1 (HIV-1) is dependent on viral, genetic and immunological host factors, including components of innate and adaptive immune response. Natural Killers cells (NK) and CD8+ T cells are main effectors cells mediating cytotoxic role against transformed or infected cells, playing a crucial role in HIV-1 exposed uninfected individuals (EU). Aim: To evaluate the expression of activation and inhibitory/exhaustion receptors on NK cells and CD8+ T-cells, and to determine the NK cells ability to cytokines and cytotoxic molecules secretion upon Toll-like receptors (TLRs) pathway activation as well as CD8+ T-cells response to HIV Gag peptides in EU individuals and HIV-1 infected partner. Results: Increased frequency of NK CD56bright cells expressing NKG2D and CD95 on CD56dim cells have been observed in EU group, while HIV-1 group was more prevalent MIC A/B expression in both NK cells subsets, with reduced expression of NKG2D in CD56dim cells. Moreover, expansion of NK CD56dim cells expressing CD94, NKG2C, and CD57 was prevalent on ENI group, which positive correlation with anti-human cytomegalovirus IgG serum titers. EU individuals showed that TLR-3, TLR-7 or TLR-7/8 pathway activation was able to enhance CD107a and granzyme B expression in CD56dim cells, and IFN-y and TNF expressions levels in both CD56bright and CD56dim NK cells. Moreover, only in EU group, high frequency of NK cells expressing CD107a, granzyme B, IFN-y and TNF were detected upon phorbol myristate acetate and ionomicyn stimulation. Frequency of KIR alleles (killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors) was similar between groups. High frequency of CD8+CD38+ and CD8+PD-1+ (programmed cell death protein 1) T-cells were observed in EU and HIV-1 groups, in all stages of cellular differentiation. EU subjects showed presence of antigen-specific response by CD8+ T-cells secreting CD107a, granzyme B, IFN-y and TNF similar to HIV-1 group. Conclusion: The results showed that NK cells in EU subjects express activating profile, with potent ability to innate immune stimuli, as well as NK cells with memory profile. Presence of antigen-specific CD8+ T-cells was detected in EU group, with similar profile, but in less magnitude than HIV-1 group. Taken together, the findings showed an enhanced innate immune response in EU subjects, in association with antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell response can contribute to resistance to HIV-1 infection