A detailed study was made in this doctoral thesis on the development and differentiation of the vertebrate pituitary gland, with the aim to establish a fate map in Rathke's pouch of the origin of different hormone producing cells present in the adult pituitary gland, that explain if the differences observed in the distribution pattern of different hormone producing cells in the adult is the consecuence of differences in their development. For this reason, the study was made in two vertebrate groups, Mammals and Avian, that present notable differences in their hormone producing cell distribution patterns. The results allowed us to conclude that the origin of different hormone producing cells in Rathke’s pouch determine their definitive distribution in the adult gland. At the same time, the relationship between proliferation and differentiation was studied, showing us that after differentiation, hormone producing cells continue proliferating with a low rate, contributing to the establishment of differentiated populations. Using immunochemicals and in situ hidridization techniques, the expression of different molecules such as hypothalamic releasing factors; different peptides, whose role as modulators in different pituitary axis have been proposed in the adult animal; different calcium binding proteins and transcription factors in relation to the differentiation of different hormone producing cells, was also studied in this work, allowing us to establish different relationships between some of these factors and specific aspects of the development and differentiatin of the pituitary gland.

En la presente tesis doctoral se ha estudiado el mecanismo de la reacción de acilación de sustratos aromáticos utilizando como catalizadores zeolitas con diferente topología. La combinación de la RMN de sólidos in situ con cálculos teóricos ha permitido identificar posibles intermedios formados por reacción de los agentes acilantes (cloruro de acetilo, ácido acético y anhídrido acético) con los centros ácidos Brønsted de la zeolita. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que las zeolitas de poro pequeño son menos activas en la reacción de acilación de anisol, probablemente debido a restricciones en la difusión de los reactivos. Se ha observado además que el producto de reacción, p-metoxiacetofenona, permanece fuertemente adsorbido en los centros Brønsted, lo que podría originar la desactivación del catalizador. Esta misma metodología se ha aplicado para el estudio de la reacción de transposición de Beckmann en zeolitas y materiales mesoporosos con centros activos de distinta naturaleza, centros ácidos Brønsted con diferente fortaleza ácida, y grupos silanoles. El uso de dos oximas de diferente tamaño molecular (ciclohexanona y ciclododecanona oximas) ha permitido establecer que la reacción de transposición de ciclohexanona oxima en -caprolactama tiene lugar en el interior de los poros de las zeolitas del tipo MFI, y no en la superficie externa del cristal. Del mismo modo, se ha determinado la actividad catalítica y selectividad hacia la lactama de los diferentes tipos de centros estudiados. Por otra parte, en esta tesis se ha investigado la reacción de transposición de Beckmann en líquidos iónicos (LIs): 1-butil-3-metilimidazolio hexafluorofosfato, 1-Butil-3-metilimidazolio tetrafluoroborato, 1-Butil-2,3-dimetilimidazolio hexafluorofosfato, bromuro de 1-butil-3-metilimidazolio tetrafluoroborato y 4-metil-1-butilpiridinio hexafluorofosfato. El estudio se ha abordado utilizado diferentes técnicas analíticas y espectroscópicas, incluyendo la / Lezcano González, I. (2011). Aplicación de la resonancia magnética nuclear (RMN) al estudio de procesos catalíticos sostenibles: transposición de Beckmann y acilación de sustratos aromáticos [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/18258

The effects of lithology, fracturing, and gouge zone mineralization on the geophysical properties of fault zones are not very well understood. In situ seismic data collected over the exhumed San Gregorio Fault at Moss Beach, CA were used to relate in situ compressional wave velocity to internal fault zone properties. This active strike-slip fault is exposed in cross section on an uplifting and actively eroding wave-cut platform. It cuts shallow marine sediments that have been buried to depths of a few kilometers. The unweathered exposure containing seawater makes it a unique analog of subsurface faults. Previous structural analysis over this exposure observed damage caused by faulting over a ~100 m wide zone in cross-section. The fault zone is centered at a 10-17 m wide clay-rich fault core flanked by a ~30 m wide brecciated gouge zone. These gouge zones are bordered on either side by 30-40 m wide fractured zones. Resolving to a scale of a few meters, the seismic survey produced a continuous P-wave velocity profile analogous to a horizontal well log across the fault. Lateral variations in the velocity profile correlate exactly to previously mapped fault zone structure. The clay core and adjacent brecciated gouge create a ~50 m wide very low velocity zone, 25-50% slower than the surrounding host rock. Fractured bedrock on either side of the core causes a wider zone of 5-10% slow velocity, for a total fault signature ~100 m wide. Fault parallel fracture anisotropy was observed in the fractured zones, but surprizingly anisotropy was not observed in the strongly foliated gouge zones. The field measurements differ significantly from laboratory measurements at zero pressure and in some cases from expected values for saturated rock of this porosity, perhaps due to biased rock sampling, the long wavelength effects of macrofractures, frequency dispersion, and partial saturation. The velocity profile is similar in width and consistent in velocity contrast to low S-wave velocity zones derived from fault zone guided waves in other strike-slip faults. The traveltime delay across the fault zone is not large enough to cause the 2-3 km wide crustal low velocity zones modeled by refraction studies. Synthetic reflection seismograms in the typical frequency range show that the fault zone acts as a thick bed or as a constructively interfering thin bed. The models suggest that very large reflection coefficients observed across accretionary prism faults can be explained by fracturing, brecciation and clay content without elevated pore pressures. Comparison with a refraction study across the Punchbowl Fault shows a similar structural zonation of these two well-studied examples of brittle fault zones. This suggests that high-resolution seismic velocity models can be used to directly interpret internal deformation structure of brittle faults. / Master of Science

Reaction synthesis is a processing technique where the thermal activation energy needed to form a compound is provided by the exothermic heat of formation of the thermodynamically stable product. This type of synthesis has been used to form a variety of ceramics, intermetallics, and in-situ composites. In this work, the effects of changing the stoichiometry of the titanium aluminide matrix, and the effects of extrinsic reaction variables on the behavior of the reaction were studied and compared to theoretical predictions. It was shown that changing the stoichiometry of the titanium aluminide did have an effect on the measured heat of reaction; however this did not match the prediction. Changing the extrinsic variables of titanium and aluminum particle sizes also showed a significant effect on the behavior of the reaction. / Master of Science

Yes / Liquid crystal is a new emerging biomaterial. The physical property of liquid crystal plays a role in supporting the adhesion of cells. Nano and microball indentation techniques were applied to determine the elastic modulus or viscoelasticity of the cholesteryl ester liquid crystals in the culture media. Nano-indentation results (108 ± 19.78 kPa, N = 20) agreed well with the microball indentation (110 ± 19.95 kPa, N = 60) for the liquid crystal samples incubated for 24 hours at 37o C, respectively. However, nanoindentation could not measure the modulus of the liquid crystal (LC) incubated more than 24 hours. This is due to the decreased viscosity of the liquid crystal after immersion in the cell culture media for more than 24 hours. Alternatively, microball indentation was used and the elastic modulus of the LC immersed for 48 hours was found to decrease to 55 ± 9.99 kPa (N = 60). The microball indentation indicated that the LC did not creep after 40 seconds of indentation. However, the elastic modulus of the LC was no longer measurable after 72 hours of incubation due to the lost of elasticity. Microball indentation seemed to be a reliable technique in determining the elastic moduli of the cholesteryl ester liquid crystals. / Science Fund Vot. No. S024 or Project No. 02- 01-13-SF0104 and FRGS Vot. No. 1482 awarded by Malaysia Ministry of Education

No / Spatial genome organization in the cell nucleus plays a crucial role in the control of genome functions. Our knowledge about spatial genome organization is relying on the advances in gene imaging technologies and the biochemical approaches based on the spatial dependent ligation of the genomic regions. Fluorescent in situ hybridization using specific fluorescent DNA and RNA probes in cells and tissues with the spatially preserved nuclear and genome architecture (3D-FISH) provides a powerful tool for the further advancement of our knowledge about genome structure and functions. Here we describe the 3D-FISH protocols allowing for such an analysis in mammalian tissue in situ including in the skin. These protocols include DNA probe amplification and labeling; tissue fixation; preservation and preparation for hybridization; hybridization of the DNA probes with genomic DNA in the tissue; and post-hybridization tissue sample processing.

No description available.

No description available.

Free-fall penetrometers (FFPs) are an attractive tool for the rapid characterization of sediments in the nearshore and coastal areas. To improve their measurement capabilities, modern FFPs can be equipped with pore pressure sensors. Pore pressure measurements are extensively used in traditional cone penetration testing, but their usage and interpretation is still limited for FFP testing. This thesis represents an effort to advance the interpretation of pore pressure measurements from FFP testing. Data was collected using the torpedo-shaped FFP BlueDrop during surveys at Herschel Island, YT, Yakutat, AK, Clay Bank, VA, and Yorktown, VA. Additionally, test deployments in the laboratory were performed in kaolin clay. Data analysis was focused on pore pressure measurements during these deployments. Two major advancements regarding current data analysis of FFP pore pressure measurements were explored: 1) a method based on fluid dynamic principles was proposed to correct the pressure recordings for the dynamic flow effects due to the high-velocity fall and impact. The results show that using Bernoulli’s theorem coupled with the concept of pressure coefficients results in good agreement between measured and hydrostatic pressures during the free-fall and initial penetration stage. 2) Pore pressure dissipation curves measured by the penetrometer at rest at maximum penetration depth were also studied. The mechanisms behind the non-standard dissipation curves were explored. The results suggest that non-standard dissipation curves can be interpreted by correcting according to Sully et al.’s (1999) extrapolation technique. The technique can also be used with data from an unsaturated or clogged filter. / Master of Science / An increasing use of nearshore and offshore areas for the development of infrastructure such as pipelines, cables, renewable energy harvesting devices, and measures against coastal erosion warrants the development of specialized methods for investigating the stability of the seabed. Portable free-fall penetrometers represent a cost-efficient approach to characterize shallow seabed sediments, but there are challenges associated with deriving geotechnical design parameters from these novel instruments. This study aims at developing a better understanding of the pore pressure (the pressure developed in the water in the soil’s voids) data obtained during free-fall penetration testing. The pore pressures developed during the penetration of the penetrometer is dependent on the soil type, and is often used to correlate to it. This study used data obtained from field surveys at Herschel Island, YT, Clay Bank, VA, Yakutat, AK, and Yorktown, VA. Additionally, controlled tests were performed in the laboratory in an instrumented seabed. This study resulted in a novel method to correct the pressure data from the penetrometer for dynamic fluid flow effects and validation of an interpretation technique for dissipation curves to obtain the time required for consolidation, based on initial results.

New types of laboratory reactors that are highly customizable, low-cost and easy to produce are needed to investigate low-temperature geochemical processes. We recently showed that desktop 3D printing stereolithography (SLA) can be used to efficiently fabricate a mixed flow reactor (MFR) with high dimensional accuracy comparable to traditional machining methods (Michel et al., 2018). We also showed that the SLA method allowed for the addition of complex features that are often beyond the capabilities of traditional methods. However, the stability of 3D printed parts at low-temperature geochemical conditions has not been fully evaluated. The objectives of this work were twofold: 1) to provide a framework for assessing the stability and compatibility of SLA printed materials at geochemically relevant conditions, and 2) to show how 3D printed specialty devices can enable new laboratory geochemical experiments. Part 1 of this Master's thesis presents findings for enhancing mechanical and solvent resistance properties of a commercial 3D printing material (Formlabs Clear) by UV post-curing procedures and also provide data showing its stability in aqueous solutions at pH 0, 5.7, and 12 for periods of up to 18 days. Thermal degradation patterns, mechanical analysis, and leachable fraction data are provided. Part 2 shows experiments coupling 3D printed reactors and flow devices for in situ small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). Schwertmannite (pH 2.7) and goethite (6.2) are precipitated from solution using various setups and observed differences in growth rates are discussed. The data show the potential of 3D printing for enabling novel laboratory geochemical experiments. / MS / New types of laboratory devices are needed to investigate environmental processes such as how minerals form, transform, and interact with their surroundings. These devices should be highly customizable, low-cost, and easy to produce. We have recently showed how 3D printing, specifically a technique called stereolithography (SLA), can be used to fabricate reactors with complex features that are often difficult to produce using traditional machining methods. However, in order to ensure that these materials don’t interfere with reactions of interest, we must assess the stability and compatibility of these materials in the relevant environmental conditions. As 3D printing techniques are still an emerging and rapidly developing technology, the methods we present will be useful for evaluating how new printer types and materials (i.e. resins) impact the suitability of 3D printed devices for future experimental studies. In part 1 of this thesis, the properties of a commercial 3D printing material were investigated by thermal and mechanical analyses; the propensity for leaching out material from the solid was also investigated. We show how exposing SLA printed materials to ultraviolet (UV) light post-printing can enhance material properties and minimize leaching. We then provide data showing the stability of the material after exposure to an array of acidic, neutral and basic conditions for a period of up to 18 days. In part 2, we describe experiments showing how novel 3D printed devices can be used to enhance laboratory investigations. Syntheses of two common iron oxide minerals using various custom reactor setups are presented. The setups were coupled with an analytical technique allowing for nanoscale observation of crystal growth in real-time. The data show how 3D printed specialty devices can be used to solve important questions in the geosciences such as the mechanisms of complex crystal formation.