This study produced cross-laminated timber panels at a range of four lamina thickness (5/8, 1, 1 1/8, and 1 1/4 inch) and three bonding pressures (50, 125, 200 psi), producing a total of 12 panels for mechanical testing. The goal of this study is to observe how the thickness and pressure trends affect the mechanical properties of CLT. Tests include flatwise bending, flatwise shear, internal-bond, and delamination. Results showed that bending MOE decreases as the panel thickness increases while bonding pressure had no significance. Bending MOR was less significant for the thickness and more significant for pressure compared to the MOE. Shear tests showed strong inverse relationship between MOR and thickness while increasing pressure strongly increased MOR. Internal-bond testing showed no clear relationship between thickness or pressure. Delamination decreased as a result of higher pressures while thickness had no significant affect.

L’atteinte de l’âge sur les populations lymphocytaires T conventionnelles CD4 et CD8 avec l’avancée en âge est relativement bien décrite en périphérie lymphoïde secondaire chez la souris, et dans le sang périphérique chez l’homme. Deux paramètres sont observés : réduction du nombre de ces cellules et altération du ratio naïve/mémoire. À l’inverse, l’évaluation des tissus lymphoïdes tertiaires et des tissus extra lymphoïdes dans les réponses immunes, reste à affiner. Notre étude au cours du vieillissement physiologique du compartiment T fut menée dans des tissus lymphoïdes et non lymphoïdes de souris C57BL/6 wild-type, âgées entre 2 et 6 mois, entre 10 et 14 mois et entre 22 et 26 mois. Nous avons démontré que la lymphopénie T classiquement décrite liée au vieillissement dans les organes lymphoïdes secondaires ne s’applique pas à tout l’organisme : les compartiments intestinaux étudiés présentent une accumulation de cellules TCRαβ+ CD4+ (TCD4) et CD8+ (TCD8). Nos résultats dévoilent un impact différentiel du vieillissement sur le nombre absolu des différents compartiments cellulaires TCRαβ+ dans les organes lymphoïdes et la muqueuse intestinale. Ces résultats suggèrent donc que la lymphopénie T décrite dans les organes lymphoïdes s’établissant au cours du vieillissement pourrait être essentiellement liée à une redistribution des lymphocytes. A l’inverse, la persistance des cellules T régulatrices dans les organes lymphoïdes secondaires pourrait être liée à une production locale dans la muqueuse intestinale. Il semble donc que l’équilibre TCD8/TCD4 peut être différemment affecté selon le site considéré et cette observation peut fournir une justification pour la plus grande susceptibilité aux infections observée avec l’âge. / Consequences of ageing on conventional CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes populations is relatively well described in murine secondary lymphoid organs and in human peripheral blood: reduction the number of these cells and alteration of naïve/effector-memory ratio in favour of effector-memory cells. Conversely, evaluation in tertiary lymphoid tissues and non-lymphoid tissues remains to be refined. We conducted an exhaustive analysis of T cell compartments during physiological aging in lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues isolated from wild-type C57BL/6 mice aged of 2 to 6 months, 10 to 14 months and 22 to 26 months. We demonstrated that T lymphopenia described classically associated with aging in the secondary lymphoid organs does not apply to the whole organism: intestinal compartments studied show an accumulation of TCRαβ+ CD4+ cells (TCD4) and CD8+ (TCD8). Our results reveal a differential impact of aging on the absolute number of different TCRαβ+ cellular compartments in lymphoid organs and intestinal mucosa. T cell lymphopenia in secondary lymphoid organs currently associated to ageing may essentially reflect T cell redistribution. TCD8/TCD4 balance may be affected differently depending on the site considered and this observation may provide a rationale for the greater susceptibility to infection observed with age.

Die intestinale Mukosa bildet eine biologisch wichtige Barriere zwischen dem Organismus und den schädigenden Faktoren im intestinalen Lumen. Diese komplexe Aufgabe wird durch eine hochdifferenzierte intestinale Mukosa bewältigt, die eine strukturelle sowie funktionelle intestinale Barriere bildet. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeiten war, ausgewählte Aspekte der Regulations- und Reparaturmechanismen der intestinalen mukosalen Barriere weitergehend zu charakterisieren. Unsere Untersuchungen zeigen, dass das Phospholipid Lysophosphatidsäure (LPA) die intestinale epitheliale Zellmigration stimuliert, die dieser Zellen jedoch inhibiert. Die Modulation der intestinalen Wundheilung durch LPA erfolgt durch einen TGF-b-unabhängigen Mechanismus und wird über einen G-Protein-abhängigen Rezeptor vermittelt, wie wir im Rahmen umfangreicher Untersuchungen zur Signaltransduktion unter Verwendung spezifischer Modulatoren der Signaltransduktion wie Bradykinin, Phorbolester, Pertussistoxin, Suramin und neutralisierender TGF-b-Antikörper belegen konnten. In weiteren Experimenten konnten wir zeigen, dass LPA auch in-vivo einen wundheilungsfördernden Effekt besitzt. Die topische Applikation von LPA in diesem experimentellen Kolitismodell bewirkte einen geringeren Gewichtsverlust sowie ein geringeres Ausmaß an intestinaler Entzündung und Nekrose in-vivo. Diese Untersuchungen legen somit nahe, dass LPA die intestinale epitheliale Wundheilung durch eine Modulation der intestinalen epithelialen Migration und Proliferation durch TGF-b-unabhängige Mechanismen stimuliert. Weitere Untersuchungen beschäftigten sich mit der funktionellen Charakterisierung von Lamina propria T-Zellen (LPT) und peripheren Blut T-Zellen (PBT). Wir konnten zeigen, dass der Zellzyklus von LPT distinkt von PBT reguliert wird. Hierbei spielt der Zellzyklusinhibitor p53 eine zentrale Rolle in der Zellzyklusregulation von LPT. Um Autoimmunität zu verhindern, muss es nach einer Eliminierung des Antigens wieder zu einer Depletion des Pools an Effektor-T-Zellen durch die Aktivierung der Apoptose kommen. Wir konnten zeigen, dass beim Antigen-induzierten Zelltod von LPT der intrinsische Apoptoseweg aktiviert wird und Caspase-8 hierbei eine zentrale Rolle spielt. Physiologischerweise sind Zellzyklus und Apoptose eng miteinander verbunden. In weiteren Versuchen konnten wir jedoch zeigen, dass dies nicht bei LPT der Fall ist und somit die von PBT distinkte Regulation von Zellzyklus und Apoptose mukosaler T-Zellen weiter unterstreichen. Zusammengefasst konnten wir durch ausgewählte Untersuchungen zeigen, dass die intestinale Barriere und ihre funktionelle Beeinflussung eine wesentliche Rolle in der Pathogenese und Therapie intestinaler Entzündungen besitzt. Eine Beeinflussung intestinaler Reparaturprozesse und Modulation abnormer T-Zellen könnte neue Möglichkeiten in der Therapie intestinaler Entzündungen, wie z.B. chronisch entzündlichen Darmerkrankungen bewirken. / The intestinal mucosa protect the host from the potential harmful content of the intestinal lumen. To accomplish this difficult goal, the highly complex mucosa forms an anatomical as well as functional barrier to protect the organism.In this work, we aimed to characterize distinct aspect of the intestinal barrier, focussing on distinct regulation and repair mechanism of the intestinal mucosa. First, we demonstrate, that the phospholipid lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) stimulate the migration of intestinal epithelial cells, but, in contrast, inhibit their proliferation. This effect is mediated by G-protein receptors and is TGF-b-independent, as we could demonstrate in further experiments using bradykinine, phorbole ester, pertussis toxin and suramine to modulate distinct signalling pathways.We then demonstrated, using a well-established animal model of colitis, that LPA enhances intestinal wound healing in-vivo. In detail, the topical application of LPA in TNBS-treated rats reduced weight loss, ameliorate intestinal inflammation and prevented necrosis in the animals. This experiments demonstrate for the first time, that LPA modulates migration and proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells by distinct TGF-b independent pathways. Further experiments aimed to explore functional differences between peripheral blood (PBT) and mucosal T-cells (LPT). We demonstrated, that the cell cycle is distinctively regulated in PBT and LPT, identifying p53 as key regulator of LPT cell cycling. To avoid auto-immunity, the pool of effector T-cells must be depleted by apoptosis, once the antigen has been cleared. We demonstrate, that intrinsic pathway of apoptosis is activated during the antigen-induced cell death in LPT and that caspase-8 activity is required to execute LPT apoptosis. Cell cycle and apoptosis are ultimately linked. However, as we show in further experiments, this is not the case in LPT, underlining the distinct regulation of LPT cell cycle and apoptosis.In conclusion, using various distinct experimental tools, we demonstrate that the intestinal barrier itself and the modulation its function plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis mucosal inflammation. The data presented in this work may therefore open new therapeutic options in the therapy of intestinal inflammatory disorders, such as inflammatory bowel diseases.

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome is described as a series of mutations within the lamin A gene leading to the accumulation of progerin in the nucleus, contributing to premature aging and affecting the epigenetic control. Epigenetic control, such as DNA methylation, relies on DNA methyltransferase enzymes. In human cells, heat shock (HS) leads to the formation of nuclear stress bodies (nSBs); ribonucleoprotein aggregates of Sat III RNA and RNA-binding proteins. The objectives of this study were to determine if epigenetic status induces varying responses to HS and assess the variability of nuclear proteins in similar conditions. Results show epigenetic modifications do not prevent a stress response; however the extent may be affected. In addition the functions of most nuclear antigens were not affected. It is most likely the sum of interactions at the inner nuclear membrane and nuclear lamina interface that result in nuclear strength pertaining to lamin A.

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome is described as a series of mutations within the lamin A gene leading to the accumulation of progerin in the nucleus, contributing to premature aging and affecting the epigenetic control. Epigenetic control, such as DNA methylation, relies on DNA methyltransferase enzymes. In human cells, heat shock (HS) leads to the formation of nuclear stress bodies (nSBs); ribonucleoprotein aggregates of Sat III RNA and RNA-binding proteins. The objectives of this study were to determine if epigenetic status induces varying responses to HS and assess the variability of nuclear proteins in similar conditions. Results show epigenetic modifications do not prevent a stress response; however the extent may be affected. In addition the functions of most nuclear antigens were not affected. It is most likely the sum of interactions at the inner nuclear membrane and nuclear lamina interface that result in nuclear strength pertaining to lamin A.

En el camp dels brassinoesteroides, promotors del creixement vegetal, es pretén, d'una banda, aprofundir en el coneixement de la seva interacció amb el receptor (on la formació de ponts d'hidrogen dels diferents hidroxils sembla jugar un paper fonamental) i, de l'altra, obtenir anàlegs amb bona relació cost sintètic-activitat. En aquest sentit, es creu interessant abordar l'estudi dels brassinoesteroides androstànics.Concretament en aquesta tesi, s'han desenvolupat estratègies sintètiques per a l'obtenció, de forma sistemàtica i eficient, d'anàlegs androstànics amb diferents cadenes laterals. S'ha estudiat computacionalment la semblança tridimensional de tots els anàlegs proposats amb la de brassinoesteroides actius de referència, emprant alineaments flexibles amb el programa MOE. Les estratègies desenvolupades per tal d'aconseguir diverses modificacions a l'anell A han permès observar com la introducció de les funcionalitats 2,3-diol és més senzilla i eficient que d'altres a priori interessants com 2,3-difluor o 2,3-dicetona.S'han desenvolupat estratègies i aproximacions per a la síntesi de l'anàleg androstànic que millor simularia la cadena lateral de la brassinolida (brassinosteroide natural més actiu conegut fins el moment). De tota manera, degut a la dificultat sintètica de l'àcid carboxílic 3S,4-dimetil-2R-hidroxipentanoic (cadena lateral) no s'ha aconseguit la síntesi de l'anàleg d'interès. S'han dissenyat, sintetitzat i avaluat una sèrie d'androstans per tal d'estudiar la influència de la part hidrofòbica terminal i de la posició de les funcionalitats polars de la cadena lateral, així com també el paper que juga el grup protector d'aquestes en l'activitat.Amb la finalitat de validar la metodologia SHOP aplicada prèviament en l'equip, s'han sintetitzat i avaluat diversos brassinoesteroides androstànics amb cadenes d'àcids carboxílics comercials escollits emprant aquesta metodologia. La síntesi i avaluació d'activitat d'anàlegs androstànics amb diferents funcionalitats en  de carbonil de la cadena lateral (fluor, carbonil, azida, amina.) així com també la dels anàlegs escollits de forma sistemàtica (metodologia SHOP) ha permès concloure que és necessària la presència d'una funcionalitat donadora de ponts d'hidrogen en aquesta regió per tal que un brassinoesteroide expressi activitat com a promotor del creixement vegetal. / Most of the efforts made nowadays in the field of brassinosteroids, plant growth promoting regulators, are focused on going in depth in the knowledge of the brassinosteroid-receptor interaction (where hydrogen bonding seems to play an important role) and on synthesizing analogs with good cost-activity ratio. In this way, it was considered interesting to study androstane brassinosteroid analogs.In this phD thesis, some synthetic strategies have been developed to obtain androstane analogs with different side chains in a systematic and efficient way. Moreover, the 3D similarity between these analogs and some active brassinosteroids has been studied through flexible alignments using MOE program.The strategies developed to achieve A ring modifications have allowed us to observe how the,3-diol functionality introduction is much more easy and efficient than others such as ,3-difluoro or 2,3-diketone.Lots of trials to synthesize the most similar androstane analog to brassinolide have been made. Unfortunately, due to the synthetic difficulty to obtain 3S,4-dimethyl-2R-hydroxipentanoic acid (side chain) this analog synthesis has been unsuccessful.A group of more than ten brassinosteroid androstane analogs have been designed, synthesized and bioactivity evaluated in order to study the influence of the hydrophobic side chain region, the polar functionality position and the role of some protective groups.With the aim to validate the SHOP methodology, previously applied in our team, some androstane analogs with commercially available side chain have been obtained and bioactivity evaluated.The synthesis and activity evaluation of some analogs with different 2'-functionalities (fluorine, azide, amine...) and of those selected by molecular modeling techniques (SHOP methodology) have let conclude that a hydrogen bond donor group / En el campo de los brasinosteroides, promotores del crecimiento vegetal, se pretende, por un lado, profundizar en el conocimiento de su interacción con el receptor (donde la formación de puentes de hidrógeno de los distintos hidroxilos parece jugar un papel fundamental) y, de otra, obtener análogos con una buena relación coste sintético-actividad. En este sentido, se consideró interesante abordar el estudio de los brasinoesteroides androstánicos.Concretamente en esta tesis, se han desarrollado estrategias sintéticas para la obtención, de forma sistemática y eficiente, de análogos androstánicos con distintas cadenas laterales. Se han estudiado computacionalmente la semejanza tridimensional de todos los análogos propuestos con brasinoesteroides activos de referencia, utilizando alineamentos flexibles con el programa MOE.Las estrategias desarrolladas para conseguir diversas modificaciones en al anillo A han permitido observar como la introducción de las funcionalidades 2,3-diol es más sencilla y eficiente que otras a priori interesantes como 2,3 -difluor o 2,3-dicetona.Se han desarrollado estrategias y aproximaciones para la síntesis del análogo androstánico que mejor simularía la cadena lateral de la brasinolida (brasinoesteroide natural más activo conocido hasta el momento). De todas formas, debido a la dificultad sintética del ácido 3S,4-dimetil-2R-hidroxipentanoico (cadena lateral) no se ha conseguido la síntesis del análogo de interés.Se han diseñado, sintetizado y evaluado una serie de androstanos para estudiar la influencia de la parte hidrofóbica terminal y de la posición de las funcionalidades polares de la cadena lateral, así como también el papel que juega el grupo protector de estas en la actividad.Para validar la metodología SHOP, aplicada previamente en el equipo, se han sintetizado y evaluado diversos brasinoesteroides androstánicos con cadenas de ácidos carboxílicos comerciales escogidos utilizando esta metodología.La síntesis y evaluación de la actividad de análogos androstánicos con distintas funcionalidades en  de carbonilo de la cadena lateral (fluor, azida, carbonilo, amina.) así como también la de análogos escogidos de forma sistemática (metodología SHOP) ha permitido concluir que es necesaria la presencia de una funcionalidad dadora de puente de hidrógeno en esta región para que un brasinoesteroide exprese actividad como promotor del crecimiento vegetal.

No description available.

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome is described as a series of mutations within the lamin A gene leading to the accumulation of progerin in the nucleus, contributing to premature aging and affecting the epigenetic control. Epigenetic control, such as DNA methylation, relies on DNA methyltransferase enzymes. In human cells, heat shock (HS) leads to the formation of nuclear stress bodies (nSBs); ribonucleoprotein aggregates of Sat III RNA and RNA-binding proteins. The objectives of this study were to determine if epigenetic status induces varying responses to HS and assess the variability of nuclear proteins in similar conditions. Results show epigenetic modifications do not prevent a stress response; however the extent may be affected. In addition the functions of most nuclear antigens were not affected. It is most likely the sum of interactions at the inner nuclear membrane and nuclear lamina interface that result in nuclear strength pertaining to lamin A.

This work aimed to evaluate the utilization of different grazing intensity on the productive and structural characteristics of pasture and on the ingestive behaviour and performance of sheep in continuous grazing. The treatment were different herbage masses (HM) in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) pasture: LHM: 1000-1200 kg/ha of dry matter (DM); IHM: 1400-1600 kg/ha DM; HHM: 1800-2000 kg/ha DM. The experimental design was the randomly complete, with three treatments and two area replicates. The data were submitted at the regression analysis in function of HM observed in the experimental units: 1136.8, 1190.9, 1359.2, 1375, 1556 e 1739.1 kg/ha DM. The values of leaf lamina mass, pseudostem mass, forage allowance, leaf lamina allowance, sward height, pseudostem height, leaf lamina depth and average daily gain increased linearly with increase of HM (P<0.10). Quadratic effect (P<0.10) in herbage production, herbage losses and herbage disappearance were observed. The stocking rate (kg/ha of live weight and hoggets/ha) and bite rate decreased linearly with increase of HM (P<0.10). No HM effects (P>0.10) on the tiller population density, herbage daily accumulation rate, percentage of pasture utilization, herbage intake, grazing time, ruminating time, idle time, number of daily bite, bite mass, body condition score gain, live weight gain per area and conversion efficiency of forage in live weight were observed. Herbage mass varying among 1136.8 a 1739.1 hg/ha DM in Italian ryegrass pasture affect the herbage production and herbage losses, without influence in the percentage of pasture utilization, weight gain per area and conversion efficiency of forage in animal product. The main factor determining individual performance of animals is the leaf lamina layer depth / O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a utilização de diferentes intensidades de pastejo sobre as características produtivas e estruturais da pastagem e sobre o comportamento ingestivo e desempenho de ovinos em pastejo contínuo. Os tratamentos foram diferentes massas de forragem (MF) em pastagem de azevém anual (Lolium multiflorum Lam.): MFB: 1000-1200 kg/ha de matéria seca (MS); MFI: 1400-1600 kg/ha MS; MFA: 1800-2000 kg/ha MS. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com três tratamentos e duas repetições de área. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de regressão em função das MF observadas nas unidades experimentais: 1136,8, 1190,9, 1359,2, 1375, 1556 e 1739,1 kg/ha MS. Os valores de massa de lâminas foliares e de pseudocolmo, oferta de forragem e de lâminas foliares, altura de dossel e de pseudocolmo, profundidade de lâminas foliares e ganho médio diário aumentaram linearmente com aumento da MF (P<0,10). Houve efeito quadrático (P<0,10) para produção, perdas e desaparecimento de forragem. A carga animal (kg/ha PV), taxa de lotação (borregas/ha) e taxa de bocadas diminuíram linearmente com o aumento da MF (P<0,10). Não houve efeito das MF avaliadas (P>0,10) na densidade populacional de perfilhos, taxa de acumulação diária de forragem, porcentagem de utilização da pastagem, consumo de forragem, tempos de pastejo, ruminação e ócio, número diário de bocadas, massa de bocado, ganho de condição corporal, ganho de peso vivo por área e eficiência de conversão de forragem em peso vivo. Massas de forragem variando de 1136,8 a 1739,1 kg/ha MS em pastagem de azevém afetam a produção e perdas de forragem, sem influenciar a porcentagem de utilização da pastagem, o ganho de peso vivo por área e a eficiência de transformação da forragem em produto animal. O principal fator determinante do desempenho individual dos animais é a profundidade da camada de lâminas foliares

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:55:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RobertoRCF_TESE.pdf: 987513 bytes, checksum: 957f5ea8a43b953deeae4b60b26191b2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-05-18 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / This work presents a theoretical, numerical and computation analysis of parameters of a rectangular microstrip antenna with metamaterial substrate, fin line as a coupler and also integrated devices like integrated filter antenna. It is applied theory to full-wave of Transverse Transmission Line - TTL method, to characterize the magnitude of the substrate and obtain the general equations of the electromagnetic fields. About the metamaterial, they are characterized by permittivity and permeability tensor, reaching to the general equations for the electromagnetic fields of the antenna. It is presented a study about main representation of PBG(Photonic Band Gap) material and its applied for a specific configuration. A few parameters are simulated some structures in order to reduce the physical dimensions and increase the bandwidth. The results are presented through graphs. The theoretical and computational analysis of this work have shown accurate and relatively concise. Conclusions are drawn and suggestions for future work / Este trabalho apresenta a an?lise te?rica, num?rica e computacional dos par?metros de uma antena de microfita do tipo retangular sobre substrato metamaterial, linha de laminas na forma de acoplador e tamb?m de estruturas integrada como a antena filtro integrada. ? aplicada a teoria de onda completa do m?todo da Linha de Transmiss?o Transversa - LTT, para a caracteriza??o das grandezas do substrato e obten??o das equa??es gerais dos campos eletromagn?ticos. Sobre o metamaterial, os mesmos s?o caracterizados atrav?s de tensores permissividade e permeabilidade, chegando-se ?s equa??es gerais para os campos eletromagn?ticos da antena. ? apresentado um estudo das principais representa??es do material PBG (Photonic Band Gap) e suas aplica??es para determinadas configura??es. S?o simulados v?rios par?metros de algumas estruturas com o intuito de diminuir as dimens?es f?sicas e aumentar a largura de banda das mesmas. Os resultados s?o apresentados atrav?s de gr?ficos. A an?lise te?rico-computacional desse trabalho se mostra precisa e relativamente concisa. S?o apresentadas as conclus?es e sugest?es para trabalhos futuros