The theme of this diploma thesis is an assessment of given nutritional parameters in selected kinds of lesser known fruits, specifically 10 varieties of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), 12 varieties of cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) and 6 varieties of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica). Harvests of two consecutive years (2011 and 2012) were analyzed in the case of blue honeysuckle. The theoretical part was focused on historical, morphological, taxonomic and nutritional aspects of individual plants and food or pharmaceutical utilization. The considerable part of the thesis is devoted to the characterization and the possibilities of determining the contained substances, namely ascorbic acid and polyphenolic compounds, especially anthocyanins. The content of the experimental part was a description of the methods and the results of the analysis of total solids, titratable acidity, total phenolics, total anthocyanins and ascorbic acid in fruits of the selected varieties of the above mentioned fruit species. Based on the measured results, the different varieties of fruits were compared to each other and evaluated.

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In 2005 the largely indigenous country of Bolivia elected its first indigenous president, Evo Morales of the Movement toward Socialism (MAS) Party. Morales ran on a promise of re-distributing wealth, to aid in the development of one of Latin America's poorest countries. Morales' first term in office marked a historical achievement for the indigenous movement in Bolivia, and sparked social change in the country. The government also experienced a momentous achievement through the re-writing of the Bolivian constitution, acknowledging the country's multi-ethnic and pluri-national character. Although his social, domestic and foreign policies have been controversial, particularly in the United States, Morales was re-elected to serve a second term in 2009. This research analyzes the outcomes of Morales' policy changes during his first term in office, from 2006-2009 to examine how the election of the MAS has impacted the marginalized status of indigenous people in Bolivia.

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<p dir="ltr">In multiplayer games, a collection of self-interested players aims to optimize their individual cost functions in a non-cooperative manner. The cost function of each player depends not only on its own actions but also on the actions of others. In addition, players' actions may also collectively satisfy some global constraints. The study of this problem has grown immensely in the past decades with applications arising in a wide range of societal systems, including strategic behaviors in power markets, traffic assignment of strategic risk-averse users, engagement of multiple humanitarian organizations in disaster relief, etc. Furthermore, with machine learning models playing an increasingly important role in practical applications, the robustness of these models becomes another prominent concern. Investigation into the solutions of multiplayer games and Nash equilibrium problems (NEPs) can advance the algorithm design for fitting these models in the presence of adversarial noises. </p><p dir="ltr">Most of the existing methods for solving multiplayer games assume the presence of a central coordinator, which, unfortunately, is not practical in many scenarios. Moreover, in addition to couplings in the objectives and the global constraints, all too often, the objective functions contain uncertainty in the form of stochastic noises and unknown model parameters. The problem is further complicated by the following considerations: the individual objectives of players may be unavailable or too complex to model; players may exhibit reluctance to disclose their actions; players may experience random delays when receiving feedback regarding their actions. To contend with these issues and uncertainties, in the first half of the thesis, we develop several algorithms based on the theory of operator splitting and stochastic approximation, where the game participants only share their local information and decisions with their trusted neighbors on the network. In the second half of the thesis, we explore the bandit online learning framework as a solution to the challenges, where decisions made by players are updated based solely on the realized objective function values. Our future work will delve into data-driven approaches for learning in multiplayer games and we will explore functional representations of players' decisions, in a departure from the vector form. </p>

De nombreuses études ont bien démontré que l’activation du système rénine-angiotensine (RAS) joue un rôle important dans le développement de l’hypertension et de la néphropathie diabétique (DN). La découverte de l’enzyme de conversion de l’angiotensine-2 (ACE2) et l’identification du récepteur MAS, spécifique pour l’angiotensine 1-7 (Ang 1-7), ont permis d’identifier deux nouveaux membres du RAS. L’axe ACE2/Ang 1-7/MAS contrebalance les effets de l’axe ACE/Ang II/AT1. Plusieurs évidences impliquent la contribution du RAS intrarénal dans la DN. Des études réalisées dans notre laboratoire avec des souris transgéniques surexprimant l’angiotensinogène de rat dans les cellules de leurs tubules proximaux rénaux (RPTCs) ont permis de démontrer l’importance du RAS intrarénal dans l’induction de l’hypertension et les dommages rénaux. Nous avons également observé que l’expression rénale de l’ACE2 et les niveaux urinaires d’ANG 1-7 sont plus faibles chez les souris Akita (diabète de type 1) et qu’un traitement avec des bloqueurs du RAS permet de normaliser l’expression de l’ACE2 et de prévenir le développement de l’hypertension dans le modèle des souris Akita. Dans un milieu diabétique, à la fois la glycémie et l’angiotensine II (Ang II) peuvent induire la génération des espèces réactives de l’oxygène (ROS), contribuant ainsi aux dommages rénaux. Afin d’explorer la relation entre les ROS, ACE2 et la DN, nous avons créé des souris Akita transgéniques surexprimant la catalase (Cat) dans les RPTCs, en croisant des souris Akita diabétique de type 1 à notre modèle de souris transgéniques surexprimant la Cat de rat dans les RPTCs. Dans une seconde étude, des souris Akita ont été traitées avec l’Ang 1-7 ou une combinaison d’Ang 1-7 et de son antagoniste, A779, afin d’étudier la relation entre l’action de l’Ang 1-7, l’hypertension systolique (sHTN), le stress oxydatif, les dommages rénaux, ACE2 et l’expression du récepteur Mas. Nos résultats ont montré que la surexpression de Cat atténue le stress oxydatif rénal; prévient l’hypertension, améliore le taux de filtration glomérulaire, l’albuminurie, l’hypertrophie rénale, la fibrose tubulo-interstitielle et l’apoptose tubulaire; et supprime l’expression des gènes profibrotiques et proapoptotiques dans les RPTCs des souris Akita Cat-Tg lorsque comparées aux souris Akita. De plus, la surexpression de Cat dans les RPTC des souris Akita normalise l’expression rénale de l’ACE2 et les niveaux urinaires d’Ang 1-7. D’autre part, l’administration d’Ang 1-7 prévient l’hypertension systémique, normalise le ratio albumine/créatinine urinaire et atténue l’hyperfiltration glomérulaire des souris Akita, sans affecter la glycémie sanguine. De plus, le traitement avec l’Ang 1-7 atténue aussi le stress oxydatif et l’expression de la NADPH oxydase, Agt, ACE, TGF-β1 (transforming growth factor-β1) et collagène IV, tout en augmentant l’expression de l’ACE2 et du récepteur Mas dans les reins des souris Akita. Ces effets sont renversés par la co-admininstration d’A779. Ces résultats démontrent que la surexpression de Cat prévient l’hypertension et la progression de la néphropathie, en plus de mettre en lumière l’importance du stress oxydatif intrarénal et l’expression de l’ACE2 comme facteurs contribuant à l’hypertension et les dommages rénaux observés dans le diabète. En outre, nos données suggèrent que l’Ang 1-7 joue un rôle protecteur dans l’hypertension et les dommages aux RPTC dans le diabète, principalement en réduisant les voies de signalisations du stress oxydatif dans les reins et en normalisant l’expression de l’ACE2 et du récepteur Mas. Nos résultats indiquent aussi que l’Ang 1-7 pourrait agir comme un agent thérapeutique potentiel dans le traitement de l’hypertension systémique et les dommages rénaux observés dans le diabète. En conséquence, l’Ang 1-7 est responsable du rôle protecteur de l’ACE2 dans l’hypertension et la DN. / It is well accepted that renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation plays an important role in the development of hypertension and diabetic nephropathy (DN). With the discovery of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) and recognition of MAS as the receptor of Angiotensin 1-7 (Ang 1-7), new players in RAS, ACE2/Ang 1-7/MAS axis, have been identified to counteract the effect of ACE/Ang II/ AT1 axis. Evidence implicates the intrarenal RAS’s contribution to DN. Previous studies from our laboratory using transgenic mice overexpressing rat Angiotensinogen (Agt) in their renal proximal tubular cells (RPTCs) have demonstrated the importance of the intrarenal RAS in renal damage and the induction of hypertension. We also recently observed that renal ACE2 expression and urinary Ang 1–7 were lower in type 1 diabetic Akita mice and that treatment with RAS blockers normalized ACE2 expression and prevented hypertension development in these Akita mice. In the diabetic milieu, both glycemia and angiotensin II (Ang II) can induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, which contributes to kidney injury. To explore the relationship among ROS, ACE2 and DN, we created Akita transgenic mice overexpressing catalase (Cat) in RPTCs by crossbreeding type I diabetic Akita mice with our established transgenic mice overexpressing rat Cat in RPTCs. In another study, Akita mice were treated with Ang 1-7 or combination of Ang 1-7 and its antagonist, A779, to investigate the relations between Ang 1-7 action, systolic hypertension (sHTN), oxidative stress, kidney injury, ACE2 and Mas receptor expression. Our results showed that overexpression of Cat attenuated renal oxidative stress; prevented hypertension; ameliorated glomerular filtration rate, albuminuria, kidney hypertrophy, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and tubular apoptosis; and suppressed profibrotic and proapoptotic gene expression in RPTCs of Akita Cat-Tg mice compared with Akita mice. Furthermore, overexpression of Cat in RPTCs of Akita mice normalized renal ACE2 expression and urinary Ang 1–7 levels. On the other hand, Ang 1-7 administration prevented systemic hypertension, normalized urinary albumin/creatinine ratio and attenuated glomerular hyperfiltration without affecting blood glucose levels in Akita mice. Furthermore, Ang 1-7 treatment also attenuated oxidative stress and the expression of NADPH oxidase 4, Agt, ACE, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and collagen IV, and increased the expression of ACE2 and Mas receptor in Akita mouse kidneys. These effects were reversed by co-administration of A779. These data demonstrated that Cat overexpression prevents hypertension and progression of nephropathy and highlight the importance of intrarenal oxidative stress and ACE2 expression contributing to hypertension and renal injury in diabetes. Furthermore, our data suggest that Ang 1-7 plays a protective role in hypertension and RPTC injury in diabetes, predominantly through decreasing renal oxidative stress-mediated signaling and normalizing ACE2 and Mas receptor expression. Our results also indicate Ang 1-7 as a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of systemic hypertension and kidney injury in diabetes. Therefore, Ang 1-7 mediates the major protective role of ACE2 in the hypertension and DN.

Ce travail s’inscrit dans le cadre d’une étude systématique des propriétés physico-chimiques de polyphosphates à l’argent permettant d’avancer sur de nouvelles voies pour les dispositifs tels que l’éclairage, les lasers accordables dans le visible, la radiophotoluminescence. L'objectif de ce travail vise la compréhension des mécanismes de luminescence de l’ion Ag+ dans les composés Na1-xAgxLn(PO3)4 (Ln = La et Y) dont la structure a été parfaitement déterminée. La luminescence des monocristaux provient des ions Ag+, dans des sites isolés et proches de lacunes positives (Ag2+) résultant de la photosensibilité aux UV pour les cristaux au lanthane. La luminescence des verres Na1-xAgxLa(PO3)4 (seuls vitrifiables) a été élucidée grâce à une étude après irradiation et à celle des verres Na2-xAgxZnP2O7. Elle est due aussi aux ions Ag+ dans des sites isolés. / This work focuses on keeping with the general pattern of investigations of physical-chemical properties of silver-polyphosphates to find new ways for devices such as lighting, visible range laser applications and radiophotoluminescence. The goal of this study aims at understanding the processes of Ag+ luminescence in Na1-xAgxLn(PO3)4 (Ln = La et Y) compounds which structure has been completely determinated. The luminescence of the single crystals is induced by Ag+ ions in isolated sites and close to hole centers (Ag2+) resulting in UV photosensitivity for the lanthanum crystals. The photoluminescence of the Na1-xAgxLa(PO3)4 glasses (glass-forming only) has been resolved owing to UV irradiation investigations and comparison with the luminescence of Na2-xAgxZnP2O7 glass. Both are also due to Ag+ ions in isolated sites.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T18:16:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fatima Daltro de Castro Correia.pdf: 981156 bytes, checksum: c066fd1d35e52db7caca7f986cb0bf9e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-09-11 / The increase of the images media exposition of wheels chair bodies promotes the impression to collaborate for the social inclusion of the body that we nominate deficient. However, the action of the nominations consecrated for the press, as of pcd (person with deficiency), operates exactly in the contrary direction, exposing the deficiency, transforming it into a stigma. The images of wheels chair bodies that are spreadon media are always associates to the question of the overcoming of limits, tying those bodies only to the values in circulation in the sport world. The prominence that the Paraolimpics Games occupies in the media inserts there, in the consolidation of the boarding of these bodies with images that congeal around an uniform way of the deficiencies in an only niche, delimited for the adopted concept of efficiency/productivity. A critical reflection regarding this situation becomes necessary to be able to deal with the dance that this body practises outside the narrow limits imposed for this stigma mechanism. For this, we here adopt the Theory Corpomedia (Katz & Greiner), with which if it presents the hypothesis of that the wheels chair body dancer is a complex system and able to breach with the perverse speech that the frozen images produce. The concept of corpomedia, formulated from the study of the communication between body, and its environments, favor the agreement of the paper that the media exploration has when it congeals the images that produce around the deficiency and not of the deficient one with its singularities. The methodology contemplates a Study of Case, Judite wants to cry, but it does not get it! , created for the wheels chair dancer Edu Oliveira; interviews aiming qualitative research; critical analysis of these interviews, carried through after the presentation of the spectacle in two different cities (Salvador and Votorantim); bibliographical revision of the subject of the deficient body; video registers. The bibliographical research allowed a brief historical panoramic sketch of the access of the wheels chair bodies to the world of dance and its social implications. Conclusion is that that the wheels chair dancer is cultural and biologically implied in a system of construction of images that associates him with a poor body and that they feed who it cognitivaly, with ominous consequences for the process of its social inclusion. From there the urgency in promoting actions that can breach with the media action in course. This is the role for the dance in wheels chair has and, to accomplish it, cannot be remained based in the criteria of the sport. The dance in wheels chair needs to discover its poetical, therefore they are who potencializes an effective social insertion / O aumento da exposição midiática de imagens de corpos cadeirantes promove a impressão de colaborar para a inclusão social do corpo que nomeamos de deficiente. Todavia, a ação das nomeações consagradas pela imprensa, como a de pcd (pessoa com deficiência), opera justamente no sentido contrário, midiatizando a deficiência, transformando-a em um estigma. As imagens de corpos cadeirantes que ganham divulgação estão sempre associadas à questão da superação de limites, vinculando aqueles corpos somente aos valores em circulação no mundo do desporto. O destaque que a Paraolimpíada ocupa na mídia se insere aí, na consolidação da abordagem desses corpos com imagens que se congelam em torno de uma uniformização das deficiências em um nicho único, delimitado pelo conceito de eficiência/produtividade adotado. Faz-se necessária uma reflexão crítica a respeito dessa situação para poder tratar da dança que esse corpo pratica fora dos estreitos limites impostos por esse mecanismo estigmatizador. Para isso, aqui se adota a Teoria Corpomídia (Katz & Greiner), com a qual se apresenta a hipótese de que o corpo do dançarino cadeirante é um sistema complexo e apto a romper com o discurso perverso que as imagens congeladas produzem. O conceito de corpomídia, formulado a partir do estudo da comunicação entre corpo, e seus ambientes, favorece o entendimento do papel que a exploração midiática tem quando congela as imagens que produz em torno da deficiência e não do deficiente com suas singularidades. A metodologia contempla um Estudo de Caso, o do espetáculo Judite quer chorar, mas não consegue! , criado pelo dançarino cadeirante Edu Oliveira; entrevistas com fins de pesquisa qualitativa; análise crítica dessas entrevistas, realizadas após a apresentação do espetáculo em duas cidades diferentes (Salvador e Votorantim); revisão bibliográfica do tema do corpo deficiente; registros em vídeo. A pesquisa bibliográfica permitiu um breve esboço panorâmico/ histórico do acesso dos cadeirantes ao mundo da dança e suas implicações sociais. Concluiu-se que o dançarino cadeirante é cultural e biologicamente implicado em um sistema de construção de imagens que o associam ao corpo coitadinho e que são elas que o alimentam cognitivamente, com conseqüências nefastas para o processo de sua inclusão social. Daí a urgência em promover ações que possam romper com a ação midiática em curso. É esse o papel que a dança em cadeira de rodas tem e, para desempenhá-lo, não pode se manter pautada pelos critérios do desporto. A dança em cadeira de rodas precisa descobrir as suas poéticas, pois são elas que potencializam uma inserção social efetiva

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