Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:06:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MarinaOCM.pdf: 1314082 bytes, checksum: d274baae2a0c41a00f40857ec722c88a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-04-30 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / Chitosan membranes have been modified by plasma, utilizing the following gases: nitrogen (N2), methane (CH4), argon (Ar), oxygen (O2) and hydrogen. The modified membranes by plasma were compared to the unmodified ones. The membranes were characterized by absorption assay, contact angle, atomic force microscopy (AFM). Also, permeability assay of sodium sulfamerazine from such membranes were carried out. Through the absorption assay and contact angle it was possible to obtain information of the wettability of the membranes and what changes the plasma treatment can promote in relation to it. The plasma treatment using oxygen promoted increase of the wetability and swelling while the samples treated with methane decrease of the wetability and swelling. Through the Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) it was possible to identify which species were present in the plasma during the treatment. And through the AFM analysis it was possible to observe the changes nanotopography occurred on the surface of the samples. Permeability assay were archived for all treated membranes and compared to no treated ones. Due to that assay it was possible verify which the plasma treatment increased the permeability spectrum of the membranes which has varied from 1,4548 *10-5cm2.min-1 to 2,7713*10-5cm2.min-1. Chitosan membranes with permeability varied are importance in systems drug delivery, to liberate a wide variety of drugs / Membranas de quitosana foram modificadas por plasma, utilizando os seguintes gases: nitrog?nio (N2), metano (CH4), arg?nio (Ar), oxig?nio (O2) e hidrog?nio (H2). Membranas n?o tratadas foram utilizadas para compara??o com as tratadas. As amostras foram caracterizadas por ensaio de ganho de massa (capacidade de absor??o de ?gua), ?ngulo de contato, microscopia de for?a at?mica (MFA) e quanto ? sua permeabilidade em rela??o ao f?rmaco sulfamerazina de s?dio. Atrav?s dos ensaios de absor??o e ?ngulo de contato foi poss?vel obter informa??es sobre a molhabilidade das membranas e quais mudan?as o tratamento a plasma pode promover em rela??o ? molhabilidade. O tratamento por plasma utilizando o oxig?nio promoveu um aumento da hidrofilicidade e do ganho de massa enquanto as amostras tratadas com metano tiveram uma diminui??o da hidrofilicidade e do ganho de massa. Atrav?s da Espectroscopia de Emiss?o ?tica (EEO) identificaram-se quais esp?cies estavam presentes no plasma durante o tratamento, pois estas influenciam o grau de molhabilidade das amostras, tornando-as mais hidrof?licas ou hidrof?bicas atrav?s da inser??o de grupos funcionais. Nos resultados da MFA foi poss?vel observar as modifica??es nanotopogr?ficas ocorridas na superf?cie das amostras, como o aumento da rugosidade em amostras tratadas com hidrog?nio e a diminui??o dessa rugosidade nas amostras tratadas com arg?nio. Ensaios de permea??o foram realizados para todas as membranas tratadas e comparados com as membranas n?o tratadas. Atrav?s desse ensaio foi poss?vel verificar que os tratamentos a plasma ampliaram o espectro de permeabilidade das membranas que variou de 1,4548 *10-5cm2.min-1 a 2,7713*10-5cm2.min-1. As amostras tratadas com oxig?nio apresentaram a menor permeabilidade enquanto que a amostras tratada com arg?nio apresentaram a maior permeabilidade. A obten??o de membranas de quitosana com permeabilidade variada ? de grande import?ncia na tecnologia de libera??o de f?rmacos, pois as mesmas podem ser utilizadas nos mais diversos sistemas carreadores de f?rmacos. Liberando uma ampla variedade de f?rmacos e/ou agente bioativos

There is a large body of clinical and experimental evidence linking heart disease with impairment of myocardial energetics, particularly the creatine kinase (CK) system. The goal of the experiments described in this thesis was to develop and study models of increased CK phosphotransfer, by overexpressing the CK isoenzymes and/or augmenting intracellular creatine stores. Pilot experiments were performed in cultured cells, which were used to (a) study the effects of CK overexpression in vitro, and (b) validate constructs prior to generation of transgenic mice. Expression was verified at the protein level for all constructs in HL-1 and HEK293 cells, and enzymatic activity was confirmed. Mitochondrial CK (CKmt) was expressed in the mitochondria, as expected, and CKmt overexpression was associated with a significant reduction in cell death in a model of ischemia/reperfusion injury (68.1 ± 7.1% of control, p≤0.05). Transgenic mice overexpressing CKmt in the heart were generated by a targeted approach, using PhiC31 integration at the ROSA26 locus. Transgene expression was confirmed in vitro in embryonic stem cells, and in vivo at the mRNA and protein levels. There was only a modest increase in CKmt activity; therefore, homozygous transgenic mice were generated to increase expression levels, and had 27% higher CKmt activity than wild-types (p≤0.01). Mitochondrial localization of CKmt was confirmed by electron microscopy. Citrate synthase activity, a marker of mitochondrial volume, was ~10% lower in transgenic mice (p≤0.05). Baseline phenotyping studies found that CKmt-overexpressing mice have normal cardiac structure and function. These mice are currently being backcrossed onto a pure C57BL/6 background for further studies in models of heart disease. In addition to CKmt, transgenic mice overexpressing the cytosolic CK isoenzymes, CK-M and CK-B, were generated. Due to the modest level of expression observed at ROSA26, random-integration transgenesis was used, and multiple lines were generated for each construct (carrying 2 or 6 transgene copies in the CK-M line; 2, 3, or ~30 in CK-B). Transgene expression was validated at the mRNA, protein, and activity levels. These lines are currently being expanded for further validation and phenotyping studies. Previous experiments in our group have demonstrated that increasing intracellular creatine (Cr) reduces ischemia/reperfusion injury, and a series of in vitro experiments was performed to determine whether this effect may be mediated by inhibition of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). The mPTP plays a significant role in ischemia/reperfusion, and there is evidence linking the CK system to regulation of the mPTP. Therefore, a model was developed to test whether Cr affects mPTP opening in cardiac-derived HL-1 cells, as this mechanism may contribute to the protective effect observed in vivo. Cr incubation conditions were determined empirically, and 24-hour incubation with 5mM or 10mM Cr was found to significantly delay mPTP opening, to a similar degree to the established mPTP inhibitor, cyclosporin A. This provides evidence that Cr may exert protective effects in the heart by a variety of mechanisms, in addition to its traditional role in energy metabolism. In summary, the experiments conducted in this thesis have produced a range of tools for studying augmentation of the creatine kinase system as a therapeutic target in heart disease. The results of in vitro assays indicate that mitochondrial CK may be a particularly promising target, and that inhibition of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore may contribute to the cardioprotective effect of creatine. Finally, the transgenic models generated and validated over the course of this project will allow for a wide range of future studies into the potential benefits of CK overexpression in the mammalian heart.

Transdermal drug delivery (TDD) is limited by high resistance of the outer layer of the skin, namely stratum corneum which blocks any molecule that is larger than 500 Da. Research on TDD has become very active in recent years and various technologies have been developed to overcome the resistance of the stratum corneum. In particular, researchers have started to consider the possibility of combining the TDD technologies in order to achieve further increment for drug permeability. Microneedles (MNs) and sonophoresis are both promising technologies that can perform notable enhancement in drug permeation via different mechanisms and therefore give a good potential for combining with each other. We discuss the possible ways to achieve this combination as well as how this combination would increase the permeability. Some of the undeveloped (weaker) research areas of MNs and sonophoresis are also discussed in order to understand the true potential of combining the two technologies when they are developed further in the future. We propose several hypothetical combinations based on the possible mechanisms of MNs and sonophoresis.

Pour les structures de génie civil avec un rôle d'étanchéité lors d'un accident grave, la perméabilité structurelle est une question clé. Dans ce contexte, cette thèse porte sur la modélisation numérique du taux de fuite à travers une structure en béton fissurée. Deux approches hydromécaniques dans un cadre continu sont proposés, une entièrement continu et une autre qui nécessite une analyse semi-discrète. L'approche semi-discrète est basée sur une méthode permettant de trouver le chemin de la fissure. Une fois le chemin de la fissure est trouvé, l’ouverture de fissure peut être calculée le long de la surface de la fissure discrétisé par équivalence d’une discontinuité forte. La dernière étape consiste à prescrire la loi de Poiseuille modifié le long de la surface de la fissure pour estimer le taux de fuite tout en imposant un gradient de pression. L'approche entièrement continue peut être appliquée directement dans le sens où aucun suivi de la fissure n’est nécessaire. C’est une combinaison de la perméabilité des endommagements diffus et de la perméabilité de Poiseuille modifiée. Ici, la déformation principale positive est choisie pour conduire la perméabilité de Poiseuille modifiée. Les deux approches proposées sont validées sur une campagne expérimentale de disque béton sec chargé dans un essai de fendage où la perméabilité aux gaz est réalisée. La validation est effectuée sur le taux de fuite dans la direction longitudinale. Les résultats obtenus avec les approches proposées par rapport aux données expérimentales montrent une bonne estimation de la conductivité hydraulique. En outre, l'approche continue est appliquée pour estimer le taux de fuite à travers un élément en béton armé soumis à une charge de traction où la multi-fissuration en mode I se produit (essai tirant). La comparaison avec l'expérience est effectuée sur le taux de fuite dans la direction perpendiculaire à la charge appliquée. Celui-ci montre un bon accord entre les débits estimé et mesuré si le même nombre de fissures est obtenu par le modèle mécanique.Cette thèse porte aussi sur l'effet des chargements thermomécaniques et de fluage sur la conductivité hydraulique du béton. Un système de perméabilité est développé et construit au cours de cette thèse sur la base du programme expérimental. Une campagne expérimentale est effectuée pour étudier l'effet couplé du fluage thermique et / ou mécanique sur la perméabilité à l’air sec du béton. Les propriétés de transfert dans les directions longitudinale et radiale par rapport à l'axe de charge sont étudiées. L’anisotropie de la perméabilité induite par la charge appliquée est analysée. En outre, la détermination de la perméabilité structurelle le long de l'interface acier-béton à différentes charges de cisaillement est encore une question ouverte. Un programme expérimental est réalisé qui porte sur le comportement mécanique du béton armé soumis à un essai de type push-in, ainsi que sur l’analyse de la perméabilité le long de l'interface acier-béton à des niveaux de charge différents. Une première tentative pour simuler le test en utilisant l'approche continue proposée est effectuée.Cette thèse a été l’occasion de réaliser une nouvelle campagne expérimentale, de produire de résultats originaux, d’effectuer de la modélisation numérique et de confronter les 2 approches proposées pour valider les modèles afin de les appliquer à l’échelle structurelle. / For civil engineering structures with a tightness role during a severe accident, structural permeability is a key issue. In this context, this PhD deals with the numerical modelling of leakage rate through a cracked concrete structure. Two hydro-mechanical models in a continuous framework are proposed, a fully continuous one and another one that requires a semi-discrete analysis. The semi-discrete approach is based on a crack tracking method allowing to find the crack path. Once the crack path is found, the Crack Opening Displacement (COD) can be computed along the discretized crack surface by equivalence with strong discontinuity approach. The final step is to prescribe a modified Poiseuille’s law along the crack surface to estimate the leakage rate while imposing a pressure gradient. The fully continuous approach can be directly applied in a sense that no crack tracking is needed. It is a combination of permeability of diffuse damage and modified Poiseuille’s permeability. Herein, the positive principal strain is chosen to drive the modified Poiseuille’s permeability. The two proposed approaches are validated on an experimental campaign of dry concrete disk loaded in a splitting setup where gas permeability is performed. The validation is performed on the flow rate in the longitudinal direction. The results obtained with the proposed approaches compared to experimental data show a good estimation of the hydraulic conductivity. Furthermore, the fully continuous approach is applied to estimate the flow rate through a reinforced concrete element subjected to tensile loading where multi-cracking in Mode I occurs (tie-beam test). The comparison with the experiment is performed on the flow rate in the perpendicular direction to the applied loading. The latter shows a good agreement between the estimated flow rate and the measured one if the same number of cracks is obtained.This PhD deals as well with the effect of the delayed thermo-mechanical loadings on the hydraulic conductivity of concrete. A permeability system is developed and constructed during this PhD based on the experimental program. An experimental campaign is carried out to study the effect of thermal and/or mechanical creep on dry gas permeability of concrete. Permeabilities in longitudinal and radial directions with respect to load axis are addressed. The loading induced anisotropic permeability is analyzed. Furthermore, the determination of the structural permeability along the steel-concrete interface at different shear loadings is still an open issue. An experimental program is carried out which deals with the mechanical behavior of reinforced concrete subjected to a push-in test, as well as with a permeability analysis along the steel-concrete interface at different load levels. A first attempt to simulate the test using the proposed continuous approach is performed.This thesis was the occasion to conduct a new experimental campaign, to produce original results, to perform numerical modeling and to compare two proposed approaches to validate the models in order to apply them at the structural scale.

A argamassa de revestimento é um material largamente utilizado na construção civil. Após a década de 90, as construtoras necessitaram introduzir inovação no processo construtivo, como um diferencial de mercado, a fim de aumentar a produtividade e qualidade, juntamente à redução do custo final. Em consequência disso, ao longo do tempo, houve a evolução do subsistema de revestimento, apresentando como maior mudança a substituição da aplicação manual por projeção mecânica. Acredita-se que, devido ao fato desta tecnologia propiciar a redução da interferência da mão de obra e possibilitar o fluxo contínuo durante a execução, permite atingir maior produtividade, qualidade e redução de perdas excessivas. Porém, verifica-se elevada incerteza e variabilidade na produção e aplicação da argamassa em canteiros de obras com a inexistência de controle das variáveis envolvidas ao processo, juntamente à carência de normativas e recomendações para projeção mecânica. Além disso, a falta de controle tecnológico e carência de conhecimento técnico, com elevado grau de empirismo nas etapas do processo resultam, muitas vezes, no desencadeamento de manifestações patológicas e perda de desempenho do revestimento. Sendo assim, buscando-se um melhor entendimento das variáveis existentes no sistema e a influência de sistemas distintos para projeção de argamassas, o principal objetivo desta pesquisa consiste em verificar a influência de variáveis com baixo ou inexistente controle no processo de produção da argamassa em relação às propriedades, no estado fresco e endurecido. Para que seja possível atingir esse objetivo a pesquisa foi dividida em duas etapas: a etapa 1, em campo e em laboratório, e a etapa 2, em laboratório. Na etapa 1, em campo, buscou-se o conhecimento e caracterização das edificações, bem como peculiaridades e práticas executivas adotadas em canteiros de obras. Os resultados desta etapa mostraram a variabilidade na produção e aplicação do revestimento, principalmente relacionado à quantidade de água adicionada e sentido de aplicação. Em relação à etapa 1, em laboratório, foram coletadas e transportadas as argamassas produzidas e utilizadas em canteiros de obra desta etapa, em campo. Foram realizados ensaios de caracterização, no estado fresco e endurecido, a fim de observar a influência da mistura (sistema) e do aumento da vazão. Através deste estudo, verifica-se que distintos sistemas apresentam diferença estatística significativa em algumas propriedades no estado fresco, tais como índice de consistência aos 50 minutos e retenção de água, e endurecido, através do coeficiente de capilaridade e resistência à tração na flexão, da argamassa. Além disso, pode-se afirmar que com o incremento da quantidade de água, apenas o teor de ar incorporado decresce, sendo as demais propriedades diretamente proporcionais ao aumento da vazão. Quanto à etapa 2, em laboratório, foram avaliados três fatores controláveis (vazão, sentido de aplicação e altura do substrato) em relação à resistência de aderência à tração e permeabilidade. Pode-se afirmar que a totalidade dos fatores controláveis estudados, bem como a interação entre a totalidade das variáveis (com nível de confiabilidade de 93%) influenciam na resistência de aderência à tração. Entretanto, em relação à permeabilidade, apenas o efeito isolado da vazão e a interação entre os fatores controláveis exercem influência estatisticamente significativa. / Rendering mortars are widely used in civil construction. In the 1990s, construction companies were pressed to introduce innovations in their processes to gain market advantages, increase quality and productivity and reduce costs. As a result, rendering systems underwent major improvements, the most important of which being the adoption of mechanical shotcrete systems to replace manual processes. As mechanical systems reduce operator interference and offer better flow control during application, they are believed to deliver higher productivity and quality while reducing losses. However, the reality of construction sites still shows that the process is subject to the great variability and uncertainty associated with the lack of standards and guidelines for shotcrete application. In addition, this lack of technological control and the limited technical expertise are compounded by the adoption of empirical approaches, which often result in pathological manifestations and impaired rendering performance. To provide a better understanding of existing variables and the influence of different shotcrete systems, this study investigated the influence of mortar production variables that are subject to no or limited control on the properties of fresh and hardened mortar. The study was designed as a two-phase program, in which phase 1 was carried out both in situ and in the lab and phase 2 in the lab only. In the in situ section of phase 1, information was collected on the features of constructions and on the specific characteristics and application techniques used in construction sites. The results of this stage show huge differences in shotcrete production and application practices, particularly regarding the amount of water added and the direction/orientation of application. In the lab section of phase 1, the mortars collected in the construction sites were taken to the lab for the characterization of fresh and hardened mortar in order to determine the influence of mixing processes (system) and flow rates. The study shows that different systems result in statistically significant differences in some properties of fresh mortars, such as the consistency at 50 minutes and water retention. In the hardened mortar, differences were observed in capillarity coefficients and flexural strength. In addition, it was observed that higher water amounts cause only the entrained air content to decrease, while all other properties increase as the flow rate increases. In stage 2 in the lab three controllable factors were studied (flow, direction/orientation of application, and depth of substrate vis-à-vis bond strength and permeability). It is possible to say that all controllable/control variables studied as well as the interaction between them (with a confidence level of 93%) affect bond strength. However, in the case of permeability only the isolated effect of flow and the interaction between the controllable/control factors have a statistically significant influence.

Orientador: Rosicleire Veríssimo Silveira / Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho a incorporação de ácidos graxos essenciais nas membranas dos embriões de Astyanax altiparanae, visando a determinação de protocolos para a crioconservação de embriões desta espécie de peixe neotropical.Para realização do experimento foram selecionados 2400 espécimes deA. altiparanae. Um grupo foi alimentado com ração comum, denominado de Ração Comercial (RC), e outro alimentado com ração comum acrescida de 5% de óleo de peixe marinho, denominado de Ração Comercial com Óleo de peixe marinho (RC+O). No Capítulo I, foi realizado análise de ácidos graxos no fígado, gônada e embrião. E verificado a mobilização destes ácidos graxos e sua influência. No Capítulo IIverificamos a permeabilização do córion nos embriões quando expostos a solução de pronase-E 25mg/mL, por períodos de 10, 20, 30s. Também foi analisado a sensibilidade dos embriões RC e RC+O aos crioprotetores. Os embriões foram expostos a soluções de propileno glicol, metanol, dimetil sulfóxido, dimetil, formamida, dimetil acetamida e glicerol, por 20 minutos. Verificou-se a taxa de eclosão e viabilidade das larvas após a eclosão. No Capítulo III os embriões do grupo RC e RC+O foram vitrificados em solução de propileno glicol 5M, na fase de seis somitos.No capítulo IV buscou-se o resfriamento dos embriões de RC e RC+O a tempeturas de 15°C, 5°C e 0°C, por um período de 12h. Os embriões foram expostos a soluções sem crioprotetor, com propileno glicol 1M e 2M. / Abstract: The objective of this work was the incorporation of essential fatty acids in the membranes of the embryos of Astyanax altiparanae, aiming the determination of protocols for the cryopreservation of embryos of this neotropical fish species. For the experiment, 2400 specimens of A. altiparanae were selected. One group was fed with common ration, called Commercial Ration (CR), and the other was fed with common ration plus 5% of marine fish oil, called Commercial Ration with Marine Fish Oil (CR + O). In Chapter I, analysis of fatty acids in the liver, gonad and embryo was performed. And we verified the mobilization of these fatty acids and their influence. In Chapter II we verified the permeabilization of the chorion in the embryos when exposed to 25mg / mL pronase-E solution, for periods of 10, 20, 30s. The sensitivity of the CR and CR + O embryos to the cryoprotectants was also analyzed. The embryos were exposed to solutions of propylene glycol, methanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl, formamide, dimethyl acetamide and glycerol for 20 minutes. The hatch rate and viability of the larvae after hatching were checked. In Chapter III the embryos of the CR and CR + O group were vitrified in 5M propylene glycol solution in the six somites phase. In Chapter IV, the cooling of the CR and CR + O embryos was sought at temperatures of 15 ° C, 5 ° C and 0 ° C for a period of 12 hours. The embryos were exposed to cryoprotectant solutions with 1M and 2M propylene glycol. / Doutor

O crescimento de células em arcabouços tridimensionais porosos tem se tornado progressivamente ativo na engenharia de tecidos. Os arcabouços guiam o crescimento celular, sintetizam uma matriz extracelular e outras moléculas biológicas, e facilitam a formação de tecidos e órgãos funcionais. Um cimento deste tipo pode ser preparado misturando um sal de fosfato de cálcio com uma solução aquosa para que se forme uma pasta que possa reagir à temperatura corporal dando lugar a um precipitado que contenha hidroxiapatita (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2). A similaridade química e morfológica entre este biomaterial e a parte mineral dos tecidos ósseos permite a osteocondução, sendo o cimento substituído por tecido ósseo novo com o tempo e com a vantagem de não desencadear processos inflamatórios e de corpo estranho, com eventual expulsão do material implantado. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi a obtenção e caracterização de suportes tridimensionais para a engenharia de tecido, com o uso de matérias-primas nacionais, por meio da utilização de microesferas de parafina como corpos geradores de poros. As microesferas foram produzidas por suspensão em solução aquosa de poli (álcool vinílico) (PVA) e sulfato de sódio (Na2SO4). Foram analisadas as fases presentes no cimento sintetizado e após a reação de cura do mesmo, a variação do tamanho de partícula e da resistência mecânica com o tempo de moagem. Foi analisada a porosidade dos suportes e a forma de extração da parafina daqueles que a utilizaram na sua formação. O tamanho de poro dos suportes gerados com a variação da quantidade de fase líquida ficou aquém do tamanho considerado ideal para o crescimento de tecido ósseo. A porosidade dos arcabouços fabricados com esferas de parafina foi observada por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), e seu comportamento foi analisado a partir de ensaios in vitro em solução SBF (simulated body fluid) e em cultura de células. A utilização de esferas de parafina permitiu a formação de poros com tamanho tal que possibilitam potencialmente o crescimento tecidual e celular. / The growth of cells in three-dimensional porous scaffolds has been extensively studied for use in tissue engineering. They guide grow of cells, synthesize extra cellular matrix and other biological molecules, and facilitate the formation of functional tissues and organs. Bone cements has been developed for biomedical applications for a decade approximately. This kind of cement can be prepared mixing a calcium phosphate salt with aqueous solution forming a paste that can react at body temperature generating a hydroxyapatite precipitated (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2). The chemical and morphological similarity between the cement composition and the mineral part of the bones allows osteoconduction in the tissue with replacement of cement by new bone formed with the advantage to not unchain inflammatory processes and of strange body. The objective of this work was the use of the α-TCP cement for making these scaffolds, through the variation of the amount of liquid phase in the cement and of the use of paraffin spheres as pore source. These spheres were produced by suspension in water solution of poly (vinyl alcohol) and sodium sulphate (Na2SO4). The phases had been analyzed in the synthesized cement and after the reaction of cure of cement, beyond variation of the particle size and the resistance mechanics with the milling time. It was analyzed the porosity of the scaffolds and the extraction of the paraffin in that supports. The pore size of the supports generated with the variation of the amount of liquid phase was on this side of the size considered ideal for the bone tissue growth. The porosity of scaffolds manufactured with paraffin spheres was observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and its behavior was analyzed from test in vitro in SBF solution (simulated body fluid). The use of paraffin spheres allowed the formation of pores size able to permit tissue growth.

Os reservatórios lacustres do Grupo Lagoa Feia, seção rift da Bacia de Campos, margem Leste brasileira, tem mantido há décadas uma expressiva produção a partir de campos localizados em águas rasas. A descoberta de grandes acumulações na seção rift e sag (pré-sal) da Bacia de Santos reativou a exploração por reservatórios análogos na Bacia de Campos e em outras bacias marginais. Um estudo petrográfico e petrofísico sistemático foi executado sobre os reservatórios rift da Formação Coqueiros e sag da Formação Macabu do Norte da Bacia de Campos, com objetivo de caracterizar os principais controles sobre a gênese e evolução daqueles reservatórios não-convencionais e seus sistemas porosos. As principais petrofácies de reservatório reconhecidas foram grainstones e rudstones bioclásticos, arenitos ooidais argilosos e dolomitos na Formação Coqueiros, e crostas coalescentes e não-coalescentes de calcita fascicular, rudstones e grainstones intraclásticos e dolomitos na Formação Macabu. A evolução dos reservatórios bioclásticos foi controlada pelo balanço entre dissolução ou neomorfismo dos bioclastos aragoníticos de bivalves, favorecendo a geração de porosidade móldica pouco conectada, ou a preservação da porosidade interpartícula bem conectada, controlando a permeabilidade dos reservatórios. Os arenitos de oóides de argilas magnesianas sofreram dissolução e substituição por dolomita e sílica, o que gerou sistemas porosos altamente heterogêneos, compostos por poros móldicos, intercristalinos, vugulares e microcristalinos. O crescimento de agregados cristalinos arborescentes nas crostas coalescentes de calcita gerou porosidade de crescimento do arcabouço primária, que foi reduzida principalmente por cimentação dolomítica, ou alargada por dissolução, o que ampliou sua permeabilidade. Crostas nãocoalescentes de calcita mostram forte interação com argilominerais magnesianos, que preenchem interstícios, e/ou estão intercalados com as crostas. Sua porosidade está relacionada com a dissolução das argilas, o que produziu baixa permeabilidade. Rochas intraclásticas comumente mostram matriz argilosa, ou estão compactadas e cimentadas. Onde exibem porosidade interpartícula primária ou dissolução da matriz, podem ter boas porosidades e permeabilidades. A dolomitização heterogênea de ambas as Formações em alguns casos destruiu a porosidade primária ou eodiagenética, ou em outros gerou altos valores de porosidade e permeabilidade nos dolomitos. Relações de substituição e de compactação indicam que muitos dos processos diagenéticos ocorreram durante a eodiagênese, controlados principalmente pela instabilidade da aragonita nos reservatórios bioclásticos da Formação Coqueiros, e dos argilominerais magnesianos na Formação Macabu. Este estudo representa a primeira caracterização petrográfica publicada dos reservatórios carbonáticos não-convencionais do sag, e salienta a importância crucial dos estudos petrográficos sistemáticos para a compreensão e previsão da qualidade de reservatórios complexos. / Lacustrine carbonate reservoirs from the Lagoa Feia Group, rift section of Campos Basin, offshore eastern Brazil, have sustained for decades a significant production from shallow water oil fields. The discovery of giant accumulations in the rift and sag (pre-salt) section of the adjacent Santos Basin has reactivated the exploration for equivalent reservoirs in the Campos Basin and in other marginal basins. A systematic petrographic and petrophysical study was performed on the rift Coqueiros Formation and the sag Macabu Formation carbonates from the Lagoa Feia Group in northern Campos Basin, in order to characterize the main controls on the origin and evolution of those unconventional reservoirs and their pore systems. The main types of reservoir petrofacies recognized were grainstones and bioclastic rudstones, magnesian clay ooidal arenites and dolostones from the Coqueiros Formation; coalescent and non-coalescent crusts of fascicular calcite, intraclastic rudstones and grainstones, and dolostones from the Macabu Formation. The evolution of bioclastic reservoirs was controlled by the balance between dissolution and neomorphism of the aragonitic bivalve bioclasts, favoring the generation of poorly-connected moldic porosity or the preservation of well-connected interparticle porosity, which controlled the permeability of the reservoirs. The magnesian clay (stevensite) ooidal arenites suffered dissolution and replacement by dolomite and silica, what generated highly heterogeneous pore systems, composed by moldic, intercrystalline, vugular and microcrystalline pores. The growth of crystal shrubs in coalescent calcite crusts generated growth-framework primary porosity, which was reduced mostly by dolomite cementation, or enlarged by dissolution, what enhanced their permeability. Non-coalescent calcite crusts usually show strong interaction with syngenetic magnesian clay minerals, which fill interstices and/or are interbedded with the crusts. Their porosity is related to dissolution of the clays, what generated poor permeability. Intraclastic rocks usually display clay matrix, or are compacted and cemented. Where they show interparticle primary porosity or matrix dissolution, they may have good porosities and permeabilities. The heterogeneous dolomitization of both formations, either destroyed the primary or early diagenetic porosity, or generated high porosity and permeability values in the dolostones. Relationships of replacement and compaction indicate that most of the diagenetic processes occurred during eodiagenesis, controlled mostly by the instability of the aragonite in the bioclastic Coqueiros reservoirs, and of the magnesian clay minerals in the Macabu Formation. This study represents the first published petrographic characterization of the unconventional sag carbonate reservoirs, and stresses the crucial importance of systematic petrographic studies for the understanding and prediction of the quality of complex reservoirs.

The permeability of surrounding landcover types can influence the probability of animals leaving a patch and dispersing across the unsuitable matrix. The marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) persists in wetlands that are often isolated by upland cover types. The goal was to quantify the permeability of three landcover types (grassland, agriculture, and forest) and calculate the landcover composition of home ranges for a population of rice rats in southern Illinois. Between March 2011 and January 2012, I trapped rice rats up to 95 m from wetlands into unsuitable cover and simultaneously followed individuals via radiotelemetry. I calculated the slope of capture rate (log-transformed) vs. distance from wetland as an inverse measure of permeability and also measured inundation, rice rat abundance, and matrix vegetation density as potential covariates explaining matrix use. I calculated mean home range size for males with the fixed kernel density method and compared landcover within home ranges to what was available in the surrounding landscape. Using generalized linear mixed models, I compared matrix capture rates and permeability levels among cover types, inundation, abundance, and vegetation density. After 13,610 trap-nights, I captured 43 rice rats in the matrix between March and September, with 24 in agriculture, 10 in grassland, and 9 in forest. I did not find permeability differed between landcover types, but did find that rice rats were captured further and more frequently in agriculture than grassland and forest cover. Both population abundance in wetlands and vegetation density < 0.5 m high had positive effects on matrix captures, while lowering water levels increased the permeability of the surrounding matrix. After radio-tracking 25 rice rats, home ranges were 3.01 ±0.57 ha and were the largest for individuals followed in early summer. Emergent vegetation was used proportionally more than would have been expected at random, indicating rice rats preferred emergent wetlands habitat at the home-range level. This study suggests that rice rats are more vagile and move through upland cover types more frequently than previously described in the literature.

Prédire l’évolution de la perméabilité avec la fissuration constitue un objectif primordial afin d’évaluer les conséquences d’un chargement mécanique sur la durabilité et l’étanchéité des structures. À l’issu de ce travail, un modèle d’évolution du tenseur de perméabilité est proposé. Ce modèle, qui est intégré dans le cadre de la poromécanique et de la théorie de l’endommagement,permet de prédire l’évolution anisotrope du tenseur de perméabilité en fonction de la fissuration. L’originalité de ce travail réside dans la prise en compte des ouvertures de fissure et des tailles anisotropes de l’élément fini durant la construction du tenseur de perméabilité. Ceci permet au débit total d’être indépendant du choix du maillage. Ce modèle est ensuite utilisé pour simuler le débit de fuite dans un tirant en béton armé ainsi que le creusement et la consolidation poroviscoplastique d’une galerie souterraine destinée au stockage profond de déchets radioactifs. Pour cette dernière application, la prise en compte de l’anisotropie induite par la fissuration sur le tenseur de Biot est considérée via une loi issue de l’homogénéisation. Les résultats fournis par ce modèle sont confrontés aux mesures expérimentales in situ. / Cracking in structures significantly affects their durability, water transfer and ultimately their safety. This structural disorder provides a preferential path for the penetration of fluids and contributes significantly to the deterioration of structures. This work provides a macroscopic model intended to predict the change of permeability with respect to cracking. The proposed development is implemented within an orthotropic damage model. It assumes an initially isotropic permeability tensor which becomes anisotropic with damage. The objectivity of the hydraulic response with respect to the finite element mesh is ensured by considering the crack localization problem when building the permeability tensor. The model was used to simulate the flow rate through a reinforced concrete element subjected to tensile loading, as well as to simulate the excavation and the poro-visco-plastic consolidation of an underground gallery designed to store radioactive waste. For the latter application, the induced anisotropy of Biot’s tensor was taken into account using the results provided by the homogenization theory. The simulation results were compared with experimental measurements.