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Neste trabalho foram avaliados os efeitos da adição de polímeros precursores na sinterização, microestrutura, dureza e na tenacidade à natura de materiais cerâmicos à base de carbeto de silício e de AI2O3. As matérias-primas cerâmicas foram caracterizadas por análise semi-quantitativa por espectrometria de fluorescência de raios X, difração por laser, adsorção gasosa e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Para os polímeros utilizou-se análise termogravimétrica. A cinética de sinterização das amostras compactadas foi estudada por dilatometria. A caracterização dos materiais sinterizados incluiu medidas de densidade aparente pelo princípio de Arquimedes e/ou por picnometria de He, porosimetria por intrusão de Hg, análises de difração de raios X, de carbono total, avaliação da microestrutura e por microscopia eletrônica de varredura e de transmissão, análise por espectrometria de raios X por dispersão de energia, ensaios de impressão Vickers para determinação de dureza e tenacidade à fiatura. No estudo de cerâmica à base de carbeto de silício foram utilizados os aditivos óxidos AI2O3 (4% em peso) e Y2O3 (4% em peso) e os aditivos poliméricos PMHS (polimetilhidrogenossiloxano) e polimetilhidrogenossiloxano com D4Vi. O processamento envolveu a cura do material, pirólise e sinterização (1850 °C e 1950 °C/l h. Ar ou N2). Nas amostras à base de carbeto de silício houve elevada perda de massa, principalmente quando a atmosfera de sinterização foi argônio. As amostras à base de carbeto de silício, com adição de polímeros atingiram densidade de até 3,15 g/cm3 quando pirolisadas a 900 °C em N2 e sinterizadas a 1950 °C, em atmosfera de nitrogênio. Para as amostras à base de alumina foram utilizados os aditivos poliméricos PMHS, PMS (polimetilsilsesquioxano) e PPS (polifenihnetilvinilhidrogenosilsesquioxano) e as sinterizações foram realizadas a 1650 °C e 1700 °C, não havendo variações significativas nas densidades obtidas nas duas temperaturas. Nos materiais com adição de PMHS foram obtidos compósitos de alumina e mulita, sendo que os grãos de mulita foram formados intergranularmente. Nas amostras contendo PMS ou PPS a distribuição das feses formadas, Si2Al4O4N4 e Si2ON2, foi bastante heterogênea, A obtenção de compósitos cerâmicos utilizando pequenas adições de polímeros precursores cerâmicos mostrou-se viável para materiais à base de alumina, sendo uma rota simples de conformação, com grande potencial para a obtenção de peças com geometria complexa. / The effects of the addition of precursor polymers on sintering, microstructure, hardness and fiacture toughness of silicon carbide and alimiina ceramics were studied. The ceramic raw materials were characterized by semi-quantitative analysis by X-ray fluorescence, particle size by laser diffraction, specific surface area by gas adsorption and microstructural analysis by scanning elecfron microscopy. The polymers were analyzed by thermogravimetry. The sintering kinetics of cold-pressed specimens was studied by dilatometry. The sintered materials were characterized by evaluation of apparent density by the Archimedes technique and/or helium picnometry, by mercury porosimetry, by X-ray diflftaction, by evaluation of total carbon content, by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, by enetgy dispersion X-ray spectrometry, and by Vickers indentation analysis for determining hardness and fiacture toughness. AI2O3 (4wt.%) and Y2O3 (4wt.%) and polymetylhydrogenosiloxane and polymetylhydrogenossiloxane with D4Vi were the sintering aids for SiC. The processing procedures were material cure, pyrolysis and sintering (1850 X and 1950 °C/1 h, Ar or N2). High mass loss was measured in silicon carbide based ceramics, mainly under argon. Silicon carbide based ceramics with polymer sintering aids achieved 3.15 g/cm3 density after pyrolysis at 900 °C under N2 and sintering at 1950 °C under nitrogen. PMHS, PMS and PPS polymer sintering aids were used for almnina based ceramics sintering carried out at 1650 °C and 1700 °C, without significant difference in the final density. Addition of PMHS yielded alumina and mullite composites, with intergranular mullite grains. Heterogeneous Si2AI4O4N4 and Si2ON2 phases were obtained in specimens with PMS or PPS, The preparation of ceramic composites using small amounts of precursor polymers showed a suitable process for alumina-based ceramics, a simple forming route, with high potential for the fabrication of complex shape pieces.

Dans le domaine des dépôts réalisés par projection thermique, les dernières recherches ont permis de développer des dépôts nanostructures par projection de suspensions (SPS) ou de solutions de précurseurs (SPPS). L’injection de liquide est une technique prometteuse qui a le potentiel pour devenir industriellement viable. Cependant, un meilleur contrôle des interactionsplasma/matériaux est nécessaire. En effet, les torches à courant continu mono-cathodes génèrent un plasma fortement fluctuant qui modifie les transferts thermiques et dynamiques vers les gouttelettes injectées, entraînant un traitement non-homogène de ces dernières. Cela influence directement les microstructures des dépôts obtenus et leurs propriétés. Des travaux antérieurs ont montrés les origines de ces instabilités. Une alternative à l’atténuation de ces instabilités est proposée : le renforcement et la modulation. L’ajustement des paramètres opératoires a permis d’obtenir un plasma pulsé laminaire avec modulation de ces propriétés. Une torche à courant continu modulé de faible puissance est utilisée avec de l'azote pur comme gaz plasmagène. Ce dispositif est synchronisé avec un système d'injection jet d’encre Drop-On-Demand pour reproduire les mêmes conditions d'interactions plasma / matériau pour chaque gouttelette injectée. Des solutions et des suspensions sont injectées pour réaliser des dépôts homogènes avec une microstructure contrôlée. Les objectifs de ces travaux sont d'abord de caractériser et de comprendre les transferts thermiques et dynamiques plasma / gouttelettes. Deuxièmement, de mettre en évidence l'influence de la synchronisation et des paramètres opératoires sur les dépôts obtenus. / In the field of thermal spray coating processes, research has led to the development of nanostructured coatings by suspension plasma spraying (SPS) and precursor solution plasma spraying (SPPS). Liquid injection are promising techniques with the potential to become industrially viable. However, a better control of plasma/material interactions is necessary. Mono-electrode DC torches indeed generate strongly fluctuating plasma that modifies the thermal and dynamic transfers to the injected droplet, resulting in an inhomogeneous treatment of the latter. This directly influences the texture and microstructure of deposits and subsequently their properties. Previous works have shown the origins of these instabilities. As an alternative to instabilities attenuations, a new approach is proposed: the reinforcement and modulation of the instabilities. The adjustment of process parameters has allowed obtaining a pulsed laminar plasma with a modulation of its properties. A low powered home-made modulated DC torch is used and operates with pure nitrogen as plasma forming gas. This device is synchronized with a Drop-On-Demand injection system to reproduce the same conditions of plasma/material interactions for each injected droplet. Solutions and suspensions are injected to make homogeneous coatings with controlled microstructure. The objectives of this work are firstly to characterize and understand plasma / droplet heat and dynamics transfers. Secondly, to highlight the influence of the synchronization and operating parameterson the coatings obtained.

Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) are the two most common neurodegenerative diseases leading to early onset dementia (< 65 years). Mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin 1 (PSEN1) and presenilin 2 (PSEN2) genes cause a proportion of familial early-onset AD (eoAD), while the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) and progranulin (PGRN) mutations have been identified in FTLD patients. Only a few PSEN1 and APP mutations have previously been found in Finnish AD patients, and one MAPT mutation in a FTLD family, while the role of PGRN in Finnish FTLD patients is unknown. Increasing evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress also play an important role in neurodegenerative diseases. The aim here was to investigate the genetics of eoAD and FTLD in the population of the province of Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland. Sequencing analysis of the APP, PSEN1 and PSEN2 genes was performed to determine whether mutations in these genes could be detected. The MAPT and PGRN genes were analysed in the FTLD patients by sequencing and MAPT haplotypes were determined. The contributions of mtDNA and its maintenance enzymes to eoAD and FTLD were studied by comparing the frequencies of mtDNA haplogroups and their clusters between the patient groups and controls and by screening for the five common POLG1 mutations (T251I, A467T, P587L, W748S, Y955C), two common mtDNA mutations (m.3243A>G, m.8344A>G) and mutations in the PEO1 and ANT1 genes. This is the first report of a significant association between the mtDNA haplogroup cluster IWX and FTLD. The H2 MAPT haplotype was also associated with FTLD in our cohort. No significant differences in the frequencies of the mtDNA haplogroups were observed between the eoAD patients and controls, nor were there any pathogenic mutations detected in the genes analysed. The findings suggest that possession of the mtDNA haplogroup cluster IWX and the H2 MAPT haplotype may be possible risk factors for FTLD in our cohort. The absence of any pathogenic mutations in the MAPT, PGRN, APP or PSEN genes in our series, together with the previous reports of only a few mutations found in this region, supports a minor role for these genes in the aetiology of eoAD and FTLD in Northern Ostrobothnia and indicates that this population may have its own genetic features. There may be other, still unknown genetic factors to be discovered, that explain familial diseases in the region.

Submitted by Nadir Basilio (nadirsb@uninove.br) on 2018-06-18T22:38:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Erika Cassia Barroso Batista.pdf: 1153764 bytes, checksum: d2f3d36a962ecb178963820d00e754fa (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-18T22:38:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Erika Cassia Barroso Batista.pdf: 1153764 bytes, checksum: d2f3d36a962ecb178963820d00e754fa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-16 / The activation, proliferation and migration of myogenic precursor cells are essential for muscle regeneration after injury, orchestrated by cells and local components, mainly inflammatory cells, especially macrophages. These are identified as a target for the treatment of muscle injuries. Laser therapy has shown good results in treatment of injuries and the ability to accelerate the migration of various cell types, but there are no reports on their effect on macrophage products influencing the migration of myogenic precursor cells. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of low level laser (LLL) on migration of myoblasts cultured with macrophage culture supernatants of different phenotypes. Therefore, C2C12 cells were cultured with supernatants from cultures of macrophages (J774) treated with LPS and IFN-γ (for the activation phenotype M1), IL-4 (M2a phenotype) and IL-10 and dexamethasone (M2c phenotype) and LLL irradiated at wavelengths of 660nm and 780nm (70mW; 17,5J / cm2; 14.3 s; 0,8J). Supernatants from macrophage cultures were harvested 24h after irradiation and transferred to myoblast cultures. Migration was assessed using the scratch assay and the results statistically analyzed. Myoblasts cultured with phenotype macrophage supernatants M2c and irradiated with LBP (660nm) showed higher migration capability that cultured with supernatants of M2C phenotype of macrophages after 12 hours of cultivation. There was no difference between the other groups. The LLL was able to modulate the migration of myoblasts C2C12 when M2c supernatants of macrophage phenotype / A ativação, proliferação e migração das células precursoras miogênicas são essenciais na regeneração muscular após lesões, orquestrados pelas células e componentes locais, principalmente pelas células inflamatórias, em especial os macrófagos. Estes são apontadas como alvo para o tratamento das lesões musculares. A laserterapia tem demonstrado bons resultados no tratamento destas lesões e na capacidade de acelerar a migração de vários tipos celulares, mas não existem relatos sobre seu efeito nos produtos de macrófagos que influenciam a migração de células precursoras miogênicas. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o efeito do laser de baixa potência (LBP) sobre a migração de mioblastos cultivadas com sobrenadantes de culturas de macrófagos de diferentes fenótipos. Para tanto, as células C2C12 foram cultivadas com sobrenadantes de culturas de macrófagos (J774) tratadas com LPS e IFN- γ (ativação para o fenótipo M1), IL-4 (fenótipo M2a) e IL-10 e dexametasona (fenótipo M2c) e irradiadas com LBP nos comprimentos de onda de 660nm e 780nm (70mW; 17,5J/cm2; 14,3 s; 0,8J). Os sobrenadantes das culturas de macrófagos foram colhidos 24h após as irradiações e transferidos para culturas de mioblastos. A migração foi avaliada por meio do ensaio de ferida e os resultados submetidos à análise estatística. Após 12h de cultivo, os mioblastos cultivados com sobrenadantes de macrófagos de fenótipo M2c e irradiados com LBP (660nm) mostraram maior capacidade de migração que os cultivados com sobrenadantes de macrófagos de fenótipo M2c não irradiados. Não houve diferença entre os demais grupos. O LBP foi capaz de modular a migração de mioblastos C2C12 quando cultivados com sobrenadantes de macrófagos de fenótipo M2c.

<p>Within the last decade, the popularity and interest in dry-aging have constantly increased among both consumers and producers. Dry-aging is a natural value-adding process where meat is exposed to a controlled refrigerated environment without any protective barrier during the aging process. This process leads to the development of unique flavors in the final meat product. Although the prevalence of this process is increasing, there are inconsistent reports regarding the impacts of dry-aging on meat sensory attributes, especially on the flavor aspect. Given that flavor generation is dependent on the composition and availability of flavor precursors, the presence or absence of these precursors may contribute to the inconsistency observed. Thus the main objective of the research described here was to characterize the flavor precursors in dry-aged meat and elucidate potential factors or mechanisms favoring to their production.</p> <p> To achieve this objective, metabolomics analysis was conducted in conjunction with various chemical analyses (free amino acids, fatty acids, sugar content and volatile analysis), microbiome profiling and meat quality analysis (tenderness, water holding capacity, color stability, oxidative stability, microbial attributes and sensory analysis) to identify the essential flavor precursors and their production process. In addition, similar analyses were conducted using multiple meat sources (grass-fed beef loins, cull cow beef loins and pork loins) aged by wet-aging (WA), conventional dry-aging (DA), dry-aging in bag (DWA) and UV-light dry-aging (UDA) to elucidate the impact of the different aging treatments on meat quality, sensory attributes and flavor precursor availability.</p> <p>Regardless of the meat source, the results demonstrated that dry-aging altered the meat flavor precursor compositions, primarily by increasing the presence of protein-derived precursors (e.g., free amino acids and dipeptides), especially glutamine and glutamate compounds. Additionally, nucleotide and carbohydrate-derived compounds such as adenosine and reducing sugars were greatly increased after the dry-aging process. While the fatty acid profile was minimally affected, metabolomics analysis revealed a decrease in sterol and terpenoid lipids following dry-aging, which could potentially reduce off-flavors development in the meat. Other compounds such as vitamin B and vitamin C were also detected in the dry-aged product, which potentially could contribute to the flavor development.</p> <p>Analysis of the liberation mechanisms demonstrated that dehydration played a role in increasing the concentration of the flavor precursors in the dry-aged product, potentially promoting greater (e.g., Maillard reaction) during cooking. Furthermore, microorganisms might be responsible for further increasing the availability of flavor precursors in dry-aged meat, especially free amino acids, along with the dehydration process. Microbiome profiling found that <i>Pseudomonas</i> spp. are the most prominent bacterial species in microbial communities found on dry-aged meat which could affect the precursor release in dry-aged meat. Metabolomics analysis also indicated increased glutathione metabolism during dry-aging, which could lead to the liberation of glutamine-related compounds. The analysis also identified other compounds such as porphyrin rings (iron-related) and shikimic acid (bacterial metabolism), providing further examples of how metabolomics can identify dry-aged flavor precursors and reveal other potential mechanisms related to flavor development mechanisms.</p> <p>These outcomes demonstrate that dry-aging alters meat flavor precursor composition, mainly by increasing the availability of protein-, nucleotide- and carbohydrate-derived compounds. Such results indicate that the Maillard reaction is likely be the main mechanism in flavor generation in dry-aged meat. The current results provided more insights into the dry-aging flavor development, especially highlighting important flavor precursor such as glutamate and glutamine containing products, likely to contribute to the dry-aged flavor. Future study to identify the impact of different microorganism (especially mold and yeast) on dry-aging flavor development would be of interest. Additionally, impact of different cooking process should also be studies to maximize the dry-aged flavor potential from the product.</p>

Background Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) is an understudied precursor of multiple myeloma (MM), the second most prevalent hematologic malignancy in the United States. This dissertation was designed to: (1) Describe the trajectories of serum biomarkers over time in patients with an MGUS diagnosis, (2) Determine if an MGUS diagnosis is associated with changes in healthcare service utilization, and (3) explore the patient- and provider-level drivers of healthcare utilization in patients with MGUS. Methods Data sources include health claims and electronic health records from a community-based population of patients seeking care in central Massachusetts and primary qualitative data collected from providers and patients’ interviews. The analyses included descriptive statistics, group-based trajectory modeling, conditional Poisson regression, and qualitative data analyses. Results (1) Three distinct multi-trajectory groups of creatinine and hemoglobin were identified. (2) The rates of emergency room, hospital, and outpatient visits were higher for patients with MGUS than patients without MGUS. (3) Patients have a basic understanding of MGUS; however, some patients feel anxiety, which may affect other aspects of their lives. Patients primarily see hematologists for follow-up care; other providers have less knowledge about MGUS. Conclusions Biomarker trajectories characterize specific subpopulations of patients with MGUS over time. We found that an MGUS diagnosis is associated with higher healthcare utilization, especially during the months surrounding the diagnosis date. Finally, our study suggests that some patients with MGUS may need psychosocial support services and identifies a gap in knowledge around caring for MGUS patients among primary care providers.

This master´s thesis deals with electrodes for lithium-ions batteries based on LiCoO2. The first part of the project is devoted to the characteristics of Li-ion batteries, electrochemical reactions and characteristics of electrode materials. The next part describes an experiment that deals with the effects of NA doping on performance of layered materials for lithium secondary batteries. The materials were measured by cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy and galvanostatic cycling.

Les gliomes sont des tumeurs qui seforment par prolifération anormale de cellules dansle tissu cérébral. La dangerosité de ces tumeursréside dans le fait que la plupart des gliomes sontinvasifs : les cellules tumorales migrent dans le tissusain autour de la tumeur. Ces cellules tumoralesisolées provoquent des récidives quasi systématiquesaprès traitement (chirurgie, chimiothérapie,radiothérapie), rendant ces tumeurs incurablesactuellement et conduisant au décès du patient. Il estimportant d'associer des études fondamentales pourmieux comprendre leur évolution dès l'origine et desétudes plus appliquées en développant de nouveauxsubstrats pour reproduire in vitro leur évolution. Lescellules progénitrices des oligodendrocytes (OPC)représentent la plus grande population de cellules enprolifération et la plus largement distribuée dans lecerveau adulte, ce qui en fait un suspect idéal del’origine des gliomes. A partir de donnéesexpérimentales de la littérature sur la dynamique invivo de ces cellules, un modèle mathématiquereproduisant cette dynamique dans un tissu sain a étédéveloppé.Ce modèle montre également que les OPC pourraientêtre à l’origine de toutes les formes de gliomerencontrées aussi bien de bas grade que de hautgrade. Par ailleurs, l’approche expérimentale utiliséevisait à développer un substrat de culture cellulaireadapté à l’étude des gliomes in vitro. Ainsi, unhydrogel biocompatible, minimaliste et contrôlable aété élaboré. Celui-ci mime l’élasticité de la matriceextracellulaire (MEC) cérébrale avec une rigidité del’ordre de 200 Pa et l’effet adhésif des molécules dela MEC impliqué dans l’adhésion et la proliférationdes cellules tumorales. Grâce à ses propriétés,l’hydrogel favorise la survie de près de 90% desmodèles cellulaires de gliome utilisés dans notreétude et supporte la croissance en trois dimensionsd’agrégats multicellulaires semblables à lamorphologie de micro-tumeurs in vivo. Le modèled’hydrogel est donc validé pour favoriser la viabilitéet la prolifération cellulaires. Les perspectives detravail futures porteront sur l'optimisation de sacomposition pour mimer de manière encore plusréaliste la croissance tumorale in vivo. / Gliomas are brain tumors arising fromanomalous cell proliferation into the brain tissue.The hazard of these tumors resides in their invasiveability : tumor cells migrate into the healthy tissuesurrounding the tumor. These isolated cells causequasi systematic recurrences after treatment(surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) making thesetumors currently incurable and leading to patientdeath. Hence, it is important to associatefundamental studies for better understanding of theirevolution from their origin with more appliedstudies developing new substrates for reproducingtheir evolution in vitro. Oligodendrocyte progenitorcells (OPC) are the most widely spread proliferatingpopulation in the adult brain, which makes them themain suspect of causing gliomas origin. Fromexperimental data in the literature about in vivodynamic of OPC, a mathematical model that depictsthis dynamic into a healthy tissue has beendeveloped.This model also shows that OPC could be at theorigin of all glioma forms from low to high grade.Furthermore, the experimental approach used aimedat designing a cell culture substrate adapted toglioma studies in vitro. Thus, a biocompatible,minimalistic and controllable hydrogel has beenperformed. It mimics brain extracellular matrix(ECM) elasticity around 200 Pa and the adhesiveeffect of ECM molecules involved in tumor celladhesion and proliferation. Due to these properties,the hydrogel contributes to around 90% of gliomacell models survival used in our study and promotesmulticellular aggregates growth in three dimensionsthat look like in vivo microtumors morphology. Thishydrogel model is thus validated for cell viabilityand proliferation. Future works will be devoted tothe optimization of its composition for bettermimicking of tumor growth in vivo in a morerealistic manner.