Submitted by Sara Ribeiro (sara.ribeiro@ucb.br) on 2017-04-20T17:13:37Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ArndAlexanderBorgesRoseDissertacao2016.pdf: 5356816 bytes, checksum: d957835aa2663d501b6e8dba0a216cfa (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Sara Ribeiro (sara.ribeiro@ucb.br) on 2017-04-20T17:14:01Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ArndAlexanderBorgesRoseDissertacao2016.pdf: 5356816 bytes, checksum: d957835aa2663d501b6e8dba0a216cfa (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-20T17:14:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ArndAlexanderBorgesRoseDissertacao2016.pdf: 5356816 bytes, checksum: d957835aa2663d501b6e8dba0a216cfa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-29 / Economic growth in the last century and in the beginning of this one has strongly impacted nature??s capacity to generate environmental services that are vital to human life on Earth. Global warming, water crisis, desertification and frequent hurricanes are only a few examples of this ongoing aggression. As the environmental situation worsens the importance to create sustainable development models has become more and more necessary in order to leave a habitable world to future generations and to recover the harm done. Brazil has been severely punished by water shortages, not only in the Northeast, but also in large metropolitan areas in the South West and in the Mid - West. One newly developed economic tool in the sustainability context are Payments for Environmental Services (PES) in the sense of provider ??? paymaster, that is, the shortage of ecosystem services has led to its trade in order to correct management mistakes and to preserve ecosystems that are still intact. This study aims at analyzing the social economic benefits for the participants of the water resource and environmental project ???Water Producer??? in the Pipiripau watershed in DF/GO. The research will analyze the point of view of the project participants and to verify if the social economic benefits are appropriate for the feasibility of this kind of PSA scheme. / O crescimento econ??mico acelerado no ??ltimo s??culo impactou fortemente a capacidade da natureza de gerar servi??os ambientais necess??rios para a vida humana na Terra. O aquecimento global, a crise h??drica, a desertifica????o e frequentes tempestades s??o apenas alguns exemplos desta agress??o cont??nua. Na medida em que a situa????o se agrava a import??ncia de criar modelos de desenvolvimento sustent??vel se faz cada vez mais necess??ria para deixar um mundo habit??vel para futuras gera????es. O Brasil tem sido fortemente castigado pela baixa disponibilidade de recursos h??dricos, n??o apenas no Nordeste, mas tamb??m em grandes centros no Sudeste e no Centro Oeste. Uma das novas ferramentas econ??micas no contexto da sustentabilidade ?? o pagamento por servi??os ambientais (PSA) no sentido provedor ??? pagador, ou seja, a escassez de servi??os ecossist??micos levou a sua comercializa????o, a fim de corrigir erros de gest??o e preservar ecossistemas que ainda est??o intatos. Este estudo visa analisar os benef??cios socioecon??micos dos participantes do projeto hidro ambiental Produtor de ??gua na bacia hidrogr??fica do Ribeir??o Pipiripau no DF/GO no contexto da recupera????o da bacia para aumentar a quantidade e qualidade dos recursos h??dricos. Ser?? verificado se os ben??ficos socioecon??micos s??o adequados para a viabilidade deste modelo de PSA.

The national recommendations for use of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test for prostate cancer screening have been modified over the years as scientific evidence emerged. Current screening recommendations discourage widespread PSA screening for men at low to average risk, but provide specific guidelines for shared-decision making between men and their health providers about the benefits and risks of PSA testing. This study was an examination of relationships between men’s assessment of the quality of their care and communication with their health providers, the extent to which providers engage men in recommended discussions about PSA testing, and factors associated with shared-decision making and PSA testing. Secondary data from the U.S. Health Information National Trends Survey 4, Cycle 2 that included men with no history of prostate cancer and in the recommended age ranges for prostate cancer screening were analyzed (N=777). Non-Hispanic white men rated their quality of care higher than men of other races (c2 (49, n=635) = 7.23, p = 0.0098), whereas Hispanic men gave the lowest ratings compared to other men (c2 (49, n=635) = 5.42, p = 0.024). Previous PSA testing was reported by 64% of the men, 56% of whom stated that they discussed screening with their provider and 80% reported that they were asked if they wanted to have the test done. However, only 21% - 39% reported having ever discussed the pros and cons of PSA testing. Discussing PSA testing with a provider was the strongest predictor of obtaining the test (OR=69.5, CI = 23.6 – 204.6) but the effect was significantly modified when providers and patients engaged in the shared-decision making process (OR = 47.42, CI = 14.91 – 150.74). Age, education level and perceived quality of care were consistent, positive predictors of PSA testing. These results indicate there is a gap in provider-patient discussions about PSA screening and suggest that health providers may not be following the recommended guidelines for the content of the discussions needed to facilitate shared-decision making. Effective provider-based interventions to increase shared-decision-making about PSA testing are needed if the national objectives for prostate cancer screening are to be met.

L'un des objectifs de cette étude était de proposer un modèle<br />capable de prédire le régime transitoire et d'estimer rapidement<br />l'état des procédés cycliques de séparation de gaz par adsorption<br />modulée en pression (P.S.A.) en régime établi. En effet, des<br />problèmes de temps de calcul se posent encore de nos jours, alors<br />qu'un simulateur rapide et fiable est nécessaire au<br />dimensionnement optimal du procédé, voire son contrôle.<br /><br />Dans ce but, deux approches ont été adoptées. La première consiste<br />à accélérer la simulation de chacune des étapes du cycle en<br />simplifiant le modèle de grains d'adsorbant bidisperses. La<br />démarche suivie pour simplifier le modèle intra-granulaire est<br />proche de celle employée pour établir le modèle classique de<br />« Linear Driving Force ». Une étude a été menée concernant le<br />choix des variables d'état et la répartition spatiale des<br />résistances au transfert de matière dans le grain. Ces deux<br />paramètres ont en effet tous deux une influence sur la structure<br />du modèle. Le modèle global de colonne basé sur ce modèle<br />intra-granulaire conduit à des simulations de courbes de perçage<br />en bon accord avec celles de la littérature.<br /><br />La seconde approche repose sur l'approximation du procédé cyclique<br />par un procédé continu équivalent. Le simulateur basé sur ce<br />modèle permet d'estimer à la fois la mise en régime et l'état du<br />système en régime établi de façon quasi-instantanée. Pour des<br />séparations de type cinétique, les simulations obtenues avec ce<br />modèle sont en bon accord avec celles obtenues avec un modèle<br />cyclique classique.<br /><br />L'autre objectif de ce travail était de concevoir un pilote de<br />procédé P.S.A. intégralement contrôlé par informatique, permettant<br />de suivre les compositions de sortie, ainsi que les profils de<br />température dans chaque colonne. Une étude expérimentale a été<br />menée sur ce pilote. Elle porte sur la séparation de mélanges de<br />méthane et de dioxyde de carbone sur une zéolithe 5A. Cette étude,<br />associée aux résultats expérimentaux de la littérature, permet de<br />valider notre premier modèle.

Early Effects of Castration Therapy in Non-malignant and Malignant Prostate Tissue BACKGROUND. Androgen ablation, the standard treatment for advanced prostate cancer, results in increased apoptosis, decreased cell proliferation and subsequent involution of the prostate gland. The mechanisms behind these responses are largely unknown, but effects in the prostatic epithelium are believed to be mediated by primary changes in the stroma. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate short-term cellular effects of castration-induced prostate tissue involution in mice and humans. METHODS. Prostate tissue factors affected by castration were investigated using cDNA-arrays, micro-dissection, RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. The effects of local insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) administration were investigated in intact and castrated mice. Non-malignant and malignant epithelial and stromal cells were micro-dissected from human prostate biopsies taken before and within two weeks after castration treatment from patients with advanced prostate cancer. These tissue compartments were analyzed by RT-PCR and/or immunohistochemistry for IGF-1, IGF-1 receptor, androgen receptor (AR) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) expression. Treatment-induced changes in these factors were related to apoptosis and proliferation as well as to clinical data and cancer specific survival. RESULTS. Similar to our observations in mouse ventral prostate (VP), non-malignant and malignant human prostate tissues responded with increased epithelial cell apoptosis and decreased proliferation after androgen withdrawal. Also, the PSA mRNA levels were reduced within the first days after therapy both in non-malignant and malignant human prostate epithelial cells. However, neither of these changes was related to subsequent nadir serum PSA or to survival. Locally injected IGF-1 increased epithelial cell proliferation and vascular volume in intact but not in castrated mice. IGF-1 was found to be mostly, but not exclusively, expressed in the stroma, and it decreased rapidly after castration in both humans and mice. This decrease was, however, largely absent in prostate tumor stroma, and tumor stroma cells showed lower pre-treatment levels of AR than stroma surrounding normal epithelial glands. Furthermore, decreased levels of IGF-1 mRNA in the non-malignant and tumor stroma cells, and in tumor epithelial cells in response to castration, were associated with high levels of apoptosis in epithelial cells after therapy. CONCLUSIONS. In the prostate, IGF-1 may be an important mediator of stroma-epithelial cell interaction that is involved in castration-induced epithelial and vascular involution. Moreover, reduced AR in the tumor stroma may play an important role in prostate cancer progression towards androgen-independency, resulting in inadequate IGF-1 reduction and apoptosis induction in response to castration. Most primary tumors initially respond to castration with markedly decreased PSA synthesis and cell proliferation, and moderately increased apoptosis. Death due to metastatic disease is, however, still common, despite primary tumor regression. This may suggest that tumor cells in metastases respond differently to treatment than primary tumor cells, probably influenced by a different and possibly androgen-independent stroma. Further studies should test the hypothesis that the effect of castration therapy can be enhanced by simultaneous blocking of IGF-1 signaling.

Die derzeitigen Probleme bei der Planung, Durchführung und Überwachung des seilunterstützten Rettens und Bergens entstehen durch die hohen Anforderungen an die Rettungsteams und die erforderlichen kurzen Ablaufzeiten. Einerseits sind die • Güte der Qualifikation der Rettungsteams und der Ausbilder, • Angemessenheit der Ausrüstung der Rettungsteams, • tatsächliche Arbeitssicherheit der Prozesse für alle beteiligten Personen, • tatsächliche Prozesssicherheit unterteilt nach technischer und menschlicher Zuverlässigkeit derzeit nicht ausreichend bewertbar, und andererseits sind die technologischen Abläufe mit ihren Gefährdungs- und Gestaltungspotentialen nur einem kleinen Kreis von Fachleuten bekannt. Dieses Erfahrungswissen gilt es, für alle Anwender zu erschließen. Betrachtet man nun die große Methodenvielfalt der seilunterstützten Rettungs- und Bergeverfahren, die auftretenden Fehler bei Übungen und die Unsicherheit der Planer und überwachenden Personen dieser Verfahren bezüglich der Gefährdungen der Rettungsteams und der zu rettenden bzw. zu bergenden Personen, so zeigen sich Probleme in der Prozessgestaltung. In dieser Arbeit wird, aufbauend auf die Standardisierung der Fertigungsverfahren, ein Baukasten-System mit standardisierten Prozessbausteinen und einem Ablaufalgorithmus zur Anwendung entwickelt, mit der die Aufbau- und Ablauforganisation der Rettungsprozesse beschrieben werden kann. Für die derzeit typischen Rettungs- und Bergeprozesse wurden Standardprozesse entwickelt und in ihren Gültigkeitsbereichen definiert. Der Baustein-Katalog, bestehend aus 127 Prozessbausteinen, ist an der Professur Arbeitswissenschaft der TU Chemnitz erhältlich.

Although the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test is widely used in clinical settings for prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis and post-treatment follow-up monitoring, false positive PSA test results, which contribute to over-diagnosis of PCa, and false negative results, which miss some patients with aggressive PCa, remain problems of clinical importance. Our study demonstrates that radiation therapy, which is widely used for treatment of localized PCa, generates TNF-α in tumor cells and stromal fibroblasts, redox dependently. Interestingly, TNF-α rapidly and transiently triggers the RelA-mediated NF-κB canonical pathway, but its effect on RelB expression is more robust and long lasting, which leads to sustainable suppression of PSA expression. TNF-α further amplifies endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) partially through NADPH oxidase activation and mediates redox-dependent downstream signaling pathways. Addition of the NADPH oxidase inhibitor or ROS scavengers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic can abrogate TNF-α-mediated suppression of PSA expression by inhibiting the RelB-AR axis. Treatment with TNF-α suppresses PSA expression and it confers minor yet statistically significant protection to LNCap cells against irradiation, indicating that radiation-induced TNF-α may not only interfere with the PSA-based PCa diagnosis and post-treatment monitoring but may also diminish the efficacy of radiotherapy. In addition, we uncover a role for RelB in suppressing PSA expression at the advanced stage of PCa, which could be a mechanism for the low PSA level in some patients bearing aggressive PCa. Experiments with both RelB overexpression and siRNA knockdown indicate that RelB negatively regulates androgen receptor (AR) and PSA levels in human prostate cancer, LNCap, cells. RelB directly interacts with AR to form a complex on the enhancer elements of the PSA promoter. Thus, the RelB-AR axis is an important contributor to PSA suppression at the advanced stage of PCa. Overall, this study is the first to reveal a redox-mediated association among radiation-generated TNF-α, activation of the RelB-mediated alternative NF-kappaB pathway and PSA suppression. This mechanistic information provides new insights with practical and clinical implications for PSA-based PCa diagnosis and post-treatment monitoring as well as redox intervention in radiation therapy.

During the debonding of a soft adhesive (as are Pressure Sensitive Adhesives or PSA), complex mechanisms enter in competition at the interface and in the bulk of the adhesive film. In order to optimize these adhesives, it is crucial to understand the transitions between the different debonding modes. We studied these transitions using model materials and carried out a quantitative analysis of debonding experiments with a new image analysis method. We also modeled the mechanical behavior of our materials under uniaxial deformation by using a 2-modes Phan-Thien and Tanner (PTT) viscoelastic model. These studies showed the strong heterogeneity of the debonding mechanisms where process at the interface and in the bulk are in competition. To obtain more efficient PSA, we optimized their properties by introducing a gradient in the viscoelastic properties of the film along their thickness. Bi-layer optimized systems showed interesting properties on surfaces with high or low adhesion. Finally, adhesives with a continuous gradient were realized and characterized by the diffusion of a cross-linker in a polymer film followed by an activation of the cross-linking reaction at a given time

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:03:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MarcosAL_DISSERT.pdf: 1581194 bytes, checksum: d102059d68bb4e5b964f0012273a0656 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-04-28 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / This research study deals with the production and distribution of drinking water with quality and safety in order to meet the needs of the Man. Points out the limitations of the methodology for assessing water quality in use today. Approaches the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) for adoption, by the companies responsible for producing and distributing water, of assessment methodologies and risk management (HACCP), in order to ensure the quality and safety of water drinking. Suggests strategies for implementing the plan for water safety plan. Uses the process of water production, composed by Maxaranguape river basin, the water treatment plant and distribution system, which is part of the Plan for Expansion of the Supply System of Natal, as case study. The results, it was possible to devise strategies for implementation of the Water Safety Plan (WSP), which comprises the following steps: a) a preliminary stage. b) assessment system. c) process monitoring. d) management plan and e) validation and verification of the PSA. At each stage are included actions for its implementation. The implementation of the PSA shows a new type of water production, in which the fountain as a whole (watershed and point of capture), the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and distribution, shall compose the production process, over which to build quality and safety of the final product (drinking water) / A pesquisa trata da an?lise da produ??o e distribui??o de ?gua pot?vel com qualidade e seguran?a de modo a atender as necessidades do Homem. Aborda as recomenda??es da Organiza??o Mundial de Sa?de (OMS) para a ado??o, por parte das empresas respons?veis pela produ??o e distribui??o de ?gua, de metodologias de avalia??o e gest?o de riscos (APPCC), com o objetivo de garantir a qualidade e a inocuidade da ?gua pot?vel. Sugere estrat?gias para implanta??o do plano de seguran?a da ?gua. Utiliza o processo de produ??o de ?gua, composto pela bacia hidrogr?fica do rio Maxaranguape, a esta??o de tratamento de ?gua e o sistema de distribui??o, que faz parte do Plano de Expans?o do Sistema de Abastecimento do munic?pio do Natal - RN, como estudo de caso. Nos resultados obtidos, foi poss?vel tra?ar estrat?gias para implanta??o do Plano de Seguran?a da ?gua (PSA), que compreende as seguintes etapas: a) etapa preliminar. b) avalia??o do sistema. c) monitoramento do processo, d) plano de gest?o e e) Valida??o e verifica??o do PSA. Em cada etapa est?o inseridas a??es para sua implanta??o. A implanta??o do PSA mostra um novo modelo de produ??o de ?gua, no qual, o manancial como um todo (bacia hidrogr?fica e o ponto de capta??o), a Esta??o de Tratamento de ?gua (ETA) e a distribui??o, passa a compor o processo de produ??o, ao longo do qual se constr?i a qualidade e seguran?a do produto final (?gua pot?vel)

The influence of dog education on their behaviour in maturity was described and documented in this diploma thesis. The dog handling and relationship to other members of family and to other dogs were studied. Questionnaire investigation was made in the area of Trhové Sviny town. It was found, that not only the time of removing the puppies from their mother, but also the way of the care for the dog before the removing play important and primary role. The way and the degree of social cognition by the new owner and the knowledge in field of ethology and in dog communication signals of the new owner are important as well.

Magister Scientiae (Medical Bioscience) - MSc(MBS) / Eurycoma Longfolia Jack, also known as Tongkat Ali (TA) is a tropical plant belonging to the family of Simaroubaceae is widely distributed in South East Asian countries. The extracts of TA have been proven to have cytotoxicity, anti-proliferative and aphrodisiac properties. In vitro assays revealed cytotoxicity toward human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, KB, CaOV-3, RD, DU-145and HepG2 human liver cancer cells and appear promising as a new chemotherapeutic agent against human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells. Although, there are extensive studies reported on its cytotoxicity benefits there are none pertaining to LNCaP human prostate cell line. Therefore, this study aimed at testing the effects of TA on LNCaP cells and prostate specific antigen (PSA) production. Materials and Methods This study investigated the effect of different concentrations of TA (0.0025, 0.025, 2.5, 25 and 250 g/ml) TA on LNCaP human prostate cancer cell line for 24 and 96 hours. The following parameters were investigated: morphology, cell viability (MTT), testosterone modulation, Annexin V-CY3 binding (Apoptosis), DNA fragmentation (TUNEL), caspase 3/7 activity (apoptosis), and PSA production. Results When observing the morphological changes of LNCaP cells exposed to TA, a clear increase in detachment and cell death via apoptosis as the concentrations of TA increased. The viability decreased significantly in both 24 and 96 hour treatment of TA at higher dosages (25 and 250 g/ml). The significant inhibitory effects on testosterone stimulated cell proliferation were seen at TA concentrations as low as 0.0025 μg/ml TA. At higher concentrations of TA (25 and 250 μg/ml), for all testosterone dosages a decreasing trend in proliferation was found. vii Testosterone concentrations of 10 nM showed maximum stimulation of cell proliferation for TA dosages up to 2.5 μg/ml. All concentrations of TA showed significant increase in apoptosis of the cells as dosages increased. A higher amount of DNA damage found at the highest dosage (250 μg/ml) of TA. The relative caspase 3/7 activation showed significant (P=0.0043) activation at the highest concentration (250 μg/ml) of TA. Relative PSA production resulted only a 5% increase with no significant difference at all doses indicting that TA does not change the cell PSA production and the decline in PSA concentration is due to LNCaP cells dying as a result of this exposure to TA. Conclusion In summary, the major finding of this study is that Tongkat Ali inhibits the viability of prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP) through caspase-mediated pathway, as well as increased the level of apoptotic such as DNA fragmentation. In addition, Tongkat Alin also inhibited PSA production. In LNCaP cells, testosterone with the addition of TA does not increase the growth of the cells. However, more in-vitro and in-vivo studies are needed to establish the exact constituents of the extracts and their mechanism of action. Thus, this study opens perspectives on the use of Tongkat Ali preparations in the treatment of aging male symptoms, prostate cancer prevention or as additional treatment to standard prostate cancer therapy.