Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1998. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-124). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1996. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [70]-74).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Exercise Sciences, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2010. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains v, 82 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 33-35).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Exercise Sciences, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.E.)--University of Canterbury, 2006. / Typescript (photocopy). "March 2006." Includes bibliographical references (p. 171-179). Also available via the World Wide Web.

[pt] O presente trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta para o estudo de problemas de transporte de contaminantes na água subterrânea. No desenvolvimento desta ferramenta foram utilizados métodos de estabilização na solução da equação de transporte e o método dos gradientes conjugados. Os métodos de estabilização buscam superar as limitações impostas pelo número de Peclet. O método dos Gradientes Conjugados, por sua vez, tem como objetivo melhorar a eficiência da solução do sistema de equações decorrente da utilização do método dos elementos finitos na solução do problema de transporte. Desenvolveu-se um modelo de reação química que fosse capaz de lidar com compostos que possuem propriedades de transporte diferentes. O desenvolvimento deste modelo levou à idealização de uma metodologia que abrange outros modelos químicos de uma forma única. Para descrever essa metodologia foi utilizado o paradigma de Orientação a Objetos que deu origem a uma hierarquia de classes capaz de suportar o desenvolvimento de modelos químicos das mais variadas formas. Por fim utilizou-se a ferramenta desenvolvida para avaliar alguns problemas decorrentes da contaminação por HCH da Cidade dos Meninos no município de Duque de Caxias, estado de Rio de Janeiro, e a avaliação da técnica de barreiras reativas como alternativa de remediação de águas subterrâneas contaminadas. / [en] This work presents the development of a tool to study the water contamination problem. This tool involves the utilization of stabilization methods and the utilization of the Conjugate Gradient method. The stabilization methods aims at overcoming the limitations imposed by the grid Peclet number. The Conjugate Gradient method aims at providing an eficient method to solve the system of equations which arises from the application of the finite element method in the solution of the contamination problem. As part of this work a chemical model was developed to simulate the interaction among chemical species involved in the transport process. These species sometimes have different physical properties that have to be taken under consideration by the chemical model. Taking advantage of the Object Oriented paradigm, we proposed a class hierarchy (OOP) to support the development of a chemical model. Finally the developed program was used to study a contamination problem with HCH at Cidade dos Meninos city in Duque de Caxias township, Rio de Janeiro, and to evaluate the reactive barrier design as a remediation method. / [es] Este trabajo presenta el desarrollo de una herramienta para el estudio de problemas de transporte de contaminantes en el agua subterránea. En el desarrollo de esta herramienta se utilizaron métodos de estabilización en la solución de la ecuación de transporte y el método del gradiente conjugado. Los métodos de estabilización intentan superar las limitaciones impuestas por el número de Peclet. El método del Gradiente Conjugados, por su vez, tiene como objetivo mejorar la eficiencia de la solución del sistema de ecuaciones que resulta de utilizar el método de los elementos finitos en la solución del problema de transporte. Se dearrolló un modelo de reacción química para compuestos que poseen propriedades de transporte diferentes. El desarrollo de este modelo tiene como resultado a formulación de una metodología que contiene otros modelos químicos de una forma única. Para describir esa metodología fue utilizado el paradigma de Orientación a Objetos que dió origen a una jerarquía de clases capaz de soportar el desarrollo de modelos químicos de las más variadas formas. Se utilizó la herramienta desarrollada para evaluar algunos problemas provocados por la contaminación por HCH de la Ciudad de los Meninos en el municipio de Duque de Caxias, estado de Rio de Janeiro, y la evaluación de la técnica de barreras reactivas como alternativas de remediación de aguas subterráneas contaminadas.

abstract: Intimate coupling of Ti2 photocatalysis and biodegradation (ICPB) offers potential for degrading biorecalcitrant and toxic organic compounds much better than possible with conventional wastewater treatments. This study reports on using a novel sponge-type, Ti2-coated biofilm carrier that shows significant adherence of Ti2 to its exterior and the ability to accumulate biomass in its interior (protected from UV light and free radicals). First, this carrier was tested for ICPB in a continuous-flow photocatalytic circulating-bed biofilm reactor (PCBBR) to mineralize biorecalcitrant organic: 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (TCP). Four mechanisms possibly acting of ICPB were tested separately: TCP adsorption, UV photolysis/photocatalysis, and biodegradation. The carrier exhibited strong TCP adsorption, while photolysis was negligible. Photocatalysis produced TCP-degradation products that could be mineralized and the strong adsorption of TCP to the carrier enhanced biodegradation by relieving toxicity. Validating the ICPB concept, biofilm was protected inside the carriers from UV light and free radicals. ICPB significantly lowered the diversity of the bacterial community, but five genera known to biodegrade chlorinated phenols were markedly enriched. Secondly, decolorization and mineralization of reactive dyes by ICPB were investigated on a refined Ti2-coated biofilm carrier in a PCBBR. Two typical reactive dyes: Reactive Black 5 (RB5) and Reactive Yellow 86 (RY86), showed similar first-order kinetics when being photocatalytically decolorized at low pH (~4-5), which was inhibited at neutral pH in the presence of phosphate or carbonate buffer, presumably due to electrostatic repulsion from negatively charged surface sites on Ti2, radical scavenging by phosphate or carbonate, or both. In the PCBBR, photocatalysis alone with Ti2-coated carriers could remove RB5 and COD by 97% and 47%, respectively. Addition of biofilm inside macroporous carriers maintained a similar RB5 removal efficiency, but COD removal increased to 65%, which is evidence of ICPB despite the low pH. A proposed ICPB pathway for RB5 suggests that a major intermediate, a naphthol derivative, was responsible for most of the residual COD. Finally, three low-temperature sintering methods, called O, D and DN, were compared based on photocatalytic efficiency and Ti2 adherence. The DN method had the best Ti2-coating properties and was a successful carrier for ICPB of RB5 in a PCBBR. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Biological Design 2011

Sepse é um importante problema de saúde pública, uma vez que seu tratamento gera altos custos a um sistema de saúde já sobrecarregado. É uma síndrome de alta mortalidade e morbidade que afeta, em geral, pacientes jovens com plena capacidade produtiva. A identificação e o tratamento precoce desta síndrome reduzem a morbimortalidade, assim como o custo. A proteína C reativa (PCR) e a procalcitonina (PCT) são bem estudadas como ferramentas para diagnóstico de infecção bacteriana em imunocompetentes, mas seu uso como ferramenta diagnóstica ainda não está estabelecido em pacientes imunossuprimidos. Portanto, a proposta deste estudo é avaliar a acurácia diagnóstica destes biomarcadores, em pacientes críticos imunossuprimidos (vírus da imunodeficiência adquirida  HIV positivos, portadores de tuberculose (TBC), cirróticos e transplantados). Como o uso da proteína C ainda não está estabelecido, a primeira questão de pesquisa investigou seu potencial diagnóstico quando comparado ao teste padrão (cultural). O segundo artigo comparou a PCR com a PCT. Para isto foram realizados dois artigos de revisão sistemática com metanálise. O primeiro artigo comparou a acurácia em determinar infecção bacteriana em imunossuprimidos da PCR ao teste padrão-ouro (as culturas). A primeira revisão incluiu 1.418 pacientes e demonstrou uma boa acurácia da PCR como biomarcador no diagnóstico de infecção bacteriana, apresentando sensibilidade de 69% e especificidade de 76% com uma área sob a curva (AUC) de 0,77. Os resultados encontrados são similares aos da literatura para imunocompetentes,(3) sensibilidade de 75%, especificidade de 67% e Área Sob a Curva Receiver Operating Characteristic (AUROC) de 0,92. Quando a PCT foi comparada com a PCR, ambos os biomarcadores mostraram acurácia moderada na utilização como ferrramenta de diagnóstico de infecção bacteriana, com um diagnóstico da razão de chances (DOR) de 7,24 (95% CI (2,83-14,60) para PCT e de 5,56 (95% CI (5,21-10,30) para PCR. A PCT e a PCR apresentaram sensibilidade de 69% e 68% e uma especificidade de 75% e 71%, respectivamente. Ambas mostraram resultados semelhantes, podendo ser utilizadas no diagnóstico de sepse em imunossupressos. / Sepsis is a major public health problem, since its treatment generates high costs, a health system already overburdened. A high mortality and morbidity syndrome affects, in general, young patients with full production capacity. The identification and early treatment of this syndrome reduce morbidity and mortality as well as the cost. C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) are well studied as tools for diagnosis of bacterial infection in immunocompetent patients, but its use as a diagnostic tool is not yet established in immunocompromised patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of these biomarkers in immunosuppresses critical patients (human immunodeficiency virus, cirrhotic and transplant). As the use of the c protein is not yet established, the first research question investigated their diagnostic potential when compared to the pattern (cultural). The second article compared to CRP and PCT. For this, there were two articles of a systematic review and meta-analysis. The first article compared the accuracy in determining bacterial infection in immunosuppresses of CRP to the gold standard (cultures). Our first review included 1,418 patients and showed good accuracy of CRP as a biomarker for the diagnosis of bacterial infection presenting a sensibility of 69% and 76% specificity with an area under the curve (AUC) 0.77. The results are similar to those found in the literature for immunocompetent,(3) sensitivity 75%, specificity of 67% and Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUROC): 0.92. When the PCT was compared with PCR, both biomarkers showed a moderately accurate for use as tool diagnostic bacterial infection with a Odds ratio diagnostic (DOR) 7.24 (95% CI (2.83-14.60) and PCT to 5:56 (95% CI (5.21-10.30) for CRP. the PCT and CRP had a sensitivity of 69% and 68% and a specificity of 75% and 71%, respectively. Both showed similar results may be used in the diagnosis of sepsis in immunosuppression.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (Biotechnology) / High temperature stress is synonymous with the attenuation of plant growth, metabolism and eventually death resulting in major loss of crop productivity worldwide. Part of the metabolic perturbations associated with heat stress leads to the excessive formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which have highly deleterious effects on cellular homeostasis. Naturally, through millions of years of evolution and adjustment, plants have developed antioxidant enzymes that neutralize harmful ROS species offering a protective role in the annulment of oxidative damage in response to high temperature. The aim of this study was to measure the activity of several antioxidant enzymes in response to heat stress in Zea mays.