Functional analysis of Spr1057 protein Streptococcus pneumoniae The genome of important human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae encodes a single gene of an eukaryotic type serine/threonine protein kinase StkP. Analysis of the global transcriptome of a mutant strain with inactivated stkP gene identified spr1057 gene whose expression was significantly repressed in ∆stkP strain. This gene is coding for Spr1057 protein which is a member of haloacid dehalogenase family. The analysis of the substrate specifity of the Spr1057 protein confirmed nucleotidase activity of this protein in vitro. To study the function of this protein in vivo we prepared several mutant S. pneumoniae strains. Growth characterictics of mutant strains were observed in the presence of modified nucleotides, 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (5-FdU) and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (5-BrdU). In addition, we monitored the rate of incorporation of 5-BrdU into the chromosomal DNA of the mutant strains in comparison with the wild type S. pneumoniae strain. The growth of the Δspr1057 strain was significantly inhibited in the presence of the modified nucleotides and increased incorporation of 5-BrdU in DNA was showed. Neither growth inhibition nor incorporation of 5-BrdU in DNA was observed for the wild type strain. The expression of an ectopic copy of spr1057...

Master of Science / Department of Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources / Jason J. Griffin / Heat and drought tolerance make shantung maple (Acer truncatum) and caddo sugar maple (A. saccharum) good candidates for midwestern landscapes. Improving cutting propagation or mound layering techniques could increase the availability of these species. The influence of time of year, cutting position, and auxin concentration, formulation, and solvent on rooting of stem cuttings of shantung maple was investigated. Semi-hardwood cuttings rooted best (55%). Generally, rooting percentage decreased as indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) concentration increased. Cutting position, auxin formulation, and solvent did not affect rooting. Mean root number and mean root length were unaffected by treatments. Results suggest semi-hardwood cuttings and low IBA concentrations [< 2500 ppm (0.25%)] promote rooting. Auxin concentration influenced rooting of caddo and shantung maple mound layered shoots. Rooting peaked at 15,000 ppm (1.5%) IBA for both caddo (71%) and shantung maples (34%). Mean root number for caddo, but not shantung, increased as IBA concentration increased. Differences in mean root length were not significant. Growers may now propagate caddo maple by mound layering. For shantung maple propagation, stem cuttings are recommended. Propagation substrates can strongly influence rooting success of stem cuttings. Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) chips (ERC) have been suggested as a propagation substrate component. This report investigated ERC as a perlite substitute in a 3 perlite: 1 sphagnum peat moss (v/v) rooting substrate. Stem cuttings of spreading euonymus (Euonymus kiautschovicus), forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia), English ivy (Hedera helix), lantana (Lantana camara), and coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) were rooted in substrates containing increasing concentrations of ERC hammer milled to pass a 4.8 mm (0.19 in) screen. All species rooted well (≥95%) in all substrates except forsythia which rooted poorly in all substrates (8% to 36%). ERC did not affect mean root number or mean root length in any species except spreading euonymus where mean root number peaked at 0% and 100% ERC content and mean root length decreased with increasing ERC content. Bulk density, container capacity, and total porosity increased as ERC replaced perlite. Physical properties of all substrates were suitable for cutting propagation. ERC can effectively replace perlite in rooting substrates for many ornamental species.

Taking into account the technological demand for the controlled preparation of atomically precise graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with well-defined properties, the present thesis is focused on the investigation of the role of the underlying metal substrate in the process of building GNRs using bottom-up strategy and on the changes in the electronic structure of GNRs induced by the GNR-metal interaction. The combination of surface sensitive synchrotron-radiation-based spectroscopic techniques and scanning tunneling microscopy with in situ sample preparation allowed to trace evolution of the structural and electronic properties of the investigated systems. Significant impact of the substrate activity on the growth dynamics of armchair GNRs of width N = 7 (7-AGNRs) prepared on inert Au(111) and active Cu(111) was demonstrated. It was shown that unlike inert Au(111) substrate, the mechanism of GNRs formation on Ag(111) and Cu(111) includes the formation of organometallic intermediates based on the carbon-metal-carbon bonds. Experiments performed on Cu(111) and Cu(110), showed that a change of the balance between molecular diffusion and intermolecular interaction significantly affects the on-surface reaction mechanism making it impossible to grow GNRs on Cu(110). It was demonstrated that deposition of metals on spatially aligned GNRs prepared on stepped Au(788) substrate allows to investigate GNR-metal interaction using angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. In particular intercalation of one monolayer of copper beneath 7-AGNRs leads to significant electron injection into the nanoribbons, indicating that charge doping by metal contacts must be taken into account when designing GNR/electrode systems. Alloying of intercalated copper with gold substrate upon post-annealing at 200°C leads to a recovery of the initial position of GNR-related bands with respect to the Fermi level, thus proving tunability of the induced n-doping. Contrary, changes in the electronic structure of 7-AGNRs induced by the deposition of Li are not reversible.  It is demonstrated that via lithium doping 7-AGNRs can be transformed from a semiconductor into a metal state due to the partial filling of the conduction band. The band gap of Li-doped GNRs is reduced and the effective mass of the conduction band carriers is increased.

Parmi les principaux verrous à lever pour la mise en place de l’IoT, l’un des plus difficiles concerne l’autonomie des objets. Il est en effet difficilement concevable, vu le grand nombre de composants déployés, d’intervenir sur chacun pour remplacer, ou recharger, leur batterie. Dans ce contexte ma thèse a pour objectif de proposer des solutions éco-énergétique afin de rendre tout ou partie autonome des objets communicants, type capteur. Une des solutions est de développer des récupérateurs d’énergie radiofréquences fonctionnant aux fréquences dans la bande ISM, 900 MHz et/ou 2,4 GHz. Grâce aux modules de récupération d’énergie le capteur pourra fonctionner sur une période théoriquement illimitée, grâce à un module de stockage d’énergie embarqué rechargeable. En pratique, la fiabilité de l’élément de stockage définira le temps de vie du capteur, estimé à une vingtaine d’années avec les cellules de stockage rechargeables actuelles. Les solutions existantes dans le commerce sont presque exclusivement développées sur substrat époxy (ou dérivé). Cette solution est généralement robuste et performante. En revanche la rigidité mécanique du substrat réduit l’intégration des nœuds dans notre environnement, elle devient rédhibitoire dans le cas des réseaux corporels. Afin de permettre au capteur autonome de s’intégrer plus facilement, et d’adresser notamment des applications de type biomédicales, celui-ci sera développé sur substrat souple. Cet objectif pose certains défis quant à la maitrise des procédés de fabrication et de report des composants pour les performances des parties radiofréquences / Electronics has undergone an unquestionable evolution in recent years. The progress made gives more efficient circuits and smaller, but especially more and more energy efficient. This evolution, combined with advances in the digital and IT domain, has enabled the expansion of Internet of Things (IoT) applications based on the massive deployment of autonomous wireless communicating sensors. The first generations of sensor could only work during the time of discharge of their battery. One of the proposed ways to extend the autonomy of objects is to use the ambient energy. Several technologies have been developed to optimize the energy harvesting depending on the environment of the sensor. The work of this thesis allows developing RF energy harvesters in three steps. The first part studies antennas structures compatible with the energy harvesting. Each antenna is optimized to either recover more energy or better integrate into the environment. The second step focuses on the RF / DC conversion circuit. The study of different circuits architectures, diodes and number of stages potentially relevant for our application, allowed realising circuits able to work with our antennas. Each circuit was then optimized to increase its conversion efficiency and its sensitivity. The final step was to assemble an antenna with a rectifier to characterize the complete harvester according two different scenarios: opportunistic energy harvesting and energy transfer conditions.

Nesta tese, organizada em capítulos, são apresentados diferentes estudos sobre processos que afetam a história de vida, o potencial de dispersão, as preferências do assentamento larval e o recrutamento efetivo do coral invasor Tubastraea coccinea. No primeiro capítulo, demonstra-se que plânulas produzidas por T. coccinea são capazes de sofrer metamorfose e agregar-se em grupos de até oito pólipos ainda na coluna d´água, sem que ocorra previamente assentamento larval. Nesta seção, foi avaliada também a sobrevivência de propágulos para testar se diferentes níveis de agregação possibilitam uma extensão do período planctônico e, portanto, um aumento do potencial de dispersão. Os resultados obtidos mostram que pólipos natantes sobrevivem mais que plânulas, provavelmente por serem capazes de se alimentar e, assim, suprir a alta demanda energética associada à natação e à procura de um substrato favorável para o assentamento. Grupos de dois ou mais pólipos sobrevivem mais que pólipos solitários. Porém, a mortalidade não diferiu entre agrupamentos pequenos (2-3 pólipos) e grandes (4-8 pólipos), o que sugere que existe um limite para o tamanho ótimo dessas colônias pelágicas. A maioria dos grupos de pólipos que se mantém nadando na coluna d´água (80%) permanece viva após seis meses, o que sugere que a capacidade de sofrer metamorfose no ambiente pelágico e formar colônias de pólipos planctônicos é uma característica chave na história de vida da espécie, incrementando o potencial de dispersão, a conectividade entre populações e a capacidade de colonização de novos ambientes. No segundo capítulo, é caracterizada primeiramente a distribuição espacial de colônias adultas e pólipos fundadores do coral T. coccinea sobre substratos rochosos com diferentes orientações. Para isso, foi avaliada a consistência desses padrões para duas escalas espaciais, uma pequena (de dezenas de metros) e outra intermediária (de unidades de quilômetros). Posteriormente, estudaram-se as preferências durante o assentamento larval e os padrões de recrutamento sobre superfícies com diferentes orientações através de experimentos de campo e laboratório. O objetivo principal desta secção foi determinar se os padrões de distribuição de recrutas e colônias adultas podem ser explicados por processos que ocorrem durante etapas larvais ou pós-larvais iniciais. Os resultados indicam que tanto a flutuabilidade das larvas quanto o comportamento ativo de natação, não relacionado com condições de luminosidade, são fatores que determinam claramente o padrão de distribuição do coral. Como parte desse padrão, observou-se que a densidade de recrutas juvenis é maior em substratos orientados para baixo, sendo quase nula nas superfícies orientadas para cima. Com exceção da quase ausência de indivíduos sobre áreas orientadas para cima, existem diferenças substanciais entre a distribuição de recrutas e adultos para as demais orientações, principalmente para superfícies verticais. Essas diferenças podem estar relacionadas com o escoamento costeiro, o qual é intenso na região de estudo e pode causar depósito excessivo de sedimentos sobre superfícies positivas, inibindo o desenvolvimento de colônias deste coral. Por outro lado, interações competitivas com outras espécies de corais azooxantelados poderiam ser a causa da diminuição da abundância de T. coccinea em substratos negativos. No terceiro e último capítulo desta tese avaliou-se o potencial de interação de Tubastraea coccinea com espécies representativas de uma comunidade bentônica do litoral norte do Estado de São Paulo, recentemente invadida. Amostragens no campo, visando estimar a densidade de recrutas juvenis de T. coccinea sobre diferentes tipos de manchas formadas por organismos incrustantes, foram usadas para obter uma primeira inferência sobre o potencial de facilitação, ou inibição, do recrutamento. Os cnidários Carijoa riisei, Parazoanthus sp e Obelia dichotoma afetaram negativamente o recrutamento do coral sol, enquanto que algas incrustantes coralináceas facilitaram o recrutamento e podem facilitar a colonização do coral. O papel da mediação alelopática foi avaliado a partir de experimentos de laboratório, nos quais foram medidas diferentes componentes do assentamento larval em função da exposição das larvas a extratos brutos de várias espécies acompanhantes. Os testes mostraram a ocorrência geral de alelopatias negativas, as quais em alguns casos levaram apenas à inibição do assentamento, mas em outros à rápida mortalidade das larvas, sugerindo a ação de metabólitos tóxicos. Adicionalmente, foram realizados estudos comparativos de comunidades com a presença, ou ausência, do coral invasor, considerando fatores relevantes para a sua ocorrência, como a orientação do substrato. As comunidades invadidas por T. coccinea tendem a apresentar maior riqueza e equitatividade. A invasão no local de estudo é relativamente recente, pelo que os resultados encontrados devem estar mais relacionados a diferenças na susceptibilidade dessas comunidades à invasão, do que a eventuais efeitos das colônias do coral sol desenvolvidas nas mesmas. Se for assim, o estabelecimento do coral sol no litoral do Estado de São Paulo poderá implicar em uma perda significativa da diversidade biológica de substratos consolidados rasos. Os dados obtidos nesse estudo, abordando aspectos relevantes da vida pelágica e bentônica de T. coccinea, constituem um acervo de informação que poderá subsidiar planos de controle e monitoramento da espécie invasora, contribuindo ao estabelecimento de critérios de gestão de áreas de conservação. / In this thesis, organized in chapters, we present studies on the processes affecting the life history, dispersal potential, larval settlement preferences, and effective recruitment of the invasive coral Tubastraea coccinea. In the first chapter we report, for the first time, that larvae produced by the sun coral may metamorphose and aggregate in the water column without previous settling on any substrate. We then compared the survival of different types of propagules to test whether alternative development pathways allow longer pelagic life, and thus higher dispersal potential. Our results show that single-polyps live longer than planulae, probably because they can feed and sustain minimal metabolic activity. Clustered polyps live longer than solitary polyps, as expected if per capita polyp mortality rates are similar between these categories. However, mortality rate did not differ between small (2-3 polyps) and large (4-8 polyps) clusters, indicating that, in overall conditions, polyp performance attain a maximum at intermediate aggregations, setting an eventual adaptive upper limit to cluster size. In our experiment, over 80% of swimming colonies remained alive for a period exceeding six months. We conclude that pelagic metamorphosis and cluster formation may be an important mechanism allowing connectivity among populations and the colonization of new habitats. Moreover, founder individuals resulting from pelagic polyp aggregation can generate greater genetic variability in benthic developing colonies. In the second chapter, we first characterized spatial distributions of adult colonies and single-polyp recruits of the invasive azooxanthellate coral Tubastraea coccinea over substrates of different orientation, and evaluated their consistency at both small (several tens of meters) and intermediate (a few km) spatial scales. We then assessed, through field and laboratory experiments, larval preferences and relative settlement and recruitment rates on surfaces with different orientations to determine whether processes taking place during the larval and early post-larval stages could help explain the distribution patterns of recruits and adult colonies. Results suggest that larval passive buoyancy and active larval behavior, unrelated to light conditions, determine a clear settlement distribution pattern, in which the density of settlers is highest at undersurfaces and almost nil at upward facing horizontal substrates. Except for an almost absence of settlers, recruits and adult individuals on upward facing horizontal habitat, there is substantial mismatch between the distribution of settlers and that of recruits and adult colonies. The latter were also common in vertical substrates in the field. We speculate that coastal runoff at the study area and subsequent sedimentation may inhibit coral development on flat upward facing habitat, and that competitive interference and pre-emptive interactions with native azooxanthellate corals could constrain abundance of T. coccinea in underface horizontal habitat. In the third and final chapter of this thesis, the interactions of representative species of the benthic community of the north shore of São Paulo state with the exotic coral, recently introduced at the study site, were evaluated. Field surveys of the density of juvenile recruits of T. coccinea on different types of patches formed by fouling organisms allowed us to detect the effect of competitor species that inhibit coral recruitment. The Cnidarians Carijoa riisei, Parazoanthus sp and Obelia dichotoma negatively affected the juvenile recruitment of the sun coral. Conversely, it was observed that the recruitment of this scleractinian is considerably greater on several other species (chiefly fouling coralline algae), which act as facilitators and promote coral colonization. The role of allelopathic interactions mediating larval settlement was investigated through a settlement experiment using extracts of different companion species. Results indicated a general negative allelopathic response, either limited to settlement inhibition or leading acute mortality, the latter suggesting toxic effects. We also conducted comparative studies of communities with and without the invasive coral, considering other factors that could influence coral occurrence, such as substratum orientation. Species richness and evenness were general higher in invaded communities. The sun coral invasion is relatively recent in the study area and, therefore, these results are probably related to differences in the susceptibility of these assemblages to be invaded, rather than eventual effects of established colonies on them. If this is so, the establishment of T. coccinea in São Paulo state may lead to a significant loss of biological diversity in shallow rocky habitat. Our data give a full account of relevant aspects of the pelagic and benthic life of this invasive coral, and constitute a collection with no precedence that may subsidize plans of control and monitoring of this invasive species, contributing to the establishment of criteria used in the management of conservation areas.

Dams are a typical example of how watercourses are being used, especially for production of electricity. Negative consequences that follows are that the character of the watercourse is altered, which in turn affects the composition of organisms. In the summer of 2017, a hydroelectric plant was removed in Nianån. A project started with the purpose to investigate the effects on benthic fauna, one year after the removal. In this study, the watercourse Gnarpsån was also used as a control. It was assumed that the proportion of silt and sand, as well as the water depth had decreased while the water velocity had increased in the habitat of the former reservoir in Nianån. It was also assumed that a change in the density of the benthic fauna should have occurred in Nianån, downstream in the riffle. The abundance of organisms with a burial lifestyle should have decreased in the habitat of the former reservoir, while the abundance of scrapers and filters should increase in the riffle. The result showed few significant physical changes. A difference in substrate composition could be seen in Nianån, however it was the proportion of fine substrates that increased in all habitats (gravel, fine gravel and sand). The water velocity was unchanged in Nianån, and the depth only decreased in the flowing habitat upstream. In both watercourses, 38 different families of macroinvertebrates were found. The proportion of burial animals in the habitat of the former reservoir decreased significantly, but no change in the total density was found. A possible effect may already have been recovered, or more time may need to pass before expected results can be seen. Many factors affect the conditions in the watercourses. To be able to provide better general predictions about the effects of dam removal, further studies are needed, both at the organism level and with a large-scale approach to get a uniform picture of this restoration measure. / Dammar är typiska exempel på hur vattendrag utnyttjas, framförallt för elproduktion. Negativa följder är att vattendragets karaktär förändras, vilket i sin tur påverkar sammansättningen av organismer. Sommaren 2017 togs ett kraftverk bort i Nianån. Ett projekt startade med syftet att undersöka effekterna på bentisk fauna ett år efter dammutrivningen. I denna studie används också vattendraget Gnarpsån som en kontroll. Det antogs att andelen silt och sand, samt vattendjupet hade minskat medan vattenhastigheten hade ökat i habitatet i den före detta regleringsdammen i Nianån. Det antogs även att en förändring av tätheten av bottenfauna borde ha skett i Nianån, nedströms i torrfåran. Andelen nedgrävande djur borde ha minskat i habitatet i den före detta regleringsdammen, medan andelen skrapare och filtrerare ökat i torrfåran. Resultatet visade på få signifikanta fysiska förändringar. En viss skillnad i substratsammansättning kunde ses i Nianån, dock var det andelen fint substrat som ökat i samtliga habitat (grus, fint grus och sand). Vattenhastigheten var oförändrad i Nianån, och djupet minskade endast i det strömmande habitatet uppströms. I vattendragen återfanns 38 olika familjer av makroevertebrater. Andelen nedgrävande djur i habitatet i den före detta regleringsdammen minskade signifikant, men någon förändring i total individtäthet påvisades inte. En eventuell effekt kan redan ha återhämtats, eller så behöver mer tid gå innan förväntade resultat kan ses. Många faktorer påverkar förhållandena i vattendragen. För att kunna ge bättre generella förutsägningar om effekter av dammutrivning behövs vidare studier, både på organismnivå och med ett storskaligt synsätt för att få en enhetlig bild över denna restaureringsåtgärd.

O trabalho aborda o processo de corte de substrato cerâmico, estuda e propõe uma estratégia de projeto para a concepção e tomada de decisões de uma mini dicing saw. A tecnologia dos componentes eletrônicos modernos esta baseada no emprego de finos e estreitos substratos cerâmicos ou de silício. Uma das técnicas para a obtenção destas peças, faz uso da segmentação do substrato maior onde são depositadas as trilhas e os componentes de milhares de partes. O corte desses substratos, quando feito por meio abrasivos, emprega discos superabrasivos de espessura próxima a 0,2 mm e velocidades periféricas acima de 30 m/s. Nestas condições é exigido baixo ruído, alta precisão de giro e elevada velocidade rotacional, geralmente obtido através de mancais aerostáticos cerâmicos. O trabalho foi organizado em projeto conceitual e construção de um protótipo de uma dicing saw ou dicing machine. O protótipo admite peças com dimensões de até 100 x 100 mm podendo cortar até 5 mm de profundidade dependendo do diâmetro do disco de corte. O trabalho avalia condições de corte, como: velocidade de avanço de corte, desgaste e velocidade de rotação do disco abrasivo, profundidade de corte e a qualidade final do corte, como: trincas, lascas, linearidade do corte, características estas qualificadas e quantificadas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e perfilometria. Estudos preliminares de corte de blocos de Alumina foram realizados, detectando condições estáveis de produção na faixa de 5 a 13 mm/s. Menor desgaste do disco em baixas rotações e maiores esforços de corte em grandes profundidades de penetração e avanço do disco abrasivo. / This work studies the dicing process of ceramic parts and proposes a project strategy to concept and take decisions about configuration for a preliminary project and the construction of a dicing saw or dicing machine prototype. The technology used by modern electronic components is based on narrow and thin ceramic or silicon. One of the techniques to obtain these products is to dice a larger substrate using an abrasive blade to generate low damages and high productivity. The dicing abrasive process uses abrasive blades with thickness around 0,2 mm and peripherycal speeds of 30 m/s. On these conditions, low noise, high precision and high rotation is required, conditions generated by ceramic aerostatic spindles. This work is managed in preliminary project and construction of a dicing saw or dicing machine prototype. This prototype is able to cut substrates with square shape 100 x 100 mm and depth of 5 mm depending on the blade diameter. This work tests cutting conditions as: feed rate, blade wear, blade speed, and also test the die final quality as: chipping, cracking, dicing linearity. Quantity and quality characteristics were both verified by electronic microscopes and perfilometry. Preliminary studies about dicing ceramic parts detected stable production in 5 to 13 mm/s. Lower blade wear in lower rotations and higher cutting forces in higher cutting depth and feed rate.

O presente estudo teve como principal objetivo avaliar a capacidade de produção contínua de hidrogênio, sob condições termofílicas (55ºC), a partir de diferentes concentrações de vinhaça de cana-de-açúcar em reator anaeróbio de leito fluidificado (RALF) utilizando argila expandida como material suporte para adesão microbiana. Foram utilizados cinco reatores de idêntica configuração, denominados R5, R10, R15, R20 e R30, com variação na concentração afluente de 5000, 10.000, 15.000, 20.000 e de 30.000 mg DQO L-1, respectivamente (com cargas orgânicas volumétricas- TCO entre 15 e 720 kg DQO m-3 d-1). O tempo de detenção hidráulica (TDH) reduziu de 8, 6, 4, 2 e 1 h. Na estratégia de operação de um deles, (R5) investigou-se os efeitos da co-fermentação de porcentagens de glicose e de vinhaça no substrato de alimentação. Os outros quatro reatores foram operados mediante a adição de glicose como co-substrato ao afluente, apenas durante o período de partida operacional. Em todos os reatores, foi observado comportamento de elevação na produção volumétrica de H2 (PVH) a partir da diminuição do TDH. A máxima PVH obtida foi de de 1,96 L h-1 L-1 (R10; TDH de 1h; TCO de 240 kg DQO m-3 d-1). No entanto, verificou-se diminuição do rendimento de H2 (HY) e no conteúdo de H2 no biogás, com a aplicação dos TDH reduzidos, em todos os reatores, alcançando valor máximo de 4,62 mmol g DQOadicionada-1 no TDH de 8 h (R5) e 57.51% de H2 no TDH de 6 h (R20). O reator operado com a maior concentração de vinhaça (R30) apresentou menores valores de produção de H2, atribuídos aos compostos inibitórios (elevada concentração de ácidos voláteis no afluente - butírico e acético). As análises de clonagem e sequenciamento dos consórcios bacterianos termofílicos revelaram semelhanças (99%) com cepas produtoras de H2, como Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum, Clostridium cellulosi, Lactobacillus fermentum e Megasphaera elsdenii. A capacidade de produzir H2, a distribuição dos ácidos e a estrutura da comunidade bacteriana foram fatores influenciados pelo aumento da concentração de vinhaça e das TCO aplicadas. / The present study aimed to evaluate the ability of continuous hydrogen production under thermophilic conditions (55 °C), from different sugar cane vinasse concentrations in anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR) using expanded clay as support material for microbial adhesion. Five reactors of identical configuration were used, denominated R5, R10, R15, R20 and R30, followed by influent variation concentration of 5000; 10,000; 15,000; 20,000 and 30,000 mg COD L-1, respectively (with organic loading rate- OLR varying from 15 to 720 kg COD m-3 d-1). The hydraulic retention time (HRT) decreases from 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 h. The strategy applied to one of those (R5), investigated the co-fermentations effects across the application of different percentages of glucose and stillage in the fed substrate. The other four reactors were operated by adding glucose as co-substrate to the influent just during the start-up period. In all reactors, it was observed a volumetric H2 production (HPR) increase behavior from the HRT decrease. The maximum HPR obtained was 1.96 L h-1 L-1 (R10; HRT of 1h; OLR of 240 kg COD m-3 d-1). However, there was a decrease in H2 yield (HY) and H2 content in biogas, with the application of reduced HRT for all reactors, reaching maximum value of 4.62 mmol g CODadded-1 at HRT of 8 h (R5) and 57.51% of H2 at HRT of 6 h (R20). The reactor operated with the highest concentration of stillage (R30) showed lower values for H2 production, attributed to inhibitory compounds (high concentration of volatile acids in the affluent - butyric and acetic). The cloning and sequencing analyzes of the thermophilic bacterial consortium showed similarity (99%) with H2 producing strains, such as Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum, Clostridium cellulosi, Lactobacillus fermentum and Megasphaera elsdenii. The ability to produce H2, the distribution of organic acids and the bacterial community structure analyzed in all reactors were factors influenced by the increasing stillage concentration and OLR applied.

Estudou-se a influência da concentração inicial de substrato no cultivo em fermentador para produção de biomassa de Candida utilis IZ-1840 em meio sintético tamponado contendo glicerol (1,2,3-propanotriol) como fonte exclusiva de carbono nas seguintes concentrações: 15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65 e 75 g/L com ensaios em duplicata. Observou-se um comportamento cinético característico de fenômeno de inibição por substrato, tendo-se então ajustada uma equação de modelo de inibição baseada na literatura para os dados de velocidade específica máxima de crescimento celular em função da concentração inicial de substrato. A partir de tal equação determinou-se o valor da concentração inicial de substrato onde não ocorre inibição, definido como S* ( S*=17,511 g/L) e o valor teórico acima do qual a inibição é máxima definido como Sm, (Sm=175,4 g/L). O valor teórico de velocidade específica máxima de crescimento celular, definido como &#181;* correspondente ao valor S* como concentração de substrato inicial foi calculada em 0,225 1/h. / The influence of initial substrate concentration in the growth of Candida utilis IZ-1840 in a buffered synthetic mediurn was studied utilizing glycerol (1,2,3-propanetriol) as an exc1usive carbon source, in the following concentrations: 15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65 and 75 of in double assays. Characteristic kinetic behavior of substrate inhibition was detected, then one model equation of inhibition based on literature was adjusted for the maximum specific growth rate in function of the initial substrate concentration. From this equation it was possible to determine the value of the initial substrate concentration that do not occur growth inhibition, defined as S* (S* = 17,511 g/L).and the theoretical value of limit concentration where above this the growth inhibition becomes maximum which was defined as Sm (Sm = 175,4 g/L). The theoretical value for maximum specific growth rate, defmed as &#181;* corresponding to determined S* as initial substrate concentration was calculated in 0,225 1/h.

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo do efeito do substrato em transistores SOI de camada de silício e óxido enterrado ultrafinos (Ultra Thin Body and Buried Oxide - UTBB). A análise do trabalho foi realizada baseando-se em modelos teóricos, simulações numéricas e medidas experimentais. Experimentalmente pode-se notar que a presença do plano de terra (Ground Plane, GP) abaixo do óxido enterrado elimina e/ou minimiza alguns efeitos indesejados do substrato, tais como a variação do potencial na terceira interface (óxido enterrado/substrato). A densidade de armadilhas de interfaces (Nit) foi um parâmetro importante no ajuste da simulação para se obter curvas de corrente de dreno (IDS) em função da tensão de porta (VGF) e em função da tensão de substrato (VGB) similares às experimentais. As densidades de armadilhas de interface da primeira e da segunda interface foram ajustadas para o valor de 2x1011eV-1cm-2 depois de analisadas as curvas experimentais. Assim, a partir dessas simulações pode-se notar que o modelo usado no simulador era compatível com os resultados experimentais, com erro menor que 10%. Observou-se que o modelo analítico de efeito do substrato proposto por Martino et al. para transistores SOI totalmente depletados com camadas de silício mais espessas (acima de 40 nm) pode ser utilizado para dispositivos UTBB SOI de canal longo (10 m) até a segunda interface (camada de silício/óxido enterrado) entrar em inversão, quando o modelo perde a validade. Utilizando o modelo analítico também foi possível determinar os valores de tensão de substrato máximo (VGBmax) e mínimo (VGBmin), que determinam a tensão que, aplicada no substrato, mudam o estado da terceira interface de inversão para depleção (VGBmin) e de depleção para acumulação (VGBmax). Os valores de VGBmax variaram de 0,57 V à 0,75 V e os de VGBmin de -0,08 V à -3,39 V. O modelo analítico utilizado tem uma concordância ainda maior (menor que 10%) para transistores de canal curto (L=70 nm) em relação ao de canal longo (L=10m), provavelmente devido ao acoplamento eletroestático de fonte/dreno e 6 canal que posterga a formação da camada de inversão da terceira interface, ampliando a faixa de validade do mesmo. Por meio das simulações numéricas também foi possível analisar a concentração de elétrons ao longo do canal do transistor. Observou-se que a condição de polarização da terceira interface (óxido enterrado/substrato) tem grande influência no comportamento da segunda interface (camada de Silício/óxido enterrado) e da primeira (óxido de porta/camada de Silício) nos transistores UTBB SOI. Quando a terceira interface (óxido enterrado/substrato) está em acumulação, a primeira interface possui uma concentração de elétrons menor que a segunda interface, caracterizando assim, uma condução maior pela segunda interface. O simulador também foi utilizado para analisar o potencial interno do transistor ao longo da profundidade. Foram feitas simulações com e sem GP e variando-se a temperatura de operação dos transistores. Foi observado que quanto maior a temperatura de operação, os efeitos do substrato são minimizados devido à diminuição do nível de Fermi. Com a presença do GP a queda de potencial no substrato é praticamente zero enquanto nos dispositivos sem GP variam entre 0,2V e 0,6V. Como nos dispositivos com GP a queda do potencial no substrato é praticamente zero, a queda nos óxidos aumentou em relação aos dispositivos sem GP, podendo causar problemas de confiabilidade. / This work presents a study of the substrate effect on Ultra Thin Body and Buried Oxide (UTBB) SOI transistors. The work analysis was performed based on theoretical models, numerical simulations and experimental measurements. Experimentally, it is possible to notice that the presence of the ground plane implantation (GP) below the buried oxide eliminates and/or minimizes some undesirable effects of the substrate, as the variation of potential drop on third interface (buried oxide/substrate). The interface trap density (Nit) was an important parameter on simulation adjustment to obtain drain current curves as function of front gate bias and back gate bias close to the experimental. The interface trap density of the front and back interface were adjusted to the value of 2x10¹¹ e V-1 cm-2 after the experimental curves were analyzed. So from these simulations, it can be verified that the model used in the simulator was compatible with the experimental results, with error < 10%. It is noted that the analytic model proposed by Martino et al. to analyze the substrate effect for fully depleted SOI transistor with thicker silicon thickness (above 40 nm) is useful for UTBB SOI devices with long channel (L=10 m) until the back interface reach the inversion, when the model is no longer valid. Using the analytic model, it was also possible to determine the values of VGBmax and VGBmin, which represents the back voltage required to change de third interface from inversion to depletion mode (VGBmin), and the depletion to accumulation mode (VGBmax). The value of VGBmax ranged from 0,57 V to 0,75 V and for VGBmin ranged from -0,08 V to -3,39 V. The analytic model has more agreement for short channel (L = 70nm) transistor than the longer one (L = 10m), probably due to the electrostatic coupling between de drain/source and the channel that delays the formation of inversion channel on third interface extending the validity range of the model. By the numerical simulation, it was possible to analyze the electron concentration along the transistor. It was observed that the mode of the third 8 interface influences directly the condition of the back and front interfaces on UTBB SOI transistor. When the third interface is in accumulation mode, the front interface has an electron concentration lower than the back interface, so the current flows mainly on the back interface. This makes the value of the front threshold voltage is less than the analytic model, once the model is valid only if while the back interface is on depletion mode. The numerical simulation was also used to analyze the potential drop on SOI transistor. Simulation was performed with and without GP and varying the temperature. It was observed that for higher temperature, the substrate effect was minimized dur to the decrease of the Fermi level towards the mid-band. With GP, the substrate potential drop is almost zero, while on devices without GP it changes from 0,2 V to 0,6 V For devices with GP the potential, as the drop on substrate is almost zero, the potential drop on front and buried oxide increases, which can causes reliability problems.