À partir des ovocytes de la palourde Spisula solidissima, un ADNc codant un récepteur nommé Spi-OAR a été cloné et séquencé. Une analyse de la séquence en acides aminés a indiqué que ce nouveau récepteur possède une forte similarité avec les récepteurs β-adrénergiques et les récepteurs à octopamine. En effet, il est étroitement lié à la classe des récepteurs à octopamine « β-adrénergique-like » couplés à une protéine Gs. L’ADNc de Spi-OAR a été introduit dans un vecteur d'expression (pCEP4) et un épitope reconnaissable par un anticorps commercial a été ajouté au segment N-terminal. Cette construction a été transfectée dans des cellules hôtes (HEK 293) et des études d’immunofluorescence ont montré une expression efficace du récepteur au niveau membranaire. Également, des mesures d'AMPc pour les cellules exprimant Spi-OAR ont révélé une augmentation de ce messager secondaire lors de l'ajout de l'octopamine, et dans une moindre mesure, la tyramine, tandis que la dopamine, la sérotonine et l'histamine n’ont engendré aucun effet. Une légère activité constitutive de ce récepteur dans les cellules hôtes a été observée. De plus, une analyse RT-PCR avec des oligonucléotides spécifiques a révélé l'ARNm de Spi-OAR non seulement dans les ovocytes, mais aussi dans les gonades, le cœur, les muscles adducteurs, les branchies et les ganglions suggérant que ce récepteur soit exprimé de façon ubiquitaire dans divers tissus et dans différents stades embryonnaires chez la palourde. En outre, des études avec des ovocytes isolés n'ont montré aucun effet de l’octopamine sur la réactivation méiotique. Des études éventuelles pourront finalement confirmer le rôle fonctionnel de Spi-OAR. / A cDNA encoding for an octopamine receptor named Spi-OAR was cloned and sequenced from the surf clam Spisula solidissima oocytes. An analysis of its predicted amino acid sequence showed a high degree of similarity with β-adrenergic and octopamine receptors. This receptor qualifies as a novel receptor closely related to the proposed class of insect octopamine « β-adrenergic–like » receptors coupled to Gs protein. This cDNA was introduced into an expression vector (pCEP4), with an added N-terminal FLAG tag sequence, and transfected in host cells (HEK 293). Immunofluorescence studies showed expression of the receptor with a proper localization to the plasma membrane. Measurements of cAMP in transfected cells revealed that addition of octopamine, and to a lower extent, tyramine induced a rise in cAMP while dopamine, serotonine and histamine had no effect. Overexpression of Spi-OAR in mammalian cells induced slight constitutive increase of cAMP. An RT-PCR analysis with specific oligonucleotides revealed the presence of the receptor mRNA not only in oocytes but also in whole gonads, heart, adductor muscle, gills and ganglia suggesting that this receptor is likely ubiquitously expressed. Expression of Spi-OAR was also detected at different embryonic stages. Despite the demonstrated expression of Spi-OAR in oocytes, octopamine had no effect on meiotic reinitiation. Further studies will examine the function of Spi-OAR.

Submitted by Sandra Pereira (srpereira@ufrrj.br) on 2018-08-21T13:55:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2010 - Joaquim Neto de Sousa Santos.pdf: 1864983 bytes, checksum: e70ed9f5ee68c8f365819e496dbb0176 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-21T13:55:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2010 - Joaquim Neto de Sousa Santos.pdf: 1864983 bytes, checksum: e70ed9f5ee68c8f365819e496dbb0176 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-21 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico, CNPq, Brasil. / Morphodynamism, extratification and seasonality are among the main factor to influence the composition and abundance of the macroinfauna in sandy beaches. The macroinfauna of two sandy beaches were sampled between winter-2005 and summer-2006 during low tide; one beach was protected (Flamengo beach) located in Guanabara bay, and the other was exposed to waves in the oceanic zone (Grumari beach). The hypothesis that the physical characteristics of the beaches determine the difference in composition and relative abundance of the macroinfauna was tested. Flamengo beach was characterized as dissipative and had comparatively higher t?xon richenes and lower biomass, when compared with Grumari beach that was classsified as reflective. In Flamengo beaches, higher abundance was recordded for Enoploides sp, and Emerita brasiliensis, whereas in Grumari beach Sacocirrus sp and E. brasiliensis were the most abundant taxons. The beaches showed highe dissimilarity in composition and relative abundance of the taxons (91.75%). Sacocirrus sp, Enoploides sp, Dispio uncinata, Scolelepis goodbobyi and E. brasiliensis explained 63.70% of the dissimilarity between the two beaches. In both beaches, we observed extratification in occurence and abundance of the macroinfauna in two seasons. Emerita brasiliensis occurred mainly in Grumary beach in the extrate 1 and Sacocirrus sp in extrate 2, while in Flamengo beach E. brasiliensis and Enoploides sp had the highest abundance in extrate 1 and S. goodbody and D. uncinata in extrate 3. The hypothesis that the macrofauna differs among extrate and beaches was accepted and the differences in composition and relative abundance of the macroinfauna were attributed to morphodynamism, althought other environmental factores can be influencing such differences. / O morfodinamismo, estratifica??o e a sazonalidade s?o os fatores mais importantes na determina??o da composi??o e abund?ncia da macroinfauna em praias arenosas. A macroinfauna de duas praias foi amostrada no inverno/2005 e ver?o/2006 durante a mar? baixa, sendo uma praia protegida (Flamengo) localizada na ba?a de Guanabara, e outra praia exposta localizada na zona oce?nica (Grumari). Foi testada a hip?tese que as caracter?sticas f?sicas das praias determinam diferen?as na composi??o e abund?ncia da macroinfauna. A praia do Flamengo foi caracterizada como dissipativa e apresentou maior riqueza de t?xons, e menor biomassa, quando comparada com a praia de Grumari classificada como refletiva. Na praia do Flamengo as maiores abund?ncias foram registradas para Enoploides sp, e Emerita brasiliensis, enquanto em Grumari foram Sacocirrus sp e E. brasiliensis. As praias apresentaram elevada dissimilaridade na composi??o e abund?ncia relativa dos t?xons (91.75%), Sacocirrus sp, Enoploides sp, Dispio uncinata, Scolelepis goodbobyi e E. brasiliensis explicaram 63.70% das diferen?as entre as praias. Em ambas as praias foram observadas estratifica??es na ocorr?ncia e abund?ncia da macroinfauna nas duas esta??es analisadas. Na praia de Grumari, E. brasiliensis ocorreu principalmente no estrato 1 e Sacocirrus sp no estrato 2, enquanto na praia do Flamengo E. brasiliensis e Enoploides sp apresentaram as maiores abund?ncias no estrato 1 e S. goodbodyi e D. uncinata no estrato 3. A hip?tese da varia??o na composi??o da macroinfauna entre os extratos foi aceita, e as diferen?as observadas na composi??o e abund?ncia da macroinfauna foram atribu?das ao morfodinamismo; no entanto, outros fatores ambientais podem estar relacionados com tais diferen?as.

The aim of this study was to measure the degree of dehydration experienced during surf practice and examine the effect this might have on surfing performance, cognitive function and muscular endurance of elite surfers. Twelve male national and international level surfers volunteered to take part in the study. Their mean (± SD) age, body mass, height and surfing experience were 27.0 ± 3.3 years, 73.2 ± 7.1 kg, 1.7 ± 0.05 m and 21.0 ± 3.1 years, respectively. The participants were randomly assigned to one of two trials: no fluid ingestion (NF) or fluid ingestion (FI) during 100 min of surf practice in a steamer wetsuit. The experiment was designed to emulate not only the physical and cognitive demands of surfing but also the ambient environment in which it takes place. Before and immediately after surf practice, the participants had their hydration status measured, completed a cognitive test battery and upper and lower-body muscular endurance tests. Surfing performance was assessed during the first and last 20 min of practice. At the conclusion of the NF trial, participants showed a 3.9 ± 0.7% body mass (BM) loss, this was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than the 1.6 ± 0.7% BM loss seen at the end of the FI trial. In the NF trial, surfing performance decreased by 20.3 ± 7.1%, but showed a slight improvement in the FI trial (1.9 ± 10.2%). Of the six cognitive domains assessed (short-term memory, information processing speed, working memory, attention, visuomotor skill and visual acuity) all were significantly impaired when at a 3.9 ± 0.7% BM loss (P < 0.05) yet were unaffected at a 1.6 ± 0.7% BM loss. Information processing speed and working memory were the most strongly correlated to surfing performance (r = 0.74; P < 0.05). At the conclusion of the NF trial upper and lower-body muscular endurance were diminished by 21.2 ± 5.5% and 4.4 ± 5.8%, respectively. At the conclusion of the FI trial upper-body muscular endurance was reduced by 17.0 ± 4.1% while lower-body muscular endurance was marginally better (1 ± 3%). There was a significant difference in muscular endurance capacity between trials yet no significant correlation was observed between muscular endurance and surfing performance. The findings of this study suggest that surf practice for 100 min in a steamer wetsuit results in BM loss severe enough to significantly impair surfing performance, cognitive function and muscular endurance. Yet, when water is consumed during surf practice, surfing performance, cognitive function and lower body (but not upper-body) muscular endurance is maintained. Keywords: fluid ingestion, surf training, steamer wetsuit, hypohydration.

Die Arbeit stellt neu entwickelte Röntgenbeugungsmethoden vor, mit deren Hilfe der Verzerrungszustand des Kristallgitters von Halbleiter-Wafern und -Bauteilen im Detail charakterisiert werden kann. Hierzu werden die aussergewöhnlichen Eigenschaften der an modernen Synchrotrons wie der ESRF (Grenoble) verfügbaren Röntgenstrahlung genutzt. <br>Im ersten Teil der Arbeit werden Röntgen-Diffraktometrie und -Topographie zu einer Untersuchungsmethode kombiniert, mit der die makroskopische Krümmung von Halbleiter-Wafern ebenso wie ihre mikroskopische Defektstruktur abgebildet werden kann. Der zweite Teil ist der Untersuchung von epitaktisch gewachsenen und geätzten Oberflächengittern mit Abmessungen im Submikrometer-Bereich gewidmet. Die unterschiedlichen Gitterkonstanten der beteiligten Halbleitermaterialien führen zu einem inhomogenen Verzerrungsfeld in der Probe, das sich im Röntgenbild durch eine charakteristische Verformung des Beugungsmusters in der Umgebung der Bragg-Reflexe äussert. Die Analyse der experimentell gemessenen Beugungsmuster geschieht mit Hilfe eines neu entwickelten Simulationsverfahrens, das Elastizitätstheorie und eine semi-kinematische Röntgenbeugungstheorie miteinander verbindet. Durch quantitativen Vergleich der Simulationsergebnisse mit den Messdaten kann auf den genauen Verlauf des Verzerrungsfeldes in den Proben zurückgeschlossen werden. Dieses Verfahren wird erfolgreich auf verschiedene Halbleiter-Probensysteme angewendet, und schliesslich auch auf die Untersuchung von akustischen Oberflächenwellen in Halbleiterkristallen übertragen. / This thesis presents newly developed X-ray methods which can be used to characterize in detail the state of distortion of the crystal lattice in semiconductor wafers, devices and nanostructures. The methods use the extraordinary properties of the X-rays available from modern synchrotron sources such as the ESRF (Grenoble). <br>In the first part of the thesis, X-ray diffractometry and X-ray topography are combined into a new method, called X-ray rocking curve imaging, which allows to image the macroscopic curvature of semiconductor wafers as well as the underlying microscopic defect structure. The second part of the thesis deals with the investigation of epitaxially grown and subsequently etched semiconductor gratings with lateral periods below the micrometer. The lattice mismatch between the different materials used in heteroepitaxy leads to a non-uniform strain field in the sample, which is reflected in a characteristic distortion of the X-ray diffraction pattern around each Bragg peak. The experimental data are evaluated with the help of a newly developed simulation procedure which combines elasticity theory with a semi-kinematical theory of X-ray diffraction. From a quantitative comparison of measured and simulated data the detailed shape of the strain field in the samples can be deduced. This procedure is used successfully for the structural characterization of different types of semiconductor gratings, and is finally applied also to the investigation of surface acoustic waves in crystals.

Video based remote sensing techniques are well suited to collect spatially resolved wave images in the surf zone with breaking waves and dynamic bathymetric changes. An advanced video-based depth inversion method is developed to remotely survey bathymetry in the surf zone. The present method involves image processing of original wave image sequences, wave property estimation based on linear feature extraction from the processed image sequences, and is combined with a nonlinear depth inversion model. The original wave image sequences are processed through video image frame differencing and directional low-pass filtering schemes to remove wave-breaking-induced foam noise having high frequencies in the surf zone. The features of individual crest trajectories are extracted from the processed and rectified image sequences, i.e. processed image cross-shore timestacks, by tracking pixels of high intensity within an interrogation window of a Radon-transform-based line-detection algorithm. The wave celerity is computed using space-time information of the extracted trajectories of individual wave crests in the cross-shore timestack domain. The presented retrieval of nearshore bathymetry from video image sequences is based on a nonlinear depth inversion using the nonlinear shallow water wave theory. The nonlinear wave amplitude dispersion effects at the breaker points are determined by combining the nonlinear shallow water celerity equation with a wave breaker criterion, thereby computing water depths iteratively from the celerity measured from the video data. The water depths estimated at the breaker points present initial bathymetric anchor points. Bathymetric profiles in the surf zone are inverted by calculating wave heights dissipated after wave breaking with a wave dissipation model and wave heights shoaled before wave breaking with a wave shoaling model. The continuous wave amplitude dispersion effects are subtracted from the measured celerity profiles, resulting in nearshore bathymetric profiles. The nonlinear depth inversion derived bathymetric estimates from nearshore imagery match the measured values with a biased mean depth error of about +0.06m in the depth range of 0.1 to 3m. In addition, the wave height estimates by the depth inversion model are comparable to the in-situ measured wave heights with a biased mean wave height error of about +0.14m. The present depth inversion method based on optical remote-sensing supports coastal management, navigation, and amphibious operations.

This document is intended to be used strictly for VOSHUS, LLC as a marketing plan dating from June 2012-May 2013. Within the plan are a variety of elements meant to enhance brand awareness, reach the target market, and increase the overall profit margin. As VOSHUS is a start up brand, the budget for marketing is rather low, but it is divided as best as both the author of this document and the owner of VOSHUS saw fit. With this plan as a guideline to marketing the brand in its first official launch, VOSHUS will finally have the opportunity to become the powerful brand it is meant to be. / text

Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία ασχολείται με ένα σημαντικό ερευνητικό πρόβλημα του πεδίου της υπολογιστικής όρασης το οποίο είναι η Αναγνώριση Προτύπων (pattern recognition) μέσα από εικόνες. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, θα μελετήσουμε τον σχεδιασμό και την υλοποίηση ενός συστήματος αναγνώρισης αντικειμένων από ψηφιακές εικόνες καθώς και την ταξινόμησή τους σε κατηγορίες (image classification). / This thesis deals with an important research problem field of computer vision which is pattern recognition through images. In particular, we will study the design and implementation of a system to recognize objects from digital images and their classification in categories (image classification).

À partir des ovocytes de la palourde Spisula solidissima, un ADNc codant un récepteur nommé Spi-OAR a été cloné et séquencé. Une analyse de la séquence en acides aminés a indiqué que ce nouveau récepteur possède une forte similarité avec les récepteurs β-adrénergiques et les récepteurs à octopamine. En effet, il est étroitement lié à la classe des récepteurs à octopamine « β-adrénergique-like » couplés à une protéine Gs. L’ADNc de Spi-OAR a été introduit dans un vecteur d'expression (pCEP4) et un épitope reconnaissable par un anticorps commercial a été ajouté au segment N-terminal. Cette construction a été transfectée dans des cellules hôtes (HEK 293) et des études d’immunofluorescence ont montré une expression efficace du récepteur au niveau membranaire. Également, des mesures d'AMPc pour les cellules exprimant Spi-OAR ont révélé une augmentation de ce messager secondaire lors de l'ajout de l'octopamine, et dans une moindre mesure, la tyramine, tandis que la dopamine, la sérotonine et l'histamine n’ont engendré aucun effet. Une légère activité constitutive de ce récepteur dans les cellules hôtes a été observée. De plus, une analyse RT-PCR avec des oligonucléotides spécifiques a révélé l'ARNm de Spi-OAR non seulement dans les ovocytes, mais aussi dans les gonades, le cœur, les muscles adducteurs, les branchies et les ganglions suggérant que ce récepteur soit exprimé de façon ubiquitaire dans divers tissus et dans différents stades embryonnaires chez la palourde. En outre, des études avec des ovocytes isolés n'ont montré aucun effet de l’octopamine sur la réactivation méiotique. Des études éventuelles pourront finalement confirmer le rôle fonctionnel de Spi-OAR. / A cDNA encoding for an octopamine receptor named Spi-OAR was cloned and sequenced from the surf clam Spisula solidissima oocytes. An analysis of its predicted amino acid sequence showed a high degree of similarity with β-adrenergic and octopamine receptors. This receptor qualifies as a novel receptor closely related to the proposed class of insect octopamine « β-adrenergic–like » receptors coupled to Gs protein. This cDNA was introduced into an expression vector (pCEP4), with an added N-terminal FLAG tag sequence, and transfected in host cells (HEK 293). Immunofluorescence studies showed expression of the receptor with a proper localization to the plasma membrane. Measurements of cAMP in transfected cells revealed that addition of octopamine, and to a lower extent, tyramine induced a rise in cAMP while dopamine, serotonine and histamine had no effect. Overexpression of Spi-OAR in mammalian cells induced slight constitutive increase of cAMP. An RT-PCR analysis with specific oligonucleotides revealed the presence of the receptor mRNA not only in oocytes but also in whole gonads, heart, adductor muscle, gills and ganglia suggesting that this receptor is likely ubiquitously expressed. Expression of Spi-OAR was also detected at different embryonic stages. Despite the demonstrated expression of Spi-OAR in oocytes, octopamine had no effect on meiotic reinitiation. Further studies will examine the function of Spi-OAR.

ABSTRACT PARAMETER OPTIMIZATION OF CHEMICALLY ACTIVATED MORTARS CONTAINING HIGH VOLUMES OF POZZOLAN BY STATISTICAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF EXPERIMENTS Aldemir, BaSak M.S., Department of Industrial Engineering Supervisor: Prof. Dr. &Ouml / mer Saat&ccedil / ioglu Co-Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lutfullah Turanli January 2006, 167 pages This thesis illustrates parameter optimization of early and late compressive strengths of chemically activated mortars containing high volumes of pozzolan by statistical design and analysis of experiments. Four dominant parameters in chemical activation of natural pozzolans are chosen for the research, which are natural pozzolan replacement, amount of pozzolan passing 45 &amp / #956 / m sieve, activator dosage and activator type. Response surface methodology has been employed in statistical design and analysis of experiments. Based on various second-order response surface designs / experimental data has been collected, best regression models have been chosen and optimized. In addition to the optimization of early and late strength responses separately, simultaneous optimization of compressive strength with several other responses such as cost, and standard deviation estimate has also been performed. Research highlight is the uniqueness of the statistical optimization approach to chemical activation of natural pozzolans.

This dissertation explores the emergence of surf tourism as a significant aspect of rural communities. It uses an inductive qualitative approach focused on Tofino, British Columbia, Canada as an example to provide an in-depth exploration of a rural community effected by this phenomenon. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a snowball sample of key informants to address the following research objectives: (1) What factors have influenced the evolution of surf tourism in Tofino; (2) How might the evolution of surf tourism in this case study relate to the Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC); (3) What is the impact of surf tourism on the broader community development of Tofino? Analysis of the Tofino data elicited following themes: (1) For some, surfing is a desirable lifestyle, reflecting in some ways the concepts of specialization, serious leisure, and community’s identity; (2) Surf shops are a community hub for local surfers and surf tourists; (3) Pacific Rim National Park plays a critical role in the region, contributing to surfing and the surf tourism industry, but has yet to fully engage with surfers or the surfing industry; (4) New and more affordable equipment technology has brought increased access to cold-water surf and surf tourism, reducing what may have constrained the early development of surf tourism; (5) Considerable increases in the supply and demand for surfing in Tofino have occurred, tempered by the increased number of surfing competitions and other new tourism segments that exist in the community; (6) Increasing safety issues may undermine the growth of surf tourism; (7) Limits to surf tourism growth are evident regarding facility and physical carrying capacity; (8) As a result of the considerable growth of surfing in Tofino, recreational crowding, and conflict are in evidence, as are coping mechanisms; (9) ‘Localism’ exists in Tofino, but perhaps less so than in other destinations which have a fixed beach break; (10) Surf tourism has the potential for positive and negative impacts on First Nations communities in the region; and (11) Local government plays an important role. These themes were then analyzed and linked to the following theoretical concepts: serious leisure; specialization; leisure constraints; localism; violence; conflict; crowding, carrying capacity, amenity migration, the Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC); and, rural tourism. This led to some intriguing findings. For example, unlike most other popular surf tourism destinations, crowding is not so apparent in the surf because the surf breaks in the Tofino area are primarily beach breaks that constantly shift as the bathymetry of the ocean floor changes with tides and currents, resulting in constant wave changes. This contrasts with fixed break conditions found elsewhere, so in Tofino it is easier to avoid other surfers by simply moving to another part of the wave. When the Tofino findings were compared with TALC, some similarities and differences were noted. Factors that appear to be consistent with the TALC model are: increasing numbers of tourists, changing type of tourists (e.g. more mass tourists, compared to the early days of surf tourism), increasing numbers of tourism facilities, increased levels of marketing, increased levels of interaction between visitors and local communities (perhaps leading to instances of conflict, and localism), and increased economic benefits to the community. However, one possible departure from the expected trajectory is impacts on the natural environment, which have increased in some ways, but are improved in other ways. There has been some environmental change in terms of the growth in the town of Tofino, and with the development of lodgings near to the surrounding beaches. However, much of the larger landscape, remains largely intact or less impacted than what might have occurred without the presence of Pacific Rim National Park, and the Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve. Further, the TALC model suggests that the development of tourism will lead to lesser local control of development. The Tofino findings suggest that there remains a great deal of local control and that local government support the tourism industry, including surf tourism. It was noted that the emerging surf tourism refers to several concepts found in the general nature tourism literature, such as crowding, conflict and carrying capacity, but the surf tourism literature tends to overlook the complexity of some of these concepts. For example, future surf tourism research might consider more explicit examination of the various dimensions of conflict described in this study, including in group and outgroup conflict, interpersonal conflict and social values conflict. There is little evidence of the incorporation of these concepts in the surf tourism literature. Finally, the data exposed a high level of social capital within the surf community and also between surfers and non-surfers as a facet of a close-knit rural community dependent to a degree on surf tourism as a social driver manifesting in mutual cooperation, trust and reciprocity occurring in social institutions such as surf-shops. / Graduate