Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-157). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-157). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1993. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 170-175). Also available via the Internet.

abstract: Advanced composites are being widely used in aerospace applications due to their high stiffness, strength and energy absorption capabilities. However, the assurance of structural reliability is a critical issue because a damage event will compromise the integrity of composite structures and lead to ultimate failure. In this dissertation a novel homogenization based multiscale modeling framework using semi-analytical micromechanics is presented to simulate the response of textile composites. The novelty of this approach lies in the three scale homogenization/localization framework bridging between the constituent (micro), the fiber tow scale (meso), weave scale (macro), and the global response. The multiscale framework, named Multiscale Generalized Method of Cells (MSGMC), continuously bridges between the micro to the global scale as opposed to approaches that are top-down and bottom-up. This framework is fully generalized and capable of modeling several different weave and braids without reformulation. Particular emphasis in this dissertation is placed on modeling the nonlinearity and failure of both polymer matrix and ceramic matrix composites. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering 2011

Au cours des dernières vingt années, le domaine de l'imagerie biomédicale a été largement développé. Dans ce cadre, cette thèse vise à la conception et à la réalisation d'un nouveau dispositif exploitant la longueur d'onde et l'état polarimétrique d'un faisceau lumineux. L'objectif final de cette méthode optique est l'application au diagnostic biomédical précoce, et plus particulièrement dans le domaine de la dermatologie. Il est important de rappeler que le milieu analysé ne subit ni biopsie ni injection d'agent de contraste. Ainsi, cette technique est non invasive et s'effectue sans contact. Par ailleurs, comme souvent en ce qui concerne l'optique visible, ce système est à faible coût et la calibration demeure relativement accessible; ce qui en fait un dispositif très bien adapté à l'utilisation en routine médicale a l'instar des sondes optiques qui équipent les saturomètres actuels. Dans une première partie de ce manuscrit, les méthodes mathématiques dites de "Stokes" et de "Mueller" sont présentées. Ceci nous permet d'introduire aisément la description de notre système polarimétrique ainsi que le calcul du degré de polarisation (DOP). Nous réservons tout un chapitre du manuscrit à la calibration du dispositif, à l'évaluation de ses possibilités ainsi qu'à ses limites théoriques et expérimentales. Ce protocole permet donc la mesure du degré de polarisation linéaire, circulaire et elliptique de tout système en rétrodiffusion. Ajoutons que cette mesure s'effectue en multispectrale suivant trois canaux bien définies (rouge, vert et bleu) et le tout en quasi temps-réel, c'est-à-dire a un rythme d'environ 12 images par seconde en pleine résolution. Le DOP, défini comme la différence normalisée des composante orthogonales du champ électrique, est étudiée et corrélé aux propriétés optique de diffusion des systèmes étudiés. Dans un premier temps, en nous appuyant sur une simulation de type Monte Carlo, le dispositif est validé sur de classiques solutions de billes de latex. Nous présenterons ensuite nos premiers résultats sur des images de peau effectuées in-vivo et ceci, sur un échantillon d'une trentaine d'individus. Nous dégageons ainsi les applications potentielles ainsi que les limites de ce dispositif concernant par exemple les signatures de différents phénomènes tels que brulures, cicatrices et naevus. Enfin, une conclusion et les perspectives de ce travail sont énoncées / (…) The domain of the biomedical imaging was widely developed. In this context, this thesis aims at the conception and at the realization of a new plan exploiting the wavelength and the state polarimétrique of a beam of light. The final goal of this optical method is the application in the early biomedical diagnosis, and more particularly in the field of the dermatology. It is important to call back that the analyzed environment does not undergo either biopsy or agent's injection of contrast. So, this technique is not invasive and is made without contact. Besides, as often as regards the visible optics, this system is low-cost and the calibration remains relatively accessible; What makes a device very well adapted to the use in medical routine has the instar of the optical probes which equip the current saturomètres. In a first part of this manuscript, the mathematical methods said about "Stokes" and about "Mueller" are presented. This allows us to introduce easily the description of our system polarimétrique as well as the calculation of the degree of polarization (DOP). We reserve a whole chapter of the manuscript for the calibration of the plan, for the evaluation of its possibilities as well as for his theoretical and experimental limits. This protocol thus allows the measure of the degree of linear, circular and elliptic polarization of any system rétrodiffusion. Let us add that this measure is made in multispectral according to three channels defined well (red, green and blue) and quite there almost time - reality, that is has a rhythm about 12 images per second in full resolution. The DOP, defined as the difference normalized of component orthogonal of the electric field, is studied and correlated in the properties optics of distribution of the studied systems

Prostate cancer micrometastasis allows cancer cells to vacate their original tumor sites and migrate to distant parts of the body via the bloodstream, lymphatic system, or by direct extension. Cells synthesize and secrete matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that degrade proteins of the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM); thus allowing them to escape into the lymphatic or circulatory systems to invade other tissues. Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) induces the migration and invasion of cancer cells and the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), specifically MMP-2, and -9 in several malignancies. In this study, we examined the role of MMP-7, a known activator of MMP-2 and MMP-9, in TGF-β signaling in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in prostate cancer cells. Basal expression levels of MMP7 mRNA, protein, and secreted protein were determined using RT-PCR, western blot analysis, and ELISA, respectively. Our data show that MMP7 mRNA and proteins were differentially expressed in several cell line models representing different stages of prostate cancer. TGF-β1 induces MMP-7 gene expression and protein levels 24 and 48 hours after treatment in PC3 cells. Our data also show that TGF-β induces cell migration and invasion in PC3 and E006AA cells; however, the selective knockdown of MMP7 expression using siRNA resulted in a significant decrease in control and TGFβ-induced cell migration and invasion in both PC3 and E006AA cells. MMP-7 knockdown also caused significant reduction in cell proliferation in PC3 cells. Our data suggest that MMP7 is essential for cell migration and invasion in prostate cancer cells indicating that it may be required for TGFβ-induced cancer metastases.

147f. / Submitted by Suelen Reis (suziy.ellen@gmail.com) on 2013-05-17T13:10:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Adriano Oliveira.pdf: 4074865 bytes, checksum: 88169b591fd20f78a3607699f14cd495 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Alda Lima da Silva(sivalda@ufba.br) on 2013-05-28T19:24:43Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Adriano Oliveira.pdf: 4074865 bytes, checksum: 88169b591fd20f78a3607699f14cd495 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-05-28T19:24:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Adriano Oliveira.pdf: 4074865 bytes, checksum: 88169b591fd20f78a3607699f14cd495 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Esta pesquisa procurou identificar de que maneira certas obras contemporâneas de ficção refletem concepções sobre a subjetividade em nossa época, através de variações na forma de ?representação da irrealidade?, entendida como uma abordagem narrativa na qual a trama conduz tanto o protagonista quanto o leitor a não perceberem que o mundo ficcional apresentado em primeiro plano é uma ilusão e que uma outra realidade subjaz a essa aparência. Para tanto, a pesquisa se pautou na análise dos filmes Matrix e Cidade dos Sonhos, tendo como marco teórico a semiótica textual de Umberto Eco. Como resultado, Matrix revelou-se uma obra que propõe uma representação maniqueísta e ingênua das fronteiras entre realidade e irrealidade, sustentando-se em uma dualidade que contrasta com os ideais de dissolução das fronteiras da era pós-moderna. Com o auxílio da teoria psicanalítica, verificamos que Cidade dos Sonhos, por sua vez, apresenta-se como uma obra comparativamente mais complexa, oferecendo uma instigante relação entre subjetividade e irrealidade balizada pelo desejo. / Salvador

A competição atual exige que cada vez mais as empresas possuam sistemáticas de gerenciamento que possibilitem atuar no controle e na redução dos desperdícios. Este trabalho avalia ferramentas de melhoria do resultado econômico, com foco particular no Gerenciamento Matricial de Despesas (GMD). Considerando que o GMD ainda é muito pouco explorado na literatura específica sobre melhoria do resultado econômico, o principal objetivo do trabalho é contribuir para a consolidação da base conceitual dessa ferramenta. Para isso, primeiramente foi realizada uma pesquisa teórica procurando avaliar o GMD relativamente ao Orçamento Base-Zero (OBZ) e ao Custeio-Alvo/Custeio Kaizen, de forma a entender suas características diferenciais em termos de melhoria do resultado econômico. Fez-se, também, a contextualização do GMD como uma das ferramentas de operacionalização do Orçamento Matricial (OM), juntamente com o Diagnóstico de Desempenho Operacional (DDO) e o Gerenciamento Matricial de Receitas (GMR). Em seguida, buscou-se identificar na literatura as principais etapas de implantação do GMD, as quais foram ajustadas a partir de uma pesquisa exploratória realizada em quatro empresas da região Sul do Brasil. A modelagem final proposta foi, então, aplicada parcialmente numa instituição da área da saúde. Começando pela avaliação dos ambientes interno e externo da empresa, preparou-se a base de dados contábil necessária à implantação do GMD, detalhando-a e analisando que tipo de indicador e de ação seria mais adequado para orientar a redução de custos. Todos estas etapas da aplicação parcial foram analisadas criticamente. / More and more current competition demands that companies have management systems which allow them to act in the control and waste reduction. This work evaluates enhancement tools of economic outcome with a particular focus on the Matrix Management of Expenses (MME). Considering that MME is still a little explored in the specific literature about enhancement tools of economic outcome, the main objective of this work is to contribute to the consolidation of the conceptual base of that tool. For this, a theoretical research was primarily done trying to evaluate the MME related to the Zero-Base Budget (ZBB) and to the Target Costing/ Kaizen Costing, in order to understand their differential characteristics in terms of the enhancement of the economic result. The MME contextualization was also done as one of the operationalization tools of the Matrix Budget (MB), together with the Diagnosis of Operational Performance (DOP) and the Matrix management of Revenues (MMR). Subsequently, it was attempted to identify in the literature the principal stages of MME implementation, which were adjusted from an exploratory research performed in four companies in the southern region of Brazil. Then the final modeling proposed was then partially applied, in a health unit institution. Beginning by the evaluation of the internal and external environments of the institution, a necessary accounting database was prepared for the implantation of the MME, detailing and analyzing what kind of indicator and of action would be more appropriate to guide cost reduction. All the stages of the partial application were analyzed critically.

Orientador: Gisele Fabrino Machado / Banca: Mary Marcondes / Banca: Antonio Carlos Alessi / Resumo: A leishmaniose visceral canina, causada pelo protozoário Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi, é uma doença de grande ocorrência principalmente na América Latina. A caracterização das lesões sistêmicas associadas à infecção pelo parasita tem sido amplamente estudada, entretanto, poucos autores elucidam a patogenia na forma nervosa. Com o objetivo de compreender melhor os mecanismos envolvidos na inflamação do sistema nervoso central de cães naturalmente infectados por L. chagasi, amostras de liquor e plexo coróide foram colhidas e submetidas à zimografia para a detecção de metaloproteinases (MMPs). Amostras do plexo coróide e liquor de cães sadios foram avaliadas como controle. Os géis de zimograma foram analisados quanto à presença e atividade proteolítica das metaloproteinases -2 e -9. Formas inativas das proteases foram detectadas no plexo coróide, sendo que o Grupo de animais positivos não diferiu do negativo. No liquor foram encontradas formas ativas e inativas das MMPs-2 e -9 e a atividade proteolítica das mesmas diferiu entre os Grupos positivo e negativo. A MMP-2 teve maior detecção nos animais negativos e a MMP-9 nos positivos. O aumento da MMP- 9 no liquor dos cães doentes representa seu possível envolvimento na patogenia das lesões encefálicas ao ocasionarem o rompimento das barreiras hematoencefálica e/ou hematoliquórica, permitindo a passagem de células e proteínas envolvidas no processo inflamatório / Abstract: Canine visceral leishmaniasis, caused by the protozoan Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi, is a disease with high occurrence in Latin America. The characteristics of the systemic lesions related to the infection have been widely studied, but few studies clarify the disease on a neurological aspect. With the aim of a better understanding of the inflammation mechanisms within the central nervous system of dogs naturally infected by L. chagasi, some samples of cerebrospinal fluid and choroid plexus were collected and submitted to zymography to detect metalloproteinases (MMPs). Samples of choroid plexus and cerebrospinal fluid from healthy dogs were evaluated as control. The zymogram gels were analysed taking into account the presence and the proteolytic activity of metalloproteinase -2 and -9. Inactive forms of the proteases were detected in the choroid plexus, and the group of positive animals did not differ from negative ones. In the cerebrospinal fluid, active and inactive forms of MMP-2 and -9 were found, and their proteolytic activity differed between negative and positive groups. MMP-2 had higher detection in the negative animals and MMP-9 in the positive ones. The increasing of MMP-9 in the cerebrospinal fluid of infected dogs represents its possible involvement in the brain injuries, by causing the disruption of blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier and/or blood-brain-barrier, allowing the passage of cells and proteins involved in inflammation process / Mestre