Submitted by Setor de Tratamento da Informa??o - BC/PUCRS (tede2@pucrs.br) on 2017-03-17T15:08:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DIS_JOSE_CRISTIANO_MENGUE_MODEL_COMPLETO.pdf: 3495211 bytes, checksum: 700bfa91afac93bfa629684755fcc8ce (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-17T15:08:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DIS_JOSE_CRISTIANO_MENGUE_MODEL_COMPLETO.pdf: 3495211 bytes, checksum: 700bfa91afac93bfa629684755fcc8ce (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-01-24 / The surface passivation is an important step in solar cell manufacturing since it intends to fix the surface defects. In order to develop p-type crystalline silicon solar cells, solar grade, with surface passivation provided by titanium dioxide film, atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) and electron beam deposition (E-Beam) were carried out. For the films deposited by E-Beam, the thickness of TiO2, which has produced the most efficient solar cell, was of 80 nm. It was observed that how thicker the film, higher was the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) for short wavelengths, indicating a surface passivation that changes according to the thickness. The cells in which the film deposition on the front face was performed by APCVD were as efficient in to reduce the reflection as those with films deposited by E-Beam, although the first technique did not produce films with high homogeneity with regard to thickness. When the both techniques to deposit films on the back surface were compared, it was observed that the better results were obtained with APCVD films. Regarding the thickness of the films obtained by APCVD, it was not observed difference between the electrical characteristics of solar cells with thin and thick films. The most efficient solar cell produced in this work used TiO2 films obtained by chemical vapor deposition on both sides, reaching the efficiency of 15.6% and short-circuit current density of 34.9 mA/cm?. / A passiva??o ? uma importante etapa no processo de produ??o de c?lulas solares, pois visa corrigir os defeitos de superf?cie. Com o objetivo de desenvolver c?lulas solares de sil?cio cristalino tipo p, grau solar, com BSF (back surface field ? campo retrodifusor) seletivo e com passiva??o da superf?cie proporcionada por filme de di?xido de tit?nio, realizou-se deposi??o qu?mica em fase vapor a press?o atmosf?rica (APCVD) e por canh?o de el?trons (E-Beam). Para os filmes depositados por E-Beam, verificou-se que a espessura de TiO2 que produziu a c?lula solar mais eficiente foi de 80 nm. Observou-se que quanto maior a espessura do filme, mais elevada foi a efici?ncia qu?ntica interna (EQI) para comprimentos de onda curtos, indicando uma passiva??o de superf?cie vari?vel com a espessura. As c?lulas em que a deposi??o de filme na face frontal foi realizada via APCVD se mostraram t?o eficientes na redu??o da reflex?o quanto as que receberam filme por E-Beam, embora a primeira t?cnica n?o produziu filmes de elevada homogeneidade no que se refere a espessura. Ao comparar as duas t?cnicas utilizadas para deposi??o de filme na face posterior, verificou-se que os melhores resultados foram obtidos com filmes depositados por APCVD. No que se refere a espessura do filme posterior obtido por APCVD, n?o se observou diferen?a entre as caracter?sticas el?tricas de c?lulas solares com filmes finos e espessos. A c?lula solar mais eficiente produzida neste trabalho utilizou filmes de TiO2 obtidos por deposi??o qu?mica em fase vapor em ambas as faces, atingindo 15,6 % de efici?ncia e 34,9 mA/cm? de densidade de corrente de curto-circuito.

Thesis (doctoral)--Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2007. / Thesis documentation sheet inserted. Includes appendix of four papers and manuscripts co-authored with Bo Söderström. Includes bibliographical references. Also issued electronically via World Wide Web in PDF format; online version lacks appendix.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:06:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FranciericAA.pdf: 3105945 bytes, checksum: 434348633df1dedcb6e622baefde201e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-03-26 / This work aims to develop a methodology for analysis of images using overlapping, which assists in identification of microstructural features in areas of titanium, which may be associated with its biological response. That way, surfaces of titanium heat treated for 08 (eight) different ways have been subjected to a test culture of cells. It was a relationship between the grain, texture and shape of grains of surface of titanium (attacked) trying to relate to the process of proliferation and adhesion. We used an open source software for cell counting adhered to the surface of titanium. The juxtaposition of images before and after cell culture was obtained with the aid of micro-hardness of impressions made on the surface of samples. From this image where there is overlap, it is possible to study a possible relationship between cell growth with microstructural characteristics of the surface of titanium. This methodology was efficient to describe a set of procedures that are useful in the analysis of surfaces of titanium subjected to a culture of cells / O presente trabalho tem como objetivo desenvolver uma metodologia de an?lise de imagens, utilizando sobreposi??es, que auxilie na identifica??o de caracter?sticas microestruturais, em superf?cies de tit?nio, que possam estar associadas com a sua resposta biol?gica. Desse modo, superf?cies de tit?nio tratadas termicamente de 08(oito) diferentes maneiras foram submetidas a um ensaio de cultura de c?lulas. Buscou-se uma rela??o entre os gr?os, textura e contornos de gr?os da superf?cie de tit?nio (atacada) procurando relacionar com o processo de prolifera??o e ades?o. Foi utilizado um software open source para a contagem das c?lulas aderidas ? superf?cie do tit?nio. A justaposi??o das imagens antes e ap?s a cultura de c?lulas foi obtida com o aux?lio de impress?es de micro-dureza feita sobre a superf?cie das amostras. A partir desta imagem onde h? a sobreposi??o, ? poss?vel o estudo de uma poss?vel rela??o entre o crescimento celular com as caracter?sticas microestruturais da superf?cie de tit?nio. Essa metodologia se mostrou eficiente ao descrever um conjunto de procedimentos que s?o ?teis na analise de superf?cies de tit?nio submetidos a uma cultura de c?lulas

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:07:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RicardoCSR_DISSERT.pdf: 2528884 bytes, checksum: 9966cb710cbaa37dcf31b5576ecca1d8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-02 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / Interstitial compounds of titanium have been mainly studied due to the large range of properties acquired when C, N, O and H atoms are added. In this work, surfaces of TiCxNy were produced by thermochemical treatments assisted by plasma with different proportions of Ar + N2 + CH4 gas mixture. The Ar gas flow was fixed in 4 sccm, varying only N2 and CH4 gas flows. During the thermochemical treatment, the plasma was monitored by Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) for the investigation of the influence of active species. After treatments, C and N concentration profile, crystalline and amorphous phases were analyzed by Nuclear Reaction (NRA). Besides tribomechanical properties of the Ti surface were studied through the nanohardness measurements and friction coefficient determination. The worn areas were evaluated by profilometry and Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM) in order to verify the wear mechanism present in each material. It has been seen which the properties like nanohardness and friction coefficient have strong relation with luminous intensity of species of the plasma, suggesting a using of this characteristic as a parameter of process / Compostos intersticiais de tit?nio t?m sido extensivamente estudados devido ? larga faixa de propriedades adquiridas quando ?tomos de C, N, O e H s?o adicionados. Neste trabalho, superf?cies de TiCxNy foram produzidas por tratamento termoqu?mico auxiliado por plasma de diferentes misturas de N2 + Ar + CH4. Foi fixado o fluxo de Ar em 4 sccm variando-se os fluxos de N2 e CH4. Durante o tratamento termoqu?mico, o plasma foi monitorado por EEO para investiga??o da influ?ncia das esp?cies ativas. Ap?s o tratamento, as superf?cies das amostras foram analisadas quanto ao perfil de concentra??o de C e N, fases cristalinas e fases amorfas. Tamb?m foram analisadas suas propriedades tribomec?nicas atrav?s da medida de nanodureza e da determina??o do coeficiente de atrito. As ?reas desgastadas foram avaliadas por perfilometria e microscopia eletr?nica de varredura (MEV) com o intuito de verificar os mecanismos de desgastes presentes em cada material. Verificouse que propriedades como dureza e coeficiente de atrito variavam com a intensidade das esp?cies, sugerindo o uso da mesma como par?metro de processos a plasma

In this master thesis i was tested the effectiveness of the myrmecomorphy.The animals which ones were tested are Phrurolithus festivus the myrmecomorphic spider and the predator, great tit(Parus major). I want to know the adventages and disadventages of myrmecomorph mimicry compared whit other common invertebrates in natural habitat of great tits.

Categorization of predators is fundamental for birds? life. However, the mechanism is not well explained yet. Two basic theories of categorization were tested in the laboratory conditions, where we have the possibility to focus on the behavior of each individuum. In the experiments we focused on the relevance of the key features and colour patterns. The responses of the Great Tit to variously modified dummies of Sparrowhawk were observed. The results confirm that the bird does not recognize the predator only on the basis of the key features and the colour patterns have a essential influence on the categorization. Categorization of the predator is a complex process and it cannot be explained only on the basis of one psychological theory. A combination of the key features and a prototype of a particular category learned throughout its life is probably used.

In this thesis the spatial cognitive experiment with great tits (Parus major) as a model species is described. In this experiment tits learnt to respond to one of four response keys according the presented stimuli. Two types of stimuli were used: one of them contained configural information about response keys, but the other didn´t. The experiment tested the difference of using these two types of spatial information in great tits in two experimental designs. In the first design stimuli were presented in computer screen, in the other they were presented in the floor of experimental chamber. The thesis then discusses the performance of tits in two types of stimuli and two versions of experimental design and compares these results with pigeons in similar experiment.

Depuis plusieurs décennies, les populations font face à des changements environnementaux sans précédent. Afin de répondre à ces changements les espèces peuvent se déplacer vers un autre endroit (c’est la dispersion), répondre aux changements par plasticité phénotypique, ou encore s’adapter par sélection naturelle (c’est la réponse évolutive). Si la dispersion et la plasticité phénotypique permettent une réponse rapide face à un changement environnemental tel que le réchauffement climatique, seule la réponse évolutive permet une adaptation durable. Une réponse évolutive au changement climatique peut être attendue seulement si l'augmentation des températures occasionne une pression de sélection sur un et / ou des traits. Cependant, quantifier les pressions de sélection qui agissent sur les populations naturelles reste difficile, en particulier celles qui accompagnent le changement climatique.Au cours de cette thèse, j'ai cherché à quantifier les pressions de sélection reliées au changement climatique agissant sur une population sauvage de mésange bleue (Cyanistes caeruleus) suivie depuis 26 ans près de Montpellier. Dans un premier temps, j'ai exploré le biais induit par l'autocorrélation spatiale sur l'estimation de la sélection naturelle lorsqu'elle n'est pas prise en compte dans une population sauvage. Dans un deuxième temps, j'ai quantifier l'impact du réchauffement climatique sur la force de sélection agissant sur la date de ponte, un trait fortement relié au succès reproducteur chez la mésange bleue. Cependant, si le changement climatique est caractérisé par une augmentation des températures, il s'accompagne aussi d'une augmentation de la fréquence d'évènements extrêmes climatique (EEC). Dans un troisième temps, je me suis donc attaché à estimer l'influence des températures et des pluies extrêmes sur la force de la sélection naturelle. Concernant l'autocorrélation spatiale, nos résultats ont permit de mettre en avant un biais majeur sur l'estimation de la sélection naturelle lorsqu'elle n'est pas prise en compte. En effet, lorsque la valeur sélective est positivement spatialement autocorrélée, un modèle de sélection non-spatialisé surestimera la force de la sélection naturelle agissant sur les traits. Nous avons donc développé 4 modèles de sélection spatialisés, et nous les avons comparé entre eux sur la base de plusieurs paramètres. De plus, nous avons détecté un fort réchauffement dans notre population qui s'accompagnait d'une augmentation de la force de sélection naturelle agissant sur la date de ponte. En effet, nous avons quantifié une augmentation de 46% de la force de sélection naturelle tout les +1°C de la température maximum du mois d'Avril. Au delà des températures moyennes, nous avons mis en évidence un fort impact négatif de la présence / absence de journées extrêmement chaudes durant l'élevage des oisillons au nid sur le succès d'envol. Plus intéressant encore, ces EECs augmentaient significativement la force de sélection naturelle agissant sur la date de ponte, indépendamment de l'augmentation des températures moyennes.Ainsi, ma thèse a contribué à une meilleure compréhension méthodologique de la sélection naturelle, ainsi que de l'impact sélectif du changement climatique. Le premier chapitre a permit de mettre en évidence un problème méthodologique majeur lorsque on estime la sélection naturelle dans les populations sauvages, ainsi que de proposer des solutions concrètes. Le second chapitre a permit de confirmer l'impact sélectif du changement climatique, laissant entrevoir une possibilité de réponse évolutive au réchauffement. Enfin, le troisième chapitre démontrait la sélection naturelle reliée à l'apparition d'EEC, et en quantifiait les effets, un résultats encore jamais montré. Nous espérons que cette thèse ouvrira la voie à plus d'études explorant l'impact du changement climatique sur la sélection naturelle, permettant peut être de prévoir les réponses évolutives futures. / Global change results in an increase in temperature mean and variability and generates new environmental conditions for wild populations. In order to respond to this new treat, wild populations can move to another place (dispersion), change their behaviour or their phenology (phenotypic plasticity) or respond by evolutionary change (involving changes in alleles frequency). However, phenotypic plasticity or dispersion are unlikely to sustain population responses to climate change over the long term, contrary to the evolutionary response. Wild populations could evolutionary respond to climate change only if the increase in temperature represents a selective pressure on fitness-related traits. Yet, quantifying the selective pressures acting on wild populations remains challenging, especially in response to climate change.During this PhD, I focused on the selection pressures related to climate warming during a 26-year monitoring of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) in southern France. First, I explored the bias inducted by spatial autocorrelation on estimation of natural selection in the wild when it is not taken into account. Second, I quantified the impact of climate warming on natural selection acting on laying date. Along with a rise in mean temperatures, climate change is also characterized by an increase in the frequency of extreme climatic events (ECE). Hence, I finally explored the impact of multiple ECEs such heavy rainfalls and extremes temperatures on the strength of natural selection acting on laying date.Our results showed that spatial autocorrelation is severely biasing our estimation of natural selection in the wild if it is not taken into account. In fact, natural selection is continuously overestimated by a non-explicit spatial model when the fitness is spatially autocorrelated. Hence, we developed 4 spatially-explicit models of selection, and we compared them in order to assess their reliability. Also, we detected a strong warming in our study site, which was correlated with an increase in natural selection strength. In fact, our results indicated an increase in the strength of selection by 46% every +1°C anomalies in maximum April temperature. Beyond this selective impact of the warming trend, we detected an impact of the extreme hot days occurrence during the nestlings stage on the fledglings success. More interesting, these ECEs significantly increased the strength of selection acting on laying date, independently form the mean temperatures.To conclude, my PhD helped to a better understanding of natural selection estimation in the wild, and the selective impact of climate warming. The first part allowed to develop specific models of selection in order to take into account spatial autocorrelation, a universal phenomenon present at any scale. The second part confirmed the selective impact of warming, pointing out a potential evolutionary response to climate change in the future. The last part demonstrated and quantified the selective impact of multiple ECEs, which has not been demonstrated before. We call now for more studies assessing the selective impact of climate warming, which could allow to predict the evolutionary responses in the future.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:05:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DeborahAC_TESE.pdf: 2567069 bytes, checksum: 17be3c292d241e19b0a9d1323613899f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-04-13 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / Human multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), also known as mesenchymal stem cells, have become an important and attractive therapeutic tool since they are easily isolated and cultured, have in vitro expansion potential, substantial plasticity and secrete bioactive molecules that exert trophic effects. The human umbilical cord as a cell source for cell therapy will help to avoid several ethical, political, religious and technical issues. One of the main issues with SC lines from different sources, mainly those of embryonic origin, is the possibility of chromosomal alterations and genomic instability during in vitro expansion. Cells isolated from one umbilical cord exhibited a rare balanced paracentric inversion, likely a cytogenetic constitutional alteration, karyotype: 46,XY,inv(3)(p13p25~26). Important genes related to cancer predisposition and others involved in DNA repair are located in 3p25~26. Titanium is an excellent biomaterial for bone-implant integration; however, the use can result in the generation of particulate debris that can accumulate in the tissues adjacent to the prosthesis, in the local bone marrow, in the lymph nodes, liver and spleen. Subsequently may elicit important biological responses that aren?t well studied. In this work, we have studied the genetic stability of MSC isolated from the umbilical cord vein during in vitro expansion, after the cryopreservation, and under different concentrations and time of exposition to titanium microparticles. Cells were isolated, in vitro expanded, demonstrated capacity for osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation and were evaluated using flow cytometry, so they met the minimum requirements for characterization as MSCs. The cells were expanded under different concentrations and time of exposition to titanium microparticles. The genetic stability of MSCs was assessed by cytogenetic analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and analysis of micronucleus and other nuclear alterations (CBMN). The cells were able to internalize the titanium microparticles, but MSCs preserve their morphology, differentiation capacity and surface marker expression profiles. Furthermore, there was an increase in the genomic instability after long time of in vitro expansion, and this instability was greater when cells were exposed to high doses of titanium microparticles that induced oxidative stress. It is necessary always assess the risks/ benefits of using titanium in tissue therapy involving MSCs, considering the biosafety of the use of bone regeneration using titanium and MSCs. Even without using titanium, it is important that the therapeutic use of such cells is based on analyzes that ensure quality, security and cellular stability, with the standardization of quality control programs appropriate. In conclusion, it is suggested that cytogenetic analysis, FISH analysis and the micronucleus and other nuclear alterations are carried out in CTMH before implanting in a patient / C?lulas mesenquimais estromais multipotentes, tamb?m conhecidas como c?lulas-tronco mesenquimais humanas (CTMH), s?o c?lulas multipotentes utilizadas em v?rias pesquisas de terapia celular, pois apresentam a capacidade de se diferenciar em m?ltiplas e diferentes linhagens, t?m grande capacidade de autorrenova??o e de expans?o in vitro, excelentes propriedades imunossupressoras e s?o capazes de secretar mol?culas bioativas que exercem efeitos tr?ficos. O cord?o umbilical ? uma fonte de CTMH cuja extra??o n?o necessita de um procedimento invasivo, al?m de n?o envolver controv?rsias ?ticas, pol?ticas e religiosas. Um dos problemas que envolvem linhagens de CTMH de diferentes fontes ? a possibilidade de ocorr?ncia de altera??es cromoss?micas e instabilidade gen?tica, que podem aparecer durante a expans?o in vitro. Al?m disso, as CTMH de um dos cord?es apresentaram uma altera??o cromoss?mica constitucional: invers?o parac?ntrica no bra?o curto do cromossomo 3, cari?tipo: 46,XY,inv(3)(p13p25~26). Em 3p25-26, est?o localizados v?rios genes de grande import?ncia biol?gica, como genes envolvidos com o reparo de DNA e outros respons?veis pelo desenvolvimento de tumores. O tit?nio ? um dos materiais mais utilizado para fabrica??o de implantes ortop?dicos e dent?rios, e ? considerado um excelente biomaterial, entretanto, as part?culas derivadas de pr?teses acumulam-se nos tecidos periprost?ticos e na medula ?ssea local, disseminam-se para linfonodos, f?gado e ba?o. As implica??es biol?gicas em longo prazo da dissemina??o sist?mica de part?culas de metais e seus efeitos cito e genot?xicos n?o est?o bem caracterizados. Neste trabalho investigamos a estabilidade gen?tica de CTMH isoladas da veia do cord?o umbilical durante a expans?o in vitro, ap?s a criopreserva??o, e em diferentes condi??es de cultivo, na presen?a e na aus?ncia de tit?nio, antes e ap?s o aparecimento de c?lulas senescentes no cultivo. As c?lulas foram isoladas, expandidas, diferenciadas em osteoblastos, adip?citos e condroblastos e analisadas com citometria de fluxo para comprovar que s?o c?lulas-tronco mesenquimais. As CTMH foram tratadas com diferentes doses/ tempo de exposi??o ? micropart?culas de tit?nio. A avalia??o da estabilidade gen?tica das CTMH foi realizada atrav?s da an?lise do cari?tipo, de hibrida??o in situ por fluoresc?ncia (FISH) e da an?lise do micron?cleo e outras altera??es nucleares (CBMN). Ficou estabelecido que as CTMH foram capazes de internalizar as micropart?culas de tit?nio, mas as c?lulas mant?m sua capacidade de prolifera??o, diferencia??o e preservam os mesmos marcadores de membrana. Al?m disso, demonstrou-se que existe um aumento na instabilidade gen?tica com o decorrer do tempo de expans?o in vitro, e esta instabilidade foi maior na presen?a de grande concentra??o de micropart?culas de tit?nio que induzem estresse oxidativo. ? necess?rio sempre avaliar os riscos/ benef?cios da utiliza??o do tit?nio na terapia tecidual envolvendo CTMH, considerando a biosseguran?a da utiliza??o da regenera??o ?ssea guiada que utiliza CTMH e tit?nio. Mesmo n?o se utilizando o tit?nio, ? importante que o uso terap?utico de tais c?lulas seja baseado em an?lises que garantam a qualidade, seguran?a e estabilidade celular, com a padroniza??o de programas de controle de qualidade adequados. Como conclus?o, sugere-se que a an?lise citogen?tica, FISH e a an?lise do micron?cleo e outras altera??es nucleares sejam realizadas nas CTMH antes de implantar num paciente, sejam elas cultivadas por longo tempo ou n?o

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2015-12-02T22:57:03Z No. of bitstreams: 1 HugoFernandesMedeirosDaSilva_DISSERT.pdf: 30197183 bytes, checksum: aff97f351eb1c274b3b803536423bba1 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2015-12-09T20:00:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 HugoFernandesMedeirosDaSilva_DISSERT.pdf: 30197183 bytes, checksum: aff97f351eb1c274b3b803536423bba1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-09T20:00:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 HugoFernandesMedeirosDaSilva_DISSERT.pdf: 30197183 bytes, checksum: aff97f351eb1c274b3b803536423bba1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-06-20 / Estruturas porosas est?o sendo amplamente investigadas para uso em implantes biom?dicos, com objetivo de integrar o implante de forma mec?nica e funcional no interior do tecido ?sseo. Al?m disso, esta estrutura tamb?m ? importante para que f?rmacos possam se armazenados podendo induzir e acelerar o processo de osseointegra??o. Com o intuito de investigar esse efeito, p?s met?licos de Ti, 35Nb e 4Sn foram sinterizados por plasma usando descarga por c?todo oco. As sinteriza??es foram realizadas em plasma de arg?nio, press?o fixada em 4 mbar e temperaturas de 500?C, 600?C e 700?C. Tamb?m foram sinterizadas amostras em forno ? resit?ncia el?trica ? 1200?C, afim de comparar a sinteriza??o a plasma com um met?do convencional. Verificou-se que amostras sinterizadas por plasma na configura??o de c?todo oco apresentaram gradiente de porosidade, enquanto as amostras sinterizadas em forno resistivo n?o apresentaram. Al?m disso, encontrou-se diferen?as na micro-estrutura onde obteve-se uma superfic?e mais porosa e o n?cleo mais denso, em diferentes temperaturas. Assim como per?l de percola??o de ?gua destilada, e a compara??o da composi??o qu?mica das camadas porosas das amostras tratadas por plasma foram os pricipais resultados obtidos. Diante dos resultados obtidos, pode-se concluir que essa estrutura ? particularmente importante para aplica??o na ?rea biom?dica tais como arcabou?os para libera??o de f?rmacos e implantes. . / Porous structures are being widely investigated for use in biomedical implants, aiming to mechanically integrate and functionally the implant inside the bone tissue. Moreover, this structure is also important for drugs that can be stored and can induce and accelerate the process of osseointegration. With the purpose to investigate this effect, Ti, Nb and Sn metal powders, were sintered by plasma using a hollow cathode discharge. Sintering was performed in argon plasma set at 4 mbar pressure and temperatures of 500 ? C, 600 ? C and 700 ? C. Samples were also sintered in the electrical resistance furnace at 1200 ? C in order to compare plasma sintering with the conventional method. It was observed that plasma samples sintered with the hollow cathode configuration showed a gradient in porosity, while the samples sintered in the resistive furnace did not. Furthermore, differences in the microstructure of the samples were found, were a surface with higher porosity and ales porous core were obtained at different temperatures. The percolation profile of distilled water and the chemical compositions of the porous layers of the plasma treated samples were the main results obtained. Based on these results, we can conclude that this structure is particularly important for application in the biomedical field such as scaffolds for drug delivery and implants