Background and aims: It is known that smooth muscle possesses substantial mechanical plasticity in that it is able to adapt to large changes in length without compromising its ability to generate force. It is believed that structural malleability of the contractile apparatus underlies this plasticity. There is strong evidence suggesting that myosin thick filaments of the muscle are relatively labile and their length in vivo is determined by the equilibrium between monomeric and filamentous myosin. The equilibrium in turn is governed by the state of phosphorylation of the 20-kD regulatory myosin light chain (MLC20, or RLC). It is known that phosphorylation of the myosin light chain favors formation of the filaments; it is not known how the light chain phosphorylation affects the lability of the filaments. The major aim of this thesis was to measure the mechanical integrity of the filaments formed from purified myosin molecules from bovine airway smooth muscle, and to determine whether the integrity was influenced by phosphorylation of the myosin light chain. Methods: Myosin was purified from bovine trachealis to form filaments, in ATP containing zero-calcium solution during a slow dialysis that gradually reduced the ionic strength. Sufficient myosin light chain kinase and phosphatase, as well as calmodulin, were retained after the myosin purification and this enabled phosphorylation of RLC within 20-40 s after addition of calcium to the filament suspension. The phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated filaments were then partially disassembled by ultrasonification. The extent of filament disintegration was visualized and quantified by atomic force microscopy. Results: RLC phosphorylation reduced the diameter of the filaments and rendered the filaments more resistant to ultrasonic agitation. Electron microscopy revealed a similar reduction in filament diameter in intact smooth muscle when the cells were activated. Conclusion: Our results suggest that RLC phosphorylation is a key regulatory step in modifying the structural properties of myosin filaments in smooth muscle, where formation and dissolution of the filaments are required in the cells’ adaptation to different cell length.

Background and aims: It is known that smooth muscle possesses substantial mechanical plasticity in that it is able to adapt to large changes in length without compromising its ability to generate force. It is believed that structural malleability of the contractile apparatus underlies this plasticity. There is strong evidence suggesting that myosin thick filaments of the muscle are relatively labile and their length in vivo is determined by the equilibrium between monomeric and filamentous myosin. The equilibrium in turn is governed by the state of phosphorylation of the 20-kD regulatory myosin light chain (MLC20, or RLC). It is known that phosphorylation of the myosin light chain favors formation of the filaments; it is not known how the light chain phosphorylation affects the lability of the filaments. The major aim of this thesis was to measure the mechanical integrity of the filaments formed from purified myosin molecules from bovine airway smooth muscle, and to determine whether the integrity was influenced by phosphorylation of the myosin light chain. Methods: Myosin was purified from bovine trachealis to form filaments, in ATP containing zero-calcium solution during a slow dialysis that gradually reduced the ionic strength. Sufficient myosin light chain kinase and phosphatase, as well as calmodulin, were retained after the myosin purification and this enabled phosphorylation of RLC within 20-40 s after addition of calcium to the filament suspension. The phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated filaments were then partially disassembled by ultrasonification. The extent of filament disintegration was visualized and quantified by atomic force microscopy. Results: RLC phosphorylation reduced the diameter of the filaments and rendered the filaments more resistant to ultrasonic agitation. Electron microscopy revealed a similar reduction in filament diameter in intact smooth muscle when the cells were activated. Conclusion: Our results suggest that RLC phosphorylation is a key regulatory step in modifying the structural properties of myosin filaments in smooth muscle, where formation and dissolution of the filaments are required in the cells’ adaptation to different cell length.

Background and aims: It is known that smooth muscle possesses substantial mechanical plasticity in that it is able to adapt to large changes in length without compromising its ability to generate force. It is believed that structural malleability of the contractile apparatus underlies this plasticity. There is strong evidence suggesting that myosin thick filaments of the muscle are relatively labile and their length in vivo is determined by the equilibrium between monomeric and filamentous myosin. The equilibrium in turn is governed by the state of phosphorylation of the 20-kD regulatory myosin light chain (MLC20, or RLC). It is known that phosphorylation of the myosin light chain favors formation of the filaments; it is not known how the light chain phosphorylation affects the lability of the filaments. The major aim of this thesis was to measure the mechanical integrity of the filaments formed from purified myosin molecules from bovine airway smooth muscle, and to determine whether the integrity was influenced by phosphorylation of the myosin light chain. Methods: Myosin was purified from bovine trachealis to form filaments, in ATP containing zero-calcium solution during a slow dialysis that gradually reduced the ionic strength. Sufficient myosin light chain kinase and phosphatase, as well as calmodulin, were retained after the myosin purification and this enabled phosphorylation of RLC within 20-40 s after addition of calcium to the filament suspension. The phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated filaments were then partially disassembled by ultrasonification. The extent of filament disintegration was visualized and quantified by atomic force microscopy. Results: RLC phosphorylation reduced the diameter of the filaments and rendered the filaments more resistant to ultrasonic agitation. Electron microscopy revealed a similar reduction in filament diameter in intact smooth muscle when the cells were activated. Conclusion: Our results suggest that RLC phosphorylation is a key regulatory step in modifying the structural properties of myosin filaments in smooth muscle, where formation and dissolution of the filaments are required in the cells’ adaptation to different cell length. / Medicine, Faculty of / Medicine, Department of / Experimental Medicine, Division of / Graduate

O objetivo foi avaliar através da Microscopia Confocal de Varredura a Laser (MCVL) e cultura microbiológica (CM) a influência do veículo propilenoglicol e água destilada e agitação ultrassônica (U) na atividade antimicrobiana e penetrabilidade de pastas de hidróxido de cálcio (HC), em diferentes tempos de manutenção da medicação intra-canal. Para isso cento e noventa e três tubos de dentina bovina padronizados foram infectados com Enterococcus faecalis em caldo BHI (Brain Heart Infusion) utilizando um novo protocolo de contaminação com dois ciclos de centrifugação por 5 dias. Durante o período experimental os espécimes foram divididos em 8 grupos de acordo com o veículo da pasta de HC, água destilada (Ad) e propilenoglicol (prop), com o uso do ultrassom, e tempo experimental e de 7 e 15 dias: Grupo1- HC+pro+15d, Grupo 2 HC+prop+U+15d, Grupo3 HC+prop+7d, Grupo 4 HC+prop+U+7d Grupo5- HC+Ad+15d, Grupo 6 HC+Ad+U+15d, Grupo7 HC+Ad+7d, Grupo8 HC+Ad+U+7d . A agitação ultrassônica foi realizada durante 1 minuto nas direções vestíbulo-lingual e mésio-distal, com o auxílio de um inserto liso. As medicações permaneceram no interior dos espécimes durante cada período experimental. A MCVL analisou as bactérias viáveis (verde) e mortas (vermelho), com o auxílio do corante Live and Dead® nos tubos de dentina após o período de medicação. A contagem de Unidades Formadoras de Colônia (UFCs) foi realizada a partir da cultura microbiológica (CM). As raspas de dentina foram coletadas e diluídas para semeadura em placas de Petri com ágar BHI. Para a penetração foi utilizado o corante Rodamina B durante a manipulação das pastas de HC e as análises feitas por MCVL. O grupo 3 e 7 mostraram a maior viabilidade bacteriana nos tubos de dentina contaminados e os demais grupos as menores. A agitação ultrassônica (U) reduziu significativamente a viabilidade bacteriana, nos diferentes períodos. A pasta de HC + Prop+U 7 e 15 dias, mostraram-se mais eficazes, seguidas pela pasta HC+Ad+U+15. Concluiu-se que todas as pastas demonstraram ação antimicrobiana contra E. faecalis e com melhor desempenho quando potencializadas com ultrassom, mesmo em períodos de 7 dias, podendo ser de escolha clínica um curativo que permaneça menor tempo no interior do canal com a mesma efetividade, otimizando o tratamento endodôntico. / The purpose was to evaluate using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) and microbiological cultures (MC) of infected dentin the influence of veicol propylene glycol (prop) or distilled water (Ad) and ultrasonic agitation (U) on the antimicrobial potential and penetrability of calcium hydroxide (CH) pastes). one hundred ninetythree cylindrical dentin specimens were infected with Enterococcus faecalis in BHI broth using a new contamination protocol for 5 days with centrifugations. During the experimental period, the specimens were divided into 8 groups and dressed with the following during 7 or 15 days: Group1- HC+pro+15d, Group 2 HC+prop+U+15d, Group 3 HC+prop+7d, Group 4 HC+prop+U+7d Group 5- HC+Ad+15d, Group 6 HC+Ad+U+15d, Group 7 HC+Ad+7d, Group 8 HC+Ad+U+7d. The ultrasonic activation was made during 1 minute in both directions (buccal-lingual / mesio-distal), with the aid of a plain point insertion. The medications remained in the root canals for each experimental period. The CLSM analyzed the viable (green) and dead (red)bacteria in the infected dentinal tubules, with Live and Dead dye. The colony forming units (CFUs) count was made possible with the MC method. The dentinal wall debris were collected and diluted to be seeded on Petri BHI-agar plates. For the penetration test, the dye Rodamine B was added to CH pastes during the manipulation and analysed by CLSM. The groups 3 and 7 showed the greatest bacteria viability in the infected dentinal tubes and the other groups the lowest,. The pastes HC + Prop+U 7 and 15 days performed more efficacy, followed by HC+Ad+U+15d paste . We conclude that all the paste tested demostrated antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis from calcium hydroxide paste with propylene glycol and distilled water when leveraged with ultrasound, even in periods of seven days. Therefore, a dressing that remains less time inside the root canal with the same effectiveness can be the choice in clinical practice, optimizing the endodontic treatment.

O objetivo foi avaliar através da Microscopia Confocal de Varredura a Laser (MCVL) e cultura microbiológica (CM) a influência do veículo propilenoglicol e água destilada e agitação ultrassônica (U) na atividade antimicrobiana e penetrabilidade de pastas de hidróxido de cálcio (HC), em diferentes tempos de manutenção da medicação intra-canal. Para isso cento e noventa e três tubos de dentina bovina padronizados foram infectados com Enterococcus faecalis em caldo BHI (Brain Heart Infusion) utilizando um novo protocolo de contaminação com dois ciclos de centrifugação por 5 dias. Durante o período experimental os espécimes foram divididos em 8 grupos de acordo com o veículo da pasta de HC, água destilada (Ad) e propilenoglicol (prop), com o uso do ultrassom, e tempo experimental e de 7 e 15 dias: Grupo1- HC+pro+15d, Grupo 2 HC+prop+U+15d, Grupo3 HC+prop+7d, Grupo 4 HC+prop+U+7d Grupo5- HC+Ad+15d, Grupo 6 HC+Ad+U+15d, Grupo7 HC+Ad+7d, Grupo8 HC+Ad+U+7d . A agitação ultrassônica foi realizada durante 1 minuto nas direções vestíbulo-lingual e mésio-distal, com o auxílio de um inserto liso. As medicações permaneceram no interior dos espécimes durante cada período experimental. A MCVL analisou as bactérias viáveis (verde) e mortas (vermelho), com o auxílio do corante Live and Dead® nos tubos de dentina após o período de medicação. A contagem de Unidades Formadoras de Colônia (UFCs) foi realizada a partir da cultura microbiológica (CM). As raspas de dentina foram coletadas e diluídas para semeadura em placas de Petri com ágar BHI. Para a penetração foi utilizado o corante Rodamina B durante a manipulação das pastas de HC e as análises feitas por MCVL. O grupo 3 e 7 mostraram a maior viabilidade bacteriana nos tubos de dentina contaminados e os demais grupos as menores. A agitação ultrassônica (U) reduziu significativamente a viabilidade bacteriana, nos diferentes períodos. A pasta de HC + Prop+U 7 e 15 dias, mostraram-se mais eficazes, seguidas pela pasta HC+Ad+U+15. Concluiu-se que todas as pastas demonstraram ação antimicrobiana contra E. faecalis e com melhor desempenho quando potencializadas com ultrassom, mesmo em períodos de 7 dias, podendo ser de escolha clínica um curativo que permaneça menor tempo no interior do canal com a mesma efetividade, otimizando o tratamento endodôntico. / The purpose was to evaluate using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) and microbiological cultures (MC) of infected dentin the influence of veicol propylene glycol (prop) or distilled water (Ad) and ultrasonic agitation (U) on the antimicrobial potential and penetrability of calcium hydroxide (CH) pastes). one hundred ninetythree cylindrical dentin specimens were infected with Enterococcus faecalis in BHI broth using a new contamination protocol for 5 days with centrifugations. During the experimental period, the specimens were divided into 8 groups and dressed with the following during 7 or 15 days: Group1- HC+pro+15d, Group 2 HC+prop+U+15d, Group 3 HC+prop+7d, Group 4 HC+prop+U+7d Group 5- HC+Ad+15d, Group 6 HC+Ad+U+15d, Group 7 HC+Ad+7d, Group 8 HC+Ad+U+7d. The ultrasonic activation was made during 1 minute in both directions (buccal-lingual / mesio-distal), with the aid of a plain point insertion. The medications remained in the root canals for each experimental period. The CLSM analyzed the viable (green) and dead (red)bacteria in the infected dentinal tubules, with Live and Dead dye. The colony forming units (CFUs) count was made possible with the MC method. The dentinal wall debris were collected and diluted to be seeded on Petri BHI-agar plates. For the penetration test, the dye Rodamine B was added to CH pastes during the manipulation and analysed by CLSM. The groups 3 and 7 showed the greatest bacteria viability in the infected dentinal tubes and the other groups the lowest,. The pastes HC + Prop+U 7 and 15 days performed more efficacy, followed by HC+Ad+U+15d paste . We conclude that all the paste tested demostrated antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis from calcium hydroxide paste with propylene glycol and distilled water when leveraged with ultrasound, even in periods of seven days. Therefore, a dressing that remains less time inside the root canal with the same effectiveness can be the choice in clinical practice, optimizing the endodontic treatment.

Microelectronics integration continuously follows the trend of miniaturisation for which the technologies enabling fine pitch interconnection are in high demand. The recent advancement in the assembly of Hybrid Pixel Detectors, a high resolution detecting and imaging device, is an example of where novel materials and processes can be applied for ultra-fine pitch interconnections. For this application, indium is often used for the fine pitch bump bonding process due to its unique properties that make it especially suitable, in particular in a cryogenic environment where some types of detector have to serve. Indium bumps are typically fabricated through vacuum evaporation at the wafer level; however, this thesis investigates an alternative low cost manufacturing process at the wafer scale for the deposition of indium micro-bumps through electroplating. The work has placed its emphasis on the requirements of future technologies which will enable a low temperature (<150oC), high density interconnection (> 40,000 IOs/cm2) with a high throughput and high production yield. This research is a systematic investigation of the wafer-scale indium bumping process through electrodeposition using indium sulphamate solution. An intensive experimental study of micro-bump formation has been carried out to elaborate the effects of two of the main electroplating factors that can significantly influence the quality of bumps in the course of electrodeposition, namely the current distribution and mass transport. To adjust the current density distribution, various waveforms of current input, including direct current (DC), unipolar pulse current and bipolar pulse reverse current, were employed in the experiments. To assist mass transportation prior to or during electroplating, acoustic agitation including ultrasonic agitation at 30 kHz frequency as well as megasonic agitation at 1 MHz, were utilised. The electrochemical properties of the indium sulphamate solution were first investigated using non-patterned plain substrates prior to indium bumping trials. This provided understanding of the microstructural characteristics of indium deposits produced by electroplating and, through cathodic polarisation measurements, the highest current density suitable for electrodeposition was achieved as approximately 30 mA/cm2 when electroplating was carried out at room temperature and with no agitation applied. The typical surface morphology of DC electroplated indium contained a granular structure with a surface feature size as large as 10 µm. Pulse and pulse reverse electroplating significantly altered the surface morphology of the deposits and the surface became much smoother. By introducing acoustic agitation, the current density range suitable for electrodeposition could be significantly expanded due to the greater mass transfer, which led to a higher speed of deposition with high current efficiency. Wafer-scale indium bumping (15 µm to 25 µm diameter) at a minimum pitch size of 25 µm was successfully developed through electroplating trials with 3 inch test wafers and subsequently applied onto the standard 4 inch wafers. The results demonstrate the capability of electroplating to generate high quality indium bumps with ultrafine pitch at a high consistency and yield. To maximise the yield, pre-wetting of the ultrafine pitch photoresist patterns by both ultrasonic or megasonic agitation is essential leading to a bumping yield up to 99.9% on the wafer scale. The bump profiles and their uniformity at both the wafer and pattern scale were measured and the effects of electrodeposition regimes on the bump formation evaluated. The bump uniformity and microstructure at the feature scale were also investigated by cross-sectioning the electroplated bumps from different locations on the wafers. The growth mechanism of indium bumps were proposed on the basis of experimental observation. It was found that the use of a conductive current thief ring can homogenise the directional bump uniformity when the electrical contact is made asymmetrically, and improve the overall uniformity when the electrical contact is made symmetrically around the periphery of the wafer. Both unipolar pulse electroplating and bipolar pulse reverse electroplating improved the uniformity of the bump height at the wafer scale and pattern scale, and the feature scale uniformity could be significantly improved by pulse reverse electroplating. The best uniformity of 13.6% for a 4 inch wafer was achieved by using pulse reverse electroplating. The effect of ultrasonic agitation on the process was examined, but found to cause damage to the photoresist patterns if used for extended periods and therefore not suitable for use throughout indium bumping. Megasonic agitation enabled high speed bumping without sacrifice of current efficiency and with little damage to the photoresist patterns. However, megasonic agitation tended to degrade some aspects of wafer scale uniformity and should therefore be properly coupled with other electroplating parameters to assist the electroplating process.