Micro-particles are ubiquitous in microsystems. The effective manipulation of micro-particles is often crucial for achieving the desired functionality of microsystems and requires a fundamental understanding of the particle dynamics. In this dissertation, the dynamics of two types of micro-particles, Janus catalytic micromotors (JCMs) and magnetic clusters, in complex environment are studied using numerical simulations. The self-diffusiophoresis of JCMs in a confined environment is studied first. Overall, the translocation of a JCM through a short pore is slowed down by pore walls, although the slowdown is far weaker than the transport of particles through similar pores driven by other mechanisms. A JCM entering a pore with its axis not aligned with the pore axis can execute a self-alignment process and similar phenomenon is found for JCMs already inside the pore. Both hydrodynamic effect and 'chemical effect', i.e., the modification of the concentration of chemical species around JCMs by walls and other JCMs, play a key role in the observed dynamics of JCMs in confined and crowded environment. The dynamics of bubbles and JCMs in liquid films covering solid substrates are studied next. A simple criterion for the formation of bubbles on isolated JCMs is developed and validated. The anomalous bubble growth law (r~t^0.7) is rationalized by considering the relative motion of growing bubbles and their surrounding JCMs. The experimentally observed ultra-fast collapse of bubbles is attributed to the coalescence of the bubble with the liquid film-air interface. It is shown that the collective motion of JCMs toward a bubble growing on a solid substrate is caused by the evaporation-induced Marangoni flow near the bubble. The actuation of magnetic clusters using non-uniform alternating magnetic fields is studied next. It is discovered that the clusters' clockwise, out-of-plane rotation is a synergistic effect of the magnetophoresis force, the externally imposed magnetic torque and the hydrodynamic interactions between the cluster and the substrate. Such a rotation enables the cluster to move as a surface walker and leads to unique dynamics, e.g., the cluster moves away from the magnetic source and its trajectory exhibits a periodic fluctuation with a frequency twice of the field frequency. / Ph. D.

Walker Percy differs from other American novelists in that he started writing fiction relatively late in life, after being trained as a physician and after considerable reading and writing in philosophy. Although critics have appreciated Percy's skills as a writer, they have seen Percy above all as a novelist of ideas, and, accordingly, the majority of critical articles and books about Percy has dealt with his themes, especially his philosophical themes, as well as with his philosophical sources. This study explores, therefore, the critical response to philosophical ideas in Percy's five novels to date, as evidenced first by reviews, then by the later articles and books. The critical response developed gradually as critics became aware of Percy's aims and pointed out his use of Christian existentialism and his attacks upon Cartesianism, Stoicism, and modern secular gnosticism. These critical evaluations of Percy's philosophical concerns have sometimes overshadowed interest in his more purely artistic concerns. However, the more a reader understands the underlying philosophical concepts that inform Percy's novels, the more he may understand what Percy is trying to say and the more he may appreciate Percy's accomplishment in expressing his philosophical ideas so skillfully in fictional form. Critics and readers may enjoy Percy's novels without knowing much about his philosophical ideas, but they cannot fully understand them. Thus this study concludes that the critical response to philosophical ideas in Percy's novels has done both Percy and Percy's readers a service.

Orientador: Jose Barreto Campello Carvalheira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-09T01:39:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ropelle_EduardoRochete_M.pdf: 1594903 bytes, checksum: c30fea33a399994a7ccd128d77733add (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: A patogênese da anorexia induzida pelo câncer é multifatorial e está associada a distúrbios dos mecanismos centrais que controlam a ingestão alimentar. Todavia, os mecanismos neuroquímicos responsáveis pelo desenvolvimento da anorexia induzida pelo câncer são desconhecidos. Este presente estudo demonstra que a infusão crônica de 5-amino-4 imidazolecarboxamide-riboside (AICAR) no terceiro ventrículo hipotalâmico e a injeção intraperitoneal de 2 deoxi-D-glicose (2DG), promoveram a ativação da AMPK hipotalâmica, aumentaram a ingestão alimentar e prolongaram a sobrevida de ratos com anorexia induzida por tumor. Em paralelo, a ativação farmacológica da AMPK hipotalâmica em animais portadores de tumor, reduziu significativamente a produção hipotalâmica da óxido nítrico sintase induzível (iNOS), da Interleucina-1ß (IL-1ß) e do fator de necrose tumoral alfa (TNF-a) e modulou a expressão de neuropeptídeos hipotalâmicos (NPY e POMC) envolvidos no controle da homeostase energética. Além disso, o tratamento diário via oral com metformina, biguanida com ação anti-diabética, também aumentou a fosforilação da AMPK hipotalâmica, aumentou a ingestão alimentar e a sobrevida nos animais com anorexia induzida pelo tumor. Coletivamente, nossos achados sugerem que a ativação da AMPK hipotalâmica reverte a anorexia induzida pelo câncer através da inibição da produção de moléculas pró-inflamatórias e através do controle da expressão de neuropeptídeos no hipotálamo, refletindo em aumento da sobrevida dos ratos portadores de tumor. Assim nossos dados indicam que a ativação da AMPK representa uma atrativa oportunidade para o tratamento da anorexia induzida pelo câncer / Abstract: The pathogenesis of cancer anorexia is multifactorial and is associated with disturbances of the central physiological mechanisms controlling food intake. However the neurochemical mechanisms responsable for cancer induced-anorexia are unclear. Here, we show that chronic infusion of 5-amino-4imidazolecarboxamide-riboside (AICAR) into the third cerebral ventricle and a chronic peripheral injection of 2 deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) promotes hypothalamic AMPK activation, increased food intake and prolongs the survival of anorexic tumor bearing (TB) rats. In parallel, the pharmacological activation of hypothalamic AMPK in TB animals, markedly reduced the hypothalamic production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-1ß IL-1ß and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a and modulated the expression of hypothalamic neuropeptides (NPY and POMC) involved in the control of energy homeostasis. Furthermore, the daily oral treatment with biguanide anti diabetic drug metformin also induced AMPK phosphorylation in the central nervous system and increased food intake and life span in anorexic TB rats. Collectively, the findings of this study suggest that hypothalamic AMPK activation reverses cancer anorexia by inhibiting the production of proinflammatory molecules and controlling the neuropeptide expression in the hypothalamus, reflecting in a prolonged life span in TB rats. Thus, our data indicate that hypothalamic AMPK activation presents an attractive opportunity for the treatment of cancer-induced anorexia / Mestrado / Ciencias Basicas / Mestre em Clinica Medica

Orientador: Maria Cristina Gomes Marcondes / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T01:32:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Salomao_EmilianneMiguel_D.pdf: 2085353 bytes, checksum: b304c86280f34965140b320d344cce46 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: A intensa mobilização de substratos dos tecidos da carcaça do hospedeiro, em função do crescimento neoplásico, promove no organismo o estado caracterizado como caquexia. Presente na maioria dos pacientes com câncer, a caquexia promove intensa perda involuntária de peso decorrente, preferencialmente, da depleção da proteína muscular em função do aumento da degradação e/ou da diminuição da síntese protéica, culminando na redução da qualidade e expectativa de vida. Sabendo-se que a leucina (BCAA) é utilizada como fonte energética pelo músculo esquelético, podendo ser transaminada e oxidada para produzir acetil-CoA, caracterizada, também, como precursora da gliconeogênese, a partir da sua degradação e formação de alanina no músculo e age, principalmente, como sinalizadora celular e que o exercício físico promove aumento do consumo de glicose, diminuindo assim os níveis de glicose e insulina circulantes, conseqüentemente, reduzindo a oferta desse substrato às células tumorais. Temos por principal interesse minimizar as alterações metabólicas do tecido hospedeiro frente ao crescimento do carcinossarcoma de Walker associado ao exercício físico aeróbio de intensidade leve a moderada e suplementação nutricional de leucina, avaliando o metabolismo protéico, através de analise do processo de síntese e catabolismo protéico, e o metabolismo glicídico, analisando-se a via glicolítica e receptor de glicose muscular, bem como a concentração sérica de citocinas, em ratos Wistar. Desse modo nossos resultados verificamos: 1) Diminuição do ganho de peso corpóreo após o implante tumoral. 2) Diminuição da síntese e aumento da degradação protéica muscular acompanhada com menor conteúdo de proteína e expressão de miosina. 3) Consequente, aumento da expressão das subunidades ubiquitina-proteossomo. 4) Aumento das citocinas pró-inflamatórias. 5) Redução da concentração sérica de glicose, insulina e aumento de glucagon. 6) Redução da expressão gênica do transportador de glicose muscular, Glut-4. 7) Diminuição do diâmetro da fibra muscular esquelética. Já a suplementação nutricional com leucina e/ou exercício físico, a longo prazo, promove nos animais com tumor: 1) Melhora no ganho de peso corpóreo, com redução do peso tumoral em alguns grupos. 2) Diminui a degradação muscular esquelética, associada a maior expressão de miosina muscular. 3) Melhora a concentração de citocinas próinflamatórias. 4) Melhora a expressão gênica de transportador de glicose muscular, Glut- 4. 5) Melhora, também, o diâmetro da fibra muscular / Abstract: The intense nutrients mobilization of host tissues, due to neoplastic growth, leads to host cachexia state. Most cancer patients have cachexia, which is characterized by involuntary weight loss through increase in protein muscle depletion and decrease in protein synthesis process. In these cases, there is reduction in quality and life expectancy. Leucine (BCAA) is used as an energy source by skeletal muscle, precursor of gluconeogenesis or acts as cell signaling and physical exercise promotes increased consumption of glucose, reducing the levels of circulating glucose and insulin, providing less supply of substrate to tumour. In this work, our main interests were to minimize the metabolic alterations in tumor-bearing host associated with nutritional supplementation of leucine and moderate aerobic exercise during Walker 256 tumour growth and whether this association could avoid or protect muscular depletion, analyzing protein metabolism through protein synthesis and catabolism process, and muscle carbohydrate metabolism through analysis of glucose metabolism, by evaluating glycolytic pathway and muscle glucose receptor in rats. Thus our results found: 1) Decrease in body weight gain after tumor implantation. 2) Decreased synthesis and increased muscle protein degradation accompanied with lower protein content and expression of myosin. 3) Accordingly, increased expression of ubiquitin-subunits proteosome. 4) Increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines. 5) Reduction of serum glucose, insulin and glucagon increase. 6) Reduction of gene expression of muscle glucose transporter, Glut-4. 7) Decrease in diameter of skeletal muscle fibers. Since dietary supplementation with leucine and / or exercise in the long run, promote the animals with tumor: 1) Improvement in body weight gain, reducing the tumor burden in some groups. 2) Decrease in skeletal muscle degradation, associated with increased expression of muscle myosin. 3) Improve the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines. 4) Improve the gene expression of muscle glucose transporter, Glut-4. 5) It also improves the diameter of muscle fiber / Doutorado / Fisiologia / Doutor em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / No presente estudo avaliou-se os efeitos da inoculaÃÃo do carcinosarcoma 256 de Walker, bem como o curso de seu desenvolvimento, sobre a reaÃÃo inflamatÃria sistÃmica. Ratos Wistar machos, pesando entre 180 a 220g, foram inoculados, por via intramuscular, com 106 cÃlulas tumorais na coxa direita. Os experimentos foram realizados apÃs o 4Â, 7Â e 10Â dias (4D, 7D e 10D) da inoculaÃÃo do carcinossarcoma 256 de Walker. O grupo controle nÃo foi inoculado as cÃlulas tumorais. Os ratos foram divididos em grupos experimentais com n = 6, nos quais foram avaliados os seguintes parÃmetros: edema de pata por carragenina (Cg; 300μg/pata direita) ou dextrana (Dxt; 500μg/pata direita), atividade da enzima mieloperoxidase (MPO), migraÃÃo de neutrÃfilos para cavidade peritoneal induzidas por carragenina (Cg; 300μg/pata direita), permeabilidade vascular cutÃnea induzidas por bradicinina (2μg/sÃtio), histamina (30μg/sÃtio), serotonina (1μg/sÃtio), substÃncia P (250ng/sÃtio), capsaicina (50μg/sÃtio) ou composto 48/80 (1μg/sÃtio) e degranulaÃÃo mastocitÃria induzida por composto 48/80. A intensidade do edema foi avaliada na pata contralateral ao tumor 1, 2, 3 e 4 hs (Cg) e 30â ,1 2, 3, ,4 hs (Dxt) por pletismometria. A migraÃÃo de neutrÃfilos foi induzida pela administraÃÃo de Cg (300μg/pata) na pata contralateral ao tumor ou na cavidade peritoneal. ApÃs 4 horas, os ratos foram sacrificados e as peles das patas foram retiradas para medir indiretamente a infiltraÃÃo de neutrÃfilos, pela tÃcnica da dosagem da atividade da MPO, e a migraÃÃo de neutrÃfilos para cavidade peritoneal foi avaliada atravÃs da contagem total e diferencial de leucÃcitos. Em relaÃÃo a permeabilidade vascular cutÃnea, imediatamente apÃs as injeÃÃes intradÃrmicas dos estÃmulos (bradicinina, histamina, serotonina, substÃncia P, capsaicina ou composto 48/80), foi administrado azul de Evans (0,1mL/100g do animal), na veia do plexo peniano. ApÃs 30 min, os ratos foram sacrificados e a pele do dorso retirada, para avaliar o extravasamento do azul de Evans por espectrometria. A degranulaÃÃo de mastÃcitos do mesentÃrio foi avaliada apÃs coloraÃÃo com azul de toluidina, sendo contados os mastÃcitos degranulados num total de 100 cÃlulas. Os animais com tumor apresentaram uma inibiÃÃo significativa do edema de pata, com efeito mÃximo observado nos 7 Â e 10 Â dias, tanto com a Cg, quanto com Dxt, quando comparados com o controle sem tumor. Em nenhum dos dias estudados, foram observadas diferenÃas na atividade da MPO na pata e nem na avaliaÃÃo da migraÃÃo de neutrÃfilos para a cavidade pÃritoneal induzidas por Cg. ApÃs 4 e 7 dias da inoculaÃÃo do tumor, o animais apresentaram uma significativa diminuiÃÃo na permeabilidade vascular cutÃnea induzida por bradicinina, serotonina, e composto 48/80. No entanto, o aumento da permeabilidade vascular induzida por histamina, substÃncia P e capsaicina nÃo foi alterada nesses dois dias. No 10 Â dia, observou-se uma diminuiÃÃo da permeabilidade vascular induzida por todos os estÃmulos quando comparado com o grupo sem tumor. A degranulaÃÃo mastÃcitÃria foi inibida em animais com tumor nos 4Â, 7Â e 10Â dias em comparaÃÃo com o grupo controle. Tais dados sugerem que o microambiente do tumor de Walker diminui o curso da resposta inflamatÃria atravÃs da inibiÃÃo da degranulaÃÃo dos mastocitos / Our objective was to evaluate the effect of the 256 Walker carcinossarcoma inoculation, as well as the time course of tumoral development, upon the acute inflammatory response in rats. Wistar rats, 180-220g, received intramuscular 106 tumor cells injections. At the end of 4, 7 or 10 days, wistar rats were separated into 4 groups, with 6 animals per group. The control group, were not inoculated with tumoral cells. Several parameters were evaluated: paw edema induced by carrageenan (Cg; 300μg/hind) or dextran (Dxt, 500μg/hind paw), myeloperoxidase activity (MPO), neutrophil migration to peritoneal cavity induced by carrageenan, cutaneous vascular permeability induced by bradykinin (2μg/site), serotonin (1μg/site), histamine (30μg/site), substance P (250ng/site), capsaicin (50μg/site) or 48/80 compound (1 μg/site) and mast cell degranulation induced by 48/80 compound. Paw edema was evaluated in the contra lateral hind paw of the tumor and measured at 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4h for Cg, and 0, 30â, 1, 2, 3 and 4h.for Dxt by plethysmometry. Neutrophil migration was induced by Cg injection in the contralateral hind paw or in the peritoneal cavity. After 4h, rats were sacrificed and the skin of the hind paw was harvested to measure neutrophil infiltration by MPO assay. Neutrophil migration induced by Cg was also evaluated in the peritoneal cavity, with the total e differential leucocytes counted. In order to measure cutaneous vascular permeability, immediately after intradermic stimulus injections (bradykinin, histamine, serotonin, substance P, capsaicin or 48/80 compound) Evans Blue dye was administrated (0,1mL/100g of per animal) by endovenous route. After 30 min rats were sacrificed and the skin was harvested to evaluate Evans Blue extravasations by spectrofotometry. Mast cells degranulation was evaluated in the in mesentery incubated with 48/80 compound and colored with toluidine blue. Our results shows that, in animals inoculated with the carcinossarcoma, there was a significant inhibition in the Cg and Dxt- induced paw edema, with maximal effect at the 7th and 10th days. There were no differences in MPO activity and neither in the peritoneal neutrophil infiltration induced by Cg in rats inoculated with the carcinossarcoma when compares to normal animals. After 4 and 7 days of the tumor inoculation, we observed a significant inhibition of the vascular permeability induced only by bradikinin, serotonin and 48/80 compound.. In the 10th day after the carcinossarcoma inoculation, there was a significant inhibition of the vascular permeability induced by all inflammatory stimulus tested, when we compared animals not inoculated. Mast cell degranulation was decreased in the 4th, 7th and 10th days after carcinossarcoma inoculation. These results suggested that the tumor microenvironment decreased the acute inflammatory response probably due to a inhibition of the mast cell degranulation.

Canvas was commissioned by the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Consortium in fall 1999 for the CBDNA Biennium National Conference to be held at the University of North Texas in February 2001. This substantial and profound three-movement work is Pulitzer Prize winning composer George Walker's first work for wind ensemble and is a milestone in wind composition at the turn of the millennium. This analysis considers Walker's sophisticated use of octatonic collections and their subsets. Walker uses the three transpositions of the octatonic scale as a harmonic framework for the work. Within this framework, specific subsets of the collection are used in traditional harmonic ways. A hierarchy of pitch sets is created, lending a "tonic" function characteristic to prevalent and specifically placed sonorities. Onto this "canvas" of octatonic harmonies, Walker "paints" specific motivic gestures. These motivic gesture monopolize specific intervallic relationships that are initially presented in the beginning of the work. Certain motivic techniques are then employed in the ongoing development of the motivic content. These motivic techniques include melodic suspension, interval alternation, double stroke articulation, irregularly recurring patterns, chordal punctuations, interrupted sequences, and dramatic uses of silence. Formally, Walker uses short "cells" of similar motivic and harmonic content as a tool of organization.

Significant passages in Alice Walker's writings give evidence of archetypal patterns from Carl Jung and feminine archetypal patterns from Annis Pratt. Since a knowledge of archetypal patterns can influence the total understanding of aspects of Walker's writings, a study of these patterns in the undergraduate classroom benefits the student and opens up another system of analyzing writings, particularly writings by African-American women.

This research investigates the process of self-authorship by applying self-expression, intentionality and appropriation by South African graphic designer Garth Walker (b. 1957) in the production of the i-jusi magazine. For this purpose, selected issues and designs of i-jusi magazines are analysed. In his search for an indigenous South African design language through self-authorship, Walker works outside of the traditional clientdesigner model. He attempts to capture this unique South African voice through a number of themed i-jusi issues. In self-authorship, the intent of the graphic designer is embedded in personal conviction and expression, which are key factors to the creation of the work. Hollis (2001) describes the designer as a messenger with an eye for the aesthetic and a target market. As the country’s socio-political transformation took on a different shape post-1994, a search for a South African design language became prevalent among South African graphic designers. Writers in design such as Heller (1998), Lupton (2003), and Bierut (2007) coined the term Designer as Author in the critical discourses on self-authorship and design that is more experimental in nature. McCarthy and Melibeu de Almeida (2002) acknowledge the practice in which designers take responsibility to create content and form simultaneously, thus expanding the opportunity for self-expression. In their search for unique self-authorship, contemporary graphic designers give voice to their intent and self-expression, making use of the appropriation or borrowing of different styles, visual languages and cultural contexts. Ijusi serves as an example of self-initiation, a criterion for self-authorship, as it is produced, edited and distributed by Walker himself. In his search for a truly South African design language, Walker explores identity and individual expression to include intent and appropriation as part of the production process. / MA (History of Art), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This research investigates the process of self-authorship by applying self-expression, intentionality and appropriation by South African graphic designer Garth Walker (b. 1957) in the production of the i-jusi magazine. For this purpose, selected issues and designs of i-jusi magazines are analysed. In his search for an indigenous South African design language through self-authorship, Walker works outside of the traditional clientdesigner model. He attempts to capture this unique South African voice through a number of themed i-jusi issues. In self-authorship, the intent of the graphic designer is embedded in personal conviction and expression, which are key factors to the creation of the work. Hollis (2001) describes the designer as a messenger with an eye for the aesthetic and a target market. As the country’s socio-political transformation took on a different shape post-1994, a search for a South African design language became prevalent among South African graphic designers. Writers in design such as Heller (1998), Lupton (2003), and Bierut (2007) coined the term Designer as Author in the critical discourses on self-authorship and design that is more experimental in nature. McCarthy and Melibeu de Almeida (2002) acknowledge the practice in which designers take responsibility to create content and form simultaneously, thus expanding the opportunity for self-expression. In their search for unique self-authorship, contemporary graphic designers give voice to their intent and self-expression, making use of the appropriation or borrowing of different styles, visual languages and cultural contexts. Ijusi serves as an example of self-initiation, a criterion for self-authorship, as it is produced, edited and distributed by Walker himself. In his search for a truly South African design language, Walker explores identity and individual expression to include intent and appropriation as part of the production process. / MA (History of Art), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Thesis advisor: Rachel A. Freudenburg / This undergraduate thesis deals with the role of art in national trauma and history. I looked at Joseph Beuys, a post-World War II artist and Kara Walker, a contemporary African American female artist. I used the German installation artist, Joseph Beuys, as a lens for looking at art's reaction and handling of the trauma of World War II. I discussed Kara Walker because she seeks to create a critical understanding of America's racial past through art and who explores, as well, contemporary racial and gender stereotypes. Both artists are important for understanding memory, history, and identity-both personal and national identity. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2007. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Germanic Studies. / Discipline: College Honors Program.