Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Caslon type'

In 1992, Xiao-Song Lin constructed an invariant h of knots in the 3-sphere via a signed count of the conjugacy classes of irreducible SU(2)-representations of the fundamental group of the knot exterior with trace-free meridians. Lin showed that h equals one-half times the knot signature. Using methods similar to Lin's, we construct an invariant of two-component links in the 3-sphere. Our invariant is a signed count of conjugacy classes of projective SU(2)-representations of the fundamental group of the link exterior with a fixed 2-cocycle and corresponding non-trivial second Stiefel--Whitney class. We show that our invariant is, up to a sign, the linking number. We further construct, for a two-component link in an integral homology sphere, an instanton Floer homology whose Euler characteristic is, up to sign, the linking number between the components of the link. We relate this Floer homology to the Kronheimer-Mrowka instanton Floer homology of knots. We also show that, for two-component links in the 3-sphere, the Floer homology does not vanish unless the link is split.

El desenvolupament de materials polimèrics a partir de fonts renovables està rebent un interès creixent degut a la incertesa en el preu i les reserves d’olis i a aspectes mediambientals. A més a més, maximitzar els beneficis d’emprar fonts renovables requereix l’aplicació de metodologies químiques altament sostenibles i eficients, exemplificades per les reacciones Click o tipus Click. D’altra banda, el disseny de polímers funcionalitzats amb propietats modulables i per tant, amb una aplicació més amplia, també és consistent amb el concepte de sostenibilitat. En aquest sentit, en aquesta tesi, hem explorat la diversitat d’oportunitats que aquestes transformacions ens ofereixen en els diferents estadis de la producció de polímers (síntesi de monòmers, polimerització i modificació de polímers) basats en l’àcid undecilènic i oleic, com a derivats de l’oli de ricí i girasol, respectivament. En concret, hem explorat la química tiol-eno tant per preparar nous monòmers policarboxílics com per polimeritzar derivats d’àcids grassos i modificar els finals de cadena de nous macromonomers. També hem explorat la química tiol-ino com a eina de polimerització de derivats d’àcids grassos alquínics. D’altra banda, s’ha preparat un poliester derivat de l’oli de ricí funcionalitzat amb grups brom i s’ha estudiat la substitució nucleòfila d’aquests grups amb tiols, amines i àcids carboxílics. Finalment l’aplicació dels diferents polímers sintetitzats, en l’alliberament controlat de fàrmacs així com també com a recobriments antimicrobials, ha estat avaluada.
The development of polymeric materials from renewable resources is receiving considerable attention as a consequence of the depleting of fossil resources and environmental issues. Moreover, maximizing the benefits of using renewable feedstocks requires the utilization of sustainable and efficient chemical transformations, exemplified by Click/Click-type chemistry reactions. In addition, the design of highly functionalized polymers with adjustable properties and thus, broader applicability is also consistent with the concept of sustainability. To this aim, in this thesis, we have explored the wide opportunities that these efficient transformations can offer in the different steps involved in the production of polymers (monomer synthesis, polymerization and polymer modification) based on undecylenic and oleic acids, as castor and sunflower oil derivatives. In particular, we have explored thiol-ene couplings to prepare new polycarboxylic monomers but also to polymerize fatty acids derivatives as well as post-modify the chain-ends of new biobased macromonomers. Thiol-yne chemistry has been also explored as polymerization tool of alkynic fatty acid derivatives. In addition, a bromine containing polyester derived from castor oil has been also prepared and its nucleophilic substitution with thiols, amines and carboxylic acids has been studied. Finally, the application of the new synthesized polymers as drug delivery carriers or antimicrobial coatings has been evaluated.

Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Biology, 2017.
Vita. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references.
Targeted methods to perturb nucleic acid sequences or epigenetic modifications enable better understanding of nucleic acid function or dysfunction in disease. Particular CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins are used for targeted DNA editing because they are easy to use, precise, and specific. CRISPR-Cas systems function in microbes as adaptive immune systems and are composed of endonuclease protein(s) with targeting guide RNAs that together provide interference against foreign nucleic acids. CRISPR-Cas systems exhibit wide diversity, with the ability to target DNA or RNA, and some large single effector Class 2 Cas proteins have been harnessed for genome engineering. There is an interest to find and characterize additional Class 2 Cas proteins, especially ones that target RNA, to enable further targeting capabilities. A large computational database search was conducted to find a large uncharacterized protein within 10 kilobases of a CRISPR array and from this search casl3b was identified. The casl3b loci may contain the genes csx27 or csx28 and one or two CRISPR arrays with canonical or long direct repeats. Experimentally, purified Casl3b processes its own CRISPR array(s) into crRNA(s) and Casl3b with either crRNA architecture targets single stranded RNA cleavage using its HEPN domains. SsRNA cleavage occurs at pyrimidine residues and is constrained by 5' and 3' protospacer-flanking sequences on the target. Casl3b also displays the collateral effect, a non-specific cleavage of ssRNAs after targeted cleavage. Casl3b with mutated HEPN domains lose ssRNA cleavage activity but maintain strong, targeted binding capacity. Genetically, Casl3b-mediated RNA interference occurs with Casl3b alone and is repressed by Csx27 or enhanced by Csx28. Casl3b is characterized as a Type VI-B CRISPR-Cas system and represents the second Class 2 Cas protein to target RNA, the other being Casl3a (C2c2). Future studies of Casl3b are warranted to better understand its functional mechanisms, specificity, role of small proteins, and acquisition. Casl3b could be developed into a suite of tools for transcriptome engineering to mediate RNA translation, splicing, or deposition of epitranscriptomic marks. Casl3b could also be utilized for RNA diagnostic or RNA imaging assays. Identifying and characterizing novel CRISPR-Cas systems opens new opportunities for utilizing Cas enzymes for biomedical advances.
by Neena Kenton Pyzocha.
Ph. D.

INTRODUÇÃO: Apesar da terapia com toxina botulínica ser o tratamento de escolha para a distonia cervical, admite-se que um tratamento multidisciplinar, agregando a fisioterapia ao tratamento com toxina botulínica, poderia acrescentar maiores benefícios aos pacientes com distonia cervical; sendo assim, o objetivo primário deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da associação da toxina botulínica a um protocolo de fisioterapia na gravidade da distonia cervical, incapacidade e dor; e o objetivo secundário foi avaliar o efeito desta associação na qualidade de vida de pacientes com distonia cervical. MÉTODOS: Participaram deste estudo controlado aberto quarenta de setenta pacientes com distonia cervical, tratados no Ambulatório de Distúrbios do Movimento do Departamento de Neurologia da Faculdade de Medicina do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo. Antes de serem submetidos à aplicação da toxina botulínica, os pacientes foram avaliados por um médico da equipe, e esperava-se que neste dia os pacientes estivessem sem a ação da medicação. Todos os pacientes avaliados foram convidados a participar do programa de fisioterapia, e conforme a disponibilidade de aderir ao programa dos mesmos, chegou-se ao número de vinte pacientes em G1 (fisioterapia e toxina botulínica) e vinte pacientes em G2 (toxina botulínica), sendo esta amostra de conveniência. Para G2, foram escolhidos os primeiros vinte pacientes consecutivos que não poderiam aderir ao programa fisioterapêutico. Os pacientes de G1 e G2 foram reavaliados após quarenta e cinco dias. As escalas utilizadas foram a Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS) e a Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Foi proposto um novo modelo de tratamento para pacientes com distonia cervical que seriam submetidos a um protocolo fisioterapêutico, baseado em três principais abordagens: aprendizagem motora, cinesioterapia e estimulação elétrica funcional na musculatura antagonista ao padrão distônico. Os pacientes de G1 foram tratados por um período de quatro semanas, a frequência era diária (cinco vezes por semana) e a duração da sessão em média uma hora e quinze minutos. RESULTADOS: As características demográficas iniciais dos indivíduos não diferiram significativamente entre os dois grupos tratados, em apenas um dos itens avaliados (tempo de tratamento) houve diferença entre grupos no momento inicial. Os resultados dos tratamentos na qualidade de vida foram avaliados pela escala SF-36, esta dividida em dois grandes domínios: aspectos físicos e aspectos emocionais. Em relação aos aspectos físicos, G1 apresentou melhora significativa comparando-se antes e depois do tratamento (intragrupo) em três subdomínios: capacidade funcional, limitação por aspectos físicos e dor; em G2 não houve melhora significativa em nenhum dos quatro subdomínios. Houve também uma diferença entre G1 e G2 depois dos tratamentos (entre grupos) em dois subdomínios: limitação por aspectos físicos e dor. Em relação aos aspectos emocionais, em G1, houve melhora significativa nos seguintes subdomínios depois do tratamento (intragrupo): vitalidade, aspectos sociais e saúde mental. Houve também uma diferença entre G1 e G2 depois dos tratamentos (entre grupos) em dois subdomínios: vitalidade e saúde mental. Não houve melhora em G2 nos subdomínios dos aspectos emocionais. A avaliação das características e gravidade da distonia cervical, medida pela TWSTRS, demonstrou melhora significativa de G1 e G2 após os tratamentos que foram submetidos (intra grupos) em duas subescalas: gravidade (I) e incapacidade (II). Na subescala de dor (III), apenas G1 apresentou melhora intragrupo após o tratamento a que foi submetido; houve também, neste mesmo subdomínio, diferença significativa entre G1 e G2 depois dos tratamentos, entre grupos. CONCLUSÕES: O presente estudo avaliou possibilidade de que a utilização da toxina botulínica, junto a um protocolo de fisioterapia facilmente reprodutível, poderia agregar melhoras em sintomas como gravidade da doença, incapacidade, dor e qualidade de vida de uma população de indivíduos com distonia cervical, e os resultados obtidos permitiram negar as hipóteses nulas. Novas pesquisas são necessárias para confirmar esses achados e solidificar a reabilitação neurológica como um tratamento eficaz no manejo da distonia cervical
INTRODUCTION: Despite the fact that therapy with botulinum toxin is considered the best treatment for cervical dystonia, it is assumed that a multidisciplinary treatment, adding physical therapy to the botulinum toxin treatment could provide additional gains to patients with cervical dystonia. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the combination of botulinum toxin and physical therapy on severity of cervical dystonia, disability and pain. The secondary objective was to evaluate the effect of this combination on the quality of life in patients with cervical dystonia. METHODS: forty patients of seventy with cervical dystonia from the Ambulatório de Distúrbios do Movimento do Departamento de Neurologia da Faculdade de Medicina do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo attended this open- controlled study. Before receiving an application of botulinum toxin, the patients were evaluated by a neurologist and it was assumed that patients were not under any effect of the medication (botulinum toxin). All patients were asked to participate in a physical therapy program, and according to the patients availability to join the program, we reached the number of twenty patients in G1 (physical therapy and botulinum toxin) and in G2 (botulinum toxin only), the first twenty consecutive patients who couldnt participate in the physical therapy program were chosen. This was a convenience sample. Patients of G1 and G2 were revaluated after forty five days, and the evaluation scales used was the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS) and Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). A new model of physical therapy treatment was applied to patients with cervical dystonia, and it was based on three main approaches: motor learning, kinesiotherapy and functional electrical stimulation on the antagonist muscles of the dystonic pattern. The patients in G1 were treated daily for a period of four weeks, and each session lasted one hour and fifteen minutes. RESULTS: The demographic characteristics of individuals didnt differ significantly between two treated groups, but there was a difference between groups in the initial moment (baseline) in only one feature evaluated (time of treatment). The SF-36 scale was used to evaluate the results of the treatments for quality of life, and was divided into two big domains: physical and emotional aspects. When analyzing physical aspects, G1 showed a significant improvement when comparing before and after the proposed treatment (inside group) in three subdomains: physical functioning, role-physical and body pain; in G2 there was no improvement in any of the four subdomains. A difference between G1 and G2, after the treatments (between groups), was also seen in two subdomains: role-physical and body pain. In relation to emotional aspects, in G1, after the treatment (intra-group), there was a significantly improvement in vitality, social functioning and mental health. There was also a difference between G1 and G2 after the treatment (between groups) in two subdomains: vitality and mental health. There was no improvement in G2 in any domains of the social aspects. Severity of cervical dystonia showed a significant improvement of G1 and G2 after treatments (intra-group) in two subdomains: severity (I) and disability (II). In subscale pain (III), only patients of G1 showed a significant improvement intra-group after the treatment; in this subdomain there was also a significant difference between groups after the treatments (G1 and G2). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that botulinum toxin, combined with an easily reproducible physical therapy protocol, could improve symptoms like severity of cervical dystonia, disability, pain and quality of life, in a population of individuals with cervical dystonia, and these results makes it possible to deny the null hypothesis. Other studies are needed to confirm these findings and solidify neurologic rehabilitation as an effective cervical dystonia treatment approach

Cette thèse porte sur les invariants des sphères d'homologie entière de dimension 3, et en particulier sur les invariants de type fini pour la filtration de Goussarov-Habiro.
Dans une première partie, on étudie la variation d'un invariant de degré 2n après chirurgie le long d'une surface par un élément du 2n-ième terme de la série centrale descendante du groupe de Torelli. Dans le cas d'un commutateur de 2n éléments du groupe de Torelli, on exprime cette variation en fonction de l'homomorphisme de Johnson évalué sur ces 2n éléments et du système de poids de l'invariant.

Le calcul des claspers de Goussarov-Habiro donne des équivalences topologiques entre des chirurgies sur des corps en anses plongés dans les variétés. Ce calcul a déjà permis de préciser le comportement des invariants de type fini lors de nombreuses modifications topologiques. La deuxième partie de cette thèse est consacrée à un raffinement de ce calcul. Ce raffinement est ensuite appliqué à l'obtention d'une formule de chirurgie géométrique sur les noeuds pour les invariants de degré 4, c'est-à-dire que l'on exprime la variation d'un tel invariant après chirurgie sur un noeud en fonction d'invariants de courbes tracées au voisinage d'une surface de Seifert de ce noeud.

Dissertação de Mestrado integrado em Medicina Veterinária
As hérnias discais intervertebrais tipo II toracolombares, tipicamente associadas ao processo de degenerescência fibrosa que afeta os discos intervertebrais, consistem na protrusão do núcleo pulposo associada a um enfraquecimento e rutura parcial das fibras do anel fibroso. O resultado é a extensão focal de ambas as estruturas para o canal vertebral, com compressão crónica e progressiva da medula espinhal e ligamento longitudinal dorsal. A doença é sobretudo reconhecida em animais mais velhos, de raças não condrodistróficas de grande porte, podendo no entanto afetar raças condrodistróficas. Os animais apresentam-se geralmente com uma história clínica crónica e progressiva e sinais clínicos ligeiros como ataxia dos membros pélvicos e paraparésia ambulatória. O diagnóstico é baseado nos dados do animal, história pregressa, resultados do exame neurológico, radiografias simples e o diagnóstico definitivo requer imagiologia avançada como mielografia, tomografia computorizada (TC) ou ressonância magnética (RM). A RM é considerado o exame imagiológico de eleição para o diagnóstico da doença e caracterização das lesões associadas. O tratamento pode ser conservador, com recurso a anti-inflamatórios, repouso e fisioterapia, ou cirúrgico. O tratamento cirúrgico poderá incluir técnicas descompressivas como hemilaminectomia, minihemilaminectomia, corpectomia lateral ou técnicas de estabilização vertebral. O prognóstico é mais reservado, independentemente do tratamento instituído e, a longo prazo muitas vezes não se revela satisfatório O objetivo da componente prática deste trabalho é contribuir com informação referente à abordagem de cães afetados por hérnia discal intervertebral tipo II, através da exposição de sete casos clínicos com diagnóstico da doença tratados cirurgicamente, assim como revisar a literatura mais recente sobre o tema em questão. A análise permitiu na generalidade confirmar a informação recolhida, tendo-se verificado que a doença surge na maioria dos casos em cães de raça não condrodistróficas e em idade mais avançada. Os discos intervertebrais T12-T13, T13-L1 e L1-L2 surgem com frequência afetados. A RM revela-se bastante útil na avaliação e caracterização das lesões. A presença de múltiplas protrusões e espondilose deformante ventral é comum nestes pacientes. A abordagem clínica e cirúrgica dos animais afetados é bastante variável e a sua recuperação é muitas vezes incompleta, podendo permaner défices neurológicos residuais.
ABSTRACT - THORACOLOMBAR INTERVERTEBRAL DISC PROTRUSION IN DOGS: DIAGNOSIS AND SURGICAL TREATMENT IN SEVEN CLINICAL CASES - The thoracolumbar type II intervertebral disc herniation, typically associated with the fibrous metaplasia that affect the intervertebral discs, consist in the protrusion of the nucleus pulposus, associated with the weakening and partial rupture of the annulus fibrosus. The result is the focal extension of both structures to the vertebral canal, with progressive and chronic compression of the spinal cord and the dorsal longitudinal ligament. This disease is mostly found in older animals of nonchondrodistrophic large breeds, although it can also affect chondrodistrophic ones. The animals usually present a progressive and chronic clinical history and mild clinical signs such as ataxia of the hindlimbs and ambulatory paraparesis. The diagnosis is based on the animal’s signalment, clinical history, results of the neurological exam, radiographic findings, and the final diagnosis requires advanced imaging tests such as mielography, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The MRI is considered the imaging test of choice for the diagnosis of the disease and characterization of the associated lesions. The treatment can be conservative, resorting to anti-inflammatory drugs, rest and physiotherapy, or surgical. The surgical treatment may include decompressive technics such as hemilaminectomy, minihemilaminectomy, lateral corpectomy and vertebral stabilization techniques. The prognosis is more reserved, regardless of the chosen treatment and, in the long term, is often not satisfactory. The goal of the practical component of this dissertation is to contribute with information concerning the approach to dogs affected by intervertebral type II disc herniation, through the presentation of seven clinical cases diagnosed with this disease and that had surgical treatment, as well as to review the most recent literature on the subject. In general, the analysis made it possible to confirm the information consulted, and we were able to verify that the disease occurs in most cases in nonchondrodistrophic breeds and in dogs of older age. The intervertebral discs T12-T13, T13-L1 and L1-L2 frequently appear affected. MRI proved to be quite useful in the evaluation and characterization of the lesions. The presence of multiple protrusions and spondylosis deformans ventral is common in these patients. The clinical and surgical approach to the affected animals is quite variable and the recovery is often incomplete, and residual neurological deficits may remain.
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Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina Veterinária
As lesões de reabsorção dentária (LRD) representam uma das doenças orais mais comuns nos gatos e a sua prevalência tem vindo a aumentar. Existe um interesse crescente na compreensão da patogenia desta doença e na identificação dos seus fatores etiológicos. Porém, apesar das várias teorias existentes, a etiologia das LRD felinas permanece desconhecida dificultando a sua prevenção. Estas lesões são encontradas com maior frequência nos molares e pré-molares mandibulares, sendo, por isso, recomendada uma avaliação cuidada destes dentes em particular. A avaliação radiográfica e a correta identificação do tipo (1, 2 ou 3) de LRD são essenciais para o diagnóstico e para a escolha do tratamento adequado, que, na maioria dos casos, consiste na extração dos dentes ou na amputação da coroa dentária. Este estudo de caso-controlo retrospetivo incluiu 152 gatos, tendo como objetivos avaliar a relação entre as LRD, a doença periodontal e a gengivoestomatite, determinar quais os dentes mais frequentemente afetados e a sua distribuição por género e raça, de forma a contribuir para o estudo da etiologia destas lesões. Os resultados obtidos revelaram que a gengivite local representa um fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de LR2 e LR3. A periodontite representa um fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de LRD, sem influência nas LR1, LR2 ou LR3 em particular. A estomatite e a estomatite caudal não foram identificados como fatores de risco. O tipo de dente afetado e a raça do animal influenciam o tipo de LRD existente. Nomeadamente, os dentes caninos e a raça Persa aumentam o risco de desenvolver LR2, contrariamente às LR1 que são mais prevalentes nos molares e pré-molares e menos prevalentes na raça Persa. Também se observou uma relação significativa entre a idade e o tipo de LRD desenvolvido, sendo que as LR1 se verificaram maioritariamente em animais jovens, ao contrário das LR2 e LR3 que ocorreram sobretudo em gatos mais velhos. O presente estudo contribuiu para o conhecimento de fatores associados às LRD, reforçando os conhecimentos anteriores e contribuindo com a identificação de algumas variáveis com influência nos tipos de LRD, nomeadamente a associação entre a raça Persa, o tipo de dente afetado e as LR2. São necessários mais estudos, utilizando amostras maiores para conseguir identificar outras variáveis com influência nas LRD e validar associações aqui identificadas.
ABSTRACT - EVALUATION OF FELINE TOOTH RESORPTION - RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF 152 CLINICAL CASES - Feline tooth resorption (TR) represents one of the most common oral diseases in cats and its prevalence has been increasing. There is growing interest in understanding the pathogenesis of this disease and in identifying its etiological factors. However, despite the several existing theories, the aetiology of feline TR remains unknown, making its prevention difficult. These lesions are most commonly found on the mandibular molars and premolars; therefore, it is recommended to examine these particular teeth thoroughly during oral examinations. Radiographic evaluation and the correct identification of the type (1, 2 or 3) of TR are essential for diagnosis and selection of the appropriate treatment, which, in most cases, consists of tooth extraction or amputation of the dental crown. This retrospective case-control study included 152 cats and aimed to evaluate the relationship between TR, periodontal disease and gingivostomatitis, to determine which teeth are most frequently affected and their distribution by gender and breed, in order to contribute to the aetiologic study of these dental lesions. The results revealed that local gingivitis represents a risk factor for the development of TR2 and TR3. Periodontitis represents a risk factor for the development of TR, with no influence on TR1, TR2 or TR3 in particular. Stomatitis and caudal stomatitis were not identified as risk factors. In addition, the type of tooth affected and the cat’s breed have an influence on the type of TR. Namely, canine teeth and the Persian breed increase the risk of developing TR2, in contrast to TR1 which are more prevalent in molars and premolars and less prevalent in the Persian breed. There was also a significant relationship between age and the type of TR developed, with TR1 mostly affecting young animals, in contrast to TR2 and TR3 that mostly occurred in older cats. This study contributed to the knowledge of factors associated with TR, reinforcing the previous knowledge and contributing to the identification of some variables that influence the types of TR, namely the association between the Persian breed, the type of tooth affected and TR2. Further studies are needed using larger samples to be able to identify other variables with influence on TR and validate associations identified here.
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Un nœud est un plongement du cercle dans une variété de dimension 3. Dans la sphère S3 , les nœuds peuvent être codés combinatoirement par des diagrammes de Gauss. Ceux-ci peuvent être étudiés indépendamment, en oubliant les véritables nœuds: c'est ce qu'on appelle la théorie des nœuds virtuels. En première partie nous définissons une version générale de nœuds virtuels, dépendant d'un groupe G muni d'un morphisme à valeurs dans Z/2. Lorsque ces paramètres sont bien choisis, la théorie obtenue généralise les nœuds dans une surface épaissie quelconque (c'est-à-dire un fibré en droites réelles sur une surface). Outre l'encodage des nœuds, les diagrammes de Gauss sont aussi un outil puissant pour décrire les invariants de type fini de Vassiliev. En seconde partie, nous donnons un ensemble complet de critères pour détecter ces invariants. Notamment, le critère d'invariance sous Reidemeister III est une réponse positive à une conjecture de M. Polyak. Parmi les exemples donnés figure une nouvelle preuve et une généralisation du théorème de Grishanov-Vassiliev sur les invariants par chaînes planaires. La troisième partie est une ébauche de plan visant à trouver un algorithme pour décider si un diagramme donné dans l'anneau R × S1 représente une tresse fermée dans le tore solide, à isotopie près. La première étape est franchie, consistant à trouver un critère reconnaissant les diagrammes de Gauss des tresses fermées. Nous conjecturons que ce critère suffit pour les diagrammes à nombre minimal de croisements, et proposons des pistes dans cet objectif. La dernière partie est un travail commun avec T. Fiedler, explorant les propriétés d'objets non génériques liés à l'espace de toutes les immersions du cercle dans R3. Cet espace est de dimension infinie, stratifié par le degré de non généricité des immersions. Alors que la théorie de Vassiliev se cantonne à l'étude des strates contenant uniquement des points doubles ordinaires, ici nous interdisons ces points doubles et autorisons uniquement un certain type de points triples. Nous montrons que l'espace qui en résulte n'est pas simplement connexe en exhibant un 1-cocycle non trivial. Une pondération de ce 1-cocycle fournit une nouvelle formule pour l'invariant de Casson des nœuds
A knot is an embedding of a circle into a 3-dimensional manifold. When this manifold is the sphere, knots can be described combinatorially using Gauss diagrams. Forgetting about the actual knots, one can study Gauss diagrams independently: this is called virtual knot theory. In the first part we define a general version of virtual knots that depends on a group G endowed with a Z/2-valued homomorphism w. When G and w are suitably chosen, this version generalizes knot theory in a given thickened surface - i. E. A 3-manifold endowed with a line bundle projection onto a surface. Besides encoding knots, Gauss diagrams can also encode Vassiliev's finite-type knot invariants. A complete set of criteria is given to detect these invariants in the present framework. Notably, the criterion for Reidemeister III gives a positive answer to a conjecture of Polyak. Several examples are given, including an improvement of Grishanov and Vassiliev's theorem on planar chain invariants. The third part is a draft investigating a plan to find an algorithm that tells whether a knot in the solid torus is isotopic to a closed braid. The first step is achieved: it consists of a characterization of Gauss diagrams of closed braids. We state and investigate a conjecture which predicts that for diagrams with minimal number of crossings, this first step is enough. The last part is a joint work with T. Fiedler, investigating invariants of non generic loops in the space of all immersions of a circle into the 3-space. This space is infinite dimensional, stratified by the degree of non genericity of an immersion. Vassiliev's theory was based on adding to the usual knots all strata with only ordinary double points as singularities. Here we forbid these double points and regard only some higher codimensional strata with a certain kind of triple points. We show that the resulting space is not simply connected, by exhibiting a non trivial 1-cocycle. Weighting this cocycle gives a new formula for the Casson invariant, using triple unknottings

Un nœud est un plongement du cercle dans une variété de dimension 3. Dans la sphère S3 , les nœuds peuvent être codés combinatoirement par des diagrammes de Gauss. Ceux-ci peuvent être étudiés indépendamment, en oubliant les véritables nœuds: c'est ce qu'on appelle la théorie des nœuds virtuels. En première partie nous définissons une version générale de nœuds virtuels, dépendant d'un groupe G muni d'un morphisme à valeurs dans Z/2. Lorsque ces paramètres sont bien choisis, la théorie obtenue généralise les nœuds dans une surface épaissie quelconque (c'est-à-dire un fibré en droites réelles sur une surface). Outre l'encodage des nœuds, les diagrammes de Gauss sont aussi un outil puissant pour décrire les invariants de type fini de Vassiliev. En seconde partie, nous donnons un ensemble complet de critères pour détecter ces invariants. Notamment, le critère d'invariance sous Reidemeister III est une réponse positive à une conjecture de M.Polyak. Parmi les exemples donnés figure une nouvelle preuve et une généralisation du théorème de Grishanov-Vassiliev sur les invariants par chaînes planaires. La troisième partie est une ébauche de plan visant à trouver un algorithme pour décider si un diagramme donné dans l'anneau R × S1 représente une tresse fermée dans le tore solide, à isotopie près. La première étape est franchie, consistant à trouver un critère reconnaissant les diagrammes de Gauss des tresses fermées. Nous conjecturons que ce critère suffit pour les diagrammes à nombre minimal de croisements, et proposons des pistes dans cet objectif. La dernière partie est un travail commun avec T.Fiedler, explorant les propriétés d'objets non génériques liés à l'espace de toutes les immersions du cercle dans R3 . Cet espace est de dimension infinie, stratifié par le degré de non généricité des immersions. Alors que la théorie de Vassiliev se cantonne à l'étude des strates contenant uniquement des points doubles ordinaires, ici nous interdisons ces points doubles et autorisons uniquement un certain type de points triples. Nous montrons que l'espace qui en résulte n'est pas simplement connexe en exhibant un 1-cocycle non trivial. Une pondération de ce 1-cocycle fournit une nouvelle formule pour l'invariant de Casson des nœuds.

Entre as neuropatias periféricas hereditárias, a Doença de Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) é a mais prevalente, sendo o Charcot Marie Tooth Lidado ao X tipo 1 (CMTX1) o segundo subtipo mais comum, causado por mutações no gene GJB1 e de herança ligada ao X. A sintomatologia de fraqueza, atrofia e alteração de sensibilidade progressiva, de padrão simétrico e distal é característica da CMT e, no CMTX1, o acometimento do sistema nervoso central pode estar associado ao quadro típico. Com relação à eletroneurofisiologia, há redução dos parâmetros de velocidade de condução nervosa, com prolongamento da latência de onda F. Não há terapias modificadoras do curso da doença, sendo importante acompanhamento multidiciplinar a fim de assistir as possíveis deformidades, dando mais conforto e otimização das atividades de vida diária dos pacientes. O objetivo do presente estudo é relatar casos diagnosticados como CMTX1 atendidos pelo ambulatório de Neurogenética do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMRP-USP) e comparar aos dados da literatura pertinente. Os critérios de inclusão foram idade no atendimento abaixo de 17 anos e 11 meses e confirmação do CMTX1 por exame genético molecular, com mutação em GJB1. Assim, foram encontradas quatro crianças, três do sexo feminino e uma do masculino, com idade variando de 3 a 17 anos, sendo que em dois deles foi observado atraso na marcha independente. Os sinais clínicos e eletroneuromiográficos observados foram concordantes com a literatura, exceto por não apresentarem sinais de acometimento do sistema norvoso central (SNC) associados. A presença de atraso na marcha e surgimento de casos precoces suscita a necessidade de protocolo adequado para crianças no primeiro e segundo anos de vida; 1. Anotar época de aparecimento e duração do movimento de levantar-se e postura ereta ou não do tronco ao se manter sentado. 2. Tipo do engatinhar. 3. Idade em meses no início de sentar e andar com e sem apoio. 4. Análise da funcionalidade manual, motricidade fina com auxílio de testes da especialidade em terapia ocupacional, desde os primeiros meses. 5. Tipo de marcha e época de início da marcha. 6. Reflexos fásicos - evolução - com atenção especial aos aquilianos, que são os mais precocemente acometidos. 7. Verificação de clônus de tornozelo, no sentido de detecção de sinais de espasticidade. Para crianças maiores de 3 anos de idade: 1. Início do uso de chinelo (capacidade de reter o chinelo nos pés - desenvolvimento da propriocepção). 2. Verificação do equilíbrio estático e dinâmico de acordo com Lefèvre (1972), nas faixas etárias de 3 a 7 anos.
Among the hereditary peripheral neuropathies, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is the most prevalent, being the second most common the subtype CMTX1, caused by mutations in the GJB1 gene and producing a X-linked inheritance. The symptoms of symmetrical and distal weakness, atrophy and progressive sensory changes, are characteristics of the CMT and in the CMTX1 central nervous system involvement is often associated with the typical picture. With respect to eletroneurophysiology, there is reduction of nerve conduction velocity parameters, with extension of F wave latency. There is no modifier therapies of the course of the disease, being important, multidisciplinary monitoring to assist the possible deformities, giving more comfort and optimization of daily life activities of patients. The main objective of this study is to report cases diagnosed as CMTX1 by Neurogenetics Clinic of the Hospital of Clinics of the School of Medicine at Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo University (HCFMRPUSP) and to compare the data from the relevant literature. Inclusion criteria were age in attendance below 17 years and 11 months and CMTX1 confirmation by genetic testing, mutation GJB1. Four children were included, three female and a male, with age ranging from 3 to 17 years. Two of them presented late onset of independent walking. Clinical and eletroneuromiographics finds resulted similar to that observed in the literature, except for the absence of clinical signs of CNS involvement. The presence of delay for independent walking raises the need for proper protocol for children in the first and second years of life: 1. Time of onset (age) and duration of motion to lift from a horizontal position and upright posture of trunk to keep sitting. 2. Type of crawl. 3. Age in months earlier to sit and walk with and without support. 4. Analysis of manual functionality, fine motricity with specialty tests in occupational therapy, since the first few months age. 5. Type of gear when he or she begins to walk with support, and then, without support, the use of the heels. 6. Stretch Reflex - evolution - with special attention to the aquileus, that are the most affected early. 7. Ankle clonus checking, aimed to detecting signs of spasticity. For children after 3 years of age: 1. Initiation of the use of slippers (ability to retain the slippers on the feet - proprioception development). 2. Verification of static and dynamic balance according to Lefèvre (1972), in the age groups from 3 to 7 years.

Introdução. Fatores de risco para agravos à saúde se alteram no tempo e no espaço. No que diz respeito ao câncer de cabeça e pescoço (CCP), as associações com tabagismo e consumo de bebidas alcoólicas estão bem estabelecidas. Dados da literatura sugerem que os tipos mais prevalentes de tabaco e álcool numa população estão associados a riscos mais elevados de câncer. No Brasil, poucos estudos epidemiológicos investigaram o efeito de distintos tipos de tabaco e álcool no CCP. Objetivo. Mensurar a razão probabilística de risco para CCP por tipos de tabaco e álcool no consumo não exclusivo (uso de mais de um tipo de tabaco ou bebida alcoólica) e consumo exclusivo (uso de apenas um tipo de tabaco ou bebida alcoólica). Métodos. O presente estudo têm origem em três projetos multicêntricos: Latino-Americano, conduzido de 03/1999 a 12/2001; Genoma Clínico do Câncer realizado de 07/2000 a 08/2011; e o Temático Marcadores de Agressividade em Tumores de Cabeça e Pescoço (GENCAPO), conduzido de 07/2011 a 06/2015. Assim, constituiu-se um estudo caso-controle com dados provenientes de hospitais do Estado de São Paulo. Os casos foram diagnosticados com carcinoma espinocelular de cabeça e pescoço, confirmados histologicamente. Os controles, pacientes com outras doenças que não câncer, foram selecionados em alguns dos hospitais de procedência dos casos. Tanto os casos quanto os controles foram entrevistados por meio de questionários com informações sobre características e hábitos, bem como dados sobre educação e história ocupacional. As associações entre as variáveis tipo de tabaco e tipo de bebidas alcoólicas com CCP, foram estimadas pelo odds ratio (OR) e respectivo intervalo de 95% de confiança (IC 95%) via regressão logística não-condicional, ajustados pelas variáveis de confusão: sexo (feminino, masculino), idade (< 50 anos, 50-59 anos e ≥ 60 anos), escolaridade (superior, intermediário, analfabeto), ocupação (manual qualificado, manual não qualificado e outros), estudos multicêntricos (Latino-Americano, Genoma Clínico do Câncer e GENCAPO), tabagismo (maços-anos total: Nunca fumaram, <20 maços-ano, ≥ 20 e < 40 maços-anos e ≥ 40 maços-anos, para ajuste do efeito do álcool) e consumo de etanol total (Nunca beberam, ≤ 100 Kg, > 100 e ≤ 900 e > 900 kg, para ajuste do efeito do tabaco). Resultados. Os riscos decorrentes do tabagismo foram mais expressivos para hipofaringe particularmente, no padrão não-exclusivo e consumo ≥ 40 maços-ano OR 36,1 (IC95%11,1-117,6); para orofaringe, laringe e cavidade oral, os riscos foram, respectivamente: OR 16,1 (IC95%10,4-24,9); OR 14,2 (IC95% 9,6-21,0); OR 7,4 (IC95% 5,6-10,0). Na condição de consumo exclusivo, para a mesma categoria ≥ 40 maços-ano para cigarro industrializado, os riscos foram discretamente menos intensos: OR 31,9 (IC95% 9,7-104,3); OR 15,4 (IC95% 9,9-24,0); OR 13,1 (IC95% 8,8-19,5) OR 7,1 (IC95% 5,3-9,6), respectivamente, para hipofaringe, orofaringe, laringe e cavidade oral. No consumo de álcool, foram observadas maiores associações de CCP com as bebidas destiladas. Na condição de consumo exclusivo, para orofaringe o nível de consumo de destilados ≥ 2000 Kg induziu OR 39,1 (IC 95% 12,7-121,8) em comparação aos que nunca beberam. O uso simultâneo de tabaco e álcool fez aumentar sensivelmente o risco de CCP: OR 10,5 (IC95% 8,5-13,0). Conclusões. Entre os tabagistas com o padrão não-exclusivo de consumo, os maiores riscos foram observados para hipofaringe. Entre os consumidores de bebidas alcoólicas, os destilados conferiram maiores riscos nos dois padrões de consumo. No consumo de cerveja e vinho, as diferenças na intensidade das associações com CCP tornaram-se evidentes apenas nas categorias de maior consumo.
Introduction. Risk factors for health problems change over time and space. With regard to head and neck cancer (HNC), associations with smoking and alcohol consumption are well established. Literature data suggest that the most prevalent types of tobacco and alcohol in a population are associated with higher risks of cancer. In Brazil, few epidemiological studies have investigated the effect of different types of tobacco and alcohol on HNC. Objectives. Measure the probabilistic risks for HNC by tobacco and alcohol types in non-exclusive consumption (use of more than one type of tobacco or alcoholic beverage) and exclusive consumption (use of only one type of tobacco or alcoholic beverage). Methods. The present study has origin from three multicentric projects: Latin American, conducted from 03/1999 to 12/2001; Clinical Genome of Cancer performed from 07/2000 to 08/2011; and the Thematic Markers of Aggression in Head and Neck Tumors (GENCAPO), conducted from 07/2011 to 06/2015. Thus, it is a case-control study with data from hospitals in the State of São Paulo. The cases were diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, histologically confirmed. The controls, patients with diseases other than cancer, were selected in some of the hospitals where the cases originated. Both cases and controls were interviewed through questionnaires with information on characteristics and habits, as well as data on education and occupational history. Associations between the variables tobacco type and type of alcoholic beverages with HNC were estimated by the odds ratio (OR) and respective 95% confidence interval (CI 95%) through non-conditional logistic regression adjusted for confounding variables: sex (female, male), age (<50 years, 50-59 years and ≥ 60 years), schooling (upper, intermediate and illiterate), occupation (qualified manual, unqualified manual and others), multicenter studies, smoking (Never smoked, <20 pack-years, ≥ 20 and <40 pack-years and ≥ 40 pack-years, to adjust the effect of alcohol) and total ethanol (Never drank, ≤ 100 kg,> 100 and ≤ 900 and > 900 kg, to adjust the effect of tobacco). Results. The risks due to smoking were more significant for the hypopharynx, particularly, in the non-exclusive pattern and consumption ≥ 40 packs per year OR 36,1 (95% CI 11,1-117,6); for oropharynx, larynx and oral cavity, the risks were: OR 16,1 (95% CI, 10,4-24,9); OR 14,2 (95% CI 9,6-21,0); OR 7,4 (95% CI 5,6-10,0). In the exclusive consumption condition, for the same category ≥ 40 packets per year for industrialized cigarettes, the risks were slightly less intense: OR 31,9 (95% CI 9,7-104,3); OR 15,4 (95% CI 9,9-24,0); OR 13,1 (IC95% 8,8-19,5); OR 7,1 (IC95% 5,3-9,6), respectively, for hypopharynx, oropharynx, larynx and oral cavity. In alcohol consumption, higher associations of HNC with distilled beverages were observed. In the exclusive consumption condition, consumption level of distilled ≥ 2000 kg induced OR 39,1 (95% CI: 12,7-121,8) for oropharynx. Simultaneous use of tobacco and alcohol increased the risk of HNC: OR 10,5 (95% CI 8,5-13,0). Conclusions. Among smokers with the non-exclusive pattern of consumption, the greatest risks were observed for the hypopharynx. Among the consumers of alcoholic beverages, the distilled conferred greater risks in the two patterns of consumption. In beer and wine consumption, differences in intensity of associations with HNC became evident only in the higher consumption categories.

Mestrado em Gestão de Recursos Humanos
O presente estudo tem como objetivo principal definir qual o tipo de Contrato Psicológico vigente num grupo de colaboradores de uma empresa multinacional do sector químico, que após um processo de downsizing recorreu ao redeployment como estratégia de reter alguns dos seus talentos possibilitando a sua recolocação em outras suas subsidiárias. Recorreu-se a uma metodologia mista, através de análise qualitativa de duas entrevistas e de análise quantitativa, através de análise de dados, após a sua recolha, através de um questionário online. Analisou-se o Contrato Psicológico em sete dimensões de cumprimento por parte do funcionário, cinco dimensões de cumprimento por parte da organização e três dimensões relativas à relação da organização com o funcionário, as transições no Contrato Psicológico. Estas dimensões agrupam-se em quatro tipos de contrato: Relacional, Transacional, Transitório e Equilibrado. Também se avaliou a quebra e a violação do Contrato Psicológico, através de escalas também já existentes e testadas para esse âmbito. Os resultados indicam a prevalência do contrato Relacional, composto pelas dimensões Estabilidade e Lealdade do funcionário e Lealdade da organização. Revelaram ainda que não existiu quebra ou rutura do Contrato Psicológico e que o tipo Transitório, que poderia ter obtido maiores valores dada a mudança que existiu para estes colaboradores, foi por sua vez, o mais baixo.
This study aimed to analyze the type of Psychological Contract present in a group of workers from a multinational company of the chemical sector which after a downsizing process, resorted redeployment as a retention strategy for some employees, relocating them in some other subsidiaries of the group. A mixed methodology was used, through qualitative analysis of two interviews and quantitative analysis, through data analysis, after collection, across an online questionnaire. The Psychological Contract was analyzed in seven dimensions of compliance by the employee, five dimensions of compliance by the organization and three dimensions on the organization's relationship with the employee, the transitions in the Psychological Contract. These dimensions are grouped into four types of contract: Relational, Transactional, Transitional and Balanced. It was also assessed the breach and violation of the Psychological Contract through scales already tested for this issue. The results revealed a highlight for the Relational Contract, composed of the dimensions? stability and loyalty of the employee and loyalty of the organization. The results revealed that there was no breach or disruption of the Psychological Contract and the Transitional type, which could have obtained higher values, given the change that existed for these employees, was in turn, the lowest.
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

碩士
國立海洋大學
河海工程學系碩士在職專班
90
The field data of wave pressure and vibration of caisson-type breakwater carried out by Center of Harbor and Marine Technology, Institute of Transportation, MOTC at Hua-Lien Port was analyzed and compared. The results show that the acceleration in all directions on caisson during the earthquake activity is greater than the measuring in land. That is, the magnitude is larger and the frequency is higher. The vertical magnitude is one-tenth of the horizontal magnitude. The water level on both sides has 10 cm difference which might be related to wave period and the phase of waves acting on the caisson. Turbulence occurred near the mean water level that affects the wave pressure. The influences from the vibration of caisson on wave pressure and water level are only on high frequency portion, and only a small region below the mean water level has clear increased wave pressure, and the spectral peak frequency tends to higher. This paper collect data of wave pressure and vibration is not enought，a further field observation is need.

PEPC [PEP(phosphoenolpyruvate) carboxylase] is an essential and tightly controlled enzyme located at the core of plant C-metabolism. It fulfils a broad spectrum of non-photosynthetic functions, particularly the anaplerotic replenishment of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates consumed during biosynthesis and N-assimilation. In plants, a small multigene family encodes several closely related plant-type PEPC (PTPC) isozymes along with a distantly related bacterial-type PEPC (BTPC) isozyme. The PTPCs are well studied ~110-kDa subunits that typically exist as a homotetramer (Class-1 PEPC). By contrast, little is known about the larger ~118-kDa BTPC isozyme except that it occurs in developing castor (Ricinus communis) endosperm in tight association with PTPC subunits as a ~900-kDa hetero-octameric complex (Class-2 PEPC) that is greatly desensitized to metabolic effectors compared to Class-1 PEPC. This thesis elucidates the physiological purpose of the BTPC subunits by examining their structure/function relationship within Class-2 PEPC and identifying mechanisms of post-translational control. Recombinant expression and purification of the castor bean BTPC revealed unusual physical and kinetic properties including a remarkable insensitivity to metabolic effectors and a dependence upon PTPC subunits for structural stability. The first purification of a non-proteolyzed plant Class-2 PEPC complex was performed, and the kinetic analysis determined that the BTPC and PTPC subunits have complimentary catalytic properties. The BTPC subunits’ high Km(PEP) and desensitization to metabolic effectors may function as a metabolic overflow mechanism for sustaining flux from PEP to malate when PTPC subunits become feedback inhibited. An anti-PTPC co-immunopurification strategy was utilized to highly enrich non-proteolyzed BTPC from developing castor endosperm for downstream immunological and mass spectrometric analysis. BTPC was in vivo phosphorylated at multiple novel sites, identified by mass spectrometry as Thr4 or 5, Ser425 and Ser451. Phosphosite-specific antibodies towards Ser425 and Ser451 confirmed the existence of these sites in vivo and comparisons of Ser425 phosphorylation patterns established that the castor BTPC and PTPC phosphorytation sites are regulated independently. Phosphomimetic mutants of Ser425 caused BTPC inhibition by increasing its Km(PEP) and sensitivity to feedback inhibition. These results establish a novel mechanism of PEPC control whose implications within plant carbon metabolism are discussed.
Thesis (Ph.D, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2011-09-04 16:46:22.024

Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase (PEPC) is a tightly controlled enzyme situated at a pivotal branchpoint of plant C-metabolism. Two physically and kinetically distinct oligomeric classes of PEPC exist in the endosperm of developing castor oil seeds (COS). Class-1 PEPC is a typical homotetramer composed of 107-kDa plant-type PEPC (PTPC) subunits, whereas the 910-kDa Class-2 PEPC hetero-octameric complex arises from a tight interaction between Class-1 PEPC and distantly related 118-kDa bacterial-type PEPC (BTPC) subunits. BTPC functions as both a catalytic and regulatory subunit of the allosterically-desensitized Class-2 PEPC, which has been hypothesized to support massive PEP-flux to malate for leucoplast fatty acid synthesis. Previous studies established that BTPC: (i) subunits of COS Class-2 PEPC are subject to inhibitory phosphorylation in vivo, and (ii) at Ser425 and Ser451 within an intrinsically disordered region. This study focuses on characterization of the COS protein kinase (BTPC-K) that phosphorylates BTPC at Ser451. BTPC-K, having a native molecular mass of 63 kDa, was purified ~500-fold from developing COS endosperm. Its activity was absolutely dependent upon the presence of Ca2+ (Ka= 2.7 μM) and millimolar Mg2+. BTPC-K phosphorylated BTPC subunits of Class-2 PEPC strictly at Ser451 (Km= 1.1 μM), as well as histone type III-S (Km= 1.7 μM), but did not phosphorylate a BTPC S451D phosphomimetic mutant, native COS PTPC or sucrose synthase, or α-casein. BTPC-K displayed a broad pH-activity optima of pH 7.3, a Km for Mg2+-ATP of 6.6 μM, and marked inhibition by 3-P-glycerate and PEP. The possible control of BTPC-K by disulfide-dithiol interconversion was suggested by its rapid inactivation and subsequent reactivation when incubated with oxidized glutathione and then dithiothreitol. BTPC-K activity was insensitive to exogenous calmodulin, but potently inhibited by 100 µM trifluoperazine (a calmodulin antagonist). BTPC-K-mediated Ser451 phosphorylation of BTPC subunits of Class-2 PEPC inhibited BTPC activity by ~50% when assayed under suboptimal conditions (pH 7.3, 1 mM PEP with 10 mM L-malate). Overall the results of this study have led to the hypothesis that in vivo phosphorylation of COS BTPC at Ser451 is mediated by a dedicated calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK).
Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2013-08-30 14:23:39.648

碩士
東海大學
企業管理學系碩士班
100
Technology and life has been closely, product design towards the trend of multimedia development. Now watch industry has developed to a mature stage, watch the majority of imports in Taiwan, some manufacturers relocation. Unlike the Swiss watch to enrich the human experience and the technology well known, firms must develop differentiated products. Increasing products value-added and enhance customer value in order to create the competitiveness of Taiwanese enterprises.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) is a tightly controlled anaplerotic enzyme situated at a pivotal branchpoint of plant C-metabolism. Plant genomes encode several closely related plant-type PEPC (PTPC) isozymes, and a distantly related bacterial-type PEPC (BTPC). Two physically and kinetically distinct oligomeric classes of PEPC occur in the endosperm of developing castor oil seeds (COS). Class-1 PEPC is a typical homotetramer composed of 107-kDa PTPC subunits, whereas the novel 910-kDa Class-2 PEPC hetero-octameric complex arises from a tight interaction between Class-1 PEPC and 118-kDa bacterial-type PEPC (BTPC) subunits. BTPC functions as a catalytic and regulatory subunit of the allosterically-desensitized Class-2 PEPC, hypothesized to support PEP-flux to malate for leucoplast fatty acid synthesis. Previous studies established that BTPC: (i) subunits of COS Class-2 PEPC are phosphorylated at multiple sites in vivo and (ii) phosphorylation at Ser425 provides a new tier of enzyme control in developing COS. LC MS/MS and LTQ-FT MS identified Thr4 and Ser451 as additional in vivo phosphorylation sites of immunopurified COS BTPC (corresponding to acidophilic and basophilic protein kinase consensus sequences, respectively). Immunoblots probed with a phosphorylation-site specific antibody raised against a synthetic phosphopeptide indicated that Ser451 phosphorylation is promoted during seed development, becoming maximal in stage VII (full cotyledon) COS. Although several pThr4 containing BTPC peptides were non-immunogenic, the collective results indicate that Thr4 is also phosphorylated in vivo. Kinetic effects of each phosphorylation site were examined using phospho-mimetic mutants of heterologously expressed COS BTPC. BTPC’s phosphorylation at Ser451 appears to be inhibitory, as reflected by significantly increased Km(PEP) values, and reduced I50(malate) and I50(Asp) values of a S451D mutant. By contrast, kinetic characterization of a T4D phosphomimetic mutant indicated that Thr4 phosphorylation is not regulatory in nature. However, Thr4 exists in a conserved forkhead-associated (FHA) binding domain (pTXXD) that has received considerable prominence as a phospho-Thr dependent protein interaction module. These results further our understanding of multisite phosphorylation of BTPC in developing COS and its possible contribution to the control of Class-2 PEPC activity.
Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2011-08-22 19:05:03.077

Over the years, consumers are getting more and more demanding and companies are struggling to attend to their needs. Casinos’ customers are not an exception, as its core service has not changed much in the past years. As a consequence, it is important, for casinos to understand the additional services they can provide. This way, by differentiating themselves from other casinos, they will achieve high levels of customers’ satisfaction. Previous studies regarding this matter, focused on the determinants of service quality that contributed to the overall satisfaction of customers in general. Those researches did not focus on any types of customers; they treated all customers as part of one group. In this thesis investigation, casinos customers are divided into four different groups (Challenge/Winning Seekers, Only Winning Seekers, Light Gambling Seekers and Multi-Purpose Seekers), according to their motivations and personalities. The aim is to study their individual satisfaction, considering six service quality variables (Tangibles, Access, Courtesy, Understanding, Responsiveness and Empathy). The respondents were asked to choose one of those four casino players’ profiles, regarding their characteristics and preferences. After that, they evaluated how much a certain determinant of service quality influences their own satisfaction. By analyzing all the answers it was possible to take some conclusions regarding each one of the four types of casino players. The final results proposed that Tangibles and Responsiveness have a positive influence on Light Gambling and Multi-Purpose Seekers’ satisfaction and Courtesy has a positive contribution on Only Winning and Light Gambling Seekers’ satisfaction.
Com o passar dos anos, os consumidores tornaram-se muito mais exigentes. Posto isto, as empresas tentam arranjar novas formas de apresentar os seus produtos ou serviços. Como o serviço principal do casino é o jogo, e este não tem sofrido alterações consideráveis, os casinos são forçados a encontrarem novas formas de se diferenciar. Assim, conseguirão atingir níveis mais altos na satisfação dos consumidores. Estudos anteriores que abordam este tema focam-se nas variáveis da qualidade do serviço que contribuem para a satisfação dos consumidores, no entanto nenhum se concentra nos tipos de jogadores que frequentam o casino por diferentes motivações. Assim, nesta tese, os consumidores do casino estão divididos em quatro grupos: Challenge/Winning Seekers, Only Winning Seekers, Light Gambling Seekers e Multi-Purpose Seekers. O objetivo principal deste estudo é, tendo em conta estes tipos de jogadores, descobrir quais as variáveis da qualidade do serviço (Tangíveis, Acessos, Cortesia, Compreensão, Capacidade de Resposta e Empatia) que contribuem para a satisfação de cada jogador. De acordo com estes quatro tipos de jogadores, foi pedido aos participantes que escolhessem o perfil que mais se adequa ao seu, enquanto jogador. Após esta primeira abordagem, estes avaliaram o seu nível de satisfação baseando-se nas seis variáveis anteriormente mencionadas. Portanto, foram retiradas as devidas conclusões para cada tipo de jogador. Os resultados finais ditaram que as variáveis Tangíveis e Capacidade de Reposta têm um contributo positivo para a satisfação dos Light Gambling e Multi-Purpose Seekers e a variável Cortesia na satisfação dos Only Winning e Light Gambling Seekers.

The World Health Organization has identified hypertension as one of the leading causes of death in the world, and consumers are subsequently seeking ways to decrease their daily salt dietary intake. This trend is increasing demand for low-salt foods. This thesis contributes to the literature on low-salt cheese production by investigating how salt reduction affects cheese quality. Salt is one of the key ingredients used in cheese manufacturing to perform several functions, including antimicrobial functions, moisture control, formation of texture and structure, management of pH and acidity, and flavour enhancement. Thus, the objective of this study was to produce cheese using a low amount of salt and investigate the effects of salt reduction on the cheese’s microbiological, textural, sensory and physicochemical properties, and salt release.

Dissertação de mestrado em Direito e Informática
Os principais meios de resolução alternativa de litígios conhecidos são a negociação, a mediação e a arbitragem praticadas nos centros de informação, mediação e arbitragem de consumo, passando também pelos sistemas de ODR. O presente estudo visa a identificação de técnicas e estratégias para a resolução alternativa de conflitos através do estudo de casos passados. Seguindo o exemplo do TEDH, tentaremos encontrar alguns padrões escondidos em diversos conflitos, analisando-se uma grande quantidade de informação e extraindo-se padrões ou correlações, que produzirão conhecimento útil em relação a um conjunto de dados. Qual o conhecimento útil que poderá vir a ser encontrado? Todo e qualquer tipo de informação. Denote-se que estas correlações futuramente, poderão vir a ser utilizadas na construção de um algoritmo, que atua como agente de software autónomo, uma ferramenta auxiliar no ramo da resolução alternativa de litígios. A investigação e recolha dos dados foi feita no CIAB, centro de arbitragem que promove a resolução de conflitos de consumo. Após a conversão das informações em suporte de papel para o formato digital, será possível aplicar alguns algoritmos que são “cegos”, sendo que estes só conseguem perceber as regularidades. Visto existir tão pouca informação sobre como elaborar estes algoritmos, procedeu-se a uma análise estatística dos dados. No entanto a Ciência de Dados é uma área em constante desenvolvimento, sendo que esta informação recolhida, futuramente será essencial para a construção desses algoritmos. As grandes metas desta dissertação passarão, por conseguir perceber qual o meio RAL mais adequado a cada tipo de conflito, quais as áreas mais reclamadas, qual o estilo negocial adotado ao longo de cada fase do processo, qual a BATNA e a WATNA dos interessados. Esta análise estatística demonstra-se relevante, ao nível da Ciência dos Dados, que nos permite extrair conhecimento útil de grandes quantidades de informação.
The best known ways of alternative dispute resolutions are negotiation, mediation and arbitration. These ways are practiced at centers of information, mediation and arbitration and also passes through the ODR systems that have been presently developed. According to the TEDH example, we will try to find hidden patterns in various conflicts by running one single algorithm. The investigation and collection of data was done at the CIAB, an arbitration center that promotes the resolution of the consumption conflicts. After converting all the paper information to a digital format, it will be possible to apply some ´blind` algorithms that can understand the regularities of the cases. Seeing that there is very little information on how to elaborate these algorithms, a statistical analysis of the data was made. But one must never forget that Science Data is an area of constant development and all the information that collected will be extremely useful for the construction of these algorithms. The main goal of this dissertation was to understand the most adequate ADR for each conflict, which areas had more claims and which negotiable style was adapted during each phase of the process. Last but not least which is the BATNA and WATNA of the interested parties. This statistical analysis shows through Science Data, that useful knowledge can be extracted from great quantities of information.