Estudo da influência da variabilidade em genes de apolipoproteínas sobre níveis lipídicos e parâmetros de massa e gordura corporal na população de Porto Alegre

Apolipoproteínas constituem a parte proteica das lipoproteínas e de uma maneira geral desempenham papéis como proporcionar estabilidade estrutural, solubilizar lipídeos altamente hidrofóbicos, servir como ligantes a receptores ou agir como co-fatores para enzimas envolvidas no metabolismo. Diversos estudos têm mostrado que a variabilidade dos genes que codificam estas proteínas podem influenciar os níveis lipídicos em diversas populações. A variabilidade da apo A-IV também foi associada com variáveis antropométricas. Nesta investigação foram analisados 8 RFLPs nos genes das apolipoproteínas C-I (HpaI), C-II (AvaII), C-III (SacI, FokI e MspI) e A-IV (XbaI, HinfI e PvuII). A amostra foi composta por 391 indivíduos caucasóides de Porto Alegre (RS) e dados sobre hábitos de vida, dosagens lipídicas e medidas antropométricas foram obtidas para cada indivíduo. Os fragmentos de interesse de cada gene foram amplificados por PCR e os genótipos foram identificados por eletroforese em géis de agarose ou poliacrilamida corados com brometo de etídio.

The thermal stability of yellow fever vaccines

The assessment of yellow fever vaccine thermostability both in lyophilized form and after reconstitution were analyzed. Two commercial yellow fever vaccines were assayed for their thermal stability. Vaccines were exposed to test temperatures in the range of 8 (graus) C to 45 (graus) C. Residual infectivity was measured by a plaque assay using Vero cells. The titre values were used in an accelerated degradation test that follows the Arrhenius equation and the minimum immunizing dose was assumed to be 10 (ao cubo) particles forming unit (pfu)/dose. Some of the most relevant results include that (i) regular culture medium show the same degradation pattern of a reconstituted 17D-204 vaccine; (ii) reconstituted YF-17D-204 showed a predictable half life of more than six days if kept at 0 (graus) C; (iii) there are differences in thermostability between different products that are probably due to both presence of stabilizers in the preparation and the modernization in the vaccine production; (iv) it is important to establish a proper correlation between the mouse infectivity test and the plaque assay since the last appears to be more simple, economical, and practical for small laboratories to assess the potency of the vaccine, and (v) the accelerated degradation test appears to be the best procedure to quantify the thermostability of biological products.

Measurement of electroweak production of two jets in association with a Z boson in proton-proton collisions at root s=8 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Type Ia Supernovae : Homogeneity and Diversity

The use of type Ia supernovae as distance estimators has shown that about 75% of the energy content of the universe has a negative equation of state parameter and thus, drives the acceleration of the universe. Constraining the exact nature of this energy is one of the main goals in cosmology. As the statistics of observed high-redshift supernovae increases, systematic effects become the limiting factor to pursue such investigations, thus deeper understanding of the physical properties of SNe is of great importance. In this thesis we investigate spectral homogeneity and diversity of local and high redshift supernovae. Special emphasis has been given to the analysis of optical spectra of local peculiar supernovae 1999aa and 1999ac. The study of the spectra of SN 1999aa pointed out that this SN could be a link between the extreme peculiar SN 1991T and normal SNe. Moreover, the identification of a high velocity component of Ca II and possibly of a low velocity component of C III suggests some degree of asphericity in the ejecta of this supernova. Evidence for a deflagration of a C+O white dwarf was found in the early spectra of SN 1999ac. The spectral proprieties of a vast sample of local SNe are also studied by means of newly introduced spectral indicators. These were used to possibly improve the intrinsic spread of SN peak magnitudes to 0.15 mag, independently of light curve parameters. The first quantitative comparison between local and high redshift supernova is carried out. No evidence for extreme peculiar sub-luminous SNe was found in our data set including 13 SNe with redshift range z=0.279-0.912. Furthermore, SN2002fd (z=0.279) was found to show spectral characteristics similar to SN 1991T/SN 1999aa-like supernovae. We also present a feasibility study of the Hubble diagram in rest frame I-band up to z~0.5, and show the possibility to probe the presence of intergalactic dust, which could possibly mimic the effect of dark energy in the Hubble diagram.

Die Haftung für Aufklärungsfehler im Arztrecht

Diese Arbeit ist in ihrem Kern darum bemüht, die hochumstrittene Problematik der Haftung des Arztes für Aufklärungsfehler (insbesondere im Hinblick auf die Selbstbestimmungsaufklärung des Patienten) sachgerecht in das geltende Deliktsrechtssytem einzuordnen. Das bedeutet im Ausgangspunkt ein klares Bekenntnis zur sog. Körperverletzungsdoktrin [dazu in Teil C.) I.)] und ein Bekenntnis zur Lehre vom Erfolgsunrecht [Teil C.) III.)], in die auch der Vorwurf des Behandlungsfehlers (!) durchaus sachgerecht integriert werden kann. Unter Teil C.) IV.) wird die hochgradig kontroverse Problematik der Schadensfolgenzurechnung wegen nicht wirksam konsentierten Heilbehandlungen eingehend erörtert. Hierbei zeigt sich, daß die Lehre vom „Schutzzweck der Norm“ im Kontext des §823 I BGB bei der Haftungsausfüllung weder aus dogmatischen noch aus rein tatsächlichen Gründen anwendbar ist. Statt dessen ist die Einschränkung der Haftung des Arztes für die Schadensfolgen seines Tuns durch eine teleologische Reduktion des durch § 249 I BGB vorgegebenen und in gewissen Einzelfällen zu weit gerateten Prinzips des Totalersatzes zu erreichen. Hierbei ist nach Haftungslücken zu suchen, bei denen in besonders gelagerten Fällen eine Haftung des Arztes zu verneinen ist. Als Hilfsmittel der Lückenfüllung bietet sich in diesem Zusammenhang die Methode der Topik an. [dazu eingehend in Teil C.) IV.) 2.) d.) und e.)] In diesem Zusammenhang werden durch Vergleich verschiedenartig gelagerter Fallgruppen deren jeweilige Unterschiede herausgearbeitet und - darauf aufbauend - unterschiedliche Zurechnungsregeln herausgebildet. In Teil D.) werden die inhaltlichen, formellen und prozessualen Probleme der ärztlichen Aufklärungspflicht eingehend behandelt. Um diesbezüglich Wiederholungen zu vermeiden, wird an dieser Stelle auf die Stellungnahme zu Teil D.) in Teil D.) III.) verwiesen.

Expansion of mortar bars in the presence of potassium acetate deicer

Carboxylate-based deicing and anti-icing chemicals became widely used in the mid 1990s, replacing more environmentally burdensome chemicals. Within a few years of their adoption, distress of portland cement concrete runways was reported by a few airports using the new chemicals. Distress manifested characteristics identical to that of alkali silica reactivity (ASR), but onset occurred early in the pavement’s operating life and with pavements thought to contain innocuous aggregate. The carboxylate-based deicing chemicals were suspected of exacerbating ASR-like expansion. Innocuous, moderately, and highly reactive aggregates were tested using modified ASTM C1260 and ASTM C1567 procedures with soak solutions containing deicer solutions and sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. ASR-like expansion is exacerbated in the presence of potassium acetate. The expansion rate produced by a given aggregate is also a function of the alkali hydroxide used. Petrographic analyses were performed on thin sections prepared from mortar bars used in the experiments. Expansion occurred via two mechanisms; rupture of aggregate grains and expansion of paste.