A study was performed to investigate the effect of diet modifications on skin and hair coat condition in canines. The study included 24 normal adult dogs fed a baseline diet (Ol'Roy[trademark]), during an acclimation period of 12 wk (Phase I). Nine female Beagles and 15 male Hound mix-breed dogs were used. For the next 12 wk (Phase II) the dogs were divided into three groups and fed one of three specially formulated diets. They contained similar ingredients and had similar nutrient profiles except for the following differences: Diet A contained lower but adequate amounts of dietary zinc and linoleic acid than diet B. Diet C was similar to B with respect to zinc and linoleic acid but contained more α-linolenic acid. An evaluation panel conducted skin and hair coat condition scoring on wk 0, 4, 7, and 12 (Phase I) and wk 14, 16, 19, and 24 (Phase II). The panel evaluated the dogs for glossiness, softness, scale, greasiness, and overall condition. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin hydration (HYDR) assessments were determined on wk 3, 7, and 11 (Phase I) and wk 11, 12, 15, 19, and 23 (Phase II) using a Tewameter[trademark] and Corneometer[trademark] respectively. Blood samples were collected on d 0, 5, 8, 16, 28, 56, and 84. Profiles of plasma phospholipid fatty acids were determined at each collection period. Serum zinc concentrations were analyzed on wk 12, 14, and 24. The hypothesis was that a diet containing increased LA, ALA, and zinc concentrations (diet C) would show improvements of skin and hair coat condition in dogs compared to the other diets. All three test diets caused significant improvements compared to Ol'Roy[trademark]. Diet B caused more improvement than diet A in both subjective and objective assessments of skin and hair coat. Based on mean values diet B is better to be fed to dogs that need to improve skin hydration and diet C should be fed to dogs that need to decrease TEWL. Diet C not only led to improvements in skin and hair coat condition, but also provided additional benefit by producing less pro-inflammatory conditions in the skin.

<p>The first method for DNA analysis in forensics was presented in 1985. Since then, the introduction of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has rendered possible the analysis of small amounts of DNA and automated sequencing and fragment analysis techniques have facilitated the analyses. In most cases short tandemly repeated regions (STRs) of nuclear DNA are analysed in forensic investigations, but all samples cannot be successfully analysed using this method. For samples containing minute amounts of DNA or degraded DNA, such as shed hairs, analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is generally more successful due to the presence of thousands of copies of mtDNA molecules per cell.</p><p>In Sweden, ~40 % of all households have cats or dogs. With ~9 million humans shedding ~100 scalp hairs per day, and ~1.6 million cats and ~1 million dogs shedding hairs it is not surprising that shed hairs are one of the most common biological evidence found at crime scenes. However, the match probability for domestic dog mtDNA analysis has only been investigated in a few minor studies. Furthermore, although breed –sequence correlations of the noncoding mtDNA control region (CR) have been analysed in a few studies, showing limited correlations, no largescale studies have been performed previously. Thus, there have not been any comprehensive studies of forensic informativity of dog mtDNA. In the two papers presented in this thesis we have tried to lay a foundation for forensic use of analysis of domestic dog mtDNA. In the first paper, CR sequences were analysed and the exclusion capacity was investigated for a number of different populations. This is also the first comprehensive study of the correlation between mtDNA CR type and breed, type, and geographic origin of domestic dogs. Since the exclusion capacity for analysis of domestic dog CR sequences is relatively low, it was investigated in the second paper to what extent the discrimination power is improved by analysis of coding sequence. The exclusion capacity improved considerably when 3,000 base pairs of coding sequences where analysed in addition to CR sequences. This study will hopefully work as a basis for future development of analysis of dog mtDNA for forensic purposes.</p>

Thesis (M.F.A.)--University of Central Florida, 2009. / Adviser: Nicholas Wuehrmann. Includes bibliographical references (p. 68-69).

The aim with this study was to develop a method to estimate total area of hair lichens and to compare morphological traits and water storage in them. Hair lichens are an important component of the epiphytic flora in boreal forests. Their growth is primarily regulated by available water, and light when hydrated. Lichens have no active mechanism to regulate their water content and their water holding capacity (WHC, mg H2O/cm2) is thus an important factor for how long they remain wet and metabolically active. In this study, the water uptake and loss in five hair lichens (Alectoria sarmentosa, three Bryoria spp. and Usnea dasypoga) were compared. Their area were estimated by combining photography, scanning and a computer programme that estimates the area of objects. Total area overlap of individual branches was calculated for each species, to estimate total area of the lichen. WHC and specific thallus mass (STM) (mg DM/cm2) of the lichens were calculated. Bryoria spp. had a significantly lower STM compared to U. dasypoga and A. sarmentosa, due to its thinner branches and higher branch density. Bryoria also had a lower WHC compared to A. sarmentosa, promoting a rapid uptake and loss of water. All species had a significant relationship between STM and WHC, above a 1:1 line for all species except U. dasypoga. The lower relationship in U. dasypoga is explained by its less developed branching in combination with its thick branches.

This study provides an insight into a provincial region of a developing country, namely Río Negro, Argentina and possible links between diet, environmental factors (especially water quality) and human health. Measuring levels of trace elements in scalp hair is a known method for assessing nutritional status. Levels of Ca, Fe, Mg, K, Na, As, Cr, Co, Cu, I, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, V, Zn, Al, Cd, Pb, Rb and Hg in scalp hair from adolescents of the age 14 to 18 years in a rural and an urban population of Río Negro were analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The hypothesis is that levels of trace elements reflect lifestyle factors such as smoking, beverage and food selection and consumption patterns and are directly linked to dehydration and could be associated with future health problems. Furthermore, environmental factors, such as (i) indecent water systems and governmental subsidised food in the rural/urban population, and (ii) ingestion or inhalation of arsenic (from naturally high sources of water, dust and foodstuffs) may also be linked to present and future health problems. The relationship between environmental and dietary factors could be implicated with the onset of diseases such as diabetes type II, obesity or hypothyroidism. The results show that both study populations in the region are exposed to several trace elements in exceedingly high amounts such as As and Mn through tap water which may induce cancers. Also, regular soft drink consumption is associated with low Cr level in this population. Evidence was not obtained for assessing potential dehydration. In terms of understanding the relationship between these factors, methods for assessing dehydration and dietary consumption need to be perfected, and other demographic issues and methods for quantifying obesity and health status will require further research.

No description available.

Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of hair follicles manifesting as patchy areas of hair loss on the scalp and body. Development of AA is associated with pen- and intra-follicular inflammation of anagen stage hair follicles, primarily by CD4+ and CD8+ cells. We hypothesized that if cell-mediated cytotoxicy against hair follicles is to be a component of the hair loss disease mechanism, increased expression of genes and products typical of cytotoxic cells, as well as increased apoptosis activity within affected hair follicles, would be expected to occur in the lesional skin compared to the normal skin. Furthermore, we studied gene expression levels of multiple cytokines and characteristic chemokines, using the C3FI/HeJ mouse model of AA. mRNA expression levels of granzyme A, granzyme B, perform Fas, Fas ligand, TNF-cL, TNF-aRl and R2, TRAIL, TRAILR, TRAMP, Thi-, Th2-, and Th17-associated cytokines, as well as multiple chemokines were compared between the skin, draining lymph nodes, thymus and spleens of normal and AA-affected mice using quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. FasL, granzyme A, granzyme B, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were all highly up-regulated in the skin of AA-affected mice. Immunohistochemical studies of the skin revealed that, although greater numbers of granzyme B and FasL expressing cells were present in AA affected skin, the cells were morphologically diffusely distributed and not exclusively located within the focal pen- and intrafollicular infiltrate. The majority of these cells were further characterized as mast cells, which were also found in substantially greater numbers in the skin of mice with AA compared to their normal haired controls. Almost no perform expressing cells were identified in AA affected mouse skin and TUNEL staining suggested relatively limited apoptosis activity in hair follicle keratinocytes. In conclusion, while granzymes and FasL may play important roles in disease development, the profiles and patterns of expression are not consistent with direct cell-mediated cytotoxic action against the follicular epithelium in chronic mouse AA. Potentially, hair growth inhibiting cytokines may play a more dominant role in AA development than previously thought. Furthermore, mast cells, with their increased presence around hair follicles in the AA affected mouse skin and their ability to express granzyme B and FasL, are suggested as potential key players in the pathogenesis of AA.

Darbo tema pasirinkta neatsitiktinai. Integracija ir globalizacija šiolaikiniam įvaizdžio kūrėjui diktuoja savitus reikalavimus. Šukuosenų dizaineriai ir kirpėjai turi orientuotis šiuolaikinio gyvenimo meninėje situacijoje, pažinti šio laikmečio estetines ir menines normas. Šiandieniniame gyvenime visuomenėje matomo žmogaus įvaizdžio formavimas tapo labai svarbiu. Vizualinių formų, kuriomis disponuoja šiandieninio žmogaus paveikslas įvairovė labai didelė ir norint susikurti savitą stilių, atkreipti į save dėmesį, vien intelektualinių, emocinių pajėgų neužtenka. Neatskiriamomis žmogaus įvaizdžio dalimis yra aplinka, apranga, aksesuarai, laikysena ir, savaime suprantama, – šukuosena. Visa tai priklauso taikomosios dailės sričiai. O ar būsimieji šukuosenų dizaineriai ir kirpėjai gauna pakankamai teorinių žinių ir praktinių įgūdžių bei gebėjimų, tam, kad galėtų profesionaliai kurti savo klientų įvaizdį? Tai aktualu tiek paslaugų teikėjams, tiek ir gavėjams. Temos naujumą sąlygoja tai, kad nėra nagrinėta, kokią vietą ir reikšmę šukuosenų dizainerių ir kirpėjų rengime užima įvaizdžio kūrimas. Tyrimo objektas – šukuosenų dizainerių profesinis rengimas. Numatoma problema yra tame, kad profesiniam šukuosenų dizainerių ir kirpėjų mokymui parengtos programos yra labai skirtingos tiek skirtų valandų skaičiumi, tiek ir turiniu. Tyrimo tikslas – atskleisti įvaizdžio reikšmę, rengiant būsimuosius šukuosenų dizainerius ir kirpėjus. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1. išanalizuoti su darbo tema... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The theme of the works is chosen not accidentally. Integration and globalization to nowadays artist of image dictate individual requests. Hairstyle designers and hairdressers have to orient in the situation of nowadays artistic life, know artistic and aesthetic norms of this period. In nowadays life in the society the formation of the visible persons image became very important. Visual forms which dispose nowadays human portrait, their variety is very big, trying to create individual style, to noble somebody’s person to yourself, only intellectual and emotional forces are not enough. Inseparable parts of persons image is environment, clothing, accessories, posture and of course hairstyle. It belongs to arts and crafts. Do future hairdressers and hair designers get enough theoretical and practical skills and facilities to professionally create their clients’ image? It is topical not only to the providers of the service but also to the recipients. The freshness of the theme conditions that this theme was not explored before, what place and meaning the creation of the image takes in the training of hair designers and hairdressers. The object of the research: professional training of hair designers. The problem is that the programs for the professional training of hair designers and hairdressers are very different in total hours and in their content. The aim of the research: to reveal the meaning of the image training future hair designers and hair dressers. The tasks of the... [to full text]

Many speech enhancement algorithms suffer from musical noise - an estimation residue noise consisting of music-like varying tones. To reduce this annoying noise, some speech enhancement algorithms require post-processing. However, a lack of auditory perception theories about musical noise limits the effectiveness of musical noise reduction methods. Scientists now have some understanding of the human auditory system, thanks to the advances in hearing research across multiple disciplines - anatomy, physiology, psychology, and neurophysiology. Auditory models, such as the gammatone filter bank and the Meddis inner hair cell model, have been developed to simulate the acoustic to neuron transduction process. The auditory models generate the neuron firing signals called the cochleagram. Cochleagram analysis is a powerful tool to investigate musical noise. We use auditory perception theories in our musical noise investigations. Some auditory perception theories (e.g., volley theory and auditory scene analysis theories) suggest that speech perception is an auditory grouping process. Temporal properties of neuron firing signals, such as period and rhythm, play important roles in the grouping process. The grouping process generates a foreground speech stream, a background noise stream, and possibly additional streams. We assume that musical noise is the result of grouping to the background stream the neuron firing signals whose temporal properties are different from the ones grouped to the foreground stream. Based on this hypothesis, we believe that a musical noise reduction method should increase the probability of grouping the enhanced neuron firing signals to the foreground speech stream, or decrease the probability of grouping them into the background stream. We propose a post-processing musical noise reduction method for the auditory Wiener filter speech enhancement method, in which we employ a proposed complex gammatone filter bank for the cochlear decomposition. The results of a subjective listening test of our speech enhancement system show that the proposed musical noise reduction method is effective. / Thesis (Master, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-05-28 16:11:28.374

Visuomenėje vyraujantys grožio standartai virsta mėginimu tiražuoti moterų išorę. Mane supa grožis, mano šeimos moterys taip auklėtos, joms tai svarbu. Svarbu ir man, nes siekiu pripažinimo ir slepiuosi. Visada slėpdavausi, užsidengdama kitų žmonių istorijomis, išgyvendama panašius jausmus. Atėjo laikas save apnuoginti. Plaukai man - vienas pagrindinių moteriškumo simbolių ir akcentų. Netekusi jų, netenku dalies savęs. Veidas tampa neatpažįstamas. Tai istorija ne apie ligą, tačiau grožio siekimas kartais tampa liga. Į mano asmeninės istorijos veidus, galite įdėti savo veidą. Ir tai nebe mano, o neegzistuojančio asmens veidas. Reta moteris norėtų platinti savo „negrožį“. Ko realiame gyvenime neįgivendinčiau, savo kūrinyje fabrikinio audimo principu kurdama tiražą, aš skatinu nusiimti savo kaukes. Dvejų studijų metų tyrinėjimo laukas išsikristalizavo į teorinio darbo temą "Žmogaus plaukų panaudojimas šiuolaikiniame mene: nuo ritualo iki koncepcijos". Savo kūrinyje plaukų, kaip medžiagos nenaudojau ir paradoksalu, moters plaukai, virtę simboliu, kinta, kol galiausiai išnyksta. Šį kūrinį sudaro 25 A4 formato žakardinio audimo autoportretai. / Beauty standards, which dominate in the society, turns into effort to circulation of the women appearance. I’m surrounded by the beauty, my family woman was educating like that, and for them it is very important. It is also important for me, because I’m seeking for the appreciation and I’m hiding. I was always hiding using other people’s stories, surviving similar feelings. It is time to denude myself. Hairs for me – one of the basic symbol and accent of femininity. I lose them, I lose a part of myself. Face becomes unrecognizable. It is a story not about disease, but sometimes seeking of the beauty became a disease. Into my personal story of my faces, you can put your face. And it is no longer mine, but it is non-existing persons’ face. Rare women want to propagate her “non-beauty”. What I never unrealized in the real life, in this creation using factory weaving principles and creating circulations, I’m encouraging to take off your masks. The field of two years’ of my research grows into theoretical work – “Human hair using in contemporary art: from ritual to the conception”. I didn’t use hairs as a material in my creation and paradoxically, a women hair became to a symbol, changes, and finally disappears. This work consists of 25 units, A4 format Jacquard weaving self-portraits.