This thesis describes PatchMapper, a model combining a population simulator based on individual behaviour, with a spatially explicit representation of a landscape. To investigate the robustness of the technique, representatives of three major taxa were modelled: the nuthatch (Sitta europaea L.), the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus Rafinesque) and the black hairstreak (Satyrium pruni L.). For the nuthatch and white-footed mouse, the performance of PatchMapper was compared with published models of the same species, but using different approaches, including, for the nuthatch, a comparison against observed numbers in a real landscape. To investigate the behaviour of the model, a sensitivity analysis was also undertaken. Written in Java, for portability, the model enables the user to select demographic and behavioural parameters via an interactive interface and includes a real-time (computer) display of the position of individuals during the simulation. Novel aspects of the model include perceptual range and field-of-view. Internally generated neutral landscapes can be used for modelling general cases, with imported digitised landscapes enabling specific study areas to be modelled. Habitat area and habitat quality dynamics can also be modelled. Dispersal flow diagrams can be generated, providing a visual explanation of the effects of landscape changes on inter-patch dispersal paths and populations in target patches. Performance compared well with published models, predicting a feasible match with observed numbers of nuthatches in the real landscape. Revealing predictable and realistic responses, the sensitivity analysis revealed that the model coding was valid. The value of specific case studies was illustrated, along with the dangers of relying on intuition when evaluating the response of species to habitat fragmentation. The individual-based SEPM approach was found to be best suited to the modelling of univoltine territorial species (such as nuthatch), with a single dispersal phase between fledging and territorial establishment. When demonstrating the model, the visual outputs proved particularly effective. Providing a set of features not seen in published models and enabling modelling at both local and landscape scales, PatchMapper is offered as a prediction tool for those engaged in activities such as biodiversity conservation and habitat management

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2008. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xviii, 121 p. : ill. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 99-108).

Thesis (M.S.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2006. / Not embargoed. Vita. Bibliography: 29-32.

Orientador: Sonia Maria Oliani / Banca: Paula Rahal / Banca: Jorge Chahine / Banca: Carla Patrícia Carlos / Banca: Érika Cristina Pavarino / Resumo: Os avanços recentes nos mecanismos de inflamação e a descoberta de vários mediadores endógenos anti-inflamatórios levaram a novas investigações sobre as possibilidades terapêuticas. A demonstração, em estudos científicos, da ação anti-inflamatória da proteína anexina A1 (ANXA1) e do seu peptídeo mimético Ac2-26, têm sido fonte de sucesso para o desenvolvimento de novos fármacos. A descoberta da interação biofísica da piplartina (PL) com a região N-terminal da ANXA1 abriu um novo e instigante campo de investigação para o nosso grupo de pesquisa. Diante destas considerações, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi investigar a atuação da PL nas células endoteliais da veia umbilical humana (HUVEC), ativadas pelo lipopolissacarídeo (LPS). Ainda, se a interação Ac2-26/PL influência nas ações anti-inflamatórias da PL, favorecendo ou atenuando os seus efeitos nos processos inflamatórios. Inicialmente foi utilizada a Espectroscopia de Absorbância UV-Vis e de Fluorescência para investigar as interações entre o ligante PL e Ac2-26. In vitro, as células HUVEC foram ativadas pelo LPS (10 μg/mL), nos tempos de 8, 24, 48 e 72 horas, seguido pelos tratamentos com Ac2-26 (1µM) e/ou PL (10µM), demonstrando resultados expressivos em 24 e 72 horas. Os efeitos foram avaliados nos seguintes aspectos: proliferação celular, viabilidade celular, dosagens da quimiocina MCP-1 e das citocinas IL-8 e IL-1β e expressão da proteína α-tubulina. A presença de um anel trimetoxiaromático na estrutura da PL, o... / Abstract: Recent advances in inflammation mechanisms and the discovery of several endogenous anti-inflammatory mediators have led to further investigations into the therapeutic possibilities. The demonstration, in scientific studies, of the annexin A1 protein (ANXA1) anti-inflammatory action and its peptide mimetic Ac2-26, have been a source of success for the development of new drugs. The discovery of the biophysical interaction of piplartin (PL) with the N-terminal region of ANXA1 opened a new and exciting field of investigation for our research group. In view of these considerations, the objective of the present study was to investigate the role of PL in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Also, if the interaction Ac2-26/PL influences the anti-inflammatory actions of PL, favoring or attenuating its effects on inflammatory processes. Initially, UV-Vis Absorbance Spectroscopy and Fluorescence were used to investigate the interactions between the PL ligand and Ac2-26. In vitro, HUVEC cells were activated by LPS (10 μg/mL) at 8, 24, 48 and 72 hours, followed by treatments with Ac2-26 (1μM) and/or PL (10μM), demonstrating expressive results in 24 and 72 hours. The effects were evaluated in the following aspects: cell proliferation, cell viability, MCP-1 chemokine and IL-8 and IL-1β cytokines and α-tubulin protein expression. The presence of a trimethoxyaromatic ring in the PL structure, which may favor an interaction with tubulin, motivated ... / Doutor

INTRODUCTION: Endometriosis is a disease characterized by the presence of extrauterine endometrial implants. Its etiopathogenesis isn’t fully understood, it’s believed that immunological and hormonal factors influence the peritoneal environment, preventing the elimination of refluxed endometrial cells during the menstrual period. In addition, endometriosis has been reported as an inflammatory process and some studies have demonstrated the inflammatory resolutive mediators involvement in endometrial physiology and suggest that they may be involved in the endometriosis progression by anti-inflammatory and antiangeogenic action. OBJECTIVE: To characterize Annexin A1 (ANXA1), FPR2/ALX and cytokines expression in peritoneal endometriosis and to clarify their role in its etiology. METHODS: A laboratory analysis was performed human samples with forty women in reproductive age (22 patients with endometriosis and 18 control women) that had undergone laparoscopic surgery. Peritoneal biopsy e fluid aspirations from endometriosis and control samples were analyzed for the expression of ANXA1, FPR2/ALX and cytokines. ANXA1 and FPR2 / ALX levels were measured by Western blotting and interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), 4 (IL-4), 6 (IL-6) e 10 (IL-10) were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The present study identified the presence in human peritoneal tissue of ANXA1 and FPR2 / ALX both in healthy condition and in women with peritoneal endometriosis, however, was lower in endometriosis samples than in control samples. By quantifying the IL-6 and IL-1β cytokines in the peritoneal fluid by ELISA, this study identified a higher IL-6 concentration in endometriosis group, but no significative difference in IL-1ß levels. In all samples, levels of IL-4 and IL-10 cytokines were below the detection level of the method used. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the reduction of the inflammatory resolution mediators may be responsible for the inflammatory process perpetuation, maintenance and worsening of endometriosis. / Submitted by Lia Karina Volpato (lia.volpato@unisul.br) on 2018-03-13T15:25:32Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Dissertação Lia Karina Volpato.pdf: 23378759 bytes, checksum: c029f98522ccc30394074d42329f7c3b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Caroline Correa da Cruz (caroline.cruz@unisul.br) on 2018-03-13T18:35:21Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Dissertação Lia Karina Volpato.pdf: 23378759 bytes, checksum: c029f98522ccc30394074d42329f7c3b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-13T18:35:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Dissertação Lia Karina Volpato.pdf: 23378759 bytes, checksum: c029f98522ccc30394074d42329f7c3b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017 / Endometriose é uma doença caracterizada pela presença de implantes endometriais extrauterinos. Sua etiopatogenia não está totalmente esclarecida, acredita-se que fatores imunológicos e hormonais influenciam o ambiente peritoneal, impedindo a eliminação das células endometriais refluídas durante o período menstrual. Além disso, a endometriose tem sido relacionada como um processo inflamatório e alguns estudos têm demonstrado o envolvimento de mediadores pró-resolutivos da inflamação na fisiologia endometrial e sugerem que possam estar envolvidos na progressão da endometriose por ação anti-inflamatória e antiangeogênica. OBJETIVO: Caracterizar a densidade de anexina A1 (ANXA1), FPR2 / ALX e citocinas na endometriose peritoneal e esclarecer seu papel etiológico. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo de análise laboratorial com amostras humanas de quarenta mulheres em idade reprodutiva (22 pacientes com endometriose e 18 mulheres controle) submetidas à cirurgia laparoscópica. Foram realizadas biópsia peritoneal e aspiração de fluido peritoneal em amostras de endometriose e de controle, que foram analisadas quanto à densidade de ANXA1, FPR2 / ALX e citocinas. Os níveis de ANXA1 e FPR2 / ALX foram medidos por Western blott e as interleucinas 1ß (IL-1ß), 4 (IL-4), 6 (IL-6) e 10 (IL-10) foram quantificadas por ensaio de imunoabsorção enzimática (ELISA). RESULTADOS: O presente estudo identificou a presença no tecido peritoneal humano de ANXA1 e FPR2 / ALX em condições saudáveis e em mulheres com endometriose peritoneal, no entanto, a densidade foi menor nas amostras de endometriose do que nas amostras de controle. Este estudo identificou uma maior concentração de IL-6 no fluido peritoneal do grupo com endometriose, mas não houve diferença significativa nos níveis de IL-1β. Em todas as amostras, os níveis de citocinas IL- 4 e IL- 10 estiveram abaixo do nível de detecção do método utilizado. CONCLUSÃO: Estes resultados indicam que a redução dos mediadores de resolução inflamatória pode ser responsável pela perpetuação, manutenção e agravamento do processo inflamatório da endometriose.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第22374号 / 医博第4615号 / 新制||医||1043(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 武藤 学, 教授 松田 道行, 教授 小西 靖彦 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of pre-entrance factors and the success of students in an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree nursing program at a community college in East Tennessee. The criterion variable was success in the nursing program. Success was defined as academic success in all nursing courses and completion of the nursing program to graduation. The predictor variables of pre-entrance factors were gender, age, Health Education Systems, Incorporated (HESI) A2 scores, Pell Grant eligibility, pre-nursing GPA, and prior licensure. The data for this non-experimental secondary analysis were derived from the electronic database in the community college Banner system. The population of the study consisted of all students accepted into the A.A.S. Nursing Program at a selected community college for academic years beginning 2013-14, 2014-15, and 2015-16. The population of the study was approximately 300 students. Analyses of the data were completed using independent samples t-test and chi-square cross tabs. Findings revealed that the mean HESI A2 scores were higher in those students that successfully completed the Nursing program than those that did not complete the program. Findings revealed a statistical significance between gender and program completion with females more likely to successfully complete the nursing program than male students. The factors that had no significant relationship to successful completion were age, high school GPA, Pre-nursing GPA and holding prior licensure. Findings also revealed students who are Pell eligible were not significantly more likely to complete the nursing program than those students who were not Pell eligible.

No description available.

In this report the influence of the growth conditions on the surface morphology of AlGaN/GaN heterostructures grown on sapphire-based and bulk GaN substrates is nondestructively investigated with focus on the decoration of defects and the surface roughness. Under Ga-rich conditions specific types of dislocations are unintentionally decorated with shallow hillocks. In contrast, under Ga-lean conditions deep pits are inherently formed at these defect sites. The structural data show that the dislocation density of the substrate sets the limit for the density of dislocation-mediated surface structures after MBE overgrowth and no noticeable amount of surface defects is introduced during the MBE procedure. Moreover, the transfer of crystallographic information, e.g. the miscut of the substrate to the overgrown structure, is confirmed. The combination of our MBE overgrowth with the employed surface morphology analysis by atomic force microscopy (AFM) provides a unique possibility for a nondestructive, retrospective analysis of the original substrate defect density prior to device processing.