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Postural control incorporates multiple neural and mechanical systems at various levels of the motor control system, yet the question of how all these systems interact remains unanswered. This dissertation describes development of a biologically based, three-dimensional mathematical model of the forelimb of the domestic cat that integrates skeletal anatomy, muscular architecture, and neural control. Previous work has shown that muscle architecture profoundly affects its function. However, even though the forelimbs of quadrupeds contribute to posture and locomotion differently from hindlimbs, most models of quadruped motion are based upon hindlimb mechanics. The proposed work consists of three main steps: (1) architectural and anatomical characterization, which involves acquisition of muscle attachment data, measurement of whole muscle and muscle fiber properties, and estimation of limb kinematic parameters; (2) model development and implementation, wherein the data will be integrated into a mathematical model using special-purpose software; and (3) model validation, including verification of model estimates against experimentally obtained measurements of muscle moment arms, and prediction of limb kinetics, namely end-point forces arising from perturbations to the limb. It was found that the forelimb does indeed possess structure, particularly at the shoulder and antebrachium, that allows for more diverse movements. The neural wiring in these regions is more complex than in the hindlimb, and there exists substantial muscular structure in place for non-sagittal motion and object suppression and retrieval. Other results showed that the kinematics of the limb alone produce a restorative response to postural disturbance but that the magnitude is reduced, indicating that neural input acts as a modulatory influence on top of the intrinsic mechanism of limb architecture. Furthermore the model demonstrated many of the essential features found in the experiments. This study represents the implementation of the first forelimb model of the cat incorporating mechanical properties and serves as a key component of a full quadruped model to explore posture and locomotion.

Stress in adolescence is a putative risk factor for developing mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and mood disorders. Symptoms for these illnesses first emerge in late adolescence and early adulthood, with both incidence and severity being sexually dimorphic. Animal models can shed light on the neurobiological underpinnings of these disorders by allowing one to explore the relationship between a risk factor such as stress, and development of symptoms. In the current work the role of adolescent stress is explored in the development of biomarkers that are associated with adolescent-onset illnesses using Long Evans rats. Repeated exposure to predator odour was combined with social isolation during adolescence to create a novel stressor model. The specific objectives of this study were to determine (i) if repeated predator odour exposure altered measures related to sensorimotor gating (measured as prepulse inhibition, PPI), startle, and emotionality, and (ii) whether social support affected the outcome of predator odour stress. Predator odour elicited immediate avoidance, which did not habituate with repeated exposures, suggesting a strong behavioural stress response. In contrast to past work, few significant long-term effects were observed in animals exposed to predator odour compared with ones exposed to a non-threatening odour. Unexpectedly, animals exposed to a no odour (control) condition displayed altered PPI, startle response, anxiety-related behaviour, and memory, compared to rats exposed to a non-threatening, control odour or a predator odour. Moreover, the no odour animals showed altered expression of dopamine D2R receptor protein in the medial prefrontal cortex. The outcomes for this group were remarkably similar to those seen in animals raised in social isolation, suggesting an underlying similarity in the neurobiological mechanisms associated with these experiences that likely can be traced to being raised in environments lacking adequate social and physical complexity. Sex differences were noted in PPI, startle response, tests of anxiety- and depression-like behaviour, memory, and levels of dopamine D2R receptors, although the sex of the animal did not interact with stressor treatment to affect these measures. In conclusion, results of the current work provide further evidence for the importance of the social and physical environment to normal development during adolescence, as well as the importance of being male versus female.

This thesis argues that how-to manuals and cue sheets are indicative of ideal performance practice amongst musicians from the silent film era. Pre-scored music was widely practiced amongst musicians. How-to manuals and cue sheets helped the musician accurately and consistently accompany a film. Authors of period manuals include W. Tyacke George, Edith Lang and George West, Ernst Luz and George Tootell. Compilers of cue sheet include James C. Bradford, Ernst Luz, Edward Kilenyi and Michael P. Krueger. Cue by cue analyses of The Cat and the Canary and The Gaucho show a high repetition of music, establishing continuity between the music played and the image on the screen. This shows how compilers associated music and film. These manuals and cue sheets prove that the musician community strove for a close connection between the image on screen and accompaniment. By 1920, arbitrary improvisation was unacceptable.

Darbas atliktas Lietuvos Sveikatos Mokslų Universiteto Veterinarijos Akademijos Patologijos centre nuo 2012 metų sausio iki 2013 metų spalio mėnesio. Darbo tema: Kačių ovariohisterektomijos statistinių duomenų ir gimdos bei kiaušidžių patomorfologinių tyrimų analizė. Tyrimo tikslas - atlikti kačių ovariohisterektomijos statistinių duomenų ir gimdos bei kiaušidžių patomorfologinių tyrimų analizę. Tyrimo tema aktuali dėl vis didėjančio kačių reprodukcijos susidomėjimo, siekiant susilaukti sveikų palikuonių. Tyrimų objektas – katės (patelės, Felis catus), kurioms buvo atlikta OHE. Ištirti 227 kačių organai (n=227), ir apklausius jų šeimininkus, surinkti statistiniai duomenys. Vertinamos kiaušidės ir gimda, jų topografija, dydis, spalva, konsistencija, kvapas ir forma. Organai vertinami iš išorės, vėliau pjūvyje. OHE metu, įtarus patologijas, paimti kiaušidžių ir gimdos mėginiai histopatologiniam tyrimui. Ištirta 16 kačių kiaušidžių ir 13 gimdų. Mėginiai dažyti hematoksilinu ir eozinu. Kiaušidžių ir gimdos patologijos katėms diagnozuojamos retai (apie 7 proc.) ir dauguma aptinkamos rutininės OHE metu. Kiaušidėse dažniausiai aptinkami pakitimai - cistos, gimdoje - piometra. Vidutinis kačių, sergančių piometra amžius - 6 metai. Statistiniai duomenys apskaičiuoti Microsoft Office Excel 2007. Darbo apimtis - 56 puslapiai, naudoti 47 literatūros šaltiniai, 6 lentelės, 34 paveikslai. / This work was carried out in the period of 2012 January to 2013 October at the Pathology Center of the Veterinary Academy of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. The title of work is “The analysis of feline ovariohysterectomy statistics and ovarian and uterus pathomorphological researches”. The aim of the study: to perform cats OHE statistics and ovarian and uterus pathomorphological investigations analysis. The research theme is relevant due to increasing interest in feline reproduction, in order to have healthy offsprings. The object of study is the cats (female, Felis catus), which has been conducted OHE. There were examined 227 cats ovaries and uterus. Pet's owners were interviewed in order to get statistical data. Topography, size, color, texture, smell and shape of ovaries and uteruses were estimated. Organs were examined from the outside, later in the section. Samples for histopathological examination were taken due to suspected pathology. There were tested 16 cats ovaries and 13 uteruses. They were stained by hematoxylin and eosin. Cats ovary and uterus pathology are rare (about 7%) and diagnosed mostly by daily OHE. Cysts mostly are diagnosed in ovaries, in uterus – pyometra. Average age of cats with pyometra is 6 year. Average age of cats, which was operated – 30 months. OHE is performed to terminate cats reproduction. Statistical data analysis was rated by Microsoft Excel 2007. The volume of work is 56 pages, 6 tables and 34 pictures. Total count of... [to full text]

Veterinarinė odontologija – tai nauja greitai besivystanti veterinarinės medicinos sritis. Daugelyje šalių veterinarinė odontologija jau egzistuoja kaip atskira disciplina, tirianti dantų ir burnos ertmės ligas, profilaktiką bei gydymą. Remiantis statistiniais duomenimis, dantų, žandikaulio ir burnos ertmės ligos gyvūnų tarpe - labai paplitusios visame pasaulyje. Daugiau nei 95 proc. kačių ir šunų per visą jų gyvenimą pasireiškia dantų ir burnos ertmės patologijos. Kadangi kačių dantų ligų gydymas yra gana sudėtingas ir skausmingas gyvūnui procesas, geriau tinka taikyti profilaktikos priemones, nei gydymą. Todėl nuo mažens gyvūną reikia pratinti prie burnos ertmės higienos. Lietuvoje dar labai mažai dėmesio skiriama šiai problemai. Deja, tik 8 proc. gyvūnų savininkų laiku pastebi dantų ligų požymius. Šeimininkai neskiria reikalingo dėmesio savo augintinio burnos ertmės priežiūrai, nesusimąstydami, kad dantų ligos gali būti bendros gyvūno savijautos pablogėjimo ir daugelio ligų priežastimi. Darbo tikslas – nustatyti kačių sergamumą dantų ligomis, bei apžvelgti jų gydymą ir profilaktikos priemonių taikymą. Darbo uždaviniai: 1. išanalizuoti ir apžvelgti literatūros šaltinius, susijusius su šia tema; 2. išnagrinėti dantų ligų diagnozavimo ir gydymo metodus; 3. išsiaiškinti ar kačių lytis turi įtakos dantų ligų pasireiškimui; 4. nustatyti kokiomis dantų ligomis dažniausiai serga katės; 5. nustatyti kokios ligos kokiose amžiaus grupėse paplitusios dažniausiai; 6. nustatyti... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of this work is to determine morbidity of feline dental disease,and review the treatment and prevention measures. The objectives: 1. To examine and review literature sources and information concerning the work objectives. 2. To review dental disease diagnostic and treatment methods. 3. To detemine whether cat gender has an effect on dental diseases. 4. To determine which dental diseases are the most popular in cats. 5. To determine what kind of dental diseases are the most popular in age groups. 6. To determine which breed of cats most likely have dental diseases. 7. To analyze prevention measures of dental disease. The research results and conclusions are: Cat sex does not have an effect on dental diseases. Dental diseases are most likely to develop in mixed breed cats. The most popular dental disease in cats is calculus. Mostly dental diseases affect cats which are older than 10 years. Periodontitis usually affects cats at age of 7 to 9 and those older than 10 years. Dental diseases mostly occur in the Siamese – oriental group of cat, and less longhaired cat group. The most common prevention measure is the specific cat food for teeth. Most cat owners do not clean their cat teeth in veterinary clinic. In conclusion, the cat owners do not have enough knowledge about dental diseases, its treatment and prevention factors.

Pagrindinis baigiamojo darbo tikslas buvo nustatyti kaip dažnai katės serga pleuritu, kokie yra pagrindiniai klinikiniai simptomai, nustatyti ir įvertinti rizikos veiksnius , išanalizuoti, kurie diagnostikos ir gydymo metodai yra efektyviausi. Norint pasiekti šį tikslą buvo suformuluoti darbo uždaviniai ir pasirinkta tyrimo atlikimo vieta. Tyrimas buvo atliekamas smulkių gyvūnų veterinarijos klinikoje " X" Kauno mieste nuo 2011 metų sausio 1 dienos iki 2013 metų sausio 1 dienos. Per šį laikotarpį kiekviena katė serganti kvėpavimo takų ligomis buvo registruojama klinikos duomenų bazėje. Kiekvienai katei buvo atliktas klinikinis tyrimas ir jei buvo įtariamas pleuritas, buvo atlikti kiti tyrimo metodai kaip rentgeninis ar ultragarsinis tyrimas. Torakocentezė buvo atliekama diagnostiniu ir gydomuoju pagrindu prieš ar po rentgeninio tyrimo. Torakocentezės metu buvo paimti mėginiai citologiniam ir bakteriologiniam tyrimams. Pagrindiniai taikyti gydymo metodai pleurito metu buvo pleuros ertmės drenažas ir antimikrobinė terapija. Atlikus tyrimą nustatyta,kad kvėpavimo takų ligomis sirgo 130 katės. Pleuritas buvo diagnozuota 19 proc. pacientų. Pastebėta, kad katės tarp 1 ir 5 metų amžiaus sirgo pleuritu dažniau(50 proc.). Dažniau sirgo mišrios veislės katės (67 proc.). Nustatyta, kad patelės dažniau sirgo nei patinai (67 proc). Sergant pleuritu pacientams dažniausiai pasireiškė anoreksija (100 proc.), dyspnėja (66,7 proc.) ir letargija (50 proc.). Atlikus kraujo morfologinius... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The main goal of this thesis was to determine how often cats suffer from pleural effusion and what are the main clinical symptoms, determine and evaluate the risk factors, analyze which diagnostic and treatment methods are most effective. To achieve this goal was formulated work tasks and choose the location and period of research. Research was carried out in a small animal veterinary clinic “X” in Kaunas from 1st January 2011 to 1st January 2013. Every cat who had the respiratory system disease was brought to the clinic during this period was registred in the clinic database. The clinical exam was carried out to all cats and if pleural effusion was suspected, further diagnostic methods as x-ray or ultrasound was performed. Thoracocentesis was performed as a diagnostic and therapeutic technique, before or after radiographic confirmation of pleural effusion. To confirm inflammatory conditions of pleura were taken samples of liquid for cytology and bacteriology analysis. The mainstay of pyothorax management was thoracic drainage and appropriate antibiotic therapy. During research period, respiratory system disease was diagnosed to 130 cats. Pleuritis was diagnosed to 19 % of patient. The largest number of pleuritis was observed in cats that were between the age of 1 to 5 years (50%). 67 % of the cats diagnosed with pleuritis were mixed bread. Females more frequently than males suffer from pleural effusion (67%). The most expressed clinical symptoms for patients with pleuritis... [to full text]

Darbe aprašoma blusų sandara, jų vystymas ir paplitimas, taip pat labiausiai paplitusių alerginių dermatitų patogenezė bei simptomai. Atlikto tyrimo rezultatai, kad būtų aiškiau, pateikiami diagramomis su trumpu jų aprašymu, jie apibendrinami ir padaromos išvados. / Thesis describes the structure of the fleas, their development and distribution, as well as the most common allergic dermatitis pathogenesis and symptoms. The research results are clearly presented charts with a short description of it, they are summarized and lead to conclusions.

A survey of gastro-intestinal parasites was conducted on faecal samples collected from 379 feral cats and 851 native fauna from 16 locations throughout Western Australia. The prevalence of each parasite species detected varied depending upon the sampling location. Common helminth parasites detected in feral cats included Ancylostoma spp. (29.8%), Oncicola pomatostomi (25.6%), Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (14%), Taenia taeniaeformis (4.7%), Physaloptera praeputialis (3.7%) and Toxocara cati (2.6%). The most common protozoan parasites detected in feral cats were Isospora rivolta (16.9%) and I. felis (4.5%). The native mammals were predominately infected with unidentified nematodes of the order Strongylida (59.1%), with members of the orders Rhabditida, Spirurida and Oxyurida also common. Oxyuroid nematodes were most common in the rodents (47.9%) and western grey kangaroos (27.8%). Several species of Eimeria were detected in the marsupials whilst unidentified species of Entamoeba and coccidia were common in most of the native fauna. Primers anchored in the first and second internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) were used to develop a polymerase chain reaction-linked restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique to differentiate the species of Ancylostoma detected in feral cats. Amplification of the ITS+ region (ITS1, ITS2 and 5.8S gene) followed by digestion with the endonuclease RsaI produced characteristic patterns for A. tubaeforme, A. ceylanicum and A. caninum, which were detected in 26.6%, 4.7% and 0% of feral cats respectively. Giardia was detected in a cat, dingo, quenda and two native rodents. Sequence analysis at the small subunit rDNA gene (SSU-rDNA) identified the cat and dingo as harbouring G.duodenalis infections belonging to the genetic assemblages A and D respectively. Subsequent analysis of the SSU-rDNA and elongation factor 1 alpha (ef1á) identified a novel species of Giardia occurring in the quenda. Attempts to genetically characterise the Giardia in the two native rodents were unsuccessful. Serological detection of Toxoplasma gondii was compared to a one tube hemi-nested PCR protocol to evaluate its sensitivity. PCR was comparable to serology in detecting T. gondii infections, although PCR was a much more definitive and robust technique than serology for large numbers of samples. Amplification of T. gondii DNA detected infections in 4.9% of feral cats and 6.5% of native mammals. The distribution of T. gondii does not appear to be restricted by environmental factors, which implies that vertical transmission is important for the persistence of T. gondii infections in Western Australia. These results demonstrate that cats carry a wide range of parasitic organisms, many of which may influence the survival and reproduction of native mammals. As such, the large-scale conservation and reintroduction of native fauna in Western Australia must not disregard the potential influence parasites can have on these populations.

Dissertation (M.D.)--University of South Florida, 2006. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-84).