Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-11-19T11:23:59Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Kamila Lauany Lucas Lima - 2018.pdf: 1815959 bytes, checksum: bc2167df3f3d8cab7e32728d28ff5a43 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-11-19T11:32:54Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Kamila Lauany Lucas Lima - 2018.pdf: 1815959 bytes, checksum: bc2167df3f3d8cab7e32728d28ff5a43 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-19T11:32:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Kamila Lauany Lucas Lima - 2018.pdf: 1815959 bytes, checksum: bc2167df3f3d8cab7e32728d28ff5a43 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-10-26 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / The present study aimed to test whether: 1) the high fat diet can induce T2D without the administration of streptozotocin (STZ); 2) the high fat caloric intake causes metabolic, behavioral and morphological changes, similar to t2D and; 3) the practice of moderate physical exercise is effective to reverse the metabolic changes caused by T2D and of the high fat diet. To test these hypotheses, we used 57 Wistar 8 week old rats. They were splited into the five experimental groups: group D (N = 25) who received a single intraperitoneal dose of streptozotocin (STZ diluted in citrate buffer, pH 4.5-25mg / kg body weight of the animal) and were fed with high fat diet. To test the effect only of the high fat diet, the HL group (N = 8) was fed with high fat diet but did not receive the STZ injection. Animals with similar ages were used as control (CO, N = 24) and fed with a balanced diet. At the end of the third week, animals of CO and D and HL groups were subdivided into two other groups: sedentary (SE) and exercised (EF). EF groups were submitted to swimming for 6 weeks. The D-SE, D-EF and HL-SE groups presented significant changes in body weight gain, abdominal fat gain, caloric intake, food efficiency, lipid profile and fasting and capillary glucose levels, when compared to control groups. There was no significant difference in the concentrations of arachidonic acid products and the renal tissue did not present morphological alterations. Physical exercise increased high density lipoproteins (HDL), but did not change others evaluated parameters. We conclude that consumption of the high fat diet when associated with sedentary behavior may cause metabolic alterations similar to T2D and that physical exercise was efficient to improve the lipid profile. / Os objetivos do presente estudo foram investigar as seguintes hipóteses: 1) a dieta hiperlipídica pode induzir o Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) sem a administração de streptozotocina (STZ); a ingestão de dieta hiperlipídica e hipercalórica causam alterações metabólicas, comportamentais e morfológicas, similares ao DM2 e; 3) a prática de exercício físico moderado tem potencial sobre as alterações metabólicas causadas pelo DM2 e pela dietahiperlipídica. Para testarmos essas hipóteses foram utilizados 57 ratos Wistar com 8 semanas de idade, distribuídos nos seguintes grupos experimentais: grupo D (N=25) que receberam uma única injeção intraperitoneal de estreptozotocina (STZ diluído em tampão de citrato, pH 4,5 - 25mg/kg de peso corporal do animal) e foram alimentados com dieta hiperlipídica. Para testar o efeito somente da dieta hiperlipídica, o grupo HL (N=8), recebeu uma dieta hiperlipídica, mas não recebeu a injeção de STZ. Animais com idades similares foram utilizados como controle (CO, N=24) e alimentados com dieta balanceada. No final da terceira semana, animais dos grupos CO e D e HL foram subdivididos em dois grupos: sedentário (SE) e exercitado (EF). Os grupos EF foram submetidos a um protocolo de natação durante 6 semanas. Após o protocolo experimental, os grupos D-SE, D-EF e HL-SE apresentaram alterações significativas no ganho de massa, gordura abdominal, ingestão calórica, eficiência alimentar, perfil lipídico e glicemia em jejum e capilar quando comparados aos animais controles. Não houve diferença significativa nas concentrações dos produtos do ácido araquidônico e o tecido renal não apresentou alterações morfológicas. O exercício físico aumentou as lipoproteínas de alta densidade (HDL), mas não alterou os demais parâmetros avaliados. Concluímos que o consumo da dieta hiperlipídica quando associada ao comportamento sedentário pode causar alterações metabólicas similares ao DM2 e que o exercício físico foi eficiente para melhorar o perfil lipídico.

Over the course of more than ten years, there has been a significant increase in the approach employed to inhibit the function of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). The phenomenon of upregulating soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) has been found to result in a decrease in the ratio of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) to dihydroeicosatrienoic acids (DHETs) in the body. This has garnered significant attention due to the diverse biological functions attributed to EETs, including the regulation of vasodilation, neuroprotection, increased fibrinolysis, calcium ion influx, and anti-inflammatory effects. Consequently, there has been a growing interest in developing and discovering sEH inhibitors through chemical syntheses and natural extracts, with the aim of increasing the availability of these anti-inflammatory molecules by reducing their hydrolysis. A comprehensive examination of this project was conducted to explore the inhibitory effects of YMSV, a tetrapeptide derived from the castor bean (Ricinus communis), on sEH, as well as to elucidate its underlying mechanism of action. YMSV was determined to function as a mixed-competitive inhibitor of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), and the interaction between the peptide and the protein resulted in the disruption of the secondary structural composition of sEH. Furthermore, the hydrogen bond interactions between YMSV and the Asp 333 residue in the active region of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) were demonstrated using molecular docking investigations. However, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) research revealed that nonpolar, hydrophobic, and bulky amino acids are favored at the N- and C- terminals of peptides for sEH inhibition. The results of this study indicate that peptides obtained from dietary sources possess unique characteristics as inhibitors of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), displaying significant potency. Consequently, these peptides have promise for further development as therapeutic medicines targeting inflammation and depression in the future.

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / This study investigated the administration of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for undergraduate students and its impact on the students' academic progress at a Historically Black University (HBU) in the Western Cape Province. It therefore dealt with the students' inability to fund their university education and the challenges they experienced because of the way in which NSFAS was administered at the university. The aim of the study was to investigate how the financial assistance received from NSFAS, or a lack thereof, impacted on the students' academic progress, and ultimately, their retention and success. The objective was to arrive at recommendations that could improve the process and enable the students to concentrate on their academic studies without financial stress and agony.

The aim of this study was to investigate the management of the function shift of Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges at the Department of Higher Education and Training. When the function shift of TVET Colleges took place, it provided an opportunity to research a phenomenon and obtain data that were not previously researched, as this was the first ever function shift or migration of colleges from the Department of Basic Education to the Department of Higher Education and Training. As such, this research not only explores a new phenomenon but also contributes to the body of knowledge regarding TVET in South Africa. This research was conducted at a TVET College in Newcastle, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. A qualitative, phenomenological study was conducted. The instruments for collecting data were individual and focus group interviews. Field notes were compiled during the various interviews, as deemed necessary by the researcher. All interviews were recorded digitally. The said digital recordings were transcribed and emanating themes were identified. Managers were selected as the interviewees. As this research was based on the management of the function shift, they were the most appropriate choice. A sample of staff was also interviewed, as two separate focus groups, to balance the scope and extent of the data, thus attempting to not only view the managerial paradigm as the sole reality. Findings made from the data were that the function shift was preceded by a previous migration of staff. That migration, however, saw colleges remaining in the same educational stream or level namely that of basic education. The staff at colleges, or technical colleges as they were called at the time, were previously employed by the State. This changed when the State created governing bodies for colleges or college councils, as they are known. Technical Colleges were then renamed Further Education and Training Colleges. These colleges were reporting to the Department of Education which saw a name change to the Department of Basic Education, as explained above. Employees were given the opportunity to migrate from State employment to council employment, which most staff members did. These college councils were later found to be dysfunctional, and the State arranged for colleges to be returned to the auspices of the State, but this time round they were usurped in the newly formed Department of Higher Education and Training. From a management perspective, the function shift was successful with minor challenges. Thus the staff felt that they did not receive adequate communication, thereby adversely affecting their financial positions. The researcher recommends further research among TVET Colleges regarding the management of this function shift. It is also recommended that all current channels of communication with staff be revisited, and improvement therein pursued, where possible. A final recommendation is that managers involved in a function shift be subject to a refresher course in change management before a function shift is implemented. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)