The magnetosphere-ionosphere contains a number of current systems. These currents vary on a wide range of spatial and temporal scales and physically couple with each other. To study the complicated behaviors of these coupled current systems, the ground-based magnetometer has been a useful tool, but the recorded magnetometer data are always multi-scaled and intermittent due to the nature of these current systems. To distinguish these geomagnetic effects with multiple temporal and frequency scales, the wavelet analysis technique is especially suitable because of its special abilities of presenting information in both temporal and frequency domains. In this dissertation, the geomagnetic disturbances and the ring current variability during storm and quiet times are studied by using wavelet analysis and ground-based magnetic data from multiple stations. The first part of this dis- sertation investigates the strengths of applying the wavelet procedure to geomagnetic data for ring current study during storm and quiet periods. The second part of this dissertation characterizes the geomagnetic effects caused by symmetric and asymmetric components of ring currents during storm and quiet times by applying wavelet analysis to geomagnetic data from multiple stations. The third part of this dissertation studies the spatial variabil- ity of the symmetric ring current by applying the wavelet analysis technique to multiple components of magnetic data from multiple stations. The results show the unique strengths of the wavelet method allow us to quantitatively distinguish the geomagnetic effects on ring current variations from other M-I current systems. The unique strengths of wavelet method also allow us to separate the magnetic effects of the symmetric ring current from those caused by the asymmetric ring current. Quantitative information of the spatial variability of the ring currents is essential for understanding the dynamics of the ring currents, as well as the magnetic storm processes. The techniques developed in this dissertation have potential values as space weather monitoring tools for satellite controls, power grids, com- munication systems, oil pipelines, and other high-tech systems that are vulnerable to the negative impacts of disruptive geomagnetic events.

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate masticatory muscle (MM) and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain patients regarding the prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and evaluate the level of psychological dysfunction and its relationship to PTSD symptoms in these patients. This study included 445 adult patients (male = 42, female = 403). Psychological questionnaires included the Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the PTSD Check List Civilian. The total sample of patients was divided into two major groups: The MM group (n=242) and TMJ group (n=203). Each group was divided into three subgroups according to the presence of a stressor and severity of PTSD symptoms. Thirty six patients (14.9%) in the MM group and 20 patients (9.9%) in the TMJ group presented symptomatology of PTSD. MM and TMJ pain patients in the positive PTSD subgroups scored higher on all scales of the SCL-90-R (p = .000) than the other two subgroups and reached levels of distress that were indicative of psychological dysfunction. MM and TMJ pain patients in the positive PTSD subgroups were more often classified as dysfunctional than as adaptive copers and presented with more sleep disturbances than patients in the no stressor and negative PTSD subgroups. A somewhat elevated prevalence rate for PTSD symptomatology was found in the MM than in the TMJ group. Significant levels of psychological dysfunction appear limited to temporomandibular disorder patients with symptoms of PTSD.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, May 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Apr. 20, 2010). "School of Biological Sciences." Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2001. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-112). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, 2008. / Title from screen (viewed on June 1, 2009). School of Nursing, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). ADVISOR(S): Janet S. Carpenter. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 227-243).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2007. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 135-152). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-02-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:36:14Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 arenasvelasquez_am_me_araiq.pdf: 997352 bytes, checksum: 9599053b27f7ec5bce201d3d5079009a (MD5) / Trypanosoma brucei é o agente etiológico da tripanossomíase africana ou doença do sono, transmitida por dípteros do gênero Glossina, conhecidos como moscas tsé-tsé. O diagnóstico e tratamento da doença não são satisfatórios, uma vez que para o tratamento está disponível um número de drogas altamente tóxicas e com um efeito limitado, pois dependem da fase da doença, das condições fisiológicas do hospedeiro, da suscetibilidade e variabilidade genética da cepa. Além do alto custo, o tratamento é potencialmente perigoso e está limitado ao surgimento de resistência generalizada aos fármacos utilizados. O diagnóstico é limitado à associação dos sintomas com a doença, muitas vezes é confundido com outras doenças pelo que o paciente não recebe o tratamento adequado. Por isso, tem-se a necessidade de buscar novos fármacos com melhor atividade tripanocida. Neste trabalho, avaliou-se a atividade tripanocida de 38 compostos diferentes e inéditos, como N1,N2-dibenziletano-1,2-diamina (cloridratos de benzil diaminas), N1-benzil,N2-metilferroceniletano-1,2-diamina (cloridratos de diaminas de ferroceno), 2-metoxi/hidroxi-3-(1-alquenil)-1,4-naftoquinonas e seus derivados 2-amina-1,4-naftoquinonas contra as cepas 427 e 29-13 de T. brucei. A eficácia dos compostos foi avaliada pelo método colorimétrico do MTT [brometo de 3-(4,5-dimetiltiazol-2-il)-2,5-difeniltetrazoliom]. Os resultados encontrados foram similares aos das atividades metabólicas das células (parasitas e/ou células HepG2 - linhagem de células de hepatoma, usada como modelo para simular funções hepáticas humanas in vitro), sendo o IC50 (metade da concentração inibitória máxima) calculado por regressão linear para cada composto. Da série anterior, o composto cloridrato de... / Trypanosoma brucei is the etiologic agent of sleeping sickness (Human African Trypanosomiasis [HAT]), transmitted by flies of Glossina genus, known as tsetse flies. The diagnostic and treatment of this disease are not satisfactory, since the treatment uses many toxicity drugs with limited effects, because depend on the stage of the disease, morphological diversity, heterogeneous biological behaviour, different clinical courses and the virulence appears to be an intrinsic property of each strain and high genetic variability. Besides the high cost, the treatment is potentially dangerous and limited the emergence of widespread drug resistance. The diagnosis is limited to the association of symptoms with the disease, is often confused with other diseases so the patient does not receive adequate treatment. Thus, the development of new research is necessary in order to generate new drugs with trypanocidal activity. In this work, we evaluated the trypanocidal activity of 38 inedited compounds of N1,N2-dibenzylethane-1,2-diamine hydrochlorides, N1-benzyl,N2-methyferrocenylethane-1,2-diamine hydrochlorides, 2-metoxy/hydroxy-3-(1-alquenyl)-1,4-naphtoquinones and amine derivatives of this compounds (2-amine-1,4-naphtoquinones) against 427 and 29-13 T. brucei parasite strains. The efficacy of these compounds was also measured using the reduction of MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide]. The results were similar to the metabolic activity of cells (parasites and/or HepG2 - hepatoma cell line used as a model to simulate human hepatic functions in vitro), being the IC50 (half of the maximum inhibitory concentration) calculated by linear regression for each sample. The compounds N-(ferrocenylmetyl)-N’-(4-metoxybenzyl)ethane-1,2-diamine) hydrochlorides and 2-metoxy-3-(2-phenylethenyl)-1,4-naphtoquinone... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Water is one of our key and indispensable natural resources. It plays a fundamental part in life (and the quality thereof), the environment, food production, hygiene, industry and power generation. Water is one of the major limiting factors in South Africa when it comes to economical growth and social development. In our country water is a scarce resource which is unevenly distributed both geographically and through time. As the demand for water increases, with increasing human populations and economic development, so to does the pollution of our river ecosystems.The Elands River is one of these natural resources that is under constant threat. It falls within the Incomati Water Management Area and is further sub divided into the Crocodile River sub area. This sub area is highly stressed, as it provides water for several human activities. The Elands River is a major tributary of the Crocodile River. The Crocodile River is a source of fresh water for several towns and is used by industry, rural and the agricultural communities (including tobacco farms). The Elands River in turn, is used for irrigation of vegetables. Both these rivers support a rich diversity of aquatic life. Along with its social and economical importance, the Elands River has immense ecological importance, as it holds great biodiversity including critically endangered biota. The main anthropogenic impacts on the Elands and Crocodile rivers include: · The Sappi Ngodwana Mill and the associated pulp and paper activities · The influence of the Ngodwana dam wall on the flow and water quality within the lower Ngodwana River · Nutrient loading taking place due to the treated sewage that is released into the river in the upper reaches and in the vicinity of the Mill · Sedimentation and flow regulation that is taking place in the Crocodile River, upstream of the confluence with the Elands River · And the agricultural activities within the Elands River system. The activities related to the Mill are the major concern in the study. The Sappi Ngodwana Mill is situated at the confluence of the Elands and Ngodwana rivers. The mill does not discharge effluent directly into the river. The effluent is however, irrigated onto the 514 hectares of farmlands adjacent to the Mill. The irrigated effluent has contaminated the groundwater in this area and the primary influence of this groundwater contamination is the deterioration of the surface water quality as well as, negatively impacts the quantity of water in the Elands River. The groundwater enters the Elands River through three springs near Ngodwana namely Fraser’s eye, Northern eye and Eye X. The groundwater from both Fraser’s eye and Eye X has been contaminated with calcium, potassium, magnesium, sulphates and most importantly chlorides. All these substances contribute to the increase in conductivity in the Elands River, which in turn may have a possible impact on the ecological integrity of the system. The pulp and paper industry is a large consumer of water and few regrettable incidents over the years have given the industry a reputation as a major water polluter. The industry’s management of water is,however, of world class and every attempted is made to manage the environment in a sustainable manner. This study aims to assess the impact of these anthropogenic activities on the associated aquatic ecosystems. Assessing the impact of anthropogenic activities on the aquatic environments, like the Elands River, has in the past been based mainly on the assessment of water quality. Earlier management of water resources has thus been based on the potability of water. Over the last decade management initiatives have expanded to include domestic, agricultural, recreational and most importantly instream (fish, invertebrates etc.) users. It has become common practise to use aquatic biota to assess the impacts of human activities of freshwater resources. The reason for this is that animals and plants can provide a long–term integrated reflection of water quality, quantity, habitat quality and other environmental conditions. Water and sediment quality was assessed by applying standard techniques and protocols. Additionally historical water quality data was obtained from the Sappi Ngodwana Mill and the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. Habitat quality was assessed by implementation of habitat quality indices. This included that Integrated Habitat Assessment Index and the Habitat Quality Index. The vegetation at each site was identified in the field with the assistance provided by the members of the Elands River Valley Conservancy and using various field guides and the riparian zone was then demarked. The integrity of the fish community was assessed by implementing the Fish Assemblage Integrity Index and the Fish Response Assessment Index. The integrity of the aquatic macro invertebrate communities was also assessed. This was achieved through use of the South African Scoring System and the Macro Invertebrate Response Assessment Index. Finally, spatial and/or temporal trends were assessed by implementation of various multi variate statistical procedures. / Prof. J.H.J. Van Vuren Prof. V. Wepene

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