AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF DAGONG RAN, for the MASTER OF ARTS degree in PSYCHOLOGY, presented on JULY 5, 2016, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: HEART RATE VARIABILITY IN CHILDREN: TONIC CHARACTERISTICS AND REACTIVITY MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Sarah Kertz This study investigated tonic heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate variability reactivity in response to stress in children with anxiety and worry symptoms. Twenty-nine children age 8 to 12 from a rural Midwestern region completed the study and were included in the data analyses. Participants completed an artificial auditioning task in which they were asked to sing in front of a video camera. Electrocardiogram were recorded prior, during, and after the task. Frequency and time domain analyses of HRV were conducted. Neither parent-report or child self-report anxiety/worry symptom levels were associated with baseline frequency domain and time domain HRV. All participants showed similar HRV reactivity in response to the stress task. Specifically, high frequency HRV was higher during baseline than during stress task, and low frequency HRV was higher during baseline than both during stress task and recovery. These findings contradicted with previous literature results. More studies are needed to examine the association between anxiety and HRV in children.

This thesis includes one qualitative literature review, three empirical studies and one meta-analysis examining the measurement of physical activity in children. Previous research has highlighted the difficulties inherent in measuring children's habitual activity. This has lead to confusion regarding the relationships between physical activity and health in children. Recently a new type of activity monitor has been developed. Uniaxial (WAM, Computer Science Applications, Shalimar, Florida, USA) and triaxial (Tritrac, Professional Products, a division of Reining International, Madison, WI, USA) accelerometers that record temporal, frequency and intensity information of movement are now commercially available. The aims of this thesis were to evaluate the validity of these and other measures of physical activity in children, to examine the relationship between physical activity and body fat in children and to investigate the effect the mode of activity measurement has on this relationship. The main findings were: a) The Tritrac provided a significantly better estimate of scaled oxygen consumption during typical children's activities than the WAM, heart rate or pedometry; b) Physical activity, measured by the Tritrac or the pedometer, was inversely correlated with body fat and positively correlated with aerobic fitness; c) Heart rate measures of physical activity did not correlate significantly with body fat or aerobic fitness; d) Meta-analytic procedures showed a small to moderate relationship between activity levels and body fat in children; e) The strength of this relationship was heavily dependent on the method used to assess activity levels. Observation methods produced an effect size significantly higher than questionnaire or heart rate methods, though not significantly different to motion counter methods. In conclusion it appears that heart rate methods are inappropriate for the assessment of habitual activity in children. The use of motion counters or observation methods for assessing activity are recommended. Motion counter methods are particularly appropriate for medium to large sample sizes.

This thesis examined the conscious processing hypothesis as a potential explanation for the way in which anxiety affects motor performance. The thesis is written as a series of research papers (studies). The five papers are preceded by a general introduction and followed by a general discussion. The first study replicated and extended previous research in the area of conscious processing. Participants acquired the skill of golf putting explicitly and implicitly across 400 trials. During a high anxiety transfer test, the performance of participants who learned explicitly was less robust than that of participants who learned implicitly, supporting the conscious processing hypothesis. Study 2 tested the conscious processing hypothesis using a performance rather than learning paradigm to control for possible desensitisation effects identified as a possible alternative explanation for the results of study 1. Results supported the conscious processing hypothesis, but an alternative attentional explanation was identified. Study 3 examined the conscious processing hypothesis while controlling for both desensitisation and attentional effects. Kinematic measures were also adopted to examine the golf putting task in vivo. Performance results partially supported the conscious processing hypothesis. Study 4 replicated and extended the design adopted in study 3. Study 4 also examined processing efficiency theory as a plausible alternative to the conscious processing hypothesis. Kinematic and cardiovascular measures were incorporated into the design. Performance scores suggested a processing efficiency interpretation. However, conscious processing effects could not be totally discounted. The fifth study examined the suggestion that the use of process goals by skilled but anxious performers might actively encourage lapses into conscious processing. Increases in state anxiety did not produce performance decrements. A lack of training in the use of goals was identified as an explanation for the absence of performance impairment. Implications for future research and applied practice are derived from the five studies.

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abstract: III-nitride InGaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) enable wide range of applications in solid-state lighting, full-color displays, and high-speed visible-light communication. Conventional InGaN quantum well LEDs grown on polar c-plane substrate suffer from quantum confined Stark effect due to the large internal polarization-related fields, leading to a reduced radiative recombination rate and device efficiency, which limits the performance of InGaN LEDs in high-speed communication applications. To circumvent these negative effects, non-trivial-cavity designs such as flip-chip LEDs, metallic grating coated LEDs are proposed. This oral defense will show the works on the high-modulation-speed LEDs from basic ideas to applications. Fundamental principles such as rate equations for LEDs/laser diodes (LDs), plasmonic effects, Purcell effects will be briefly introduced. For applications, the modal properties of flip-chip LEDs are solved by implementing finite difference method in order to study the modulation response. The emission properties of highly polarized InGaN LEDs coated by metallic gratings are also investigated by finite difference time domain method. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Electrical Engineering 2016

abstract: ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of this randomized parallel two-arm trial was to examine the effect that an intervention of combining daily almond consumption (2.5 ounces) with a walking program would have on heart rate recovery and resting heart rate when compared to the control group that consumed a placebo (cookie butter) in men and postmenopausal women, aged 20-69, in Phoenix, Arizona. Design: 12 men and women from Phoenix, Arizona completed an 8-week walking study (step goal: 10,000 steps per day). Subjects were healthy yet sedentary, non-smokers, free from gluten or nut allergies, who had controlled blood pressure. At week 5, participants were randomized into one of two groups: ALM (2.5 oz of almonds daily for last 3 weeks of trial) or CON (4 tbsp of cookie butter daily for last 3 weeks of trial). Body weight, BMI, and percent body fat were measured using a stadiometer and Tanita at the screening visit. Resting heart rate, heart rate recovery, and anthropometric measurements were taken at weeks 0, 5, and 8. Results: 8 weeks of walking 10,000 steps per day, with or without 3 weeks of almond consumption did not significantly improve heart rate recovery (p=0.818) or resting heart rate (0.968). Conclusions: Almond consumption in combination with a walking intervention does not significantly improve heart rate recovery or resting heart rate. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Nutrition 2016

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-07-01Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:56:11Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 maziero_rrd_me_botfmvz.pdf: 928128 bytes, checksum: 359ec822b473e1e1a55462f120819df5 (MD5) / A criopreservação de sêmen equino mostra-se como importante instrumento no ganho genético de rebanhos pela maximização do uso de bons reprodutores. Porém, nos programas de inseminação artificial, a utilização de espermatozóides criopreservados apresenta índices de fertilidade inferiores aos obtidos com sêmen a fresco, constituindo um dos maiores entraves à plena difusão dessa biotecnologia. Assim, o experimento 1 teve como objetivo avaliar o movimento espermático pelo sistema computadorizado (CASA) e a integridade da membrana plasmática por microscopia de epi-fluorescência de espermatozóides equino congelados em palhetas de 0,5 e 0,25 mL, em diferentes taxas de congelação na viabilidade espermática. Para desenvolver o projeto foram utilizadas três metodologias de congelação: o método convencional em caixa de isopor e dois equipamentos automatizados, um deles a máquina Mini Digitcool® (IMV - Technologies - França), que possibilita uma variação de -10ºC a -60ºC por minuto e o outro equipamento TK® 4000C (TK Equipamentos para Congelação) que possibilita uma variação de -10ºC a -40ºC por minuto. Para tanto foram utilizados 3 ejaculados de 4 garanhões de diferentes raças, para cada protocolo de congelação, sendo o protocolo 1: caixa de isopor x máquina TK® 4000C na taxa de -20ºC/min x máquina Mini Digitcool® na taxa de -20ºC/min; protocolo 2: caixa de isopor x máquina TK® 4000C na taxa de -40ºC/min x máquina Mini Digitcool® na taxa de -40ºC/min e protocolo 3: caixa de isopor x máquina TK® 4000C na taxa de -40ºC/min x máquina Mini Digitcool® na taxa de -60ºC/min. Para a análise pós-descongelação as palhetas de 0,5 mL foram descongeladas a 46ºC por 20 segundos e as palhetas de 0,25 mL a 46ºC por 15 segundos. A análise estatística das variáveis estudadas no sêmen congelado/descongelado foi realizada mediante o pacote... / Equine semen cryopreservation comes as an important tool to enhance the herd gene pool by maximizing the use of the top genetic merit stallions. However, the use of frozen semen in the artificial insemination programs presents reduced fertility rates in comparison to those obtained with fresh semen, being one of the biggest hindrances to spread this biotechnology. Thus, Experiment 1 aimed to evaluate the motility pattern using a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and plasma membrane integrity by epifluorescence microscopy of equine semen that were frozen in 0.5 and 0.25mL straws at different freezing rates and their relationship with sperm viability. Three different methodologies were used: conventional method with isothermic box and two automated systems: the Mini Digitcool® machine (IMV - Technologies - France), which allows a range from -10oC to -60oC per minute, and the TK® 4000C (TK Equipamentos para Congelação, Brazil), that provides a range from -10ºC to -45ºC per minute. Therefore 3 ejaculates for 4 animals were used for each freezing protocol. On protocol 1 we compared isothermic box vs. TK® 4000C machine at a -20ºC/min rate vs. Mini Digitcool® at a -20ºC/min rate; Protocol 2 compared isothermic box vs. TK® 4000C machine at a -40ºC/min rate vs. Mini Digitcool® at a -40ºC/min rate; and Protocol 3 compared isothermic box vs. TK® 4000C machine at a -40ºC/min rate vs. Mini Digitcool® at a -60ºC/min rate. The 0.5mL-straw samples were thawed at 46oC/20 sec whereas samples from the 0.25mL straws were thawed at 46oC/15 sec for post-thawing analysis. Statistical analysis from the frozen-thawed semen evaluated parameters was performed using the statistics software SAS 9.1. At first, it was used the descriptive analysis Box Plot R program. Then, data were analyzed using Proc. MIXED, a variance analysis to investigate the treatment effect (freezing rates and... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: José Luiz Moraes Vasconcelos / Banca: Rui Machado / Banca: Heraldo César Gonçalves / Resumo: Foram realizados quatro experimentos com o objetivo de avaliar possíveis mecanismos relacionados ao aumento da prenhez com a utilização de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados (PF). No exp. 1 foram utilizadas 51 vacas multíparas Nelore não lactantes, ovuladas, para avaliar se PF alteram a produção de progesterona (P4) e o momento da luteólise. No exp. 2 foram utilizadas 43 vacas multíparas Nelore não lactantes, ovuladas, para avaliar se PF alteram a sensibilidade do corpo lúteo de seis dias a aplicação de prostaglandina (i.m. 12,5mg de dinoprost trometamina, Lutalyse). No exp. 3 foram utilizadas 27 vacas multíparas Nelore, ovuladas, com 30 a 40 dias pós parto para avaliar se PF diminuem a incidência de ciclo curto. Os tratamentos utilizados foram: grupo controle (100g mineral + 100g milho + 100g caolin vaca dia); grupo SF (100g mineral + 100g milho + 100g/vaca/dia de Megalac (7-9% C18:2; Arm&Hammer a Church&Dwight Company, EUA); grupo PF (100g mineral + 100g milho + 100g/vaca/dia de Megalac-E QGN, Brasil: 40-42% de C18:2; 2-3% de C18:3). No exp. 4 (1457 vacas multíparas Nelore) foi avaliado se a suplementação com PF pós IATF por diferentes períodos altera a taxa de prenhez. Nos experimentos 1, 2 e 3 não foi detectado efeito de PF nas concentrações de P4 durante o período avaliado, no momento da luteólise e na incidência de ciclo curto (P>0,1). Ao se agrupar os dados do Exp 1 e 2, a concentração de P4 (P=0,01) no dia 6 foi maior nos animais suplementados com PF em relação ao SF e controle (4,45; 3,25; 3,48 ng/ml, respectivamente; EPM=0,278). No experimento 4 vacas recebendo PF por 21 e 28 dias após a IATF tiveram maior (P<0,05) taxa de prenhez (50,38%) quando comparadas com os outros tratamentos agrupados (42,38%). Não foi detectado diferença entre os tratamentos PF21 (50,99%) e PF28 (49,81). Os resultados em conjunto mostram que apesar de suplementação... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Four experiments were designed to evaluate the possible mechanisms related to the increased pregnancy rates in cows supplemented with PF. In Experiment 1, 51 ovulated non-lactating Nelore multiparous cows were used to evaluate if PF supplementation affects circulating progesterone (P4) concentrations and timing of luteolysis. In Experiment 2, 43 ovulated non-lactating Nelore multiparous cows were used to evaluate if PF supplementation alters the sensitivity of a 6-d corpus luteum to exogenous prostaglandin treatment. In Experiment 3, 27 ovulated postpartum Nelore cows were used to evaluate if PF supplementation affects the incidence of premature luteolysis. Beginning at the d of estrus, the daily treatments in these 3 experiments were: Control (0.1 Kg Mineral + 0.1 Kg corn + 0.1 Kg kaolin); SF (0.1 Kg Mineral + 0.1 Kg Megalac-S® [7-9% linoleic acid] + 0.1 Kg corn), this group was used just in experimental 1 and 2; PF (0.1 Kg Mineral + 0.1 Kg Megalac-E® [40-42% linoleic acid; 2-3% linolenic acid] + 0.1 Kg corn). In Experiment 4, we evaluated if the length of PF supplementation in different times after timed-AI alters the pregnancy rate. No effect was detected on P4 concentration, luteolysis or short cycle (P>0.1), but when the cows of exp. 1 and 2 were grouped had higher (P=0.01) concentration of P4) on cows that were supplemented with PF compared with Sf or control (4.45; 3.25; 3.48 ng/ml, respectively; SEM=0,278. Cows supplemented with PF during 21 (PF21,) or 28 d post- AI (PF28) had higher pregnancy rates (50.38%; P < 0.05) than cows from other treatments (42.38%). There was no difference between PF21 (50,99%) and PF28 (49,81%) treatments. These experiments indicated that the possible mechanism for greater conception with PF supplementation post-AI may be due to effects on embryo development, animals supplemented for more than 21d had greater pregnancy rates. / Mestre

I investigate the effect of the change in call loan rates on stock returns during 1929. Call loan rates are the interest rates on borrowed funds to trade equity on a given exchange. It is estimated that 40% of stocks during this period were bought on margin. After a price decline comes a margin call, followed by a forced sales of securities, which leads to additional margin calls and future price declines. I regress daily excess returns on the change in daily call loan rates during 1929. In addition, I estimate volatility using an ARCH model and observe the previously understood negative relationship between volatility and stock prices. I find a statistically significant negative relationship between call loan rates and stock returns. Furthermore, I also find that changes in call loan rates are most influential on the manufacturing sector relative to the other 11 industries tested.

FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / Chagas disease is one of the most important parasitic diseases in Latin America, transmitted by triatomine, has reached more than 10 million people. This illness is typical of rural environments and inadequate housing provides shelter to the vector the disease transmitter. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Trypanosoma cruzi in triatomines captured in intradomiciliary and surroundings in cities in the southeast region of CearÃin. This is a retrospective descriptive study, by consulting the archives of Control Program of Chagas Disease in Regional Laboratory of Endemic Diseases of Limoeiro do Norte â CE, which attends the cities that were studied from 2009 to 2011. During the study were captured a total of 18.408 specimens of insects, including nymphs and adults inside the home and outside homes. Of this total, 17.910 specimens were examined, representing 97,29%. The number of nymphs was taken about three times greater than the number of adults. The year of 2010 was the one with the highest number of captures, with a total of 8.548 triatomines, distributed among nymphs (6.115) and adults (2.433), and 637 inside of the houses and 7.911 around the houses. This year presented an infection rate of 1.30%, with 107 positive triatomines, being Quixerà the city with the highest infection rate in that year. The infection rate in adults triatomine (1.92%) was higher than in nymphs (1.21%). The species captured during the study period were Triatoma pseudomaculta, Triatoma brasiliensis, Panstrongylus megistus, Panstrongylus lutzi and Rhodnius nasutus. Of these species, T. pseudomaculta was the most captured throughout the study period, with 12.643 specimes. During this study, were 11 cities studied, and the most infested was Tabuleiro do Norte with 3.976 specimens, followed by Ãrere with 3.289. The city with the highest infection rate during the study period was Limoeiro do Norte (5,00%) with a total of 125 triatomines positive, followed by Quixerà (2.39%). At the end of the study, we can conclude that it is still necessary to intensify Control Program of Chagas disease, in order to avoid the maximum transmission of this disease. Finally we highlight the importance of conducting educational programs to the population in order to provide guidance to the public on disease prevention, such as towing houses, fix cracks and maintain clean environments at home and around the homes to prevent colonization of the approach and vectors. / A doenÃa de Chagas à uma das doenÃas parasitÃrias mais importante da AmÃrica Latina, transmitida por triatomÃneos jà atingiu mais de 10 milhÃes de pessoas. Essa enfermidade à tÃpica de ambientes rurais e habitaÃÃes inadequadas que oferecem abrigo ao vector transmissor da doenÃa. O presente estudo tem como objetivo investigar a presenÃa de Trypanosoma cruzi em triatomÃneos capturados nos intra e peridomicÃlios, em municÃpios da regiÃo sudestedo estado do CearÃ. Trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo descritivo, de consulta aos arquivos do Programa de Controle da DoenÃa de Chagas do LaboratÃrio Regional de Endemias do Limoeiro do Norte â CE, que atende os municÃpios que foram estudados no perÃodo de 2009 a 2011. Durante o estudo foi capturado um total de 18.408 exemplares de triatomÃneos, entre ninfas e adultos no intradomicÃlio e peridomicÃlio. Desse total, 17.910 exemplares foram examinados, representando 97,29 % dos capturados. O nÃmero de ninfas capturadas foi cerca de trÃs vezes maior que o nÃmero de adultos. O ano de 2010 foi o ano com maior nÃmero de capturas, com um total de 8.548 triatomÃneos capturados, distribuÃdos entre ninfas (6.115) e adultos (2.433), sendo 637 no intradomicÃlio e 7.911 no peridomicÃlio. O Ãndice de infecÃÃo nesse ano foi de 1,30%, com 107 triatomÃneos positivos, sendo Quixerà o municÃpio com maior Ãndice de infecÃÃo. O Ãndice de infecÃÃo em adultos (1,92%) foi maior do que em ninfas (1,21%). As espÃcies capturadas durante o perÃodo de estudo foram Triatoma pseudomaculta, Triatoma brasiliensis, Panstrongylus megistus, Panstrongylus lutzi e Rhodnius nasutus. Dessas espÃcies, T. pseudomaculta foi a mais capturada durante todo o perÃodo de estudo, com 12.643 exemplares. Durante o perÃodo de estudo foram estudados 11 municÃpios, sendo o mais infestado Tabuleiro do Norte com 3.976 exemplares, seguido de Ãrere com 3.289 exemplares. O municÃpio que apresentou maior Ãndice de infecÃÃo durante o perÃodo de estudo foi Limoeiro do Norte (5,00%) com um total de 125 triatomÃneos positivos, seguido de Quixerà (2,39%). Ao fim do estudo, pode-se concluir que ainda faz-se necessÃria a intensificaÃÃo do Programa de Controle da DoenÃa de Chagas, para poder evitar ao mÃximo a transmissÃo da doenÃa. Finalmente destaca-se a importÃncia de realizar programas educativos à populaÃÃo com a finalidade de dar orientaÃÃes à populaÃÃo na prevenÃÃo da doenÃa, tais como rebocar as casas, corrigir frestas e manter limpos os ambientes no peridomicÃlio e no domicÃlio para evitar a aproximaÃÃo e colonizaÃÃo dos vetores.