Thesis advisor: Rudolph Hon / This study characterizes the current state of water quality of surface streams and rivers in the eastern New England region. A set of water quality data for nine rivers, part of the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program was statistically evaluated to identify natural and anthropogenic persistent influential factors on water quality in surface waters. Binary analysis and multivariate analysis, mainly Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Factor Analysis (FA) were applied to determine the least number of independent relationships among multiple chemical components in the data set. Statistical results show that in eight of the nine rivers included in this study, four principal components can explain about 80% of the total variance of the original data. The most significant contributing factors can be identified with: (1) chemical weathering; (2) road salt applications; (3) nutrient cycling; and (4) agricultural/waste water. / Thesis (MS) — Boston College, 2009. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Geology and Geophysics.

Ce travail aborde le Nummulitique alpin et consiste en une étude détaillée d'une coupe implantée dans la partie orientale de la structure d'Annot : coupe du Fa. Il s'agit d'une aire de sédimentation à caractères très particuliers.

<p>Syftet med min undersökning är att utvärdera tillämpbarheten av metoden FA/SIMM. En utrednings- och analysansats som ska underlätta breda och välförankrade beslutsunderlag för förändringar inom olika verksamheter. Som underlag för min utvärdering har jag använt en fallstudie av grundutbildningen för informatikämnet inom ISM vid Institutionen för datavetenskap, Linköpings universitet. En fallstudie i vilken jag undersöker hur administrationen av kurser fungerar, administration i betydelsen planering, samordning och organisering av olika handlingar. I rapporten redovisar jag endast ett kort utdrag av resultatet från fallstudien. Däremot beskriver jag relativt utförligt hur det varit att arbeta praktiskt med FA/SIMM. Min upplevelse av arbetet har analyserats utifrån särskilda utvärderingskriterier som tagits fram under arbetets gång. </p><p>Resultatet av utvärderingen visar att tillämpbarheten totalt sett har stora brister för att FA/SIMM år 2003 ska kunna betraktas som praktisk att använda. Det gäller främst överskådligheten av metoden totalt. Det är inte genomskinligt vad FA/SIMM består av för delar och framför allt finns det inte någon lättillgänglig sammanställd beskrivning av alla ingående moment. Det saknas beskrivning av arbetssätt och analysstöd för vissa moment. Det finns inte heller några direkta praktiska hjälpmedel. Jag saknar också ett djupare beskrivande analysstöd som överensstämmer med metodförfattarnas perspektiv. Däremot finns det en flexibilitet att vid en verksamhetsdiagnos kunna välja vilka moment man vill använda beroende på syftet med diagnosen. </p><p>Trots ovanstående negativa kritik gick det att få fram en, i mitt tycke, relativt utförlig bild av verksamheten med en omfattande och bra översikt av bl a dess komplexitet.</p>

Background: Gliomas are neuroepithelial tumours classified by cell type and grade. In adults, low-grade gliomas are comprised mainly of astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas grade II. The aim was to non-invasively characterise suspected low-grade gliomas through use of 11C-methionine-PET and physiological MRI in order to facilitate treatment decisions. Materials and methods: Patients with suspected low-grade glioma were prospectively and consecutively included after referral to the Neurosurgical Department, Uppsala University Hospital, between February 2010 and February 2014. All patients underwent morphological MRI, perfusion MRI, diffusion MRI and 11C-methionine PET. The institutional review board approved the study, and written informed consent was obtained prior to participation from each patient. Results: 11C-methionine PET hot spot regions corresponded spatially with regions of maximum relative cerebral blood volume in dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) perfusion MRI. The skewness of the transfer constantin dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) perfusion MRI, and the standard deviation of relative cerebral blood flow in DSC perfusion MRI could most efficiently discriminate between glioma grades II and III. In diffusion MRI, tumour fractional anisotropy differed between suspected low-grade gliomas of different neuropathological types. Quantitative diffusion tensor tractography was applicable for the evaluation of tract segment infiltration. Conclusion: PET and physiological MRI are able to characterise low-grade gliomas and are promising tools for guiding therapy and clinical decisions before neuropathological diagnosis has been obtained.

No description available.

No description available.

This paper explores the practical teachings found in the Dunhuang manuscript of the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch and considers the possibility of practice within a doctrine of sudden enlightenment. Part One outlines how the doctrine of sudden enlightenment can be understood to undermine the purpose for practicing meditation. Part Two first makes a case for the position that practice is presupposed by the text regardless of the doctrine of sudden enlightenment. Next the paper argues for what type of meditation practice the Platform Sutra teaches is consistent with sudden enlightenment. The practice the Platform Sutra teaches is an intentionless, continuous, non-passive non-attachment while in the midst of dharmas that takes as its basis the suchness of things inherent in sentient beings.

Thesis (M. Sc.(Urb. Plan.))--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 190-196).

Submitted by ANELISE RIBEIRO PERES (ane.medvet@hotmail.com) on 2018-09-18T23:21:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE DOUTORADO definitivo_ANELISE.pdf: 1833795 bytes, checksum: 8953d732ef286f330a73fc84245f9111 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Neli Silvia Pereira null (nelisps@fcav.unesp.br) on 2018-09-19T16:44:11Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 peres_ar_dr_jabo.pdf: 1833795 bytes, checksum: 8953d732ef286f330a73fc84245f9111 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-19T16:44:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 peres_ar_dr_jabo.pdf: 1833795 bytes, checksum: 8953d732ef286f330a73fc84245f9111 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-07-27 / Na bovinocultura de corte, a alimentação corresponde ao maior custo associado à produção de carne. A avaliação do consumo alimentar residual (CAR) tem sido uma ferramenta importante para direcionar a seleção de bovinos de corte e otimizar economicamente esta atividade. No entanto, alguns estudos mostram uma diminuição da motilidade, do perímetro escrotal, uma menor taxa de prenhez e parto em animais eficientes para CAR. Uma estratégia para solucionar tais problemas é a suplementação ácidos graxos poliinsaturados (AGPs) que não apenas aumentam a densidade energética da dieta, mas também atuam na melhoria do desempenho reprodutivo. No entanto, o ideal é que tais características de seleção para CAR e efeito da suplementação com AGPs sejam passadas à prole, assim o objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o efeito paterno da seleção para consumo alimentar residual (CAR) e da suplementação dos touros com AGs para a PIVE, o acúmulo de lipídio embrionário e a expressão de genes. Animais classificados em baixo CAR e alto CAR foram utilizados no experimento. O delineamento experimental obedeceu a um esquema fatorial 2 x 2 (CAR x Suplementação), a análise estatística foi realizada pelo programa JPM (versão 5.0.1, SAS Institute). Após a amostragem, os animais foram separados aleatoriamente em dois grupos: com suplementação de AGs protegido e com suplementação controle (sem AGs protegido). O experimento foi composto por quatro tratamentos, o sêmen dos touros foi congelado (4 tratamentos), sendo 6 animais suplementados com AGs protegido (3 baixo CAR e 3 alto CAR) e 6 animais com suplementação controle, sem AGs (3 baixo CAR e 3 alto CAR). O sêmen foi utilizado para produção in vitro de embriões; os blastocistos foram reservados para análise da quantificação de lipídios e os blastocistos expandidos para análise da expressão gênica. A quantificação de lipídios foi avaliada utilizando o corante Sudan Black B 1% e as imagens foram analisadas pelo programa Image J (National Institutes of Health, USA). A análise de expressão gênica dos embriões foi feita pela técnica de qPCR utilizando o sistema de micro-fluídica Biomark HD (Fluidigm®, South San Francisco, CA, USA). Não houve diferença na produção in vitro de embriões oriundos de animais CAR- ou CAR+, nem entre os tratamentos suplementados com AGs. Embriões de touros CAR+ apresentaram maior conteúdo lipídico quando comparado com o grupo CAR-. Os genes que apresentaram diferença associados à dieta foram o HMOX1, SREBF1 e o GPX4. Os referentes ao perfil CAR que diferiram foram o PLAC8, PPARGC1A e o NFE2L2. Os relacionados com a interação entre dieta e CAR que apresentaram diferença foram o RPLP0, ATF4, H3F3A, HSF1, HMGCS1, SLC2A5, NANOG, REST e o GPX4. Conclui-se que a dieta e a seleção para CAR dos touros afetou a expressão gênica dos embriões produzidos in vitro utilizando o sêmen desses animais. / In beef cattle, feed corresponds to the highest cost associated with meat production. The evaluation of the selection for residual feed intake (RFI) has been an important tool to direct the selection of beef cattle and economically optimize this activity. However, some studies show a decrease in motility, scrotal perimeter, a lower pregnancy and calving rate in efficient animals for RFI. One strategy to solve such problems is polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation that not only increases the energy density of the diet, but also improves reproductive performance. However, the ideal is that these characteristics of selection for RFI and effect of the supplementation with PUFA are passed to offspring, so the aim of this work was to evaluate the paternal effect of selection for residual feed intake and supplementation of bulls with fatty acids for in vitro produced embryos (IVPE), accumulation of embryonic lipid and gene expression. Animals classified under low RFI and high RFI were used in the experiment. The experimental design was based on a 2 x 2 factorial scheme (RFI x Supplementation), the statistical analysis was performed by the JPM program (version 5.0.1, SAS Institute). The animals were randomly divided into two groups: with protected fatty acids supplementation and with control supplementation (without protected fatty acids). The experiment was composed of four treatments, the semen of the bulls was frozen (4 treatments), 6 animals were supplemented with protected fatty acids (3 low RFI and 3 high RFI) and 6 animals with control supplementation, without protected fatty acids (3 low RFI and 3 high RFI). The semen was used for IVPE; blastocysts were reserved for analysis of lipid quantification and expanded blastocysts for analysis of gene expression. The quantification of lipids was evaluated using the Sudan Black B 1% dye and the images were analyzed by program Image J (National Institutes of Health, USA). The gene expression analysis of the embryos was done by the qPCR technique using the Biomark HD microfluidic system (Fluidigm®, South San Francisco, CA, USA). There was no difference in the in vitro production of embryos from RFI- or RFI+ animals, there was also no difference between treatments (supplementation). Embryos from RFI+ bulls presented higher intracytoplasmic lipid content than embryos from RFI- bulls. The genes that showed differences associated with the diet were HMOX1, SREBF1 and GPX4. The RFI associated genes that differed were PLAC8, PPARGC1A and NFE2L2. Those related to the interaction between diet and RFI that presented difference were RPLP0, ATF4, H3F3A, HSF1, HMGCS1, SLC2A5, NANOG, REST and GPX4. In conclusion, the diet and the selection for RFI of the bulls affected the gene expression of the embryos produced in vitro using the semen of these animals.

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2016-07-08T21:45:25Z No. of bitstreams: 1 AnaniliaMedeirosGomesDaSilva_DISSERT.pdf: 3150801 bytes, checksum: 08a397a53df93607fba37a592fba7f1d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-07-13T20:14:43Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 AnaniliaMedeirosGomesDaSilva_DISSERT.pdf: 3150801 bytes, checksum: 08a397a53df93607fba37a592fba7f1d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-13T20:14:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AnaniliaMedeirosGomesDaSilva_DISSERT.pdf: 3150801 bytes, checksum: 08a397a53df93607fba37a592fba7f1d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-15 / A Fibrila??o Atrial (FA) ? a arritmia card?aca sustentada mais comum. Pequenos RNAs n?o codificantes (miRNAs) v?m demonstrando uma atividade regulat?ria na arritmog?nese, atuando em genes alvos que contribuem para o desenvolvimento da FA. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a express?o de miRNAs candidatos em plasma de indiv?duos com FA e com FA aguda e suas futuras aplica??es como marcadores para o diagn?stico e monitoramento desta doen?a. Os miR-21, miR-133a, miR-133b, miR-150, miR-328 e miR-499 foram selecionados para serem alvos do estudo atrav?s de uma pr?via revis?o liter?ria. Eles foram isolados do plasma de indiv?duos com faixa et?ria entre 20 e 85 anos com FA (n=17), FA aguda (n=5) e sem FA (n=15). Os resultados foram analisados atrav?s da t?cnica da PCR em tempo real (RT-PCR) atrav?s do m?todo miScript SYBR Green PCR. Observamos que os miR-21, miR-133b, miR-328 e miR499 foram diferentemente expressos entre os tr?s grupos (p<0,05). A eleva??o da express?o desses miRNAs miR-21 (0.6-fold), miR-133b (1.4-fold), miR-328 (2.0-fold) e miR-499 (2.3-fold) foi maior em pacientes com FA aguda quando comparados aos pacientes com FA e os controles. Os miR-133a e miR-150 n?o apresentaram diferen?as estat?sticas entre os grupos. Nossos dados sugerem que os miR-21, miR-133b, miR-328 e miR-499 podem ser potenciais biomarcadores para FA,bem como para a FA aguda, e para o diagn?stico e acompanhamento da doen?a. Estes resultados podem contribuir para a compreens?o do processo que desencadeia a FA, incentivando o desenvolvimento de novos estudos para avaliar a aplica??o destas mol?culas como futuros biomarcadores para esta doen?a. / Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia. Some non-coding RNAs (miRNAs) have been involved in regulatory activity in arrhythmogenesis, targeting genes that contribute to the development of AF. The present study aimed to evaluate the expression of candidate miRNAs in plasma from patients with AF and new-onset AF and its application as future markers for diagnosis and monitoring of disease. miR-21, miR-133a, miR-133b, miR-150, miR-328 and miR-499 were selected as targets in this study through a prior literature review. They were isolated from plas-ma of individuals aged from 20 to 85 years old with AF (n = 17), new-onset AF (n = 5) and without AF (n = 15), where the latter was the control group. The results were ana-lyzed by Real-Time PCR (RT-PCR) with miScript SYBR Green PCR. We observed that miR-21, miR-133b, miR-328 and miR-499 had different levels of expression be-tween the three groups (p <0.05). Increased expression of miR-21 (0.6-fold), miR-133b (1.4-fold), miR-328 (2.0-fold) and miR-499 (2.3-fold) in patients with new-onset AF when compared to AF and control subjects. The miR-133a and miR-150 expression did not differ among the groups. miR-21, miR-133b, miR-328 and miR-499 may be potential biomarkers for AF as well as for new-onset AF, for monitoring and for the di-agnosis. These findings may contribute to the understanding of the process that trig-gers AF and suggest application these molecules as future biomarkers for AF.