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Magister Educationis - MEd / Pupils experience various problems when trying to solve problems in Biology, particularly on Higher Grade. This problem was profound in the area of Homeostasis, an aspect of Human Physiology. During this investigation a number of pupils, the PIONEER GROUP, were screened for cognitive deficiencies. Major common deficiencies were identified as IMPULSIVITY, THE USE TWO OR MORE SOURCES OF INFORMATION SIMULTANEOUSLY, SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL ORIENTATION. A second phase, the essence of this investigation, sought ways in which to teach pupils the cognitive skills to facilitate their concept formation in the area of Homeostasis. Since the subjects displaying these cognitive deficiencies were already in their final year of High School a method was sought which would benefit them in the short term. Simultaneously a way had to be found to teach these skills so that it could be of use to pupils on a long term basis. This study revealed that for short term benefit the cognitive skills have to be subtly introduced and integrated with the subject content. Teaching cognitive skills in concentrated form over such a short period had a detrimental effect on the group subjected to this treatment. However, the PIONEER GROUP, had been taught these skills in a very short period in concentrated form. Feedback from them reveals that they were not able to apply the skills in their Senior Certificate Examination but all of them are now adept at using these skills to their benefit. This leads to the conclusion that if these skills are to be taught separately it should be started as early as possible in the school career. In the last year of High School it is more of a burden to the pupil than a benefit. In such a case it should be done integrated with subject content.

Ph.D., Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / The rock hyrax, Procavia capensis, is a social diurnal mammal that typically lives in colonies on rocky outcrops and is found throughout most parts of Southern Africa. The aim of this thesis was to describe the sleep phenomenology of the rock hyrax. By means of immunohistochemistry the location and distribution of the cholinergic, catecholaminergic, serotonergic, orexinergic, histaminergic, and the GABAergic systems were described. For the most part these systems and their terminal network distributions followed the general mammalian organisational plan; however, several features, potentially unique to the rock hyrax, were found. These include the presence of cholinergic neurons in the AD and AV nuclei of the dorsal thalamus, parvo- and magnocellular divisions of the cholinergic LDT and PPT nuclei. A dense orexinergic terminal network distribution was noted in the regions coincident with the AD nucleus, a feature only observed in other diurnal mammals. Parvalbumin neurons did not show any association to the sleep related nuclei, whereas calbindin and calretinin neurons were found in all sleep related areas, though with differing densities and some homogeneities. The physiological measurable parameters of sleep were recorded continuously for 72 h under both solitary and social conditions and compared to determine whether differences existed. The results revealed that no major differences existed between the social and solitary conditions, but sleep intensity and REM duration (particularly REM0) was more pronounced in the social condition. REM was ambiguous in these animals, and led to its subdivision into REM1 and REM0. It is possible that REM1 could be a form of low voltage slow wave sleep, but further investigation is required. If REM1 is a form of NonREM sleep it would imply that the rock hyrax has the lowest amount of REM sleep of any terrestrial mammal studied to date.

This syllabus includes both lecture notes and laboratory activities for a two-semester anatomy and physiology community college course. The syllabus is based on a 16-week semester that is comprised of a three-hour lecture section and a one-hour laboratory class each week. Both the lecture course and laboratory are necessary to fulfill the requirement for anatomy and physiology. Laboratory activities coincide with lectures to enhance understanding of each topic by providing visual and hands-on experiments for the concepts learned in the lecture. Laboratory quizzes will be given each week to help students maintain a working knowledge of the material learned in the laboratory. This course is appropriate for the typical anatomy and physiology student and should benefit both students who plan to major in biology and also those who are non-biology majors. Because subject matter in anatomy and physiology is quite difficult, the importance of attendance and good study skills is stressed.

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) negatively impacts oxygen transport and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2 max). Iron deficiency non-anaemia (IDNA) is often observed amongst endurance athletes, yet the influence of IDNA on iron metabolism and endurance performance is not clear. The aim of this thesis was to investigate physiological and haematological responses to changes in iron status in elite endurance athletes.

Orientador: Marcelo Tavella Navega / Coorientador: Marcos Renato de Assis / Banca: Marcos Eduardo Scheicher / Banca: Ana Elisa Zuliani Stroppa Marques / Banca: Paula Regina Mendes da Silva Serrão / Banca: Karina Gramani Say / Resumo: A articulação do joelho é frequentemente acometida por sinovite em pacientes com artrite reumatoide (AR). Esse processo inflamatório provoca um reflexo de inibição muscular artrogênica e consequente diminuição de força nos extensores de joelho, além de dor, edema e prejuízos funcionais. A infiltração intra-articular (IIA) com hexacetonide de triancinolona (HT) tem se mostrado eficaz no controle do acometimento articular em pacientes com AR. O objetivo geral do presente estudo foi analisar os efeitos da infiltração intra-articular em mulheres com AR de HT ou solução salina em parâmetros como força muscular de extensores de joelho, dor, edema, funcionalidade e amplitude de movimento. Vinte e uma mulheres com AR foram randomizadas aleatoriamente para receber 3ml de HT (GI) ou de solução salina (GC) no joelho, com avaliações feitas em 4 momentos: imediatamente antes a IIA, após 2, 6 e 12 semanas. Foram aplicados questionários para funcionalidade (WOMAC, Lequesne, HAQ), escala visual analógica para dor ao repouso e ao movimento, circumetria, teste de força de extensores de joelho, biofotogrametria para amplitude de movimento e os testes físicos Timed Up And Go (TUG) e Teste de Sentar e Levantar. Na análise estatística foi realizado teste de normalidade de Shapiro-Wilk, Teste de Levene para homogeneidade dos grupos, análise de variância (ANOVA) mista com medidas repetidas para comparação intra e inter grupos, correlação de Pearson e regressão linear com significância de P< 0,05. Fo... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The knee joint is often affected by synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. This inflammatory process causes a reflex of arthrogenic muscle inhibition and consequent decrease of strength in the knee extensors, pain, swelling and functional impairment. Intra-articular infiltration (IIA) with triamcinolone hexacetonide (HT) has been shown to be effective in controlling joint involvement in RA patients. The general objective of the present study was to analyze the effects of intraarticular infiltration in RA women's knee with HT or saline solution in parameters such as knee extensors muscle strength, pain, swelling, functionality and range of motion. Twenty-one RA women were randomly assigned to receive 3ml of TH (GI) or saline solution (GC) in the knee, with assessments made in 4 moments: immediately before the IIA, after 2, 6 and 12 weeks. Functional questionnaires (WOMAC, Lequesne, HAQ), visual analogue scale for pain, circummetry, knee extensor strength test, biophotogrammetry for range of motion and the physical test Timed Up And Go (TUG). Statistical analysis was performed using the Shapiro-Wilk normality test, Levene test for homogeneity of groups, mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures for intra and inter group comparison, Pearson's correlation and linear regression with significance of P <0,05. Decreased pain at rest and movement, reduction of swelling and improvement of functionality in the group receiving the medication were observed, but t... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

O estudo avaliou o efeito do treinamento no estado de nutrição em magnésio, ferro, zinco e cobre em atletas de paio aquático feminino pertencentes à Seleção Brasileira, considerando as concentrações de magnésio eritrocitário (Mg2+Er) e sérico (Mg2+S); zinco eritrocitário (Zn2+Er) e sérico (Zn2+S); a atividade da superóxido dismutase (CulZn-SOD) e a concentração de cobre sérico (CU2+S); hemoglobina (Hb), ferritina sérica (FER) e porcentagem de saturação da transferrina (%ST) em períodos pré-competitivo, de destreino e de manutenção. Foi também avaliada a ingestão desses minerais, considerando as novas DRls, que foi associada aos parâmetros bioquímicos do pré-competitivo e comparada a um grupo de controles. Em atletas houve consumo de Mg2+ com maior probabilidade de inadequação e a concentração do Mg2+S mostrou tendência a valores menores, comparadas às controles. O consumo dietético de Zn2+ foi maior para as atletas (p<O,05), entretanto, a sua concentração média de Zn2+Er foi menor (p<O,05). O consumo de ferro não foi diferente entre os dois grupos estudados, porém, o estado nutricional (EN) em ferro foi significantemente maior em atletas. Ambos os grupos apresentaram estado de nutrição em cobre adequado. A atividade da CuIZn-SOD foi maior para atletas (p<O,05) e o CU2+S, sem diferença entre os grupos, foi o parâmetro que melhor associou-se à ingestão dietética. O treinamento pré-competitivo alterou significantemente o estado de nutrição em cobre e em ferro (p<O,05). Possivelmente, o treinamento intenso promoveu redistribuição comparti mental de Zn2+ a partir do eritrócito. O estado de nutrição em Mg2+ não foi alterado pelo treinamento, porém, mecanismos fisiológicos de homeostase podem ter ocorrido, sem evitar, entretanto, o aparecimento de cãimbras após o treinamento intenso. No destreino houve recuperação do Zn2+Er. / The study evaluated the effect of training on the magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper nutritional status, in female water polo athletes of the Brazilian national team, considering the concentrations of ErMg2+ and SMg2+; ErZn2+ and SZn2+; Cu/Zn-SOD activity and SCu2+; Hb, FER and %TS in pre-competitive, detraining, and maintenance periods. The intakes of these minerals were also evaluated, considering the new DRIs, which were associated to the biochemical parameters of the pre-competitive, and compared to a control group. Athletes presented a magnesium intake with greater probability of not being adequate and the SMg2+ concentration showed a tendency to lower values, compared to controls. The dietary Zn2+ intake was greater for athletes (p<0.05); however, their mean ErZn2+ concentration was lower (p<0.05). The iron intake was not different between the two studied groups; however, the iron nutrition status was significantly better in athletes. Both groups presented adequate copper nutritional status. The Cu/Zn-SOD activity was greater for athletes (p<0.05) and the SCu2+, with no difference between groups, was the parameter, which was better associated to the dietary intake. The pre-competitive training altered copper and iron nutritional status significantly (p<0.05). Possibly, the intense training promoted the compartmental redistribution of Zn2+ as from the erythrocyte. The training did not alter the Mg2+ nutritional status; however, homeostatic physiologic mechanisms may have occurred, nevertheless not avoiding the occurrence of cramps after intense training. ErZn2+ was recovered in the detraining.

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In this study, the effect of semantic information processing was investigated by the oddball paradigm, by presenting consecutive Turkish words or word-like non-words while EEG signals are recorded. In an oddball paradigm, a series of events are presented of which one class is rarer than the other. Subjects are asked to respond to the infrequent stimuli (e.g. press a button, or count the number). The event related potential (ERP) component P300 obtained from EEG is considered as the marker of this attention capturing paradigm. P300 is obtained consistently for both visual and verbal stimulus. On the other hand, the ERP component N400 is consistently associated with semantic processing in neurolinguistics. Additionally, Late Positive Component (LPC) is a marker for the top-down attention mechanism during word comprehension. Moreover, there are other components, called early ERPs, which occur between 100-200 ms after the stimulus onset. These components orthographically and phonologically reflect low-level features of words. The target words chosen for our study are strictly limited to belong to a neutral category and not consist of any emotional content, to rule out emotional interference in semantic processing. Based on the ERP components that were obtained from this study, the LPC potential exhibited for words had higher amplitude than that of non-words consistently and statistically significantly. However, our study was confounded with the heterogeneity of non-words because some of the non-words were non-sense letter sequences while others were pseudowords. Due to this, although we observed the P300 and N400 ERPs consistently for all stimuli, we did not find significant differences for these potentials between words and non-words. To the best of our knowledge, our investigation is one of the few studies conducted with EEG recordings in a task that involved lexical decision making in Turkish.