Thesis (Ph.D.)--Baylor University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 104-117).

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Drawing on the European Social Survey the main objective of this essay is to assess whether there are differences in income convergence between immigrants and natives depending on whether one has a university education or not. This approach contrasts that of most other studies on income assimilation, as they typically only use education as a control variable. The results indicate that immigrants with lower education experience a larger negative income gap at arrival, but that their convergence rates are faster than those with higher education. Furthermore, the results imply that studying income convergence is very sensitive to having the proper kind of data. Using cross-sectional data, the study appears to suffer from various sources of bias.

abstract: The division of domestic labor has far-reaching implications for "private" life (e.g. relational satisfaction and conflict) and for "public" paid labor (e.g. time and dedication in the workplace and career advancement). Although several theories have been developed and tested, they do not sufficiently explain the consistent findings that women in mixed sex households perform a majority of the domestic labor. Without understanding the causes for differences in task performance, past research encouraging communicative solutions to ameliorate conflict was ineffective in changing task allocation and performance. Therefore, it is necessary to understand theoretical explanations that drive domestic labor behavior to develop effective solutions. The recent integrative theory of the division of domestic labor attempts to explain how individuals interact with household partners to allocate domestic tasks. Recognizing the complexity of the division of domestic labor, the integrative theory considers individual, dyadic, and societal factors that influence task allocation. Because clear differences in task performance have been found in mixed sex households, this study separates sex and gender as distinct variables by considering same-sex roommate relationships, essentially removing sex differences from the living arrangement. Furthermore, this study considers individual threshold levels as described by the integrative theory in order to test the theoretical underpinnings. Specifically, this study is designed to investigate the relationships between individual cleanliness threshold levels and gender, sex, perceptions of satisfaction, equity, and frequency of conflict in same-sex roommate relationships. Results indicate support of the integrative theory of the division of domestic labor. Regarding gender differences, partial support for the theory appeared in that feminine individuals have lower threshold levels than masculine individuals. Regarding sex differences, women possess lower individual threshold levels (i.e. more bothered when a task is undone) compared to men, which likely accounts for why existing research indicates that women spend more time performing domestic tasks. What is more, individuals with higher threshold levels report greater relational satisfaction. Further, individuals whose threshold levels differ from their living partner report lower relational satisfaction and greater conflict frequency. Finally, in terms of equity, both overbenefited and underbenefited individuals experience more conflict than those who feel their relationship is equitable. These results provide theoretical support for the integrative theory of the division of labor. Furthermore, the development and testing of a threshold measure scale can be used practically for future research and for better roommate pairings by universities. In addition, communication scholars, family practitioners and counselors, and universities can apply these theoretically grounded research findings to develop and test strategies to reduce conflict and increase relational satisfaction among roommates and couples. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Communication 2011

The weaning transition period in pigs is linked to increased vulnerability to enteric disorders, which is partly attributed to destabilisation of the gut microbiota. Post-weaning colibacillosis is an economically important disease of the small intestine, which is most commonly caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains. This disease has been variably linked to a diarrhoeal phenotype and decreased growth rate under clinical or sub-clinical conditions, and has been associated with shifts in particular bacterial populations using culturing methods. The emergence of next-generation sequencing technologies such as 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding now allows higher resolution study of complex microbial communities, without being reliant on the ability to culture fastidious micro-organisms. As part of this project, a 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding method was developed and validated to allow qualitative and quantitative measurement of gut microbiota shifts. A series of experimental ETEC challenge trials were carried out to monitor temporal faecal microbiota dynamics (Chapter 2), to further understand ETEC adhesion and shedding dynamics (Chapter 3) and to study potential changes in both ileal and faecal microbiota populations in response to dietary protein manipulation (Chapter 4). The effects of experimental treatments on pig health and performance were also measured as part of each experiment. Temporal shifts in ileal and faecal microbiota structure and stability were observed over the post-weaning period, as well as shifts in relative abundances of particular bacterial phylotypes (P < 0.05) (Chapter’s 2 and 4). ETEC challenge had no effects on faecal microbiota composition, pig health and performance when comparing to samples obtained from sham-challenged pigs (P > 0.05). However, when taking ETEC shedding level into account, variations in both microbiota structure and stability were observed at specific time points (P < 0.05) (Chapter 2). After a single-dose ETEC challenge, ETEC adhesion in the ileum and faecal shedding were evident up to 4 and 6 days post-challenge, respectively (Chapter 3). Changes in ileal microbiota structure and stability were observed in response to ETEC challenge (P < 0.05), with no changes exerted at faecal level (P > 0.05). Additionally, different dietary protein levels were linked to changes in ileal microbiota structure, stability and phylotype relative abundances (P < 0.05). Interestingly, significant differences in ileal microbiota structure were evident in samples obtained from ETEC-challenged pigs fed the low and high protein diets, with the pigs fed the high protein diet having significantly less stable ileal communities at population level (P < 0.05) (Chapter 4). The treatments had no effect on host performance (P > 0.05), but faecal consistency scores were higher in pigs fed the high protein diet (P < 0.05). In conclusion, both ETEC challenge and manipulation of dietary protein level had profound effects on ileal microbiota composition and faecal microbial communities were variable according to ETEC shedding status. These findings have implications for the development of alternative management strategies for enteric diseases in weaner pigs.

Submitted by Lucienne Costa (lucienneferreira@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-09-12T18:03:59Z No. of bitstreams: 1 FÁBIO LUIZ BEZERRA DE OLIVEIRA – DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGRN) 2018.pdf: 9453519 bytes, checksum: f73d944a24b1f8b13852091e0606e2d2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-12T18:03:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FÁBIO LUIZ BEZERRA DE OLIVEIRA – DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGRN) 2018.pdf: 9453519 bytes, checksum: f73d944a24b1f8b13852091e0606e2d2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-08-10 / A cidade é consequência de uma série de implicações sociais, econômicas, culturais, ambientais e políticas que estão associadas a processos demográficos existentes que podem gerar vulnerabilidades e riscos. Portanto, o estudo da vulnerabilidade socioambiental no contexto urbano foi fundamental para analisar os fatores relacionados à qualidade e às condições de vida nas cidades. Este trabalho de pesquisa objetivou analisar as contribuições do processo de expansão urbana para o nível de vulnerabilidade socioambiental da cidade de Solânea - PB, para isso, foi importante a utilização da metodologia que possibilitou a mensuração de vulnerabilidade socioambiental. Para esse trabalho foi utilizado o Índice Geral de Vulnerabilidade Socioambiental por Bairro – IGVSB, metodologia desenvolvida por Maior (2014), com adaptação para os setores censitários do IBGE para atender a realidade da cidade de Solânea. O método empregado constituiu de pesquisa bibliográfica agregada a uma investigação exploratória, levantamentos de dados e aplicação do IGVSSC. O IGVSSC utilizou três linguagens: a quantitativa, a cartográfica e a qualitativa. Para geração do IGVSB, produziu previamente os dois índices base da metodologia: o de Vulnerabilidade Socioeconômico por Bairros - IVSB e o de Vulnerabilidade Ambiental por Bairros – IVAB. Os resultados da pesquisa consideraram que esta relação entre a dinâmica social e sua localização na cidade influência de forma direta na capacidade de resposta da população urbana de Solânea aos eventos socioambientais danosos. A segregação socioespacial direcionou a população mais fragilizada para setores com riscos de deslizamento, erosão e alagamento como demonstrado no resultado da vulnerabilidade socioambiental da cidade de Solânea. A adaptação do IGVSB para os setores censitários do IBGE possibilita a aplicação Índíce Geral de Vulnerabilidade Socioambiental para todos os municípios brasileiros. / The city is the consequence of a series of social, economic, cultural, environmental and political implications that are associated with existing demographic processes that can generate vulnerabilities and risks. Therefore, the study of socio-environmental vulnerability in the urban context is fundamental to analyze factors related to quality and living conditions in cities. This work aims to analyze the contributions of the process of urban expansion to the level of socio - environmental vulnerability of the city of Solânea - PB, for this, it is important to use methodologies that allow the measurement of social and environmental vulnerability. For this work was used the General Index of Socioenvironmental Vulnerability by Neighborhood - IGVSB, methodology developed by Mayor (2014), with adaptation for the IBGE census sectors to meet the reality of the city of Solânea. The method employed consists of bibliographic research aggregated to an exploratory investigation, data surveys and application of the IGVSSC. The IGVSSC uses three languages: the quantitative, the cartographic and the qualitative. For IGVSB generation, it has previously produced the two basic indices of the methodology: the Socioeconomic Vulnerability by Neighborhoods - IVSB and the Environmental Vulnerability by Neighborhoods - IVAB. The results of the research considered that this relationship between the social dynamics and its location in the city, directly influence the response capacity of the urban population of Solânea to harmful socioenvironmental events. Socio-spatial segregation directed the most vulnerable population to sectors with risks of landslides, erosion and flooding as demonstrated by the socio-environmental vulnerability of the city of Solânea. The adaptation of the IGVSB to the census tracts of IBGE makes it possible to apply the General Index of Social and Environmental Vulnerability to all Brazilian municipalities.

There has been a global rise in obesity in the last three decades, and at present one in five women are obese at antenatal booking. Maternal obesity is associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including increased fetal size and prolonged pregnancy. In the longer-term, offspring of obese are at increased risk of premature death from a cardiovascular event in their adulthood. One mechanism that has been linked to these outcomes is fetal exposure to glucocorticoids in utero. During normal pregnancy, the maternal hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis undergoes major changes, resulting in exponentially increasing levels of the major circulating glucocorticoid cortisol, and other HPA axis hormones, such as corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH). Cortisol and CRH are vital for normal fetal growth and length of gestation, but in excess they are associated with fetal growth restriction and preterm labour. In non-pregnant obesity, it is thought that the HPA axis is dysregulated, although evidence is inconclusive. Little is known about the effects of maternal obesity in pregnancy on the HPA axis. The work in this Thesis used clinical studies to test the hypothesis that the HPA axis is dysregulated in obese pregnant women with altered release, clearance and placental metabolism of cortisol. Associations with clinical outcomes related to fetal size and length of gestation were also studied. The HPA axis activity during pregnancy was investigated in a prospective case-control study cohort. Fasting serum cortisol levels were measured at 16, 28 and 36 weeks of gestation (obese n=276, lean n=135). In a subset (obese n=20, lean n=20), corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG), CRH, estrogens and progesterone were measured. Salivary cortisol was measured in samples collected at bedtime, waking and 30 minutes after waking at 16 weeks. Urinary glucocorticoid metabolites were measured at 19 weeks and 36 weeks (obese n=6, lean n=5) and non-pregnant (obese n=7, lean n=7) subjects. All circulating hormone levels rose similarly in obese and lean during pregnancy, but were significantly lower in obese women. The diurnal rhythm of cortisol was maintained. Urinary glucocorticoids increased with gestation in lean, but not in obese, indicating a lesser activation of the HPA axis in obese compared with lean pregnancy. These findings associated with increased birthweight and longer gestation in obese pregnancy, suggesting that decreased HPA axis activity may underlie these obese related adverse pregnancy outcomes. Whether or not lower glucocorticoids in obese pregnancies are maintained at delivery was investigated by measuring active glucocorticoids (cortisol and corticosterone) and their inactive versions (cortisone and 11- dehydrocorticosterone, respectively) from matched maternal and cord plasma samples (n=259, BMI 18 – 55 kg/m2). Active glucocorticoids were significantly higher in maternal than cord blood, and inactive versions were significantly higher in cord than maternal blood. Increased maternal BMI associated with lower maternal cortisol, corticosterone and 11-dehydrocorticosterone. Despite significant correlations between maternal and cord blood glucocorticoid levels, increased maternal BMI did not associate with lower cord blood glucocorticoids. This suggests that conditions at delivery may overcome any potential negative effects of low maternal glucocorticoids on the fetus in the short-term. However, it may not preclude the longer-term effects of fetal exposure to lower glucocorticoid levels during obese pregnancy, and offspring follow-up studies are required. Potential mechanisms leading to altered HPA axis activity in obese pregnancy were explored by studying the pulsatile release and placental metabolism of glucocorticoid hormones. Glucocorticoid pulsatility is thought to be important for transcriptional regulation of glucocorticoid responsive genes, and disruptions to pulsatility have been reported in some disease processes. Glucocorticoids were measured in 10-minute serum sampling between 08.00h-11.00h and 16.00h- 19.00h. Peripheral tissue cortisol was measured from 20-minute sampling of interstitial fluid, over 24-hours, at 16-24 weeks and 30-36 weeks (obese n=7, lean n=8), and non-pregnant controls (obese n=4, lean n=3). Total circulating serum cortisol levels were higher in pregnancy than non-pregnancy in lean and obese, and increased significantly with advancing gestation in lean but not in obese. Pulsatility of cortisol was demonstrated in interstitial fluid in both non-pregnancy and pregnancy. In obese pregnancy, interstitial fluid pulse frequency was lower with advancing gestation. This may be a novel mechanism underlying the observed decreased HPA axis activity in obese pregnancy. Placental cortisol metabolism and transport was studied using an ex vivo placental perfusion model, perfused with a deuterium-labelled cortisol tracer combined with computational modeling. The findings challenge the concept that maternal cortisol diffuses freely across the placenta, but confirmed that 11β- HSD2 acts as major ‘barrier’ to cortisol transfer to the fetus, protecting the fetus from the high maternal circulating cortisol levels. In addition we showed preliminary evidence of local cortisol production within the placenta. The model is able to predict maternal-fetal cortisol transfer and can now be used in future experimental design. In conclusion, in obese pregnancy, lower maternal cortisol and urinary clearance suggested reduced HPA axis activity. Altered glucocorticoid pulsatility may underlie this change. Future studies of placental cortisol metabolism in maternal obesity could be conducted using an ex vivo perfusion model. The lower HPA axis activity in obese pregnancy represents a novel pathway underlying increased fetal growth.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-08-21Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:56:52Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 gaiolla_rd_me_botfm.pdf: 867698 bytes, checksum: ec290cbafd254a98351e5ef8cea0e6de (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O Linfoma de Hodgkin (LH) é uma neoplasia linfóide histologicamente caracterizada pela presença de escassas células neoplásicas peculiares, denominadas células de Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg (H-RS), em meio a infiltrado inflamatório não-neoplásico. Seu curso clínico está diretamente relacionado ao estadiamento, subtipo histológico e presença de alguns fatores prognósticos adversos já estabelecidos. Sintomas constitucionais como febre, perda de peso e sudoreses noturna, associados a um aparente desbalanço da resposta imune celular, são características comuns ao diagnóstico e denotam anormalidade da resposta imunológica desses pacientes, provavelmente causada pela produção de diferentes citocinas, tanto pelas células H-RS como pelo infiltrado inflamatório de permeio. Na maior parte dos casos de LH, há produção aumentada de citocinas de padrão Th2. No presente estudo, foram determinadas, por ELISA, as concentrações séricas de IL-6, IL-10 e IL-13 de 28 pacientes com LH clássico, antes e depois do tratamento anti-neoplásico, e de 26 voluntários saudáveis que compuseram grupo-controle. Dosagens de IL-6 e IL-10 pré-tratamento foram significativamente maiores nos pacientes em relação ao grupo-controle. Todos os pacientes apresentaram redução do nível sérico de IL-6 e IL-10 após o tratamento antineoplásico. Ao diagnóstico, níveis elevados de IL-6 foram associados à presença de linfonodomegalia abdominal, hepatomegalia, sintomas B e anemia. O estudo da regressão linear múltipla mostrou que sintomas B e linfocitopenia são bons preditores de níveis séricos pré-tratamento de IL-6. Níveis elevados de IL-10 foram relacionados à hipoalbuminemia e hepatomegalia. Nenhum paciente apresentou dosagem Resumo 52 sérica detectável de IL-13. Os resultados demonstram que níveis séricos elevados de IL-6 e IL-10 ao diagnóstico estão... / Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) is a malignant lymphoid neoplasia characterized by abnormal immune response. Part of this disturbance is attributable to the activity of cytokines produced by the malignant Hodgkin/Reed-Sternbergh cells and reactive inflammatory cells. IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13 seem to play an important role in the pathogenesis of HL. Although some features of the disease have been associated with the production of these interleukins, there is insufficient data about changes in its serum levels at diagnosis and after the treatment, as well as its potencial use as biomarkers of HL course. Design and Methods. Serum levels pre and post treatment of IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13 in 28 patients with HL were determined by ELISA. Results were evaluated against clinical and laboratory parameters, as well as response to treatment and presence of infection by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), assessed by in situ hybridization with biotinylated probe directed to the viral transcript EBER-1. Serum samples from 26 healthy blood-donors volunteers were evaluated as a control group. Results. IL-6 and IL-10 serum levels before treatment of HL were significantly higher in patients compared to healthy individuals (p<0,001), and a significant reduction after treatment of the disease was observed (p<0,001). Serum levels of IL-13 were indetectable both in patients (before and after treatment) and controls. Serum levels of IL-6 before treatment were higher in patients with abdominal involvement by HL (p=0,03), hepatomegaly (p=0,04), B-symptoms (p=0,01), and anemia (p=0,02). On the other hand, IL-10 pre-treatment levels were higher in patients with hypoalbuminemia (p=0,04) and hepatomegaly (p=0,01). Multivariate analysis Abstract 54 revealed that lymphocytopenia and B-symptoms were good predictors of IL-6 levels in serum before treatment of patients... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

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Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-08-16Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:40:30Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 machado_cg_dr_botfca.pdf: 685636 bytes, checksum: 7c0e6ecdc3b569488fe111188298b1c3 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A qualidade da semente na produção agrícola é um dos principais fatores a ser considerado na implantação da cultura, havendo consenso sobre a importância da germinação, do vigor das sementes e da necessidade de avaliá-los. O trabalho teve como objetivo estabelecer metodologias para os testes de germinação e vigor com ênfase no teste de condutividade elétrica para a avaliação da qualidade fisiológica de sementes de ervilha forrageira (Pisum sativum subsp. arvense). Para estabelecer a metodologia do teste de germinação utilizou-se quatro lotes sendo dois da cultivar IAPAR 83 e dois da BRS Forrageira. Foram testadas cinco temperaturas (15ºC, 20ºC, 25ºC, 20-30ºC e 15-25ºC) e dois substratos (areia e papel). Para a metodologia para o teste de condutividade elétrica foram utilizados dez lotes da cultivar IAPAR 83. Foram realizados os testes de germinação, primeira contagem de germinação, emergência de plântulas em casa de vegetação para caracterização dos lotes e estudos específicos para os testes de condutividade elétrica (temperaturas de 20ºC e 25ºC, volumes de 75mL e 250mL de água, 50 sementes, e períodos de 8, 16, 20, 24 e 28 horas). Concluiu-se que o teste de germinação para ervilha forrageira deve ser conduzido a 20ºC em rolo de papel com primeira contagem e contagem final ao 4º e 7º dia, respectivamente. O teste de condutividade elétrica utilizando 50 sementes embebidas em 250 mL de água, na temperatura de 25ºC por 24 horas mostrou-se promissor para a diferenciação de lotes de sementes de ervilha forrageira / Seed quality is an important role in the establishment of crops. It is consensual that seed germination and vigor are important tools for the production process and must be evaluated. The present research had as objective to establish methodologies for the germination and electrical conductivity tests to evaluate physiological quality of forage pea seeds (Pisum sativum subsp. arvense). Two lots of the cultivar „IAPAR 83‟ and two lots of the cultivar „BRS Forrageira‟ were used to establish the methods for the germination test. Five temperatures (15ºC, 20ºC, 25ºC, 20-30ºC and 15-25ºC) and two substrates (between sand and rolled paper towel) were tested. Ten lots of the cultivar „IAPAR 83‟ were studied to establish the methodology for the electrical conductivity test. Germination, first count of germination and seedling emergence in greenhouse were studied. For the electrical conductivity test, different temperatures (20ºC and 25ºC), water volumes (75 mL and 250 mL) and imbibition periods (8, 16, 20, 24 and 28 hours) were evaluated. It was concluded that the germination test for forage pea seeds must be carried out under 20ºC and in rolled paper towels with first counting and final counting to the 4 and 10 days after sowing, respectively. The electrical conductivity test is sensitive to differentiate seedlots of forage pea whenever conducted with 50 seeds imbibed in 250 mL of water under 25ºC for 24 hours