In this thesis the situation concerning women's musculoskeletal disorders in three different types of workplaces is studied, and differences in women's and men's working conditions which affect this situation are identified. How diffe-rences in working conditions are constructed and reconstructed in and by gen-dered processes is analysed, and this analysis also shows how the work organiza-tions are gendered and gendering. The empirical material consists of studies of one electronics plant, two grocery stores, and five mail delivering offices. A qua-litative method is used. The study shows how horizontal and vertical sex segregation at the electronics plant and in the grocery stores resulted in women continually performing mo-notonous tasks, thus being exposed to high risks of developing musculoskeletal disorders. At the mail delivery offices where women and men performed the same work tasks the working conditions nevertheless were different. Recent changes of the organization of work had led to sex-specific consequences, such as the workload becoming heavier especially for women. The psychosocial work environments also varied. At the studied workplaces construction of gender and construction of diffe-rences in working conditions were intertwined in processes that also led to the reconstruction of men's dominance and women's subordination. Gendered processes were results of management policies, affected by the strategies of the local unions, and tied to the extended social relations. Gendered processes were also present in, and re-created by, the day-by-day interaction between fellow workers. Both women and men at the workplaces were faced with expectations of appropriate gender behaviour, and both women and men often, but not al-ways, conformed to these expectations. In the thesis an analysis of sexuality and heteronormativity at the studied workplaces is integrated in the analysis of the construction of gender and diffe-rent working conditions, in order to reach an increased understanding of gende-red processes in the work organizations.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widely distributed in the environment and are generated by many sources. Though the potential of PAH-rich mixtures to cause health effects has been known for almost a century, there are still unanswered questions about the levels of PAHs in the environment, the potential for human exposure to PAHs, the health effects associated with exposure, and how genetic susceptibility influences the extent of health effects in individuals. The first objective of this research was to quantify concentrations of PAHs in samples of settled house dust collected from homes in Azerbaijan, China, and Texas. The trends of PAH surface loadings and percentage of carcinogenic PAHs were China > Azerbaijan > Texas, indicating that the risk of health effects from exposure to PAHs in house dust is highest in the Chinese population and lowest in the Texas population. PAHs in China and Azerbaijan were derived mainly from combustion sources; Texas PAHs were derived from unburned fossil fuels such as petroleum. The second objective of this research was to investigate the effect of pregnane X receptor (PXR) on the genotoxicity of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). BaP treatment resulted in significantly lower DNA adduct levels in PXR-transfected HepG2 cells than in parental HepG2 cells. Total GST enzymatic activity and mRNA levels of several metabolizing enyzmes were significantly higher in cells overexpressing PXR. These results suggest that PXR protects cells against DNA damage by PAHs such as BaP, possibly through a coordinated regulation of genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism. The third objective of this research was to investigate biomarkers of exposure in house mice (Mus musculus) exposed to PAH mixtures in situ. Mice and soil were collected near homes in Sumgayit and Khizi, Azerbaijan. Mean liver adduct levels were significantly higher in Khizi than in Sumgayit. Mean lung and kidney adduct levels were similar in the two regions. The DNA lesions detected may be a combination of environmentally-induced DNA adducts and naturally-occurring I-compounds. PAHs were present at background levels in soils from both Khizi and Sumgayit. It appears that health risks posed to rodents by soil-borne PAHs are low in these two areas.

Whole-genome studies of rates of protein evolution show that genes underlying reproduction and immunity tend to evolve faster than other genes, consistent with the frequent action of positive selection. The evolution of immunity has been well-studied at the interspecific level, but much remains unknown about the population-level dynamics of immunity. This project described genetic variation at immunity and non-immunity loci as well as variation among levels of infection for diverse pathogens in a natural population of mice from Tucson. Analysis of autosomal and X-linked loci in the native range of Mus domesticus, the species from which Tucson mice are primarily descended, revealed low levels of variation consistent with a recent population expansion, resulting in a slight excess of rare alleles across the genome. Genetic variation among a set of classical inbred strains represented a small fraction of wild variation. An overlapping set of genes sequenced in mice from Tucson revealed that there is significant introgression from Mus castaneus. After controlling for gene flow, Tucson mice showed evidence of a mild bottleneck that produced a slight excess of intermediate frequency alleles, but did not result in a dramatic loss of genetic variability. Most of the 15 pathogens and parasites studied in Tucson were found at low to intermediate frequency, and most mice had one to three infections, suggesting that there are many opportunities for host-pathogen coevolution, and a possible role for coinfection. A study of Fv-4, which confers resistance to murine leukemia viruses, confirmed that the resistance allele originated in M. castaneus and is now found at intermediate frequency in Tucson after introduction through gene flow. Finally, a study of the recently duplicated Ceacam1 and Ceacam2 genes, previously shown to be involved in resistance to mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), revealed that a gene conversion event moved a suite of mutations from Ceacam2 to Ceacam1. An elevated rate of protein evolution showed that Ceacam2 had experienced positive selection after duplication. Interestingly, there was no association between MHV antibody presence and Ceacam1 genotype in Tucson. This project showed that gene flow and gene conversion mediated resistance to infections in wild mice.

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O objetivo do experimento foi determinar as taxas de sobrevivência pós vitrificação de blastocistos murinos (experimento 1) expostos à duas associações de crioprotetores e envasados em micropipetas de quartzo (QMC) ou de vidro (GMP) e, (experimento 2) comparar as taxas de sobrevivência obtidas na vitrificação dos embriões envasados em QMC de dois diâmetros internos (0,1 mm ou 0,2 mm). No experimento 1, blastocistos murinos coletados no dia 4 de desenvolvimento foram selecionados morfologicamente e divididos aleatoriamente em seis grupos. Grupo 1 (Controle 1): embriões colocados em cultivo imediatamente após a coleta. Grupo 2: embriões expostos a 10% PROH + 10% EG + 0,5% PVA em PBSm (ES1) por 1 min e em seguida expostos a 20% PROH + 20% EG + 0,5% PVA em PBSm (VS1) por no máximo 30 seg, período em que foram envasados em QMC. Grupo 3: idem ao Grupo 2 com envase em GMP. Grupo 4: embriões expostos a 10% DMSO + 10% EG + 0,5% PVA em PBSm (ES2) por 1 min e em seguida expostos a 20% DMSO + 20% EG + 0,5% PVA em PBSm (VS2), por no máximo 30 seg, período em que foram envasados em QMC. Grupo 5: idem ao grupo 4 com envase em GMP. Após a exposição às soluções de vitrificação, os capilares foram imediatamente imersos em N2 líquido. Grupo 6 (Controle 2): embriões não vitrificados colocados em cultivo somente após o final dos procedimentos dos grupos tratados. No segundo experimento, a exemplo do primeiro, foram formados os seguintes grupos: Grupo 1 (controle 1): embriões colocados em cultivo imediatamente após a coleta; Grupo 2: embriões envasados em QCM de 0,1mm de diâmetro; Grupo 3: embriões envasados em QCM de 0,2mm de diâmetro; Grupo 4 (controle 2): embriões não vitrificados colocados somente após o término da vitrificação. Para vitrificação foi utilizado o tratamento 4 do experimento 1. Nos dois experimentos, os embriões vitrificados foram reaquecidos pela exposição a 0,25M de sacarose em PBSm, a 37°C, durante 5min para a retirada do crioprotetor. Após, os embriões foram transferidos para o cultivo in vitro em meio KSOM durante 72h. As taxas de eclosão dos blastocistos nos grupos do experimento 1 foram: G1: 83,07% (54/65), G2: 47,3% (23/49), G3: 38,4% (20/52), G4: 60,4% (29/48), G5: 41,1 (21/51), G6: 77,4% (55/71). No segundo experimento, as taxas de eclosão dos blastocistos foram: G1: 82,5% (33/40), G2: 55,3% (17/31), G3: 58,5% (22/38), G4: 82,0% (41/50). Os resultados observados nos experimentos mostraram que não houve diferença significativa na taxa de eclosão entre os grupos experimentais, entretanto, todos foram inferiores (P>0,05) aos controles. As soluçõesutilizadas, os GMP e os dois diâmetros do QCM testados permitiram que blastocistos murinos vitrificados apresentassem taxas de sobrevivência in vitro semelhantes entre si. / The aim of the experiment was to determine the survival rates after vitrification of mice blastocysts exposed to two different associations of cryoprotectants and loaded in quartz microcapillaries (QCM) or glass microcapillaries (GMP) and, later, to compare the embryo survival rates obtained with murine blastocysts loaded into QMC with two internal diameters (0.1 mm or 0.2 mm). In experiment 1, the murine blastocysts were collected on day 4 of development and morphologically selected and randomly divided into six groups. Group 1 (control 1): not vitrified blastocysts cultured into KSOM drops immediately after collection. Group 2: embryos exposed for 1 minute at 10% PROH, 10% EG, 0.5% PVA in PBSm(ES1) and after exposed to 20% PROH, 20% EG, 0.5% PVA in PBSm (VS1) within 30 seconds, then loaded in QMC. Group 3: the same to group 2 however loaded in GMP. Group 4: exposed to 10% DMSO, 10% EG, 0.5% PVA in PBSm(ES2) and after exposed to 20% DMSO, 20% EG, 0.5% PVA in PBSm(VS2), loaded in QMC. Group 5: the same to group 4 however loaded in GMP. After exposure to vitrification solutions, the capillaries were immediately immersed in LN2. Group 6 (Control 2): not vitrified embryos placed in culture only after the end of vitrification of the treated groups. The second experiment consisted of the following groups: Group 1 (control 1) embryos transferred to culture immediately after collection; Group 2: embryos loaded in QCM with 0.1 mm internal diameter, and Group 3: embryos loaded in QCM with 0.2 mm internal diameter diameter, and Group 4 (control 2): not vitrified embryos placed in culture only after the end vitrification procedures. Groups 2 and 3 were exposed to ES2 and VS2 and later loaded in QMC 0.1 or 0.2 mm in diameter, immediately immersed in LN2. Blastocysts were warmed by exposure to 0.25 M sucrose in PBSm at 37 °C for 5min to remove the cryoprotectant. After warming, the embryos were transferred to 100 μL drops of KSOM during 72 hours. Hatching rates were observed in groups of experiment 1 were: G1: 83.07% (54/65), G2: 47.3% (23/49), G3: 38.4% (20/52), G4: 60.4% (29/48), G5: 41.1 (21/51), G6: 77.4% (55/71). In the second experiment, the blastocyst hatching rates were: G1: 82.5% (33/40), G2: 55.3% (17/31), G3: 58.5% (22/38), G4: 82% (41/50). The results observed in both experiments showed no significant difference in embryo hatching rates among the experimental groups, but all were inferior (P>0.05) to controls. The vitrification solutions used, the GMP and the QCM at two diameters tested provided similar embryo survival rates.

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O objetivo do experimento foi determinar as taxas de sobrevivência pós vitrificação de blastocistos murinos (experimento 1) expostos à duas associações de crioprotetores e envasados em micropipetas de quartzo (QMC) ou de vidro (GMP) e, (experimento 2) comparar as taxas de sobrevivência obtidas na vitrificação dos embriões envasados em QMC de dois diâmetros internos (0,1 mm ou 0,2 mm). No experimento 1, blastocistos murinos coletados no dia 4 de desenvolvimento foram selecionados morfologicamente e divididos aleatoriamente em seis grupos. Grupo 1 (Controle 1): embriões colocados em cultivo imediatamente após a coleta. Grupo 2: embriões expostos a 10% PROH + 10% EG + 0,5% PVA em PBSm (ES1) por 1 min e em seguida expostos a 20% PROH + 20% EG + 0,5% PVA em PBSm (VS1) por no máximo 30 seg, período em que foram envasados em QMC. Grupo 3: idem ao Grupo 2 com envase em GMP. Grupo 4: embriões expostos a 10% DMSO + 10% EG + 0,5% PVA em PBSm (ES2) por 1 min e em seguida expostos a 20% DMSO + 20% EG + 0,5% PVA em PBSm (VS2), por no máximo 30 seg, período em que foram envasados em QMC. Grupo 5: idem ao grupo 4 com envase em GMP. Após a exposição às soluções de vitrificação, os capilares foram imediatamente imersos em N2 líquido. Grupo 6 (Controle 2): embriões não vitrificados colocados em cultivo somente após o final dos procedimentos dos grupos tratados. No segundo experimento, a exemplo do primeiro, foram formados os seguintes grupos: Grupo 1 (controle 1): embriões colocados em cultivo imediatamente após a coleta; Grupo 2: embriões envasados em QCM de 0,1mm de diâmetro; Grupo 3: embriões envasados em QCM de 0,2mm de diâmetro; Grupo 4 (controle 2): embriões não vitrificados colocados somente após o término da vitrificação. Para vitrificação foi utilizado o tratamento 4 do experimento 1. Nos dois experimentos, os embriões vitrificados foram reaquecidos pela exposição a 0,25M de sacarose em PBSm, a 37°C, durante 5min para a retirada do crioprotetor. Após, os embriões foram transferidos para o cultivo in vitro em meio KSOM durante 72h. As taxas de eclosão dos blastocistos nos grupos do experimento 1 foram: G1: 83,07% (54/65), G2: 47,3% (23/49), G3: 38,4% (20/52), G4: 60,4% (29/48), G5: 41,1 (21/51), G6: 77,4% (55/71). No segundo experimento, as taxas de eclosão dos blastocistos foram: G1: 82,5% (33/40), G2: 55,3% (17/31), G3: 58,5% (22/38), G4: 82,0% (41/50). Os resultados observados nos experimentos mostraram que não houve diferença significativa na taxa de eclosão entre os grupos experimentais, entretanto, todos foram inferiores (P>0,05) aos controles. As soluçõesutilizadas, os GMP e os dois diâmetros do QCM testados permitiram que blastocistos murinos vitrificados apresentassem taxas de sobrevivência in vitro semelhantes entre si. / The aim of the experiment was to determine the survival rates after vitrification of mice blastocysts exposed to two different associations of cryoprotectants and loaded in quartz microcapillaries (QCM) or glass microcapillaries (GMP) and, later, to compare the embryo survival rates obtained with murine blastocysts loaded into QMC with two internal diameters (0.1 mm or 0.2 mm). In experiment 1, the murine blastocysts were collected on day 4 of development and morphologically selected and randomly divided into six groups. Group 1 (control 1): not vitrified blastocysts cultured into KSOM drops immediately after collection. Group 2: embryos exposed for 1 minute at 10% PROH, 10% EG, 0.5% PVA in PBSm(ES1) and after exposed to 20% PROH, 20% EG, 0.5% PVA in PBSm (VS1) within 30 seconds, then loaded in QMC. Group 3: the same to group 2 however loaded in GMP. Group 4: exposed to 10% DMSO, 10% EG, 0.5% PVA in PBSm(ES2) and after exposed to 20% DMSO, 20% EG, 0.5% PVA in PBSm(VS2), loaded in QMC. Group 5: the same to group 4 however loaded in GMP. After exposure to vitrification solutions, the capillaries were immediately immersed in LN2. Group 6 (Control 2): not vitrified embryos placed in culture only after the end of vitrification of the treated groups. The second experiment consisted of the following groups: Group 1 (control 1) embryos transferred to culture immediately after collection; Group 2: embryos loaded in QCM with 0.1 mm internal diameter, and Group 3: embryos loaded in QCM with 0.2 mm internal diameter diameter, and Group 4 (control 2): not vitrified embryos placed in culture only after the end vitrification procedures. Groups 2 and 3 were exposed to ES2 and VS2 and later loaded in QMC 0.1 or 0.2 mm in diameter, immediately immersed in LN2. Blastocysts were warmed by exposure to 0.25 M sucrose in PBSm at 37 °C for 5min to remove the cryoprotectant. After warming, the embryos were transferred to 100 μL drops of KSOM during 72 hours. Hatching rates were observed in groups of experiment 1 were: G1: 83.07% (54/65), G2: 47.3% (23/49), G3: 38.4% (20/52), G4: 60.4% (29/48), G5: 41.1 (21/51), G6: 77.4% (55/71). In the second experiment, the blastocyst hatching rates were: G1: 82.5% (33/40), G2: 55.3% (17/31), G3: 58.5% (22/38), G4: 82% (41/50). The results observed in both experiments showed no significant difference in embryo hatching rates among the experimental groups, but all were inferior (P>0.05) to controls. The vitrification solutions used, the GMP and the QCM at two diameters tested provided similar embryo survival rates.

O objetivo do experimento foi determinar as taxas de sobrevivência pós vitrificação de blastocistos murinos (experimento 1) expostos à duas associações de crioprotetores e envasados em micropipetas de quartzo (QMC) ou de vidro (GMP) e, (experimento 2) comparar as taxas de sobrevivência obtidas na vitrificação dos embriões envasados em QMC de dois diâmetros internos (0,1 mm ou 0,2 mm). No experimento 1, blastocistos murinos coletados no dia 4 de desenvolvimento foram selecionados morfologicamente e divididos aleatoriamente em seis grupos. Grupo 1 (Controle 1): embriões colocados em cultivo imediatamente após a coleta. Grupo 2: embriões expostos a 10% PROH + 10% EG + 0,5% PVA em PBSm (ES1) por 1 min e em seguida expostos a 20% PROH + 20% EG + 0,5% PVA em PBSm (VS1) por no máximo 30 seg, período em que foram envasados em QMC. Grupo 3: idem ao Grupo 2 com envase em GMP. Grupo 4: embriões expostos a 10% DMSO + 10% EG + 0,5% PVA em PBSm (ES2) por 1 min e em seguida expostos a 20% DMSO + 20% EG + 0,5% PVA em PBSm (VS2), por no máximo 30 seg, período em que foram envasados em QMC. Grupo 5: idem ao grupo 4 com envase em GMP. Após a exposição às soluções de vitrificação, os capilares foram imediatamente imersos em N2 líquido. Grupo 6 (Controle 2): embriões não vitrificados colocados em cultivo somente após o final dos procedimentos dos grupos tratados. No segundo experimento, a exemplo do primeiro, foram formados os seguintes grupos: Grupo 1 (controle 1): embriões colocados em cultivo imediatamente após a coleta; Grupo 2: embriões envasados em QCM de 0,1mm de diâmetro; Grupo 3: embriões envasados em QCM de 0,2mm de diâmetro; Grupo 4 (controle 2): embriões não vitrificados colocados somente após o término da vitrificação. Para vitrificação foi utilizado o tratamento 4 do experimento 1. Nos dois experimentos, os embriões vitrificados foram reaquecidos pela exposição a 0,25M de sacarose em PBSm, a 37°C, durante 5min para a retirada do crioprotetor. Após, os embriões foram transferidos para o cultivo in vitro em meio KSOM durante 72h. As taxas de eclosão dos blastocistos nos grupos do experimento 1 foram: G1: 83,07% (54/65), G2: 47,3% (23/49), G3: 38,4% (20/52), G4: 60,4% (29/48), G5: 41,1 (21/51), G6: 77,4% (55/71). No segundo experimento, as taxas de eclosão dos blastocistos foram: G1: 82,5% (33/40), G2: 55,3% (17/31), G3: 58,5% (22/38), G4: 82,0% (41/50). Os resultados observados nos experimentos mostraram que não houve diferença significativa na taxa de eclosão entre os grupos experimentais, entretanto, todos foram inferiores (P>0,05) aos controles. As soluçõesutilizadas, os GMP e os dois diâmetros do QCM testados permitiram que blastocistos murinos vitrificados apresentassem taxas de sobrevivência in vitro semelhantes entre si. / The aim of the experiment was to determine the survival rates after vitrification of mice blastocysts exposed to two different associations of cryoprotectants and loaded in quartz microcapillaries (QCM) or glass microcapillaries (GMP) and, later, to compare the embryo survival rates obtained with murine blastocysts loaded into QMC with two internal diameters (0.1 mm or 0.2 mm). In experiment 1, the murine blastocysts were collected on day 4 of development and morphologically selected and randomly divided into six groups. Group 1 (control 1): not vitrified blastocysts cultured into KSOM drops immediately after collection. Group 2: embryos exposed for 1 minute at 10% PROH, 10% EG, 0.5% PVA in PBSm(ES1) and after exposed to 20% PROH, 20% EG, 0.5% PVA in PBSm (VS1) within 30 seconds, then loaded in QMC. Group 3: the same to group 2 however loaded in GMP. Group 4: exposed to 10% DMSO, 10% EG, 0.5% PVA in PBSm(ES2) and after exposed to 20% DMSO, 20% EG, 0.5% PVA in PBSm(VS2), loaded in QMC. Group 5: the same to group 4 however loaded in GMP. After exposure to vitrification solutions, the capillaries were immediately immersed in LN2. Group 6 (Control 2): not vitrified embryos placed in culture only after the end of vitrification of the treated groups. The second experiment consisted of the following groups: Group 1 (control 1) embryos transferred to culture immediately after collection; Group 2: embryos loaded in QCM with 0.1 mm internal diameter, and Group 3: embryos loaded in QCM with 0.2 mm internal diameter diameter, and Group 4 (control 2): not vitrified embryos placed in culture only after the end vitrification procedures. Groups 2 and 3 were exposed to ES2 and VS2 and later loaded in QMC 0.1 or 0.2 mm in diameter, immediately immersed in LN2. Blastocysts were warmed by exposure to 0.25 M sucrose in PBSm at 37 °C for 5min to remove the cryoprotectant. After warming, the embryos were transferred to 100 μL drops of KSOM during 72 hours. Hatching rates were observed in groups of experiment 1 were: G1: 83.07% (54/65), G2: 47.3% (23/49), G3: 38.4% (20/52), G4: 60.4% (29/48), G5: 41.1 (21/51), G6: 77.4% (55/71). In the second experiment, the blastocyst hatching rates were: G1: 82.5% (33/40), G2: 55.3% (17/31), G3: 58.5% (22/38), G4: 82% (41/50). The results observed in both experiments showed no significant difference in embryo hatching rates among the experimental groups, but all were inferior (P>0.05) to controls. The vitrification solutions used, the GMP and the QCM at two diameters tested provided similar embryo survival rates.

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The Recording Industry Association of America claims to lose millions of dollars each year from music piracy (RIAA, 2007). However, instead of causing loss, digital music piracy may activate norms of reciprocity in music pirates. When pirating music, people may feel some obligation to reciprocate by purchasing music or related merchandise. The theory of planned behavior was used to investigate such a possibility and to provide a framework for scale development. Reliable scales were developed for all measured constructs. Regarding piracy, the RIAA’s claim may have some merit. Specifically, previous piracy was associated with decreased reported likelihood to purchase music. However, previous piracy was associated with increased intent to make future music-related purchases. Reciprocity partially mediated this relationship.