Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / Sacroiliac joint syndrome is diagnosed in patients who complain of various painful symptoms associated to their lower back, for example: hip and groin pain, sciatica pain, and / or a need to frequently urinate. They further report that their pain is further intensified when standing from sitting, stair walking, bending forward or from sitting or standing too long. Sacroiliac joint syndrome has been widely accepted by health professions as a contributor to low back pain. Spinal manipulation has shown to be an effective method for pain relief of this condition. Studies have been done using physical therapy in conjunction with manipulation in treating sacroiliac joint syndrome. However, little research has been done on the effects of static stretching and manipulation combined. The posterior oblique sling group of muscles is created by the biceps femoris, gluteus maximus, erector spinae and latissimus dorsi muscles. The sacroiliac joint can be affected by the functional relationship of the posterior oblique sling muscles. These muscles are involved in forces across the sacroiliac joint. Tightness of muscles can affect the sacroiliac joint. Flexibility is an essential element of normal biomechanical functioning. Flexibility of muscles, tendons and ligaments can influence a joints range of motion. There is evidence that suggests that stretching could increase a joint’s range of motion which was evident one or more days after the stretching protocol in people without clinically significant contractures. Upon review of the related literature, it appears that there is insufficient literature assessing the clinical effectiveness of static stretching of the posterior oblique muscle sling group with respect to sacroiliac joint syndrome. Therefore this study is aimed at providing insight into the role of the posterior oblique muscle sling group in participants with and chronic sacroiliac joint syndrome. It is hypothesized that effective treatment of these muscles will allow for a more effective outcome of symptoms. The study design chosen was a randomised, clinical trial consisting of thirty voluntary participants’ between the ages 18 to 45 years suffering from chronic sacroiliac joint syndrome. There were two groups of fifteen participants, who received four treatment consultations within a two week period. Participants placed into Group One received sacroiliac joint manipulation only, while participants in Group Two received static stretching of the posterior oblique muscle sling and sacroiliac joint manipulation. Subjective and objective readings were taken at the first, third and fourth (final) consultations. The Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NRS) and the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index (OSW) questionnaires were used to assess the subjective findings whilst the objective measurements were collected from results of algometer and inclinometer readings. The intra-group analysis revealed there was a statistically significant improvement within both groups for NRS, OSW, and inclinometer results. It appeared that Group Two fared better in terms of the algometer (pressure) results. The inter-group analysis revealed that all comparisons apart from the algometer readings had no statistically significant improvement between the two groups. From the intra-group comparisons of the objective data, participants in both groups experienced a statistically significant improvement. However, Group Two fared better in terms of the algometric pressure readings (p = 0.001). This study confirms that both treatment protocols were effective in reducing the signs and symptoms associated with sacroiliac joint syndrome. Although the readings were not statistically significant, there is evidence that Group Two responded better than Group One in terms of the algometer readings (Figure 4.13). There is insufficient literature on studies related to the posterior oblique sling muscles, and therefore, comparisons are needed with respect to the posterior oblique muscle sling group and its effects on the sacroiliac joint. This study concludes that overall there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups and recommends that further studies be undertaken with a greater number of participants to gauge if a more significant result can be achieved. / M

In order to monitor the T7 replisome fate upon encountering abasic lesion, I optimized a single molecule flow stretching assay where the replisome encounters either abasic site or undamaged site inserted at 3.5 kilobases from the replication fork. The obtained events were categorized into three groups; bypass, restart and permanent stop. The results showed 52% bypass, 39% pause and 9% stop upon encountering the abasic lesion. The pause duration in the restart events was found to be ten times longer than the undamaged one. Moreover, an ensemble experiment was performed, and the results were slightly consistent with regard to the bypass percentage (70%) but the stoppage percentage was significantly higher in the ensemble replication reaction (30%). Further investigations were made and it was found that the rate of the T7 replisome increases after bypassing the abasic lesion. To inquire more about this rate switch and the difference between the single molecule and ensemble results, another unwinding experiment was performed where only gp4 (helicase) was used from the replisome. Interestingly, the rate of DNA unwinding by gp4 was similar to the rate observed after the replisome bypasses the lesion. We hypothesize that the polymerase is stalled at the abasic site and its interaction with the helicase is lost. Consequently, the helicase and the polymerase will uncouple where the helicase continues unwinding the DNA to result in a higher observed rate after bypassing the abasic site. Additional studies will be performed in the future to directly observe the helicase and polymerase uncoupling upon encountering the lesion.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(人間健康科学) / 甲第22387号 / 人健博第73号 / 新制||人健||5(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科人間健康科学系専攻 / (主査)教授 黒木 裕士, 教授 山田 重人, 教授 松田 秀一 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Human Health Sciences / Kyoto University / DFAM

This study examined the short-term training effects of two volumes of a dynamic warm up performed 4 days per week over a 3 1/2-week period. A total of 25 Division III wrestlers volunteered for the study. Three participants either dropped out or were unable to attend post-testing, resulting in 22 total participants completing the study. Groups were divided into control, low volume, and high volume groups. All participants completed pre and poststudy performance tests including the standing long jump, proagility, start-stop-cut, and 30- meter sprint. The low and high volume training groups each performed the same dynamic warm up prior to each pre-season captain's practice. The control group did not participate in an organized warm up. The low volume group performed one set of each warm up exercise, and the high volume group performing two sets of each warm up exercise. Data analysis indicated significant increases in performance for the standing long jump (p = .011) and start-stop-cut (p = .000) measures among the entire sample population. However, there was no significant difference between the groups in these measures. No significant results were found either for the sample as a whole or between groups for the proagility and 30-meter measures. The increased performance of all groups, including the control group, fails to provide evidence for the effectiveness of training with either warm up volume. Further research is needed to address limitations of this study to determine effectiveness of various warm up volumes.

The vibrational dynamics of theOH stretching mode in Ba(ClO4)2 trihydrate are investigated by means of femtosecond infrared spectroscopy. The sample offers plane cyclic water trimers in the solid phase that feature virtually no hydrogen bond interaction between thewater molecules. Selective excitation of the symmetric and asymmetric stretching leads to fast population redistribution, while simultaneous excitation yields quantum beats, which are monitored via a combination tone that dominates the overtone spectrum. The combination of steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy with quantum chemical simulations and general theoretical considerations gives indication of various aspects of symmetry breakage. The system shows a joint population lifetime of 8 ps and a long-lived coherence between symmetric and asymmetric stretching, which decays with a time constant of 0.6 ps.

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This project involves the design and development of a cell stretching bioreactor device that can work in conjunction with a Random Positioning Machine (RPM) apparatus. Microgravity environments, such as in space, have been shown to induce alterations in cellular development due to inadequate mechanical loading of biological tissue. Because of this, long-term spaceflight has led to many health concerns, including osteoporosis and muscle atrophy. Space travel is rare and costly, making this research difficult to conduct, however; techniques to simulate microgravity on Earth can be achieved by using a Random Positioning Machine. This device has been a beneficial tool used to study the effect gravity has on cellular growth, yet certain tissues in the body, such as bone and muscle, require mechanical stress, strain, and mechanical loading to develop properly. Because of this, a device that can induce strain on cells while subjected to microgravity conditions is needed to further improve cellular research for space exploration. The constructed bioreactor consists of 3D printed and custom-made components that can induce uniaxial cyclic strain on cells adhered to an elastic membrane. Validation and testing of the device have shown that this bioreactor is suitable for cellular experimentation to work in conjunction with an RPM to deliver a controlled amount of strain while under microgravity conditions. / Bioengineering

Equine hyperelastosis cutis (HC or HERDA), a connective tissue disorder in American Quarter Horses, results in hyperelastic skin with poor wound healing. Similar conditions are found in many species and all forms display decreased skin tensile strength. Fibroblasts produce collagen and elastin fibers, forming networks, providing the dermis with strength, and elasticity. This study aims to carry out a 3-part evaluation between horse skin fibroblast (cells from horses affected with HERDA, cells from horses that are carriers of HERDA (recessive HERDA gene), and cells from horses that are normal (neither affected or carriers of HERDA); Studies include: 1. Cell proliferation assay 2. Apoptosis analysis of fibroblasts 3. Mechanobiology of stretched fibroblast. Studies have shown cellular deformation to have an overall effect on mechanical properties of healthy and unhealthy tissues. This investigation provides a micromechanical evaluation of HC/HERDA in an effort to quantify the cellular level differences between each condition.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第24642号 / 工博第5148号 / 新制||工||1983(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科化学工学専攻 / (主査)教授 大嶋 正裕, 教授 竹中 幹人, 教授 佐野 紀彰 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM