Stress has been shown to exacerbate cell death and cognitive deficits after ischemic injury in rodents, however, little is known of the effects of stress on motor recovery. The objective of this present thesis is to examine the effects of chronic stress on skilled motor recovery after devascularization lesion in rats. It was found that pre-lesion stress induced the most behavioural impairments, while post-lesion stress exacerbated infarct volume. The effects of chronic multiple stress on skilled motor recovery after lesion was also examined. Chronic multiple stress did not modulate skilled motor recovery nor did it have any influence on infarct volume. Additionally, stress had effect on edema after devascularization lesion. The present thesis suggests that the time of exposure to chronic stress in respect to the ischemic lesion, in addition to the type of stress, will differentially affect recovery and compensation in rats. / xii, 122 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.

Schoolbag carriage represents a considerable daily occupational load for children (Negrini et al., 1999). Whittfield et al., (2001) and Puckree et al., (2004) have reported that the carriage of heavy schoolbags is a suspected aetiological factor of the daily physical stress of school pupils. Methods: One hundred and eighty-seven pupils voluntarily participated in a controlled, descriptive, epidemiological retrospective study. Subjects’ biographical, epidemiological, exercise history and lifestyle information was gathered by a self-report questionnaire (adapted from Puckree et al., 2004). Subjects’ body mass, stature and mass of their schoolbags were measured using a Detecto stadiometer scale. Digital images, electromyographical muscular activity and a posture profile assessments were captured in the frontal and sagittal planes whilst the pupils were in the loaded (carrying a schoolbag) and the unloaded phases (not carrying schoolbags). These images were analyzed using biomechanical software, Dartfish. The study being retrospective in nature recorded the prevalence of schoolbag carriage musculoskeletal pain over the last 12 months. Descriptive statistical tests such as mean, mode, frequency, percentages and inferential chi-square statistical test (set at a probability of 0.05) were employed to analyze the data. Results: The result indicated that 78.99% of the cohort experience musculoskeletal pain due to schoolbag carriage (p<0.0001). The most prevalent anatomical sites of pain were the shoulders (37.04%), neck (20.37%), lumbar (11.73%) and thorax (10.49%) (p<0.0001). The mean mass of the schoolbag carried by the cohort was 5.45kg which was approximately 11.5% of their body mass. The predisposing factors of the musculoskeletal pain were the methods employed to carry the schoolbag (single strap (20.21%) versus double straps (76.6%), altered posture due to excessive schoolbag mass together with a reduced craniovertebral angle (p<0.05). Discussion & Conclusion: The excessive schoolbag mass carried by the pupils placed strain on the immature vertebral column of these pupils thus causing postural deviations which induced musculoskeletal pain and discomfort. / Thesis (M.Sport Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.

Salivary cortisol is becoming an effective method with which to quantify cortisol levels, including the ability to track diurnal patterns and acute stress fluctuations. The purpose of this study was to validate salivary cortisol for use in African elephants (Loxodonta Africana), establish baseline cortisol values in three African elephants at Zoo Atlanta and explore the relationship between cortisol and various behaviors and husbandry events. Elephant salivary cortisol was found to be a valid measure based on correlations with serum cortisol and serial dilution results. Salivary cortisol also decreased across the day, but no definitive patterns were revealed. Using baseline values, salivary cortisol was used to examine the effects of enrichment, maintenance and novel training, and a mild stressor. Maintenance training was found to lead to lower cortisol values than novel training. Salivary cortisol after enrichment did not differ from individual overall means. The mild stressor initiated a rise in salivary cortisol. The final focus of this study was to investigate the link between salivary cortisol and stereotypic behavior. Stereotypies are described as repetitive behaviors with little variance and no discernible function or goal. There is not a straightforward relationship between stereotypies and welfare. Analysis of salivary cortisol at various durations into swaying bouts established that swaying appears to decrease cortisol levels. Additionally, behavioral data were collected. Behavioral data confirmed anecdotal reports of circular dominance in these animals. Behavioral data also revealed that although these individuals spend the majority of their time consuming food, one individual in particular devotes a significant amount of her time to swaying, a percentage much higher than that found when Wilson, Bloomsmith, and Maple (2004) examined stereotypic swaying rates in these same animals. Results of this study have direct ramifications for the current management requirements for captive elephants around the world. It helps tap into aspects of psychological well being of captive elephants to elucidate factors influencing welfare and stereotypic behavior. Research of this nature is a critical endeavor if we are to appropriately manage these magnificent animals in captivity.

Thesis (Master of Military Studies)-Marine Corps Command and Staff College, 2008. / Title from title page of PDF document (viewed on: Feb 2, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Alberta, 2009. / A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, Psychiatry. Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on August 13, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Master of Civil Engineering) University of California, Berkeley, December 1996. / "December 1996." Includes bibliographical references (l. 76-79). Also available online.

Manual lifting tasks are the predominant means of transporting materials in industry with many of these tasks being performed in confined spaces. Research has tended to focus on the biomechanical implications of working in small spaces with a decided lack of information about the physiological and perceptual responses in these environments. This holistic study therefore investigated the manner in which the human operator responded to conditions where the ceiling height was lowered and reach demands increased. Thirty-two young physically active male subjects (age: 21.55yr; stature: 1810mm) were recruited to complete a 2-way repeated measures experiment during which four lifting protocols where different combinations of ceiling height (‘normal’ or reduced to 1460mm in height) and reach demands (400mm or 800mm) were tested. A crude postural analysis was conducted while physiological responses were detailed and continuously monitored. Perceptual responses were also assessed. The tasks with a ‘normal’ ceiling height (mean compression forces: 2615N; mean shearing forces: 388N) and the greatest reach distance (mean compression forces: 3655N; mean shearing forces: 386N) placed individuals under the highest strain. Mean heart rate (HR) responses were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the URN condition when compared to the RF condition. Furthermore, HR responses were statistically significantly affected by the height of the ceiling and the reach depth. Statistically significant differences (p< 0.05) in mean tidal volume (VT) occurred in the least (URN) and most (RF) restrictive conditions. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in mean VE were evident between URN and URF, between URN and RF and between RN and RF. Ceiling height and reach demands had a statistically significant effect on all respiratory responses. There was a statistically significant difference in mean oxygen consumption (VO2) between the URN and all other conditions, and between the most restricted task (RF) and all other conditions. Both the effect of ceiling height and reach demands had a statistically statistically significant impact on VO2. Respiratory quotient (RQ) was significantly higher when loads were moved over 800mm compared to 400mm yet ceiling height did not have a statistically significant effect on RQ. Mean energy expenditure was significantly higher in the RF condition compared to the two least restrictive conditions (URN and RN). Statistically significant differences in EE were also evident between URN and RN, and between URN and URF. EE was significantly affected by reductions in ceiling height and increases in reach demands. Perceptually, the RF task (mean ‘Central’ RPE of 11) was perceived to place significantly greater cardiorespiratory demands on the operator compared to the URN (CRPE: 10) and RN (CRPE: 10) conditions. Statistically significant differences in perceived musculoskeletal strain only occurred between URN and RF. The effect of reach was perceived to have a statistically significant effect on both cardiovascular and musculoskeletal demands whereas ceiling height only had a statistically significant effect on musculoskeletal demands. The greatest discomfort was experienced in the lower back with the most intense discomfort occurring in the RN condition.

The problem of this study was to measure, to compare, and to analyze the amount of stress, as indicated by heartbeat rate, experienced by students during teaching-learning activities in sixth-grade mathematics in a regular classroom. The bases for comparison were the heartbeat rates of selected students as recorded by a cardiotachometer and achievement scores on pretests and posttests dealing with verbal problems. All data were analyzed using the t-tests for the significance of the difference between the means. Findings of the study showed that students did experience increased heartbeat rates while solving verbal problems in sixth-grade mathematics. Also, during the teaching-learning activities, students who solved verbal problems using the realistic approach did not experience more stress than students who solved problems using the standard approach. The standard group did not perform significantly better than the realistic group on the standard pretest-posttest. However, students who were involved in the realistic method achieved better on all types of problems than did students who were taught by the standard method.

Ao distribuir-se por diferentes sistemas regionais de estrutura espacial, a necessidade de deslocamento da população molda as cidades, com vias de circulação, para unir núcleos residenciais, comerciais e industriais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever a influência do transporte sobre o nível de estresse do trabalhador, percebido no trajeto entre a residência e o local de trabalho, em domínios distintos com estressores físicos, psicológicos e um domínio que relaciona estresse e transporte, denominado de domínio ambiente. A metodologia adotada pontua-se por uma pesquisa aplicada, exploratória e predominantemente quantitativa que pode revelar relações de dependência entre um instrumento estruturado para suveys e variáveis demográficas. Considerando o grande número de informações geradas pelo instrumento de coleta de dados, recorreu-se à Inteligência Artificial (IA) para realizar a análise, com técnicas de Data Mining. O problema que se apresentou nesta pesquisa está assim caracterizado: qual é a influência do transporte no trajeto entre a residência e o local de trabalho, em relação ao nível de estresse percebido pelo trabalhador? Para alcançar os objetivos propostos nesta pesquisa desenvolveu-se o Inventário de Sintomatologia de Estresse no Transporte (ISET), instrumento utilizado na coleta de dados, em que foram encaminhados questionários para cada uma das 27 unidades da Federação e no Distrito Federal. Para a análise dos dados coletados por meio do instrumento, fez-se transcrição para uma planilha eletrônica, para efetivar a etapa de tabulação, reunindo e organizando os itens pesquisados. Os dados gerados nesta pesquisa apontam a população amostral constituída por 929 trabalhadores, com predominância de 74,49% do sexo masculino em relação a 25,51% do sexo feminino. A faixa etária desta população compreende-se entre 18 e 39 anos, em que a concentração de trabalhadores situada na faixa etária entre 18 e 29 anos é de 32,49% e na faixa entre 30 e 39 o percentual atinge 31,09%. Portanto, a partir da análise feita, observa-se que existe relação de dependência entre as classes das variáveis analisadas (classificação dos municípios conforme tamanho da população, de acordo com o Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística) e o indicador geral (baixo, médio e alto), além de apontarem indicadores da influência do transporte sob o nível de estresse do trabalhador. / In order to distribute in different regional systems of spatial structure, the need of displacement of the population shapes to cities, with areas of circulation for binding residential, commercial and industrial nucleus. The objective of this paper was to describe the influence of transport on the stress level of worker, which is perceived in the path between the residential and the workplace, in distinct domains with physical and psychological stressors and a domain which lists stress and transport, called of environment domain. The methodology adopted is punctuated as an applied, exploratory and predominantly quantitative research which can reveal relations of dependency between a structured instrument for surveys and demographic variables. Considering the great number of information which was created through the instrument of data collection, thus, it was appealed to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in order to perform the analysis, with techniques of Data Mining. The problem which was presented in the research is featured as: What is the influence of the transport in the path between the residential and the workplace, in relation to the stress level perceived by the worker? In this sense, in order to achieve the proposed objectives in this research was developed the Symptomatology Inventory of Stress in the Transport (SIST), instrument used in the data collection where questionnaires were routed for each one of the twenty-seven (27) Federation Units and in Federal District. For the analysis of data collected through the instrument was done the transcription of these to an electronic sheet in order to actualize the tabulation step gathering and organizing the items surveyed. The data created in this research point the population sample which is constituted for 929 workers, with predominance of 74,49% of the male gender in relation the 25,51% of the female gender. The age range of this population is between 18 and 39 years old, where the concentration of the workers situated in the age ranges between 18 and 29 years old is 32,49% and in the age range between 30 and 39 the percentage reaches 31,09% of those which use the transport system existent for the displacement in the path of residential and work. Therefore, from the result is observed that there is relation of dependency among the classes of the analyzed variables (classification of the municipalities according to the size of population BIGS1), the general indicator (low, medium and high) and that the result point indicators of the transport influence on the stress level of worker.

Ao distribuir-se por diferentes sistemas regionais de estrutura espacial, a necessidade de deslocamento da população molda as cidades, com vias de circulação, para unir núcleos residenciais, comerciais e industriais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever a influência do transporte sobre o nível de estresse do trabalhador, percebido no trajeto entre a residência e o local de trabalho, em domínios distintos com estressores físicos, psicológicos e um domínio que relaciona estresse e transporte, denominado de domínio ambiente. A metodologia adotada pontua-se por uma pesquisa aplicada, exploratória e predominantemente quantitativa que pode revelar relações de dependência entre um instrumento estruturado para suveys e variáveis demográficas. Considerando o grande número de informações geradas pelo instrumento de coleta de dados, recorreu-se à Inteligência Artificial (IA) para realizar a análise, com técnicas de Data Mining. O problema que se apresentou nesta pesquisa está assim caracterizado: qual é a influência do transporte no trajeto entre a residência e o local de trabalho, em relação ao nível de estresse percebido pelo trabalhador? Para alcançar os objetivos propostos nesta pesquisa desenvolveu-se o Inventário de Sintomatologia de Estresse no Transporte (ISET), instrumento utilizado na coleta de dados, em que foram encaminhados questionários para cada uma das 27 unidades da Federação e no Distrito Federal. Para a análise dos dados coletados por meio do instrumento, fez-se transcrição para uma planilha eletrônica, para efetivar a etapa de tabulação, reunindo e organizando os itens pesquisados. Os dados gerados nesta pesquisa apontam a população amostral constituída por 929 trabalhadores, com predominância de 74,49% do sexo masculino em relação a 25,51% do sexo feminino. A faixa etária desta população compreende-se entre 18 e 39 anos, em que a concentração de trabalhadores situada na faixa etária entre 18 e 29 anos é de 32,49% e na faixa entre 30 e 39 o percentual atinge 31,09%. Portanto, a partir da análise feita, observa-se que existe relação de dependência entre as classes das variáveis analisadas (classificação dos municípios conforme tamanho da população, de acordo com o Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística) e o indicador geral (baixo, médio e alto), além de apontarem indicadores da influência do transporte sob o nível de estresse do trabalhador. / In order to distribute in different regional systems of spatial structure, the need of displacement of the population shapes to cities, with areas of circulation for binding residential, commercial and industrial nucleus. The objective of this paper was to describe the influence of transport on the stress level of worker, which is perceived in the path between the residential and the workplace, in distinct domains with physical and psychological stressors and a domain which lists stress and transport, called of environment domain. The methodology adopted is punctuated as an applied, exploratory and predominantly quantitative research which can reveal relations of dependency between a structured instrument for surveys and demographic variables. Considering the great number of information which was created through the instrument of data collection, thus, it was appealed to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in order to perform the analysis, with techniques of Data Mining. The problem which was presented in the research is featured as: What is the influence of the transport in the path between the residential and the workplace, in relation to the stress level perceived by the worker? In this sense, in order to achieve the proposed objectives in this research was developed the Symptomatology Inventory of Stress in the Transport (SIST), instrument used in the data collection where questionnaires were routed for each one of the twenty-seven (27) Federation Units and in Federal District. For the analysis of data collected through the instrument was done the transcription of these to an electronic sheet in order to actualize the tabulation step gathering and organizing the items surveyed. The data created in this research point the population sample which is constituted for 929 workers, with predominance of 74,49% of the male gender in relation the 25,51% of the female gender. The age range of this population is between 18 and 39 years old, where the concentration of the workers situated in the age ranges between 18 and 29 years old is 32,49% and in the age range between 30 and 39 the percentage reaches 31,09% of those which use the transport system existent for the displacement in the path of residential and work. Therefore, from the result is observed that there is relation of dependency among the classes of the analyzed variables (classification of the municipalities according to the size of population BIGS1), the general indicator (low, medium and high) and that the result point indicators of the transport influence on the stress level of worker.