Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-07-02Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:14:30Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 rino_as_me_botfmvz.pdf: 1140459 bytes, checksum: 5597016d559daa886389f4ed9c58c88b (MD5) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / As fibras musculares esqueléticas são entidades versáteis, capazes de alterar seus fenótipos de acordo com a demanda energética. Para avaliar os efeitos do exercício de enduro no músculo esquelético, foram utilizados neste estudo 36 equinos da raça Puro Sangue Árabe divididos em dois grupos: treinados e não treinados para enduro. Foram obtidos fragmentos musculares da região profunda do músculo glúteo médio e processados para técnicas histoquímicas e imunoistoquímica, utilizando-se anticorpos específicos contra isoformas de cadeia pesada de miosina (MyHC) lenta e rápida. As fibras identificadas pela histoquímica e imunoistoquímica foram analisadas uma a uma. Determinou-se a porcentagem dos diferentes tipos de fibras musculares, e avaliou-se que, a porcentagem das fibras do tipo IIA foi significativamente mais alta do que a porcentagem das fibras dos tipos I e IIX no grupo não treinado (P<0,05). Em contra partida, a porcentagem das fibras do tipo I foi significativamente mais alta do que a porcentagem das fibras dos tipo IIA e IIX no grupo treinado (P<0,05). Também foram analisados, a média da área de corte transversal e o menor diâmetro da fibra e observou-se que, a média de corte transversal das fibras do tipo IIX foi significativamente maior comparada à média de corte de transversal das fibras dos tipos I e IIA em ambos os grupos. Em conclusão pode-se afirmar que, o exercício de enduro em equinos aumenta a população das fibras de contração lenta, em detrimento da população de fibras de contração rápida / The skeletal muscle fibers are versatile entities capable to change their phonotype according to energy demand. To evaluate the effects of exercise over equine skeletal muscle in this study, 36 Arabian horses divided in 2 groups trained and untrained for endurance were used. The samples was obtained from de deep region of the gluteus medius muscle and processed for histochemistry and immunohistochemistry using specific monoclonal antibodies to selected fast and slow isoforms myosin heavy chain (MyHC). The histochemical and immunohistochemical categorization of the muscle fiber types were compared fiber by fiber. It was analyzed the percentage of different fiber types where, in the untrained group, the percentage of the fiber type IIA was higher significantly than the percentage of fiber types I and IIX (P<0.05). Unlike, the group trained showed a higher proportion of fiber type I than the fiber type IIX (P<0.05). The cross section area and lesser fiber diameter were also analyzed, and showed that, CSA of fiber type IIX was higher significantly than fibers I and IIA (P<0.05) in both groups. In conclusion, endurance exercise in equines increase the population of slow-twitch fibers in detriment of fast-twitch fibers

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Class of 2011 Abstract / OBJECTIVES: To assess the current perceptions of patients with type II diabetes regarding the impact of lifestyle changes (diet and exercise), in particular, their relative impact on their disease state as it compares to that of their medication. METHODS: This was a descriptive study using a survey questionnaire. The primary dependent variable were the rating of the importance of diet and exercise, and a descriptive variables include medication use, amount of exercise, importance of medications, beliefs related to lifestyle and demographic variables. Questionnaires were passed out to eligible participant at the Walmart Pharmacy located on 7150 E. Speedway Blvd., Tucson Arizona. RESULTS: 56 survey questionnaires were completed. 18 men (mean age = 55.6) and 31 women (mean age = 43.8). Seven of the survey questionnaire did not indicate sex. Overall, lifestyle modification was rated favorably by all participants. On a scale of 1 through 5 (1 being least important, 5 being most important), the mean ratings were 3.5 and 3.6 for diet and exercise respectively. Confidence in medication use was rated a mean of 2.15. Attitude of study population with regards to obesity and diabetes was highly skewed toward obesity contributing diabetes (mean = 4.5). Finally, only 26.7% of participant get more than three hours a week of regular exercise. CONCLUSION: Based on the result from this study, patients with type II diabetes have a stronger inclination towards a belief in lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) to improve their disease state than medication alone.

No description available.

No description available.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that occurs when T lymphocyte cells attack and destroy beta cells in the pancreas.1 The cause of T1D is considered to be a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental or lifestyle risk factors. Early introduction of diet is thought to play a role in the development of T1D as it is less common in people who were breastfed and who were introduced to solid foods at later ages. The protection that breastfeeding can offer against the development of childhood obesity and T1D in children at risk for T1D is unknown and may be related to many different factors. The purpose of this project is to review the literature on the association between infant diet, including breastfeeding and complementary foods, and the development of obesity and T1D. This information will be used to prepare a secondary analysis proposal to examine the association between length of exclusive breastfeeding and obesity risk in children at risk for T1D for submission to the Presentations and Publications Committee of the Trial to Reduce IDDM in the Genetically at Risk (TRIGR) study.

Although the genetic aspects of mating are a rapidly expanding field of study, little information is available for the genus Ophiostoma. The first MAT information for the genus focussed on only three species and this was as such, hardly representative of the genus. In this study, existing DNA sequence data were used as a starting point to expand the available knowledge on mating genes to other species of Ophiostoma. Ophiostoma quercus, one of the better-studied species of Ophiostoma was the focus of the initial investigation. The heterothallic mating strategy of O. quercus was confirmed and isolates of both mating-types were used for the molecular analysis of the MAT genes. Regions of both MAT idiomorphs were observed in both mating-type isolates. This discovery was unexpected and suggests an unconventional mating organisation for O. quercus as compared to other heterothallic fungal species. Such a system is not unprecedented for fungi, but is unique for the genus Ophiostoma. The primers developed for O. quercus were tested in isolates representing 17 species of Ophiostoma. These primers were used successfully to amplify a large segment of the MAT-2 idiomorph in all isolates tested. This significantly expanded on the amount of data available for the MAT genes of Ophiostoma. Analysis showed that these isolates share a high amount of conservation in the MAT-2 open reading frame. This region of the genome is, therefore, not useful for phylogenetic analyses. However, the availability of primers for the region might facilitate testing of other areas of the full idiomorph for phylogenetic inference. Overall, the results presented in this study represent a significant increase in the knowledge available on MAT genes in Ophiostoma. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Genetics / Unrestricted

There is an increasing need for tertiary level wastewater treatment in Canada, driven in some cases by both provincial and federal regulation (Canada Gazette, 2012). Tertiary nitrification is the biologically mediated oxidation of nitrogen in the form of ammonia to nitrate following secondary treatment of carbonaceous material (Barnes & Bliss, 1983). The application of tertiary nitrification can prove challenging in the Canadian climate because of the temperature sensitive nature of nitrifiers (Hwang & Oleszkiewicz, 2007). Hence the greater than 1000 lagoon treatment plants currently in operation throughout country are susceptible to the full onslaught of weather effects and as such their nitrification processes become non-existent during the winter months (Delatolla et al., 2011,Hoang et al., 2014). The moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) system has been studied and shows promise for continuous nitrification with prolonged exposure to cold temperatures (Hoang et al., 2014). They are marketed as cost effective and low operation intensive upgrade options for existing treatment plants as well as effective stand-alone systems and are currently in operation in many countries worldwide (WEF, 2011). Despite the MBBRs initial development as a nitrification technology, recent research has been focused on COD removal systems. Studies showing that MBBR performance is directly related to surface area loading rates (SALRs) and not carrier type or shape have been performed exclusively on COD removal systems. The influence of MBBR carrier type on system solids production has also been solely studied for COD removal and the principles learnt have been transferred to tertiary nitrification systems without confirmation that they hold true. There is an absence of research on tertiary nitrifying kinetics; the effect of loading and carrier type, the nature of the solids produced and the carrier biofilm characteristics. This study investigated three MBBR carrier types, the K3, M and P Anoxkaldnes carriers in an effort to quantify the effects of carrier type on nitrifying kinetics, biologically – produced solids and the bacterial community at normal and high loading conditions. Four tertiary nitrifying laboratory scale MBBRs were fed with synthetic wastewater and operated at a high loading condition (HLC) with a SALR of 1.89 ± 0.10 g-N/m2•d and a normal loading condition (NLC) with SALR of 0.91 ± 0.1 g-N/m2•d. At both HLC and NLC, results show no difference in the ammonia removal rates obtained by the different carrier types. It was however noticed that stressed operational conditions developed for the P and M carrier at the HLC due to the clogging of carrier pore spaces with biofilm and subsequent reductions in removal efficiency were observed. Despite the fact that larger surface area to volume carriers (such as the M and P) may lead to MBBR designs with smaller footprints and lower operational cost, the study revealed their greater propensity to become clogged under high loading conditions than the smaller surface area carriers (such as the K3 ). In addition the larger surface area carriers demonstrated longer transitional periods from high loading conditions to lower loading conditions. A reduction in effluent total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations and improved solids settleability was observed with the shift from HLC to NLC. These results suggest the avoidance of high loading conditions in tertiary nitrifying MBBR operation. If low loading rates are not achievable then system design may have to consider the incorporation of coagulant use or an advanced solids separation technique to meet effluent solids regulation. Variable pressure scanning electron microscope (VPSEM) images at HLC showed the presence of water mites on the K3 carrier and nematodes and ciliates on the M and P carriers. While NLC images do not show these organisms. VPSEM also measured thicker biofilms during the HLC than the NLC for all carriers. The results demonstrate a difference in the meso-environments and suggest a difference in the micro-environments of the biofilm attached to each carrier. Microbial analysis showed no shifts in the dominant nitrifying species between the loading conditions, as well as no differences in the percent live /dead cell coverage. Nitrosomonas and Nitrospira were identified as the dominant AOB and NOB genera respectively at both the HLC and the NLC. Clear shifts in the microbial populations were observed for specific bacteria; with filamentous bacteria being observed at greater relative abundance at HLC than HLC. The increased relative abundance of filamentous organisms are also associated with the significantly poorer effluent settling characteristics observed at HLC.

The cross sectional study investigated the association of tobacco smoke, vitamin D status, anthropometric parameters, and kidney function in Turkish immigrants with type 2 diabetes (T2D) living in the Netherlands. Study sample included a total of 110 participants aged 30 years and older (males= 46; females= 64). Serum cotinine, a biomarker for smoke exposure, was measured with a solid-phase competitive chemiluminescent immunoassay. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was determined by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). Measures of obesity including: body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC) were measured. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. Urine albumin was measured by immunoturbidimetric assay. Urine creatinine was determined using the Jaffe method. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, version 19.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Independent samples t-test, chi-squared tests, multiple linear regression and logistic regression analysis were used. Cotinine levels were positively associated with cholesterol to HDL ratio and atherosclerosis-index. Serum 25(OH)D levels were negatively associated with diastolic blood pressure. Gender-specific associations between anthropometric measures and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were observed. Hs-CRP was positively associated with WC and WHR in males and WHtR in females. Microalbuminuria (MAU), as determined by albumin-to-creatinine ratio, was present in 21% of the Turkish immigrants with T2D. Participants with hypertension were 6.58 times more likely (adjusted odds ratio) to have positive MAU as compared to normotensive participants. Our findings indicate that serum cotinine, 25(OH)D, hs-CRP, and MAU may be assessed as a standard of care for T2D management in the Turkish immigrant population. Further research should be conducted following cohorts to determine the effects of these biomarkers on CVD morbidity and mortality.